Have you ever experienced those unsettling dreams where everything around you transforms into giants, confusing and terrifying you?
Officer Andrew underwent a similar sensation, except he was acutely aware that this couldn't be a dream. He still vividly remembered talking with Alysia just moments ago. However, in the next instant, it felt as if he were yanked into a different space, and his surroundings abruptly changed.
No longer in the familiar Southwest Alves, he found himself stranded on an unknown, desolate land with nothing in sight, stretching as far as his eyes could discern.
When he looked upward, the sky bathed in an orange dusk hue, the air thick with a disturbing filthiness. Circling above were crows, each the size of a house.
Cry!
Cry!
The crow's echoing cries reverberated throughout the desolate landscape. Officer Andrew, gripped by terror, dared not even breathe, fearing the slightest sound might attract the attention of these colossal creatures.
'What... what is this place? H-how did I get here?' Officer Andrew thought to himself, on the verge of crying.
Suddenly, the land beneath him trembled fiercely, like an earthquake. With his outstanding physique and police training, it should have been easy for him to withstand the tremors. Yet, whether due to overwhelming terror or a lapse in control, he found himself unable to stabilize and tumbled to the ground.
As he fell, the tremors intensified. In the distance, his eyes caught sight of a creature that shared similarities with a wild boar, but this was no ordinary boar. It possessed short, sturdy legs, thick fur, and massive tusks that jutted menacingly from its snout. However, its size was phenomenal, comparable to that bulldozer.
As the creature charged across the desolate landscape, its massive form kicked up clouds of dust, the ground quaking with each thunderous step. The wild demon boar's eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and when their eyes met, he felt his legs go limp.
'What is this creature? A demon wild boar?' Panic surged within Officer Andrew as he scrambled to his feet, but his attempts were futile.
"Damn it! Move, move my legs!" Officer Andrew, no longer concerned with the circling crows above, cursed loudly, hoping his yell would yield a change.
Yet, there was no change. His body refused to comply, as if immobilized.
His horrified gaze turned back to the approaching Wild Boar Demon. To his dismay, he realized his initial assessment was horribly wrong. It wasn't just one Wild Boar Demon; there were thousands of them, forming a menacing horde. With every thunderous step, they sent shockwaves akin to an earthquake through the ground.
Atop those Bull Demons were humanoid figures clad in black metallic armor that covered their entire bodies. The only visible features were their red eyes, emanating a thick murderous intent that penetrated Officer Andrew's heart.
"Mommy, daddy..."
...
"Ew! He peed himself!" Austin exclaimed disgustedly as he watched Officer Andrew's pants gradually stained by a liquid. He quickly rolled up the window and turned to Alysia with an astonished gaze. "What did you do to him?"
He was flabbergasted.
Only dozens of seconds had passed since Alysia threatened Officer Andrew, yet, during that brief period, a myriad of things happened to him. Initially appearing hypnotized, his face went from blank to confused, then panicked, and finally to fear.
After the wave of fear, his body collapsed to the ground, convulsing fiercely as if in extreme pain.
"I just put him under my spell. His mind will experience the terror of being targeted by a thousand cavalry soldiers. The killing intent of a thousand people is sufficient to instill a nightmare that ordinary folks won't forget for a lifetime." Alysia licked her dry lips.
"Can I learn it?" Austin asked, his eyes gleaming with interest. Mastering this technique could make his college life a breeze. If he ever encountered those jerks again, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger. He just needed a simple chant, and those troublemakers would crumble, trembling and wetting themselves.
How satisfying that would be? HAHAHAHAH!
"I can practically see your wicked thoughts all over your face." Alysia rolled her eyes and began. "Unfortunately for you, this is part of my Characteristics. It can't be taught. Even if I spent my whole life explaining the procedure to you, you still wouldn't be able to learn it."
"Are you sure it's not just because you're too lazy to teach me?" Austin blurted out without thinking.
"Hehe, what do you think?" Alysia's eyes glinted mysteriously. Austin gulped hard at the sight and quickly changed the topic. "What about that officer? Is it okay for us to abandon him in that state?"
Alysia's gaze returned to Officer Andrew, still convulsing on the dirty ground.
"Let's just go. That guy should be relieved I didn't use the full command earlier. If I had, he might have gone mental, and his mind wouldn't be able to recover for a long time." Alysia clicked her tongue and started the car.
The car soon drifted away, leaving Officer Andrew and his vehicle alone.
...
"What are 'Characteristics'?" Austin asked curiously. The car had now reached the outskirts of Alves City, and rows of tall buildings were becoming visible.
"Characteristics refer to the abilities and attributes you gain once you've completed your morphing and successfully passed the first awakening. In the demon world, we have a system of ten levels to calculate our level. The numbers range from Tenth Level as the lowest level to First Level as the highest level a demon could achieve," Alysia explained.
"A pure-blooded demon, upon birth, classified at the Tenth Level. If we convert it into human terms, this places their strength on par with, or even slightly superior to, human athletes. This level is maintained until they reach the age of ten."
"After hitting the age of ten, they undergo what we call the 'First Awakening.' This marks the beginning of the 'Morphing' phase, lasting around two weeks. During this period, they gradually experience changes within their bodies. Their physique grows stronger, and their five senses are enhanced progressively. If they safely pass the Morphing phase and complete their First Awakening, they will naturally be classified as a genuine Ninth Level." Alysia went on.
"So, what stage am I in now?" Austin inquired subconsciously.
"As a reincarnated demon born through a ritual, the day you were born would also be your First Awakening day. Therefore, as of now, you're already in the Morphing phase and can be considered to be at the threshold of Ninth Level." Alysia said.
"I see. So, if I understand correctly, I just need to wait for about two weeks, and I'll acquire my own characteristics and develop attributes that are exclusively mine?"
"Well, that should be the case... for a pure-blooded demon." Alysia suddenly wore a mysterious smile.