"The second user, what do you mean by that?" I asked.
The man chuckled. "You''re the second user of World Breaker, with me being the first."
"Oh... That''s cool, I guess." I said, not really sure how to respond.
"The name''s Sirus. I can already tell just by looking at you that you haven''t used World Breaker at all, have you? You''re scared." Sirus said, staring into my eyes.
"What? Me? Scared? Pft, never." I said, his eyes narrowing in response.
"Tell me, Star, or should I call you Mark?"
My eyes widened, but before I could question him, he already started talking.
"I know you''re a reincarnation, or just a transferred soul. We were both Route Takers; I know everything about you." He began to circle me.
"A man with a dead-end job, nowhere left to run or go, hated his life... Has blood on his hands."
My eyes widened. No... He couldn''t be talking about... That time, right?
"January 17th, 2023. You were walking home, and a homeless man asked you for some money. You told him you didn''t have any." He spoke, the words piercing both my chest and head.
"No... Shut up, please don''t remind me..." I pleaded, but he kept going.
"He pestered you and pestered you. Already in a bad mood, you had enough. You didn''t know what came over you, but you beat the guy to death." He said, stopping behind me.
"I said shut up!" I swung my fist at him, but he grabbed it.
"See? That violent nature... Frustrated with the way things are. The strife for change. That''s why you''re the Sin of Envy, Star." He said, letting go of my hand.
I took a step back, clenching my fist. He''s right; I hate the way things are, how powerless.
"You can change. No more are you Mark; you''re me now." Another voice called from behind my ear.
Startled I turned around, and it was Star, the same body and everything, though it seemed to be just him. Wearing the same clothes he had when he had supposedly died.
That same bloodstain where the knife wound had been was visible.
"What?" I said, stepping back.
"You''re in my body now. I appreciate you taking care of it, but you were given a second chance, right? You already have power." Star said, Sirus chiming in.
"The power of World Breaker allows you to shape what you see fit. Even reality itself can crumble to you. However, it''s not without its side effects. For you, they''re mental, I can tell." He said, standing next to Star.
"You have the power now. Now tell us, Mark, or should we call you the new Star? Tell us, what do you truly seek? What is your dream?" Star asked, waiting for a response.
I remained silent, going deep into thought. I killed a man, yes, but I felt nothing from it. I was only scared of getting caught.
What did I want? I want to explore the stars, study them... I want a good life, one with power and everything.
"I want to be strong... No matter the cost." I said, "I want to make my own dreams a reality, and I will do whatever it takes. Even if I have to obsess over one thing."
Yes, I''m a killer. I was never a good person. Kaido made me feel like the human I should''ve been. I''ve tried my hardest to be one, but I guess that''s why my life sucked anyway.
"Even if you have to trample on the lives of others?" Sirus asked, tilting his head.
I hesitated. I thought I was getting better, but... Thinking back to the arena fight, it''s a kill-or-be-killed kind of world I live in now. I killed another man out of survival.
That time, however, I enjoyed it. The feeling of his blood, the taste... That guy. He was a wonderful kill.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"Yes," I said.
Star chuckled. "Alright then. Your true colors have shown, Mr. Villain. Make good use of my body, okay? It''s not like I had much use for it." He said, fading away.
Sirus looked at me. "You might be willing to kill, manipulate, steal, and the like to achieve your goals. Will you risk insanity?"
"I did say whatever it takes." I said, walking toward him.
"Very well. I''m curious to see how far you''ll go in life." He said, his form fading before I woke up in the forest.
[World Breaker Route Knowledge increased. You now have the alternate use, World Shaper.]
[Due to your ambitions, Envy Route can evolve even further. Would you like to combine Obsession with the evolution path, Tyranny?]
"Yes," I said, staring at the interface.
[Very well. Evolving...]
I felt different. Like the entire world was beneath my feet, yet I can''t claim it.
[New Envy Route, Obsessive Emperor attained.]
"Nice..." I said, turning around and starting to head back to the manor.
[Due to you coming to a realization of who you are, you may now evolve into a Nightbound Vampire.]
"Proceed." I said, feeling something strange course through me. Was this power? Who knows?
I felt myself form wings on my back. Instinctively, I knew how to use them. I flapped them once, and I soared into the night sky.
I flew above the sea of clouds, embracing this new feeling.
"This feeling... Yes, that must be it. This must be freedom." I said, lying on my back and staring into the moon.
The stars looked so beautiful, shining ever so brightly in the sky. The clouds, a sea of white below my new form. The moon, its blue atmosphere, hue, and large form painted the perfect picture.
This is what it meant to have strength; this is what it meant to feel alive.
"I''m no longer Mark Martini, that dumbass name... I am Star Noir, the Sin of Envy, and the soon-coming ruler of this world!" I yelled, starting to laugh into the night sky.
Once the little manic episode was finished, I descended back to the ground, my wings furling back up and disappearing.
[As a Nightbound Vampire, you have grown an immunity to sunlight.]
[You have complete mastery over your own blood. Being able to small large constructs with it.]
[Your external blood manipulation has also gotten better. You can now slightly manipulate the blood in people''s bodies. Such as slowing heart rates, blood flow, etc.]
[Your blood can now be corrosive, explosive, or be used to infect others and turn them into lesser vampires, or creatures known as Getermids.]
[Your blood reservoir has increased.]
[You have grown wings for flight.]
[You have gained lunar-based abilities that are only usable on weapons or for magical use during the night.]
[Finally, the Sin Route of Envy: Obsessive Emperor has been fully added.]
"Good." I said, walking back inside the manor. "I''ll start the process of domination tomorrow. I need to know the abilities that are part of my Routes."
[Choice Route: Killer accessed.]
"What? I didn''t kill anyone recently, though." I stared at the interface.
The interface glitched out for a moment.
[Your past catches up to you, so do your choices. Killing others reduces mental strain and insanity.]
I sighed, being a little concerned as I went back to my room. As I entered, I saw someone lying in my bed.
"Uhm, hey." I said, my eyes focused on the individual.
Once they rose from the bed, my eyes widened once I saw who they were.
Selene, The Sin of Gluttony. "Oh, Envy, you''re back... Or should I call you Star?"
She said in a casual, yet sleepy tone. How is she not sloth?
"How did you—" She appeared in front of me, placing a finger on my lips.
Despite my strength, I was still short. I needed to get taller.
[Once you become a Warden Vampire, you become taller.]
"Don''t say anything, okay? I want to help you; after all, we''re two sides of the same coin." She said, her glowing green eyes piercing the darkness.
Her eyes were a different green from Greed''s. While his were predatory, hers were filled with nothing but the desire to consume everything.
"Don''t tell Alice, okay? I''ll see you tomorrow morning." She said, rubbing my head and walking past me. The smell of perfume lingering on her.
I didn''t think she''d be the type to smell good, but that''s besides the point.
My body had just tensed up around her, like it was afraid of her by nature. An apex predator among the Sins.
If she''s an apex predator among them... then who is Alice, to get everyone to listen to her?
I got in bed, rubbing my face as I gripped my hair. "I''ll get stronger... Tomorrow is a new day."
I said, closing my eyes.