The World Devouring System

"I will keep your words in mind", the warden said to Boros who shifted his attention back to Caelum after nodding contentedly.

"So, what brings you to this place, Brother Caelum? Don't tell me you're looking for someone to warm your bed right after you woke from your sleep? If so, I am sorry to tell you that this woman is already taken – you'll have to find someone else."

The brows of the young woman creased when she heard Boros' words.

Caelum did not want to explain his reasons for visiting the dungeon to Boros; so he played along by somewhat diverting the topic.

"Taken, you say… Why is she imprisoned in this cell if she is taken? Who is she?"

Upon hearing Caelum's question, Boros looked at the young woman inside the cell and said, "She can get out of this prison whenever she wants. How about it, Mira? Are you sick and tired of this place yet? Obediently become my woman and freedom is yours."

Caelum really wanted to laugh at the sheer irony of Boros' declaration. 'So that's what's happening here,' he thought, bemused.

"Don't even think about it, Boros."

Mira's frown deepened as she shot a sharp glare at him. She responded to Boros in a harsh tone.

Boros, however, seemed unfazed. Instead, he laughed—a cruel, mocking sound. "Haha, feisty! I like that. You know," he leaned closer to the bars, his tone turning menacing, "I could take you by force any time I wanted. But where's the fun in that? I want to savor the moment you beg me to take you. Still," his voice dropped, dripping with menace, "my patience has limits. I suggest you don't test them."

Mira's expression twisted, her face pale with trepidation.

Caelum felt second hand embarrassment due to Boros' words, especially considering that they shared the same last name. 'What's with this guy?' he thought, 'He's a third-rate villain if I've ever seen one.'

Still, one detail caught Caelum's attention. Mira's gaze kept flicking toward the cell diagonally across from hers. Curious, Caelum followed her line of sight discreetly.

Inside the cell lay a boy, thin and unkempt. His shabby rags and hollowed cheeks made him appear frail, but the tension in his posture told another story. He leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling, yet his fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

'Interesting,' Caelum thought, narrowing his eyes. There was clearly more to this situation than met the eye.

Before he could piece together any conclusions though, a prompt from the system interrupted his thoughts.

[Ding! Heaven-Chosen detected. Host, it is advised that you maintain your distance from any and all Heaven-Chosen until you reach the Qi Gathering realm and complete your first special mission. And if you cannot avoid interacting with them, at least refrain from antagonizing them.]

Caelum's lips twitched in irritation. 'Oh, fantastic!' he thought sarcastically. 'There are special missions as well? Did I accidentally sign a slave contract when I played that stupid game?!'

Still, Caelum paid attention to the system's warning. The Qi Gathering realm was the true first realm of cultivation – that is when a person would be able to start sensing and utilizing Qi. Caelum needed to finish his body tempering before he could get there.

'To think that unassuming boy is actually a Heaven-Chosen…'

Caelum did feel a vague sense of danger from him.

He shifted his focus back to Boros and Mira, suppressing the urge to sigh. Even without the system's warning, he found Boros' behavior to be extremely lame. Stepping forward, Caelum decided it was time to intervene. "Pardon me, Brother Boros, but I must say something."

"It seems," Caelum continued in a friendly tone, "that while you possess the strength befitting a young champion, you lack the bearing of one."

Boros turned to face him, his smile still fixed in place. However, his eyes gleamed with a dangerous edge.

"What did you just say?"

Caelum wasn't intimidated by Boros' menacing tone. He did not think that Boros would be stupid enough to actually get violent right now, especially not against him. And even if he did, Caelum trusted that the warden would side with him to restore peace.

Still, Caelum did not want to become enemies with Boros over a mere outsider.

"What I'm saying is – you're method of picking up girls might be a bit… outdated. You said it yourself, didn't you? As one of the strongest members of the up and coming generation of our family, your fame is not small at all. I'm sure many women would be lining up for you should you announce your intent to take a concubine. It's just not worth it for you to stoop so low and bully a helpless woman like this."

Mira's eyes widened at Caelum's words. Though she didn't believe she needed his help, the fact that Caelum was trying to offer her a helping hand caught her off guard. She studied him carefully—his calm demeanor and his ridiculously handsome features. His words had a soothing effect on her anger, though she remained cautious. She was confident she could handle Boros herself if things escalated, but it was sure to be a troublesome matter.

Caelum's words and the friendly tone in which he spoke them soothed Boros as well. Initially, he thought that Caelum was trying to pick a fight with him, but what was this? Wasn't he just flattering him? At least that's how Boros' mind interpreted Caelum's words.

"Tch. Fine, I'm not going to hold it against you over an outsider. But let me tell you this, Brother Caelum. You spoke of champions needing bearing, but that's nonsense. The strongest is the champion, and the strongest does as he pleases."

Boros' eyes then flashed with a cunning glint as he made a proposition.

"Since you seem to have some interest in this woman, then how about we make things a little interesting? Now that you're awake, I'm sure you'll soon start cultivating. Let's make a bet."