Chapter 2
…
"Yes, this is it, my new life. My change in fate."
"My cheat!!?"
[Activation Complete: The Host has received Energy Catalyst System]
"Status. Status…" he shouted in glee. Though what he said came out in gibberish and giggles.
Meanwhile, the mother was currently looking at her baby, laughing happily while looking at her.
"Oh, how cute. My baby…"
She hugged him close, feeling the warmth of the one she carried for ten months.
On the other hand, Sam was still distracted by the status that had just been unveiled before him.
[Kyren Valentine]
Aptitude: 1 Star (9 Star: Locked)
Talent: None (Silver Insignia: Locked)
Domain: Mortal
Status: Cursed (Chains of Mortality: This was a curse originating from a high-ranking demon in the Foundation Domain. It will lock all of your aptitude, talent, and slow your age growth. On top of that, your soul is currently bound with the said demon, and it will claim your soul when you reach 20.)
System: Energy Catalyst
- - - -
"What the hell? I'm cursed. Wait, I think I know this Valentine family and Silver Insignia."
Soon after thought about it a little bit more, a realization suddenly hit him like a freaking truck…
"Oh no, I'm dead…"
Sam, or let's call him now, Kyren, let out tears.
He was frightened silly, because he knew who Valentine's family was and where he was now.
He was in one of his many favorite novels called 'Earth Against the Abyss,' set in a dark medieval world where death lurked around every corner. Both literally, and figuratively…
On the other hand, Valentine's family in the original novel had already been massacred and eaten by a demon they kept and worshiped.
In the story, the MC just momentarily passed their already broken family mansion, where he gained a new ability for himself.
Kyren's lips twisted in unhappiness and horror, while he mumbled something incoherent to others present.
His mother, who noticed his distress, began to panic.
She gently rubbed the spot where he was pinched earlier.
"Oh, my darling, what's happening? Are you hurt? It must be that pinch before, right? Oh, my poor baby. I'm so sorry, alright. I'm so sorry, hic hic…"
Eventually, Kyren's mother let out tears too, as she sobbed heavily, holding Kyren, who stopped his cry.
He was confused not only by her tears but also because he saw many gray orbs manifesting beside her.
And as if drawn to a magnet, these orbs began to fly toward him and were absorbed into his body.
Looking back at his status, there was an additional line below the system. There were three actually…
It was:
System: Energy Catalyst
Sorrow: 9 Points
???
Store->
- - - -
The more his mother cried, the more points he received.
He also gained a few gray orbs from one of the midwives who watched the mother and son's interaction.
"I see, it must be this cheat system. Not bad, not bad. So, it's connected with feeling, huh…"
Looking at his amazingly beautiful mother, who let out tears without stopping, there was concern, an unknown ache in his chest, mixed with sadness, as if there was an invisible connection that tied the two of them, so he could feel her suffering too.
"Is this… what it feels like to have a mother. Don't cry, mom…"
It pained Kyren greatly seeing his mother's crying face.
Trying to move his hands, it was rather stiff, and his baby fat hands could not reach her face either.
So, Kyren pushed himself to struggle until his mother noticed him.
"Hic, hic, hic. What is it, my baby?" she let Kyren closer as she nudged him with her nose.
Found the right chance, Kyren moved his hands and touched his mother's cheeks.
Striving once again, he finally managed to kiss her on the cheek.
And with one final move, he smiled and gave her his giggle, as if wanting to say to her not to be sad anymore and stop her cries.
Widened her eyes, her mother crying once again.
Fortunately, this time, it was not out of sadness, but overwhelming happiness.
"Oh, my baby. How adorable. You are the best gift this world has ever given to me. I love you so much, darling…"
She softly kissed her baby cheeks, then chuckled amidst her tears.
Seeing that, Kyren let out a sigh of relief.
He never wanted to see someone sad.
It was never in his nature. No matter how sad his life that time, seeing someone suffer made his heart ache to.
You could say he had too much compassion; he ended up being used by others.
Meanwhile, many little orbs came out from his mother and one of the midwives present who helped her give birth.
This time, though, the color was golden and pink.
Peering at his status once again, he saw another two lines above the Sorrow.
Joy (Golden): 13
Love (Pink): 4
The points keep increasing. The love points came mainly from his mother.
Gotten an idea, Kyren narrowed his eyes.
Afterward, he kept letting out his giggle while touching his mother's face, bringing happiness to the people in the room, increasing the Joy and Love points in abundance.
Though there was a twist to this situation.
There was one more line below sorrow. And it was:
Hatred: 26
This feeling came from another midwife present from the start of his birth.
She was all smiles seeing the two of them, occasionally letting out a laugh too.
Yet all of her feelings came out in purple color.
Not long after, Kyren couldn't hold it anymore and ended up falling asleep in his mother's embrace.
He prayed to all the gods he knew of so that a certain midwife wouldn't do anything to him.
He gained a new life in a new world. Something that was away from his past life.
Even if this world were extremely cruel, he needed to face it.
Though he kinda feels comforted by the existence of the system.
If he didn't have this cheat? Meh, he guessed he would be extremely miserable living in this world.
So, he hoped…