Talent: Ghoul Heart

"I think we should go. If what those soldiers said earlier is true, the Incinerator Corps is probably already on the way. We have to cross the border and get out of here before they arrive. And the commotion we just caused might bring people to check early—I think we should set things up."

Abel was the first to break the silence.

Luo gave a slight nod, acknowledging his point.

So the two of them got to work immediately.

First, they used the bodies there to cover the two dead soldiers as best they could, then pulled out the jewelry the other side had hidden among the corpses and scattered it everywhere.

Everything they did was meant to confuse anyone who came to investigate and buy them time.

After all, those valuable, eye-catching jewels were nothing but trouble—just carrying them was a disaster in the making.

Think about it: two ragged children, no identification, and on top of that, survivors from White Town. Under those circumstances, what would happen if they tried to trade those jewels for money?

So for safety's sake, they simply threw it all away.

Not long after they left, a squad of soldiers arrived to check the situation.

The soldier Luo had shot in the head was quickly found, but so were the expensive jewels scattered everywhere.

Now no one could stay calm.

Adding in the fact that the dead man had barely turned in any spoils and had slipped away on some excuse not long ago...

Anyone with half a brain filled in the gaps: a fight over uneven loot, or a double-cross that ended with both sides dead!

It wasn't that no one considered other possibilities, but the problem was no one wanted to be the one to speak up.

On one side, endless trouble. On the other, everyone quietly getting rich together.

If it were you, which would you choose?

So the soldiers all silently agreed to pretend they hadn't seen the bodies, and scrambled to scoop up the nearby jewelry as fast as they could.

Then the Incinerator Corps arrived, and a great fire burned everything clean.

Everyone was satisfied with the result.

By the time thick black smoke rose into the sky, Abel and Luo had already crossed the Borderline and stood on the soil of the neighboring country, Sodalanxia.

They had finally escaped from that hell.

The two gazed at the distant flames, their eyes flickering with unsteady light, betraying the turmoil within.

After a long silence, Abel spoke first. "Luo, what are you thinking?"

"I want to survive. And then turn this hopeless world upside down."

"That's a terrifying thing to say. But it sounds interesting."

"So, want to join me?"

"Count me in for now. You still owe me a life—I need to collect the interest first."

Hearing Abel's answer, Luo forced out a bitter smile. "Then you'd better hurry. I've only got three years left to live."

Abel frowned, remembering he only had five years himself, and couldn't help asking, "Is Lead Sickness really incurable?"

Luo shook his head. "I don't know. Even my father couldn't do anything about it. Most likely, it's just waiting to die."

"Just waiting to die? Hah. I don't believe that. Since I made it out of that 'hell' alive, my fate belongs to me alone! I won't just survive—I'll outlive everyone, and live more brilliantly than anyone!"

Abel's words struck deep into Luo, who had already given up on himself.

Though Luo didn't truly believe Abel could do it, he didn't have the heart to crush that hope.

"Maybe... there really will be a miracle."

"I promise you—there will be a miracle! Luo, don't give up so easily. Since only the two of us survived, there has to be a reason we're alive."

"Yeah. I'll look forward to that day."

Luo nodded blankly, as if infected by Abel's fierce confidence, and a faint, relaxed smile appeared on his face.

He finally knew—the future might not be so lonely.

A basic trust had been rebuilt between them.

And that trust meant Gustavus Abel had taken his first real step in this world. It also meant a new beginning.

Inside a town in Sodalanxia, Abel was hiding at the dead end of a dark, damp alley.

Luo had volunteered to scout for information and scrounge up some food.

Though they had escaped Freyvans, it didn't mean they were completely safe.

Quite the opposite—as one of the 'culprits' who destroyed Freyvans, if they were discovered by soldiers within Sodalanxia's borders, they'd be executed on the spot!

So they had to find a way off this island as soon as possible, to somewhere relatively safer.

But before that, Abel needed to do something important: buy the [Talent Mutation Ray] and awaken his talent.

With time running short, he hadn't gone with Luo but had instead found this secluded spot.

[Talent Mutation Ray] (Purple)

Description: The gospel for those without talent—the strongest "little pill" for ordinary people!

Effect: Deeply excavates the user's potential and mutates their imprint into a personal talent. (Takes effect immediately upon purchase. Those who already possess a talent cannot use it.)

Price: 2000 Trade Points (strikethrough)

Month-start limited-time flash sale price: 100 Trade Points!

Quantity: 1

Time limit: 5 hours 12 minutes

PS: Will you settle for mediocrity, or dare to take the gamble?!

"No one would willingly settle for mediocrity! System, I choose to buy!"

Abel purchased it without a moment's hesitation, and then saw his body instantly enveloped in a beautiful yet perilous multicolored light.

Under the irradiation of this eerie beam, Abel's expression immediately twisted into a ferocious grimace.

He felt an unbearable itch and pain all over his body, as if his very skull were about to explode.

He drifted in a daze for an unknown stretch of time, until the strange light shrouding his body finally vanished. By then, his clothes were completely soaked through with sweat.

Still, it all seemed worth it.

[Acquired Blue Talent: Ghoul Heart (Upgradable)]

[Description: Mutated from Lead Sickness. Under normal conditions, all toxins are concentrated within the heart. When actively activated, the toxins rapidly spread through the bloodstream, transforming the user into a ghoul!]

[In ghoul state: Defense, speed, and strength are all increased by 50%. Pain perception is reduced by 50%.]

[Side effect: Under the accelerated erosion of the toxins, lifespan is consumed at a rate of 5 days per minute.]

[Upgradable: Inject three new lethal toxins into the heart until they are fully fused and devoured. Toxins fused and devoured: 0/3]

Under Abel's gaze, the white patches on his arm had completely disappeared?!

It seemed that all the toxins had truly retreated into his heart.

But he couldn't bring himself to feel happy.

Because he never imagined that the new talent he'd obtained would actually be mutated from the Lead Sickness he most wanted to get rid of?!

And on top of that, it looked rather mediocre.

(PS: A Blue Talent is almost the lowest grade of talent, so its strength is naturally limited. Consider this a foreshadowing—it evolves into a Purple Talent by chapter 46, with further opportunities for growth. It will become stronger over time, and the side effects will gradually decrease. Please be patient. If you truly don't like it, feel free to click × and leave; there's no need to curse.)