I paused mid-stride, something stirring deep within me. My instincts told me to check my status. With a thought, the window materialized before me, lines of information glowing faintly in the air.
[Name: Randalph Brigsiel]
[Occupation: Demon Baron (Dungeon Master)]
[Title: Indomitable Warlord (Epic, all stats +3)]
[Base Stats]
[Strength: 77 (+3)]
[Intelligence: 64 (+3)]
[Agility: 74 (+3)]
[Stamina: 81 (+3)]
[Magic Power: 83 (+3)]
[Potential Level: (380 +15/510)]
[Demonic Energy: 3]
[Uniqueness: A demon who awakened has bloodline abilities. Heart of the Hell Monarch has been transplanted (Full strength hasn't been fully opened).]
[Bloodline Skills:]
[Authority of Predation (Ex. U), Authority of Replication (U), Authority of Evolution (U)]
Innate Skills:
Eternal Bond (N)
Production Skills:
Smithing (R), Basic Smelting (N), Alchemy (Ex. N), Basic Grinding (N), Enchanting (N), Read Runes (N), Engineering (N), Scrap Creation (N), Cooking (N), Chopping (N)
General Skills:
Skill Combination (R) Keen Insight (Ex. U)
[Before and After Comparison]
[Strength 79] [Intelligence 51] [Agility 75] Stamina 83] [Magic 65]
[Potential Level(338+15/510)]
[Strength 81] [Intelligence 67] [Agility 77] [Stamina 84] [Magic 86]
[Potential Level(380+15/500)]
[Authority of Predation (Ex. U)]
[Description: This skill allows the user to absorb abilities, traits, or knowledge from defeated enemies, artifacts, and even skill manuals. The degree of absorption depends on the strength of the source and the user's compatibility with it. High-level foes and rare artifacts grant significant enhancements, while unique abilities or skills can occasionally be assimilated and adapted for personal use. Absorption from artifacts and manuals may consume resources such as demonic energy or points, depending on the item's rarity. However, overuse or reckless assimilation can strain the user's body and mind, requiring careful management to avoid severe backlash.]
[Authority of Replication (U)]
[Description: This skill enables the user to replicate not only skills but also items, artifacts, and even living entities under certain conditions. The replicated objects or entities are temporary and will dissipate after a set duration, depending on the user's magic power and intelligence. Advanced uses of this authority allow the creation of avatars or clones of the user, capable of acting independently for a limited time. However, the power of the replicas is slightly reduced compared to the original unless the user invests significant energy to maintain their integrity.]
[Authority of Evolution (U)]
[Description: This authority allows the user to promote or evolve items, creatures, and even dungeon facilities into higher-tier versions. For creatures, this involves unlocking latent potential, enhancing their abilities, or transforming them into entirely new, stronger forms. For items, it can refine or improve their properties, sometimes granting them unique or legendary qualities. The process requires a mix of resources, demonic energy, and time, with results dependent on the base quality of the subject and the user's level of mastery.]
"…Crazy."
The words slipped from my lips as I stared at the numbers. The changes were dramatic, to say the least.
The evolution of my skills was astounding. Authority of Predation, previously a Unique-ranked skill, had climbed to Exceptional Unique. The Heart of the Hell Monarch had proven to be far more valuable than I initially thought.
Not only had my Magic Power and Intelligence skyrocketed—by 16 and 21 points, respectively—but I could feel the untapped potential within my body, a sleeping giant waiting to awaken.
"Magic power is critical," I murmured to myself. "Without it, no skill can reach its true potential."
Magic Power was a cornerstone for skills, increasing their destructive force, range, and precision. It also played a crucial role in asserting dominance over creatures and subordinates. Charisma, which was tied to both Magic Power and Intelligence, could now develop naturally, bridging a gap that had always been a weakness for me.
The heart had given me tools that I hadn't even dreamed of in my previous life.
I chuckled softly, marveling at how events had unfolded. The Heart of the Hell Monarch wasn't even listed as a reward, but it had inserted itself into the system.
"Was it a mistake? A loophole?"
The possibilities sent a shiver down my spine. If the heart could bypass the system, then what other limits might I be able to defy?
The risk had been immense, but now the rewards felt even greater.
"Master?"
I glanced down to see Yihi fluttering near me, her large eyes filled with confusion.
"Are you okay? Why are you smiling like that?"
I gave her a reassuring nod. "Everything's fine, Yihi. Better than fine."
Over the next three days, I reorganized the dungeon, tweaking its ecosystem to align with my growing power. My progress demanded a corresponding level of challenge for anyone foolish enough to enter.
Still, my points total weighed heavily on my mind.
[-Points Remaining: 524,579]
I frowned. When I last checked, my total had been 440,722. Even with the 100,000 bonus points for my achievement, the gain was minimal.
"The humans are too weak," I muttered. Their low levels meant their deaths yielded negligible points. It was a frustrating reality, one that wouldn't change for years unless I cultivated Heroes myself.
My mind wandered to a specific human I'd encountered recently: Kim Yong-woo.
He wasn't much to look at—timid, clumsy, and terrified when I first saw him. Yet, when I used Mind's Eye to peer at his stats, I couldn't deny his potential.
[Name: Kim Yong-woo]
[Occupation: Hero (Warrior)]
[Title: None]
[Stats:]
[Strength: 38]
[Intelligence: 30]
[Agility: 36]
[Stamina: 34]
[Magic Power: 13]
[Potential: (150/322)]
[Uniqueness: Guild Master of 'Heaven's Will']
[Skills:]
[Basic Swordsmanship (N): Grants a fundamental understanding of swordsmanship.]
"A Hero," I mused. "And a guild master at that."
Heaven's Will was a name I recognized. A top-five guild in Korea, its members rarely ventured into dungeons beyond their homeland. Yet, they were undeniably powerful.
My thoughts turned to the guild's previous master, the Lightning Queen. She was a force of nature, among the top 10 humans in the world. Her mastery of lightning magic had been terrifying to witness, her rage capable of leveling entire battlefields.
"Kim Yong-woo doesn't compare to her," I said aloud. "Not yet, anyway."
Still, the potential was there. And potential could be cultivated.
The Beginner's Protection Period was over, and with it, my initial work in the dungeon was complete.
"There's nothing left here," I said, surveying the floors. "The time has come to leave for the human world."
My plan was ambitious: infiltrate humanity as one of their own.
Unlike the Grand Dukes and their insufferable pride, I was free to move as I pleased. The Grand Dukes clung to the Demon World, refusing to mingle with humans for fear of tarnishing their power. But I had no such constraints.
More importantly, I understood the truth: humanity's strength would grow exponentially. Their unity would become their greatest weapon, while the demons' fragmented factions would doom them.
The 4 Grand Dukes couldn't see it, but I had lived it.
"I'm not bound by their rules," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips. "I'll be a Hero among humans—a wolf in sheep's clothing."
The plan was simple. As a Hero, I could infiltrate human guilds, gain fame, and exploit their resources. I could even raid dungeons controlled by rival demons, weakening their positions while strengthening my own.
It was the perfect strategy: let the humans do my dirty work.
I closed my eyes and visualized my next destination. South Korea, with its dense population and high concentration of dungeons, was ideal. Heroes of varying levels roamed its cramped cities, offering countless opportunities to gather intel and resources.
"Let's go," I said, stepping through the portal.
As the light enveloped me, I felt a thrill I hadn't experienced in centuries.
The Demon Baron Randalph Brigsiel was about to walk among humans, not as a predator, but as a Hero.
This was no longer about survival or conquest.
This was about domination.