There was a long silence after I asked my short barrage of questions before the voice spoke again.
"Of the four young demons that entered the first level, the one named Zeke possessed more of the qualities I deemed fit to personify my successor. He was quick to react and deal the final blow even when gripped with agony. I am aware of the events that transpired because of the vast amounts of blood you lot shed. There has never been a drop of blood on the first level before. So much at once was quite exhilarating and caught the attention of many others within the dungeon as well."
The voice was suddenly a lot more talkative.
"Ah but do not despair, at the end you were quite the true demon."
"So what are you then? Just a voice we woke up with blood? ", I couldn't help but ask.
"To be precise I am a sentient will left behind by one of the greatest of devils to walk among this realm. Chased down by pursuers that wanted to stop my creators' ascendence, I was left here in the hope of finding a descendant that hails from a demonic bloodline that could gain the strength needed to avenge us if the pursuers happen to succeed."
A small black and white ember emerged from the darkness and flickered with a myriad array of colors. It quickly approached and floated around me a few times before stopping in its previous position.
"You shall acquire the inheritance. My creator would have been quite pleased with the blood you have shed."
"Wait, slow down", I interrupted.
I rubbed my temples for a moment before continuing.
"First of all what do I call you, the voice?
Is the reason why I haven't been dying from all those fatal encounters because of this inheritance you're trying to give me?
Is it a weapon?"
I thought for a moment before asking one final question.
"Why are you calling me a demon?"
There was another short silence as I watched the monochromatic ember seem to flicker in and out of existence incorporeally before hearing the voice again.
"My master was called Aurora, Devil of Essence. You may address me as you wish. Have you no basic knowledge of cultivation, magic, laws, or even your species ?"
There was a deep sigh.
"Worry not. Accept the inheritance and all shall become clear as you gain strength. Do not forget that at the moment you are stuck in a dungeon. You will surely perish if you remain as you are now."
It was infuriating but the voice was right. Without any help, I won't be able to escape the dungeon. I need to do whatever it takes to get back to the village in case anyone survived. I don't even know who attacked us or how they could do such a horrible thing. After a deep breath, I clenched my fists and spoke,
" For now I'll call you... Ember..."
" I Accept your inheritance."
The center of the monochromatic flame burst with the colors that were once hard to see and then flew directly into my stomach. An intense pain began to develop slowly right beneath my naval. It felt like bombshells were going off in my gut causing me to drop down to my knees while wrapping my arms around myself.
"Ember! What's happening !", I shouted between pained gasps for breath. Soon the searing pain began to spread from my naval, extending throughout my body and I started to convulse uncontrollably like a shaken rag doll. It was hard to focus but I could faintly hear Ember's voice resounding in my head.
"You are already at the age of 17 and have never studied any methods of transcending mundanity. I jump-started the progression of your almost non-existent Dantian and now that pain flowing through your veins is changing your body to be able to handle the energy that it will come to contain. You should be honored to be granted the same body nourishing that the mightiest of ancient devils had access to."
"Ah also do not worry. Some basic knowledge and terminology will naturally be imparted upon you once I began to rip I mean forge your sea of consciousness"
The words could be heard clearly but the pain made it impossible to process the meaning behind them. After what felt like an eternity I stopped convulsing and started coughing up globs of black blood. By the time the coughing finally stopped it felt like something was trying to rip my skull in two. My vision faded to black but soon opened up to a large translucent scarlet-tinged bubble. Inside was a sky with a beautiful shade of apricot glowing above a crystal azure sea tinged with chilling moonlight silver. Upon closer inspection faint outlines of what appeared to be black and white wisps of flame seemed to flicker, tracing along the exterior of the bubble.
"What is this place ? ", I wondered aloud.
Ember's voice responded eagerly,
"This is what is classically referred to as one's sea of consciousness, it is a reflection of the mind, will, and soul. You have done excellent in surviving and maintaining your sanity after enduring the reforging of your body young demon."
A vein bulged on my forehead as I spoke,
"Yea thanks for nothing, it felt like I was being ripped to shreds from the inside out, and what the hell was with the black blood? "
My sarcasm did not seem to phase ember in the slightest because the voice responded gleefully, "The black blood was the expulsion of the impurities that once lay within and your body is quite resistant and contains a truly generous healing factor. You're nowhere near reaching my master's level but this will be an excellent foundation for your journey."
"My journey ?" I quizzically replied.
"Right now I need to escape the dungeon and find out who attacked my village and why !"
Thinking about what happened began to make my blood boil.
"Of course, their deaths and your survival are all but ensured now that you have so graciously received Aurora's inheritance. Young one you have now taken the first step in ascending toward a higher realm of existence. It will be utterly perilous, referring to it as a journey seems to be quite fitting.