The awakening process had taken far longer than Antonio had expected.
From the moment he began absorbing the mana within the B-Grade Mana Gem until his mana core finally stabilized, nearly an entire day had passed.
Every muscle in his body ached, and even lifting a finger felt exhausting. The intense strain of forcing open his mana channels had drained every ounce of his strength.
Antonio let out a slow breath before making his way to his room.
Just as he reached his bed, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Young Master?" Tiffany's gentle voice came from outside.
"You may come in."
She stepped inside with her usual graceful composure, though concern flickered across her face when she noticed his pale complexion.
"Is everything alright? You don't look well."
"I'm fine," Antonio replied in his usual calm, emotionless tone. "I overexerted myself. I'll recover after some rest."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"I won't be joining dinner tonight. Don't disturb me unless it's an emergency. I'll be resting."
Tiffany lowered her head respectfully.
"As you wish, Young Master. I'll leave some water outside your room. Please take care of yourself."
Antonio gave a slight nod.
After Tiffany quietly left, he locked the door and collapsed onto his bed.
The awakening had been successful, but the toll it had taken on his body was immense.
Fortunately, his parents were away on business and were not expected to return until the following day, leaving him enough time to recover before anyone noticed the changes within him.
Within moments, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a deep sleep.
Just as his consciousness began to fade, a familiar mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[Congratulations, Master.]
[You have successfully awakened your mana.]
[Reward Issued: 500 Fortune Points.]
[Fortune Points: 513]
A brief silence followed before another notification appeared.
[Conditions fulfilled.]
[Bloodline Ability has been unlocked.]
Antonio's eyes snapped open for a brief moment.
A cold glint flashed across his crimson eyes as he stared at the translucent blue screen hovering before him.
Bloodline Ability: Absolute Devour (SSS-Rank)
Activation Criteria:
- The target must be dead.
- The corpse must still contain residual mana and life essence.
- The devouring process must begin within 10 minutes of the target's death.
- The bloodline cannot devour the same target more than once.
Effects:
- Devours the target's remaining Mana and Fortune.
- Converts the absorbed power into Antonio's own growth.
- Permanently strengthens his mana core and body.
- Grants Fortune Points based on the target's destiny.
"So... the reward wasn't just the Fortune Points."
Antonio's gaze remained fixed on the translucent blue screen.
[SSS-Rank Bloodline: Abyssal Devourer]
For the first time since his rebirth, his emotionless expression cracked.
"...SSS-Rank?"
Even in his previous life, SSS-Rank bloodlines were nothing more than legends. Throughout the entire world, only one person was publicly known to possess an SSS-Rank bloodline.
And that person...
Was his greatest enemy.
Antonio's expression gradually turned solemn.
"In my previous life, my bloodline was only S-Rank..."
Mana Manipulation.
A bloodline that granted him complete control over the mana in his surroundings, allowing him to gather, compress, and shape it into devastating attacks that could strike his enemies from any direction.
It was that very bloodline that had made him one of humanity's strongest man.
Yet in the end...
He had still lost.
A long silence filled the room.
Then...
The corners of Antonio's lips slowly curled upward.
"So... I've finally reached the same starting point as him."
"Heh..."
The chuckle gradually grew louder.
"Hahaha..."
Within moments, the room echoed with his laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
It wasn't the laughter of joy.
It was the laughter of a man who had just obtained the perfect weapon.
"What a ridiculous cheat..."
His laughter slowly faded, replaced by an icy calm.
"In my previous life, I couldn't overcome you."
"But this time..."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"I possess an SSS-Rank bloodline as well."
"I'll surpass you..."
"And when we meet again..."
"I'll devour everything you have."
A chilling killing intent spread throughout the room before silence returned once more.
Just as Antonio was about to close the system panel, another notification appeared before his eyes.
[System Notification]
[First Main Quest Completed.]
[Special Reward Unlocked.]
[Previous Bloodline Ability Detected: Mana Manipulation (S-Rank)]
Antonio's pupils contracted.
"...What?"
The translucent screen flickered once before another message appeared.
[The previous bloodline cannot coexist with your current SSS-Rank Bloodline.]
[Converting previous bloodline into a Passive Skill...]
[Conversion Complete.]
Passive Skill Acquired: Mana Manipulation
Current Rank: F
Maximum Rank: S
Description: Grants precise control over the surrounding mana. The skill's rank is synchronized with the host's current realm and will evolve as the host becomes stronger. Its maximum attainable rank is S.
Antonio stared at the screen in disbelief.
"So... this is the special reward for completing my first Main Quest."
"I didn't lose it."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
"The system actually preserved my greatest weapon."
Although its rank had been suppressed to F, Antonio knew better than anyone how terrifying Mana Manipulation could become.
He had relied on that very ability to carve his name into history in his previous life.
Now, with the SSS-Rank Abyssal Devourer Bloodline and Mana Manipulation growing alongside him...
Antonio slowly closed his eyes.
"This system..."
"...is beyond anything I imagined."
"Now..."
"The real game begins."
"And this time..."
"I'll be the one writing the ending."
For the first time since his rebirth, Antonio truly believed that fate itself had chosen him to rewrite the world.