Time Skip (~4 years)
Victor's POV
I was dreaming when, for the first time in 22 years, I heard the mechanical hum of Silver. My attention was immediately drawn to the system panel.
System Notification:
The host has fulfilled the requirements for an upgrade.Hidden conditions for evolution:Shadow Lord (Lv. 100), Vampire Lord (Lv. 100), Dragonlord (Lv. 100) reached maximum level. (Completed)1,000,000 shadow soldiers summoned. (Completed)System level 100 achieved. (Completed)The host is evolving into a Demi-God of Death. Prepare for evolution. Entering hibernation in 1 minute to increase the chance of success.
Sleepiness overwhelmed me, though I was relieved that William had left last week to travel with Meng Tian. As I felt my consciousness slip, a black liquid streaked with golden veins began to envelop me. Instinctively, I summoned all 1,000,000 of my shadow soldiers and pets to guard me during the process.
Just as I was submerged in darkness, a system message echoed through the minds of my shadow soldiers and pets.
Silver System Notification:
Lord Victor is evolving into a Demi-God. Beware of potential threats.Lord Victor is evolving into a Demi-God. Beware of potential threats.Lord Victor is evolving into a Demi-God. Beware of potential threats.
The shadows instantly understood the gravity of the situation, entering a heightened state of alert, ready to defend against any intruders.
An hour later, another notification rang out.
Silver System Notification:
Lord Victor's evolution from Dracula to Demi-God of Death is complete.System - Silver is upgrading to Silver Artificial Intelligence. (Failed)System - Silver is upgrading to Silver Artificial Intelligence. (Failed)System - Silver is upgrading to Silver Artificial Intelligence using remaining blood in storage.Error: Unknown evolution path. System evolving into Blood Titan A.I. System named Silver. (Completed)
As I woke from my hibernation, I couldn't help but feel exhilarated by the changes. The system had advanced in ways I hadn't anticipated. When I checked on my shadow soldiers, another notification chimed in.
Blood Titan A.I. System - Silver Notification:
Shadow evolution initiated.
An hour later, the final upgrade was complete.
Blood Titan A.I. System - Silver Notification:
Shadow soldiers' evolution completed. They have ascended into Shadow Knights.
For the first time, my shadows had an evolution path. My army had transformed from simple soldiers into powerful knights—an upgrade I'd never expected. I let out a small laugh, exhilarated by the newfound power.
Another notification appeared in the system.
System:
The host has attained a Shadow World. You may now name it.
I paused for a moment, thinking back to my mother. "Victoria," I whispered. It seemed a fitting tribute.
System:
The host has attained Shadow World - Victoria.
Victoria wasn't just any dimension; it was now my dominion, a world of shadows under my control, making me the god of that realm. It was far more advanced than the former shadow dimension—it allowed me to completely conceal my army. No longer did they need to dwell in my shadow or the shadows of others. Now, I could transport them using Victoria's vastness, surpassing the limitations of teleportation, which had a meager 5,000-kilometer range. Victoria functioned as a space tunnel, connecting even distant planets—something I had never been able to do before.
Victoria resembled a twisted version of Earth, but it was shrouded in eternal darkness. The only source of light was the ominous black-golden sun that burned above, giving the place an eerie, hellish atmosphere. From now on, this shadow realm would be my source of power, much like Asgard is to the Asgardians. As Victoria grew and flourished, so too would my strength.
New Abilities Unlocked:
Shadow Flight: The ability to form dark, dragon-like wings for flight.Shadow Breath: The power to breathe in a vacuum, enabling survival in space.
As I relished in these new abilities, I knew I had caught the attention of greater powers. Across the universe, gods sensed the birth of a new Demi-God, though most paid little attention. In the vastness of the cosmos, the birth and death of gods were routine.
However, one god, in particular, took notice—Odin. His connection to Earth made him aware of this new being, though what intrigued him most was the strange power of death that radiated from me. It wasn't quite death as he understood it, but something slightly different. Curiosity piqued, Odin decided he would eventually visit this Demi-God of Death to gauge whether I would pose a threat to Asgard.
Despite all these changes, I knew the title of Demi-God applied only to this universe. In the shadow universe, I was almost a god—but not quite. The system referred to it as a demi-god state, and if I were to face another demi-god in battle, I would stand a strong chance, but I was not invincible. To fully resist physical attacks, I needed to ascend to the rank of a true god. To be immune to mental and magical attacks, I would need to reach the celestial god level.
As I contemplated my future, I realized that becoming a god was only a matter of time if I continued to develop Victoria. There were conditions I would have to meet, but I knew I could overcome them. And once I reached that stage, I would be ready for marriage.
I laughed quietly to myself. Yes, marriage. I'd always wanted a woman who could stand by my side, someone who could face danger with me. Yet, I had never pursued it. My first and only love had been in kindergarten, a love I had buried deep within me after I was rejected. At the time, it had been devastating, and I unconsciously avoided relationships ever since, fearing rejection again.
But now, as a demi-god, the memories of that rejection no longer haunted me. I was finally ready to face it and accept it. After all, I had come to believe that a man who fears confessing his love hasn't loved her enough to accept rejection.
Author's Note:
This marks the end of Volume 1. In Volume 2, Victor embarks on a new kind of adventure as a Demi-God. Let me know if you'd like to see him involved in wars on Earth or battles with alien civilizations. See you soon!