Part 1I Awakened the Cursed Water Affinity

In my previous life, my boyfriend Bobby ripped my priceless Water Affinity right out of my soul and handed it over to his precious golden girl, Lyla.

They dumped me in the wasteland like a piece of trash, leaving me to bake into a mummified corpse under the scorching desert sun.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the exact day my powers awakened.

A mechanical, icy voice echoed in my mind.

[Please select your ability conduit: A. Equivalent Exchange. B. Lifespan Consumption.]

Looking at the two hypocrites standing in front of me, I swallowed down a tidal wave of pure hatred and made my choice without a single heartbeat of hesitation.

"I choose B."

You wanted my powers so badly, Lyla? Take them.

Let's see how well you play the untouchable beauty when you are wearing the face of a shriveled old crone.

* * *

My skin had cracked and blistered against the boiling desert sands. In the final moments before my consciousness faded, completely drained of moisture, the last thing burned into my vision was the nauseating sight of Bobby and Lyla standing over me.

I hated them. God, I hated them.

In my past life, when the Scorched Earth apocalypse hit, I awakened the ultra-rare Water Affinity.

The system gave me two choices for my power source: Equivalent Exchange or Lifespan Consumption.

Terrified of dying young, I chose the former. Every single day, I carefully extracted moisture from dirt and dead wood, trading physical matter to provide our survival camp with their only source of drinking water.

I honestly thought my absolute devotion and caution would earn Bobby's loyalty and protection.

I was dead wrong. In his eyes, I would never hold a candle to Lyla, his childhood sweetheart.

To ensure Lyla lived like a queen in the wasteland, he used his incredibly rare Siphon ability to forcibly rip my Water Affinity right out of my chest and graft it onto her.

I was reduced to a crippled mortal. They tossed me into a dusty corner, and during a violent raid for supplies, I was left behind to die of dehydration under the merciless sun.

"Serena! Serena, wake up!"

My eyes snapped open. Blinding sunlight and a suffocating wave of heat instantly swallowed me.

Hovering above me was Bobby's familiar, detestable face. He was shaking my shoulders in an absolute panic.

I was reborn.

The cold, mechanical voice chimed in my head once more.

[System Alert: Host mental state stabilized. Water Affinity awakened.]

[Please select your ability conduit: A. Equivalent Exchange. B. Lifespan Consumption.]

I was back. I was actually back.

Back to the exact moment my powers manifested.

My heart slammed against my ribs in a chaotic mix of wild ecstasy and homicidal rage.

"Babe, are you okay? You awakened the Water Affinity!" Bobby's voice trembled with poorly suppressed excitement. Standing right behind him, Lyla watched me with a highly calculated look, a frail, innocent smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

It was exactly the same. Exactly like my past life.

You love my powers that much?

Perfect.

In this life, I am going to give you a gift. A little surprise bought and paid for with human life.

I lowered my eyelashes, burying the lethal intent exploding in my pupils.

When I looked up again, I grabbed my head with both hands. My body began to violently convulse. I drained all the blood from my face.

"It hurts. It hurts so much," I gasped out, my voice ragged. "There is something inside my body. It's tearing me apart. I can't control it."

My acting was absolutely flawless. Anyone watching would assume this was severe biological rejection, a common side effect for newly awakened mutants.

Bobby immediately pulled me into a tight, dramatic embrace, his voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Don't panic. This is normal for a new awakening. Your body is just too frail. I've got you."

He glanced up at Lyla. His eyes were swimming with toxic, sacrificial love, while Lyla perfectly mirrored his gaze with a look of deep, theatrical concern.

I knew the script. The circus act was about to begin.

While leaning weakly against Bobby's chest, I gave the system my final answer.

"I choose option B. Lifespan Consumption."

The moment the choice locked in, I could have sworn I heard a demon laughing in the back of my mind.

You wanted my power so desperately, Lyla?

Let's see how much you enjoy it when your youth rots away from the inside out.