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[**You have pending rewards for accomplishing Tasks. Would you like to view them before returning?**]
Axel hesitated for a moment, considering the notification. He knew that once he returned to Earth, more urgent matters would take precedence. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but something told him that checking these rewards now might be more beneficial in the long run. With a determined nod, he accepted the prompt.
[**Rewards**]
The first reward appeared before his eyes.
[**Full Access to the Supreme God's System**]
The name alone carried immense weight, and Axel couldn't help but feel a surge of power just reading it. A system with such a grand title had to be extraordinary. The possibilities raced through his mind, the potential to grow stronger and to harness abilities beyond his wildest imagination. But he quickly pushed aside his excitement, knowing there were more rewards to review.
The next reward popped up.
[**Deceased Touch**]
[**Touch can deteriorate all living things.**]
Axel furrowed his brow in confusion. The ability was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was cryptic, its potential still unclear. He made a mental note to experiment with this one once he returned to Earth. The idea of wielding such a power was both thrilling and terrifying.
The third and final reward appeared.
[**King of the Dead**]
[**Command those that are dead.**]
Axel's initial reaction was one of skepticism. Command the dead? He couldn't quite wrap his head around how such a skill would be useful. The image of decaying corpses, rotting flesh, and the stench of death filled his mind, making the ability seem more like a curse than a gift. Still, he understood that not every reward was a game-changer; some would be situational at best.
It was just as he had left it—walls plastered with posters of musicians, models, and gaming tech scattered across the room.
Axel wasted no time stripping off his ruined clothes and stepping into the bathroom. The hot water was a welcome comfort, washing away the grime and blood that had clung to him. As he looked down at his body, he noticed something strange—his physique had changed. Where once there had been softness, there was now muscle, lean and defined.
It was a stark reminder of how far he had come, how much he had changed.
After his shower, Axel dressed in a dark, long-sleeved turtleneck and a pair of black jeans. The clothes fit perfectly, hugging his new form in all the right places. He frowned at the jeans, which were uncomfortably tight in certain areas, but shrugged it off. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he knew he needed to eat.
"A man without food is like a gamer without a controller," Axel muttered to himself as he made his way back downstairs.
[**I thought no food meant death.**]
Axel rolled his eyes at the notification, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. Just as he reached the kitchen, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Axel?"
He froze, his heart skipping a beat. Turning slowly, he saw her—Annie, his little sister, standing in the doorway with tears streaming down her face. She looked as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Annie!" Axel's voice cracked with emotion as he rushed towards her. She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He held her tight, feeling her small frame shake with the force of her emotions.
"Big brother... I-I thought you were dead! I saw you die!" Annie's voice was choked with tears, her hands clutching his shirt as if afraid he might disappear again.
Axel's heart broke at her words, the pain she must have endured weighing heavily on his conscience. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe her, even as his own tears threatened to spill over. "I'm here now, Annie. I'm not going anywhere."
Annie continued to cry, her tears soaking into his shirt. Axel felt a surge of guilt for putting her through so much pain. He wished he could take it all back, erase the memories of his death from her mind. But he couldn't. All he could do was be there for her now, to reassure her that he was alive, that everything would be alright.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry for making you suffer."
Annie didn't say anything, her sobs gradually subsiding as she clung to him. Axel held her close, vowing silently to protect her, no matter what.