The rays of the morning sun broke through the clouds, bathing the world in a soft golden glow. Kaine stood on top of a hill, gazing at the city sprawled below, its ruins now blending into the picturesque landscape. He couldn't shake the feeling that this world, no matter how ruined it seemed, still held life and hope.

"Well, no time to relax," he said aloud, running a hand through his hair.

The system he had activated after his first awakening gave him no peace. It constantly whispered, pointing out his weaknesses, suggesting ways to improve. But Kaine knew that such power wasn't just a gift—it was also a curse, demanding a price.

"Let's see what I can do," he muttered, activating the screen in front of his eyes.

[System activated]

Name: Kaine

Level: 2

Vitality: 100%

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 8

Unique Abilities: "Absorption," "Immortality"

New abilities available for activation

"Funny how this feels like just a game," he smirked, scrolling through the menu.

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His fingers stopped on the "Upgrades" section. There was a notification about a new ability ready for activation, but before he could do anything, something suddenly whistled through the air.

Kaine barely managed to dodge as a sharp blade flew past his face, embedding itself in the ground beside him. Gritting his teeth, he drew his sword and spun around. A man in a black cloak stood on the hill before him, his face hidden beneath a hood.

"Who are you?" Kaine asked loudly, holding his sword at the ready.

"Just a watcher," the stranger replied, his voice calm, devoid of any emotion. "It's intriguing to see how far you can go without understanding your own power."

A chill ran down Kaine's spine. This wasn't just any enemy. There was a spark of interest in his eyes.

"Think you can stop me?" Kaine asked with a challenge in his tone.

"No," the stranger lowered his head. "I'm only here to observe you. And do you know what's interesting? Your power doesn't belong to you alone. You understand that, don't you?"

"What are you trying to say?" Irritation flared up inside him, as did the tension in the air.

"You'll find out in time. But mark my words: the one who gave you this power didn't do it out of kindness."

With those words, the stranger vanished, as if dissolving into the air. Only questions remained in Kaine's mind. Who was this man? What did he know? And why did he say Kaine's power didn't belong to him?

[Threat detected. Danger level: unknown]

The system activated again, and red warning symbols flashed before Kaine's eyes. Yet despite the warnings, he felt a strange sense of relief.

"I'll decide who I am and how I use my power," he quietly said to himself.

Gripping the hilt of his sword, he looked toward the horizon. Ahead lay uncertainty, chaos, and enemies he had yet to even meet. But one thing was clear—the path he was about to walk was far longer and more dangerous than he could have imagined.