Chapter 4: The Reality of PowerTwo days had passed since his awakening, and Lucas spent this time adjusting to his body, which remained weak after the intense fever that nearly took his life. He still couldn’t fully comprehend everything that had happened to him after transitioning to this world, but he spent his time observing Lisa as she trained in the small courtyard attached to their home.

  Every day, Lisa advanced further. She was no longer just creating ice from thin air; she was forming ice scythes and generating small storms around her. It was clear that her power was increasing rapidly, and with each passing day, the changes in her abilities and appearance became more noticeable. Her white hair and radiant blue eyes made her look like an ice princess.

  In contrast, Lucas could do nothing. He examined himself multiple times in the mirror but found no change. His bck hair remained the same, his brown eyes unchanged, his height and physique unaltered. He was exactly as he had always been, unlike Lisa. But that wasn’t the only thing that troubled him.

  He had checked his status multiple times, and the result was always the same:

  [Identification Card]

  Name: Lucas Nightbane

  Age: 16 years

  Talents: Parasitic Dominion

  Talent Rank: ???

  Mana Cultivation Realm: Uncssified

  There were too many unanswered questions. His talent rank was undefined, and his abilities were strangely restricted. He couldn’t use anything except the ability to plunder, and he wasn’t even sure how to utilize it effectively.

  Lucas sat on his bed, staring at his hands as he thought deeply. Unlike Lisa, whose talent was clear and easy to understand, his situation was different.

  Understanding His PowerHe opened the details of his forbidden talent and read carefully:

  [Parasitic Dominion Talent Details]

  Plunder: The user can acquire the talents of his victims by consuming their hearts. He can plunder only three talents per mana cultivation realm.Plundered talents are weakened to rank E but can be nurtured to grow beyond their original strength.Talent Shards: These allow plundered talents to develop beyond their original owners’ limits.The core condition of his ability was brutal. He had to consume the hearts of living beings to gain their power. Just thinking about it made him feel nauseous.

  But this ability, despite its gruesomeness, held limitless potential. Even mediocre or weak talents could surpass their original owners if he obtained enough Talent Shards.

  However… where would he get his first talent?

  Observation and PnningOver the past two days, he had watched his sister Lisa train. She controlled ice with ease and quickly learned to wield it in different ways. Her talent was stabilizing, and she grew stronger each day.

  Meanwhile, he remained stuck. He had no training, no guidance, and no idea how to begin. But if there was one thing he had learned in life, it was that the world wouldn’t wait for him.

  "If I stay still, I will remain weak, and I will fail to protect myself, let alone my family…" he muttered to himself.

  He took a deep breath, then stood up from his bed and stepped outside. From a distance, he watched Lisa unleash another attack, causing the air around her to freeze momentarily.

  Elena was watching as well, a satisfied look on her face as she observed her younger sister’s rapid improvement.

  "She’s advancing quickly, isn’t she?" Elena said without turning to look at him.

  Lucas didn’t respond, simply continuing to watch his sister.

  "You’ll be evaluated next week as well. I hope you understand that. The academy won’t go easy on anyone, especially those with mysterious talents."

  Lucas finally looked at her, determination filling his eyes. "I know that. That’s why… I will find a way to become stronger."