God of Souls: Attaining the Strongest System in an Apocalyptic World
Chapter 35: Soul Command

Chapter 35: Soul Command

Minutes had passed since Kael had taken down the enormous soul beast. He lay on the ground, staring up at the cavern ceiling as his body mended itself. His ribs, which had been shattered by the monster’s crushing force, knitted back together with sickening pops. Torn muscles wove themselves anew, and his fractured arm snapped into place with a muted crunch. The pain was excruciating, but he had learned to endure it. The system worked fast, ensuring he was battle-ready in no time.

With a sharp breath, Kael sat up, shaking off the lingering aches. A flood of notifications appeared before him, glowing ominously in his vision.

[Name: Kael Auron]

[Level: 5]

[20/200 Exp]

[You have increased twice in strength and speed.]

[You have received a few gifts from the system. Would you like to check this out?]

[There is a tutorial video waiting for you.]

Kael blinked at the messages, his mind whirling. The first notification made his pulse quicken—twice as strong? That was an incredible leap in power! If his physical abilities had truly doubled, he could now go toe-to-toe with even stronger opponents. That alone made his recent struggle worth it.

Then, there was the mention of gifts. His heartbeat drummed louder. The system had never given him gifts before. What could they be? Weapons? Skills? Something beyond his current understanding?

But what stood out the most was the tutorial video. A tutorial? He had no idea the system even had those. The curiosity gnawed at him. If a tutorial existed, it meant someone—or something—had used this system before him. Could it be a clue to the origins of his power?

Eager to learn more, he gave a sharp command. "Show me the tutorial video."

A new notification popped up:

[Tutorial video detected. Paused. Awaiting user command.]

The screen flickered, and a figure appeared. A man clad in dark clothing stood before him. He looked to be in his early thirties, with short brown hair and a whip strapped to his waist. There was something unnerving about his stance, as if he carried the weight of untold secrets.

Kael’s brows furrowed. Who was this? A former system user? Or perhaps... its creator?

He swallowed hard. "Play the video."

The recording crackled to life.

"Is it on? Okay... listen up."

The man’s voice was calm yet commanding.

"I am someone I can’t name at the level you are now. But as you grow with the system, I will reveal more. For now, pay attention to the first page of the Beast Grimoire—it contains knowledge of beast-type martial—"

"Pause!" Kael tapped the video, halting it.

His eyes widened as realization struck him—the Beast Grimoire. He had left it at home! If only he had brought it, this video would make much more sense. He cursed under his breath. But there was no time for regret. He closed the video notification, pushing it aside for later.

Right now, he needed to check out his gifts.

[Congratulations on reaching Level 5.]

[You have unlocked the real title of the system. Would you like to see the real title?]

[You have gained Beast Soul Command skill.]

[You have gained Red Aura.]

[You have gained Shallow Armor.]

The messages came in rapid succession, overwhelming him. Each new ability hinted at untapped power, but he couldn’t afford to lose himself in excitement. He had left Cole alone in the tunnel, still running from whatever horrors lurked in the darkness. The thought of his friend being ambushed by another monster like the snake sent a jolt of urgency through him.

Kael inhaled sharply, pushing away unnecessary distractions. He decided to focus on just two of his newly acquired gifts for now.

The first one caught his attention immediately.

[Beast Soul Command: Have the ability to resurrect the souls of powerful dead beasts just by shedding your blood on them as a ritual sign.]

His breath hitched. Resurrect?

Kael’s gaze flickered toward the massive, lifeless form of the snake beast he had just slain. Its blood still seeped into the ground, forming dark, coagulating pools. A thought occurred to him—could he bring it back?

Almost on cue, the system reacted.

[Test out your Soul Command skill by pouring your blood on the body of the beast.]

His fingers twitched. This was it. His first chance to wield the unknown.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, extending his sharp, overgrown nails. He dragged them across his palm, wincing slightly as warm crimson liquid trickled down. Then, he let the blood drip onto the snake’s corpse.

The moment his blood touched the beast’s flesh, a violent spark ignited. A golden surge of energy erupted from the body, engulfing it in flickering, yellow flames. The very air around him seemed to vibrate as something awakened.

Kael took a cautious step back, his heart hammering in his chest.

The snake’s body convulsed. Its form twisted and crackled with a blinding aura, as if it were being reborn in some unnatural way. And then—it moved.

With a sound like a thousand whispers in the wind, a phantasmal version of the snake peeled itself from the corpse. It looked exactly the same—same massive size, same terrifying form—but instead of flesh and blood, it was composed of pure, ethereal energy.

Kael’s jaw clenched. "Is this... the soul of the snake?"

The creature hovered before him, its translucent yellow form pulsing like a living ember. Despite his initial fear, he felt a connection to it. A bond.

An idea struck him, and he decided to test its obedience. "Come closer."

Instantly, the soul beast slithered toward him.

Kael’s stomach tightened. He tried another command. "Wrap yourself around me."

Without hesitation, the snake obeyed, coiling itself around his body like a living armor. A shiver ran down his spine.

He issued another order. "Attack the wall."

The snake lunged forward, slamming its ethereal fangs into the cavern’s rocky surface. A thunderous crack echoed as pieces of stone crumbled away.

Kael exhaled in amazement. This was real. This power... it was his.

A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "With this, I can take down monsters even stronger than before."

But then, a darker thought crept into his mind.

If the world knew about this ability, how would they react? Would they fear him? Would they call him a monster? After all, he was already different—his body healed unnaturally fast, and he had developed a taste for raw flesh.

Was he... becoming one of them?

Kael shuddered but shoved the thought away. He needed to focus. There was still one more notification left.

[The True Title of the System]

[God of Souls]

He froze.

God of Souls?

His breath came in shallow gasps. What the hell did that even mean?