"Hell yeah!"
I felt my whole body being restored to my prime. No, I felt even stronger than before.
The [Revival Potion] was really worth the price it had. Smiling, I stood up.
Now even if no one trusted my words about that damn party, I could survive and earn using my hands. I wouldn't have to beg.
It was an optimistic situation for me.
"If this road held the treasure... Then the other must be the way out."
I muttered before turning around. Soon I reached the junction again and took the other hallway.
Just as I thought, the hallway ended in a large room with a bright yellow stone in the middle.
"The teleportation stone!"
I exclaimed and stepped forward.
But...
"Took you long enough!"
A voice entered my ears and something hit the back of my head hard.
"Gah!"
Pain rushed through my body once again... And I fell to the ground.
--------------------------------
"..."
I groggily opened my eyes and winced at the pain coming from behind my head. From the cold wet sensation... I was bleeding.
I tried to take a deep breath but quickly found out that I couldn't. My whole body felt numb and I couldn't move my arms or legs.
It took me a few seconds to remember what had happened.
I was close to the teleportation stone and was about to get out of the dungeon... But then...
"Are you already awake? Good, we can start then."
Someone said in a happy voice from behind. Instantly, I cried out in pain.
"S-stop- gah!"
Another kick hit my spine. My back felt like it would break any second now.
I couldn't see my assailant and tried to turn around, only to be kicked in the head. The force turned my head the other way, forcing me to look at the dungeon wall.
"Don't even try to move, fucker."
A hard kick pushed my body forward and made me roll on the ground like a ragdoll.
"Ugh-!"
Tears came out of my eyes as I bit my lips to hold back the pain.
"Hah! If you cry from just this, then I wonder what you'll do once I'm done with you?"
A laugh echoed in my ears before a knife plunged into my back.
--------------------------------
"P-please..."
I groaned as I coughed out blood. My whole body was covered with stab wounds.
I couldn't move my body either for some reason.
Yet, I tried to crawl away from the assailant.
"I... Need... To... Go..."
I couldn't die here.
I had survived the Death Knight, I had survived the dungeon. I had revived myself using the [Revival Potion]. After all that, I couldn't just die here.
I wanted to live... I HAD to live.
"Where are you going?"
"AGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
A scream came out of my mouth as I felt my legs getting severed.
I looked over my shoulder, horrified. That woman... She had cut both of my legs.
Tears fell out of my eyes.
I hadn't done anything to deserve this... Then why was the world so cruel to me?
"Why-"
I asked in a rough voice. The woman chuckled.
"Lament your bad luck. Lament yourself for being an E-ranker."
She said with a giggle before continuing her attacks.
Soon, I was so in pain that I couldn't see or feel anything clearly.
"Tsk, not enough despair... guess you are in for more pain!"
"N-no-"
My right eye was gouged out.
"Agh..."
I couldn't even scream. Pain dominated my entire body.
"Hoh, the meter is filled..."
The woman laughed before pushing my head down. Her dagger stabbed into my chest once, twice, thrice.
"Gah..."
Blood came out of my mouth... My vision darkened.
"See ya... Or not."
With a chuckle, the girl left.
I laid there on the ground, bleeding to death.
"Why..."
"Who..."
"For what reason..."
I didn't feel pain. I felt cold and numb, as if I was already dead.
Anger rushed through my body, hatred rose to the sky.
I couldn't forgive these people. The Hunter Guild staff who mistreated me, the town which abused me, the party which betrayed me... And the woman who killed me.
I couldn't let them go. I needed to torture them one by one.
Just like they did to me.
Day after day.
Month after month.
Year after year.
"D-damn you..."
A hoarse voice escaped my lips as I barely moved my fingers.
"I-I'll do it... I'll return..."
My life was already over. It didn't matter what I did.
It didn't matter if I sold my soul to the devil.
God had never played his role. He had abandoned me.
So why would I care about going to heaven?
My fingers trembled while I drew the diagram.
My blood became the structure of the ritual, my soul became the sacrifice.
I couldn't move my fingers anymore... But it was done. The diagram was complete.
At that moment...
[Rage, hatred and will to become a slaughterer have been recognized.]
[You have transcended death and have become a [Vengeful Spirit]. However, due to your weak soul, you shall remain in slumber for an extended period of time.]
[You have taken the first step towards becoming the embodiment of death. You have gained the skills related to your new class.]
[Congratulations. From now, your name shall be Yurei.]
The words flooded into my mind like water that broke through a dam. An intense power pierced through my heart. Violent energies coursed through my veins as I slowly ascended from my body.
"T-this..."
I couldn't believe my eyes! I could see my body below me... But I didn't know how.
Then, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, my consciousness disappeared.
--------------------------------
The entire city of Quin froze. Everyone stopped what they were doing and slowly turned towards the direction of the dungeon.
"W-what is this-"
All high-ranking Hunters could feel it. A terrifyingly evil energy was radiating from inside the dungeon. It felt like someone had unleashed an evil god... But Death Flower was a beginner level dungeon. There weren't any exceptionally powerful monsters in there.
"W-what is that pillar?"
One of the Hunter suddenly whispered, as if he was too scared to be noticed. The other Hunters also stared at the red pillar of light standing at the entrance of the dungeon. No one could get close to it due to the vicious power surrounding it.
Waves of powerful energy surged from within the dungeon for a few seconds... Then everything calmed down. The pillar disappeared and the evil power cooled down considerably.
But no one could forget that feeling of dread... And for a while, no one would dare to enter the dungeon.
--------------------------------
The old beggar looked up at the sky, his expression clouded.
His eyes were focused on the red pillar of light that rose to the sky. He knew very well who that light belonged to and where that person was.
"He... He used the wrong diagram..."
His red eyes shook uncontrollably as he stood up.
"I need to guide him back... If he stays on that path, he'll be consumed by his rage!"
The beggar growled and waved his hand. Immediately, a crack appeared in the space in front of him and revealed a portal. The old beggar stepped into that portal and disappeared.
A half-eaten mouldy bread laid on the ground, abandoned.
--------------------------------
The gears of hell were moving fast. The terrifying demons and demonic gods all looked at the sky. Their gazes were focused on the mortal realm beyond the clouds.
"Someone transcended death?"
A lone figure sat on a magnificent black throne. He let out a chuckle as he realized what had happened.
"Gather the troops! We need to take over the gates of hell before that creature revives completely!"
His voice echoed in the empty hallway. Immediately, several shadows rushed towards the door to convey his order to the troop.
"I shall wait for you to ripen, [Vengeful Spirit]... And then this demon lord will consume your flesh!"
The black castle of hell, the home of the tenth Demon Lord Azazel, shook with laughter.