Villain's POV: The Heroines Want Me!

Chapter 68: Chapter 68- Profile And Gift

Chapter 68- Profile And Gift

After Venera left the room, Rize sat there for a bit, trying to gather his thoughts. The past few days had been the most eventful days of his life. He experienced so many new things, good and bad, and even for someone who was prepared for it all, it still swept him away and almost took his life.

’If my life is going to be this then... I don’t know if I’m really lucky or really screwed.’ He thought to himself as he stared through the window at the bright blue sky. This beautiful world was already showing him its ugly side, and this was not even the worst of it all.

Rize knew what was going to happen in the future, and he was certain that everything that occurred now was merely... A children’s game. The true horrors of this world were only going to appear later on when the protagonist and his group got strong enough to face these nightmares.

’I’m no exception. Even if I wish to escape, I doubt I could really escape what would happen. It’s better to try and get stronger than to pretend like this can of worms won’t open sooner or later.’ He sighed as he finally looked ahead.

”Speaking of that, I can finally check my new powers. I’ve been eager to see what I got. Hopefully it won’t be disappointing.” He muttered to himself. Then, he closed his eyes and thought of the word ’profile’.

That was how the profile was summoned in the story, or that’s what Rize assumed to be the case. Fortunately, at the same instant, a new floating box appeared before him.

[Name: Rize]

[Age: 16]

[Race: Human]

[Affiliation: None]

[Status: Alive]

[Potential: Unknown]

[Tier: 8 (15%)]

[Stats: (Avg: 10)

Strength: 15

Agility: 14

Stamina: 16

Intelligence: 22

Essence: 256

Precision: 26]

[Gifts: Endless Hunger]

”I see...” Rize muttered as he rubbed his chin. ”Everything looks very much the same as the story. That’s good news, so I don’t need to learn things from scratch. Though...”

Rize almost immediately noticed the odd detail. His potential was unknown. He had never seen that before.

’Usually the highest potential is to reach Tier 1 and that’s the ultimate talent. It is said only one in every 100 million has the potential to reach the mythical Tier 1 awakened.’

All the strongest individuals in the world have reached peak Tier 2, and they were capable of truly ending the world with their powers. Nobody had ever reached the mythical Tier 1 since the founder of Sagardia and the age he lived in.

”Of course, until the protagonist comes around and reaches that mythical spot. However... Even he had a known potential.” Rize rubbed the back of his head, slightly confused by this. ”Maybe the system is bugged and couldn’t really measure my potential well?”

It sounded ridiculous, but it was the only explanation Rize could make of the situation. Either way, it didn’t seem like a problem he should worry about now. So, he moved to the next interesting detail.

”All my stats look within the normal to impressive range. Then, there is my essence... What do you mean I have 25x the normal amount?”

’Even the damn protagonist only had 10x. Is this damn system broken? Am I being made fun of?!!’ Rize rubbed his hair. But after calming down, he understood that the situation was simply odd as a whole.

”I didn’t get my actual gift, I awakened at a bizarre time and in a bizarre nature, and now this. I’m not even the same person anymore.” He spoke as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes. ”The change that affected the story directly affected me and turned me into a different person. If that’s the case, then doesn’t that mean more changes would alter my powers even more than this?”

The question sounded a bit counterintuitive considering the fact that Rize didn’t even know how he awakened in the original storyline. Rize’s awakening was never really mentioned; it was just presented as something that kinda happened. But, for all intents and purposes, he took that theory as granted since it had signs of being true.

”This change made me so much stronger. I can feel it in my body... I’m strong.” He muttered. He could feel the essence coursing through his body, slowly improving every physical aspect and healing his injuries.

Gaining essence makes the awakened slowly stronger and stronger with every passing second. The essence has a consciousness of its own that has the sole purpose of enhancing the awakener and giving them an optimal, pristine body.

Rize had just started undergoing that change, and he could already feel so much stronger than he was before. He had spent 10 years to get to that level, and yet, merely awakening had doubled his power or more.

’This is ridiculous. What an insane energy this is.’ He clenched his fists. ’But I can’t idle around. I need to start learning and practicing this.’

But before that, Rize focused on his Gift. The mysterious ’Endless Hunger’. It was by far the biggest and most important change to his persona.

”Such an odd and yet useful ability. What even is it?”

Upon asking that question, a new window popped up before him.

[Name: Endless Hunger]

[Nature: Active/Passive]

[Tier: 1 (13%)]

[Rarity: Divine]

[Modes: Defense Mode/ Offense Mode/ Utility Mode/ ???]

[Description: When darkness swallows that which can’t see the light, the power of its cruelty becomes the hand that pulls you from the depths of despair. Endless Hunger is a power that is born from the darkness of people’s desires.]

”What... The actual... fuck?” Rize frowned as he leaned forward, reading the description with sheer bafflement in his eyes. He felt a chill run down his spine. Something was very off about this entire Gift that didn’t sit right with him.

”The description sounds like it came straight out of a cultist book. What does it mean by ’Born from the darkness of people’s desires’? Is this black goo just the manifestation of evil or something?”

As the black substance formed beneath him, Rize could only frown, staring at it. No wonder it made him feel disgusted at first. It was so dark and grim, almost like it was truly how the desires of men would look as a physical matter.

”But... Why did I get such a gift specifically? What is my essence trying to hint at?” Rize asked himself as he rubbed his chin. It seemed like a Gift that didn’t really represent or mirror who he is.

Rize wasn’t dark, nor did he have endless desires for power or fame or money as most people do.

’Is the system trying to say I’m not who I think I am?’ He asked himself. ’Or maybe I’m just thinking too deeply into it?’

As he was contemplating that, Rize didn’t notice the tentacle emerging from the darkness and approaching his face. The boy looked up, and he saw it staring at him silently.

”What the hell even are you, man?” He asked. ”You’re so odd.”

”...”

”But... Thanks for saving my life. You did really well.” Rize said. ”Even if you’re born from darkness, you’re now my main ability, so I need to use you. We gotta work together to get you stronger and faster.”

Rize didn’t receive a reply, but he could swear he felt the tentacle nod its head in agreement. This was now his new power.