Chapter 192: Identification Card

Leo halted, extending his Void Sense through the surrounding forest. The invisible wave of perception swept past the trees and dense brush. Satisfied they were alone and unseen, the tension left his shoulders.

He reached for his belt and drew his Origin Card. The pitch-black surface caught Atlas’s eye.

"Big Brother, what is that?"

Leo met his gaze. "Oh... didn’t I say that I’d trust my back to you over anyone else?"

Atlas gave a firm nod.

"So this is it?" Leo held the dark card up. "This is something very important to me."

"You can say that this concerns my life." His expression grew serious. "This is a secret, okay?"

"Don’t tell anyone about it."

"If someone finds out about this, my life could be in danger."

Atlas’s eyes widened. "Don’t worry, Big Brother."

"I won’t tell anyone."

"Not even Nina."

"Even if I die, I won’t tell anyone."

Leo offered a faint smile. "I trust you."

"From now on, my life is in your hands, okay?"

"Okay!" Atlas agreed without hesitation.

Turning his attention back to the Origin Card, Leo said, "Then, let me show you some magic."

Atlas’s face lit up with wonder. "Magic?"

Leaving the boy to his excitement, Leo accessed the System Store. He navigated through the glowing interface until he spotted what he needed. Out of the limited stock, only three Identification Cards remained. He pulled up the details for one of them.

Rare Card — Identification Card

Description: A special one-use card that can examine the basic condition of a living being. It can detect injuries, illnesses, physical abnormalities, and unusual energy fluctuations, but cannot provide detailed information about unknown abilities or hidden powers.

Usage: The card disappears after activation.

Price: 3,000 Zen Points / 50 Nucleus Crystals

Leo studied the cost. It was a decent chunk of his savings—neither cheap nor overly expensive. Still, given Atlas’s poor health, it was a necessary expense.

He confirmed the purchase. A faint flash warmed his palm as a silver-white card took shape between his fingers.

Atlas stared at the new item in awe. "Is this the magic?"

Leo glanced down at the boy. "Something like that."

"Now let’s see what’s wrong with you."

Leo held the Identification Card up to Atlas and willed it to activate. The smooth surface pulsed with a faint glow.

A heartbeat later, a beam of bright white light flared from the back of the card, sweeping across Atlas’s body. Atlas stood stock-still, watching the beam trace over his skin.

"Whoa..."

The light traveled from his head down to his boots before drifting back up to rest at his chest. Silence stretched out in the room. Then, the beam flashed with blinding intensity.

The card rattled in Leo’s grip. The edges began to crumble, dissolving the entire card into a swarm of glowing particles. The floating specks swirled together in the air, weaving themselves into a thin sheet of parchment.

Leo caught it as it fell. The crease between his brows deepened as he read the text.

[Identification Results]

Name: Atlas

Race: Human

Condition: Critical

Bloodline: Golden Ape

Status: Incomplete Awakening

Diagnosis: A crucial element required for bloodline evolution is missing. The transformation has stalled.

Result: Due to the missing element, the awakening bloodline is consuming the target’s body and soul as a substitute energy source. Continued consumption will eventually lead to complete deterioration.

Symptom: Extreme, uncontrollable hunger.

Conclusion: The bloodline is eating away at the target’s soul. Because normal meals only restore the physical body, ordinary food will never satisfy this hunger.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he reached the bottom of the page.

Leo stared at Atlas, his expression grave. Seeing the shift in his older brother’s demeanor, Atlas grew anxious.

"Big Brother, what happened?"

"Is everything alright?"

Leo shook his head.

"No."

Even with the Identification Card revealing the truth behind Atlas’s condition, the solution remained out of reach. Knowing the cause was one thing; fixing it was another. Yet, looking at the young man standing before him, Leo refused to give up.

He turned the problem over in his mind. The missing factor. The bloodline consuming Atlas’s body and soul. The endless hunger. A connection had to exist. His thoughts raced until a spark of inspiration struck. His gaze dropped to his card belt, and with a thought, he drew a glowing purple card. An Epic Card.

[Epic Card — Zarokun’s Golden Ape Bloodline]

[Description:] A powerful bloodline inherited from Zarokun, the Golden Ape.

Leo studied the item. He had planned to save it until he understood its effects, knowing the risks of using an unknown bloodline on himself. But Atlas’s situation was different. The boy already possessed a Golden Ape bloodline. Perhaps this card held the missing piece.

Leo met Atlas’s gaze.

"Originally, I was planning to try this some other time." He paused, taking a breath. "I hope this solves the problem. Otherwise..." A bitter smile touched his lips. "...even I’m out of ideas for now."

Atlas eyed the glowing purple card with curiosity.

Raising it high, Leo willed the card to activate. It dissolved into countless specks of light that drifted through the air, swirling around Atlas like fireflies. A beat passed. Then—

WHOOSH!

The light surged into Atlas’s chest. His frame trembled. For a few tense seconds, the forest was completely still. Leo narrowed his eyes, waiting.

Then a sound broke the quiet.

Duk... Duk...

A deep heartbeat echoed through the trees. The rhythm grew louder, heavier.

DUK! DUK! DUK!

Atlas clutched his chest, gasping for air as the pounding escalated into a frantic drumroll.

"Argh!"

He collapsed to his knees, gripping his head with both hands. Violent tremors wracked his body.

"Big Brother!"

Leo stepped forward, hand outstretched. "Atlas!"

No answer came. A low growl tore from Atlas’s throat. His muscles went rigid, and thick veins bulged beneath his skin. Instead of a normal blue, a faint, liquid gold pulsed through them. The glow crawled outward from his chest, creeping down his arms and legs. When Atlas opened his eyes, his irises burned a brilliant gold.