Inside a luxurious room that looked as if it were plucked straight out of a horror movie set, I felt an unsettling chill run down my spine. The opulence was undeniable—plush carpets, intricate chandeliers, and ornate furniture—but it was all overshadowed by a creeping sense of dread. I half-expected a ghost to float by, offering me a glass of vintage red wine, before revealing that it was, in fact, blood.
I glanced around, trying to make sense of my situation. For the moment, I seemed to be safe, but my paranoia whispered that something sinister was lurking, just biding its time before it decided to end me. Classic horror trope, I thought. It seemed that my life had taken a dive into the script of a particularly twisted film.
"Damn that white-winged chicken grim reaper," I muttered, tripping over my own feet as I struggled to remove my formal eastern-style clothes. I couldn't help but think how absurd this all was—if someone had told me yesterday that I'd be cursing out a poultry-themed harbinger of death, I would have laughed in their face.
After a brief wrestling match with my attire, I managed to change into a long-sleeved shirt and black pants that fit remarkably well. At least I looked good, even if I was about to face who-knows-what in this luxurious nightmare.
I peeked left and right down the hallway outside the luxurious room I had been in earlier. It was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that sets your nerves on edge and makes you wish for some background elevator music, even if it was just to break the tension.
Out of the blue, a red window screen popped up in front of me with a note labeled "Quest."
[Quest :"Run Demons Prince" Escape from the castle" - Escape from the former demon lord's castle and survived]
[If you can escape Keke!!!]
"…Fuck you!!! Motherfathers!!!" I shouted, cursing the window as if it might actually respond.
To my shock, it did.
[Fuck you too.]
I stared at the screen, utterly flabbergasted. It took a moment for my brain to catch up with the absurdity. After a deep sigh, I muttered, "What's the reward anyway? If there's a quest, there's gotta be a reward, right?"
As if on cue, the screen changed.
[Reward: All Stats +3]
Well, at least the universe had a sense of timing. I smirked and took off down the hallway, trusting in the muscle memory of Omega—the name of the Demon Prince, son of the Demon King. Omega's skills flowed through me as I ran, weaving through the castle's corridors with practiced ease. It was a strange sensation, having the instincts of someone who had probably spent countless hours navigating this exact labyrinth.
If only my sisters could see me now. Then again, they'd probably just laugh and ask if I'd brought back any snacks from the demon realm. Priorities, right?
As I sprinted down the hallway, traps activated left and right—spiked floors, swinging axes, even a trapdoor that seemed to lead to a pit of vipers (because, why not?). Fortunately, Omega's instincts kicked in, guiding me with an almost supernatural awareness. I could sense the traps before they sprang, knowing exactly where to step and how to avoid their deadly mechanisms.
Compared to my previous body, this one felt incredibly sturdy. My legs pumped like well-oiled pistons, and I found that I could maintain a full sprint without tiring. Two minutes of nonstop running through this death trap of a castle would have left my old self wheezing and possibly reconsidering life choices. Now, it was almost a breeze—emphasis on "almost," since the constant life-or-death dodging added a bit of spice to the exercise.
Dodging a particularly nasty set of retractable spikes, I couldn't help but marvel at the physical prowess I now possessed. "Omega, you magnificent demon prince," I muttered, narrowly avoiding a scythe that swooshed out of the wall. If only gym class had been this exciting.
As I rounded a corner, another red window screen appeared in front of me, momentarily distracting me from the gauntlet of traps.
[Bonus Objective: Reach the End Without Taking Damage. Reward: Special Skill Unlocked]
"Oh, come on!" I shouted, but a grin crept onto my face. The challenge was on. With renewed determination, I bolted down the hallway, fully embracing the chaos and adrenaline that came with being in Omega's body. This castle wasn't going to know what hit it.
But since I obtained a special skill, I could say that running like my life depended on it was worth it.
[Special Skill: "Sprint Like Your Life Depends On It" - Increases the user's agility by 50% when in a delicate or life-threatening situation.]
[Added some information about the skill: It is an automatic skill.]
[You won't use it unless you are in danger HAHAH!]
The system added that little taunt just to annoy me. What a ridiculously long name for a skill, but it seemed only useful in situations where my life was truly threatened.
"Hey, system, does the skill activate when my brain thinks it's a dangerous or threatening situation?" I asked, desperately hoping for a loophole.
[... Secret.]
"Fuck you." The system was really testing my patience to its absolute limit every second of my life now.
But since this fucker was keeping it secret, I could test my theory later. As I roamed around the castle, opening door after door, I found myself in one useless room after another. It was like a grand tour of "Rooms That Have No Point." But then, one room caught my interest. It was the last door in the last row—classic final boss vibes.
This castle was like a maze, some paths were illusions that could easily trick you into traps. Luckily, I hadn't stumbled into any of those. Yet. I figured I was one misstep away from becoming demon toast.
When I opened the last door, I was stunned. The room was filled with luxurious and expensive things, like a demonic QVC showroom. There were golden goblets, jewel-encrusted swords, and tapestries that probably cost more than my entire house. But what really caught my eye was a small golden ring with a red jewel.
"Ring of People," I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement. This was one of the cheat-like items from the novel I wrote. It was designed to change the appearance of the wearer, but it had a hidden effect. For humans, it simply altered their looks, but for demons, it did much more. It could change their appearance and erase most traces of their demonic nature. For an Archdemon, it went even further, erasing their existence as a demon entirely and altering their mana color and aura to that of a normal human being and even alter their appearance.
Mana came in many colors, depending on the race. Demons had dark red mana, Archdemons possessed shadow black mana, and humans had a shining light-like mana. This ring could hide those distinguishing traits, making it a powerful tool for any demon wanting to blend in with humans.
I slipped the ring onto my finger, feeling its power course through me. This might just be the key to navigating the castle and whatever other dangers lay ahead. With the ring's power, I could hide my demonic traits and perhaps gain an edge in this twisted game.
"Alright, let's see what you can do," I muttered, stepping back into the hallway, feeling like a budget superhero with a fancy new gadget. Just as I was about to move, the system chimed in.
[Congratulations! You've equipped the Ring of People. Please note: Does not come with a manual or customer support.]
"Of course, it doesn't," I sighed, half-expecting the ring to come with a user guide written in ancient runes or something equally unhelpful.
As I ventured back into the labyrinthine hallways, I felt a bit more confident, ready to face whatever absurdity this castle threw my way next.
But I was slightly uncomfortable with my new appearance. Sure, I had changed my aura and mana color, but my physical traits had shifted as well. My once-crimson hair was now a pale red, and while my eyes remained red, they now had a feline quality to them—like I was auditioning for the role of "Demon Catboy." Though my appearance change it was almost same as my previous appearance of Omega but it much better than nothing right?
I looked around for a mirror, half-expecting to find one in this ridiculously opulent room. There it was, a grand mirror with an ornate golden frame, perfect for dramatic revelations. I stepped in front of it and took in my new look.
"Well, this is different," I muttered, tilting my head to examine the pale red hair. "At least it's still in the red family."
My eyes, though, were a different story. They were still their usual red but now had slit pupils, making me look like I was perpetually planning to pounce on a mouse.
"Great, now I look like a villain in a magical girl anime," I said to my reflection, trying to make sense of this new visage.
As I ventured back into the labyrinthine hallways, the discomfort of my new appearance faded slightly. I felt a bit more confident, ready to face whatever absurdity this castle threw my way next. Besides, if anyone asked, I could always tell them I was cosplaying as an edgy version of myself.
While venturing through the labyrinth like Dora the Explorer on a particularly twisted adventure, I searched for the exit, humming "We did it!" under my breath to keep my spirits up. But my fantastic day took a turn when I heard the clang of iron hitting the ground. At first, it was faint, but as it grew louder, I realized those sounds could only mean one thing: the fucking royal knights were invading the former Demon King's castle, presumably to capture any remaining demons.
"Just great," I muttered, ducking into a shadowy alcove. "Because what I really needed today was an encounter with a bunch of overzealous knights."
I strained to listen, and the sounds became clearer—armor clinking, boots stomping, and the occasional barked command. They were getting closer. This wasn't just a small patrol; it sounded like a full-scale sweep of the castle.
My heart raced as I considered my options. Running blindly through the maze would likely lead me straight into a trap, but staying put wasn't exactly appealing either. The Ring of People might disguise my demonic aura and mana, but I wasn't eager to test its limits with a whole squad of knights.
"Think, think, think," I whispered, channeling my inner Winnie the Pooh.
The knights were getting closer, their voices more distinct. I could hear them talking about securing the main hall and checking every room. If they found me, it wouldn't matter what color my hair was or how human my aura seemed—I'd be toast.
Deciding to trust Omega's instincts one more time, I began to move stealthily through the corridors, avoiding open spaces and sticking to the shadows. With any luck, I could find an exit or at least a decent hiding spot before they got too close. And if not, well, I'd have to improvise.
After all, Dora never gave up when things got tough. Neither would I.
As I stopped to rest and catch my breath, out of the fucking blue, a pair of rotten arms wrapped around my waist and yanked me to the ground. I crashed onto the floor, but the most terrifying part wasn't the fall—it was the realization of who had pulled me. But still I demanded that who pulled me knowing it was a zombie or undead base on their rotten arms.
"Who's the fucker that pulled me?!" I demanded, my heart pounding in my chest. Of course, demanding answers from a zombie was about as effective as asking a rock for directions. But it felt good to vent, even if it was to the undead.
"Fucking rotten worm," I muttered under my breath, scrambling to my feet and bolting to the nearest corner. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what to do next. I didn't have a plan; I was just running on pure adrenaline and fear.
In my panicked rush, I accidentally bumped into someone sitting in the corner. My eyes widened as I took in the sight—a girl with silver hair, elegantly dressed in a nightgown, and cradling two lifeless bodies covered in bruises and wounds.
"Sorry..." I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper as I realized the gravity of the situation. But before I could say anything else, I heard her sobbing, cutting off any further attempts at apology.
Despite the chaos around us, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to help her. So, gathering what little courage I had left, I tried to speak to her.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, my voice trembling with uncertainty. The thought crossed my mind that she might be another zombie, but something about her seemed different. Maybe it was the way she held the bodies, or the despair in her eyes—I couldn't be sure.
Then she darted me a piercing, icy gaze, warning me to stay away with a chilling threat. "Go away and don't come near, or else you're gonna meet your Maker."
Surprisingly, I found myself walking away from her at a brisk pace. I recognized that gaze—it was the same look my sisters gave me when I was about to sneak the last piece of food from the fridge for a midnight snack. And believe me, crossing them was never worth the risk of facing their wrath.
As I retreated, I couldn't help but chuckle nervously to myself. Who knew that the same intimidating glare that worked wonders on siblings could also send a grown demon fleeing for safety? It was just one of those universal truths of life, I suppose.
To be continued.
[Quest ongoing: "Run Demons Prince" Escape from the castle" - Escape from the former demon lord's castle and survived]
[Reward: All Stats +3]