Three hours later...
The remaining demons gathered on top of the tallest volcano. Below, the magma had covered half of the mountain.
Looking around, Void realized he was one of the biggest, standing at a height of 18 meters. The number of demons present had been greatly reduced from hundreds of trillions to mere billions. The number of deaths was staggering. (Author's note: I can't really describe how big the volcanic mountain is, but it should be pretty big and tall, I guess...)
Void scanned the other volcanoes and spotted several demons. There were hundreds of volcanoes similar to his, each previously housing trillions of lives, now reduced to a fraction. Void couldn't fathom the vastness of the Abyss, but he understood that Earth was not even one-tenth of its size. He could only see these volcanoes due to the height of the mountain and his enhanced sight.
"How many lives are in the universe?" Void wondered aloud as his gaze locked onto two particular volcanoes. One housed a demon about 50 meters tall, while the other was even more terrifying—a demon standing at 100 meters tall.
"Compared to humans, we are not even as big as its feet," Void thought. On average, humans are about 1 meter tall. A bear standing on its hind legs is around 3 to 5 meters tall, but this demon was the size of a skyscraper. It was terrifying to think about.
"System, scan them."
"Ding."
{NAME: Unknown. RACE: Demon. STATUS: Young Demon}
{RANK: 0. LEVEL: 78. HEIGHT: 52 meters}
{STRENGTH: 450 (390+60). SPEED: 450 (390+60). STAMINA: 450 (390+60). MAGIC: 180 (116+64)}
{SKILL: ????? LOCKED.}
"Ding."
{NAME: ???? RACE: Demon. STATUS: Low-Level Demon}
{RANK: 1. LEVEL: ????? HEIGHT: 110 meters}
{STRENGTH: ??? SPEED: ???? STAMINA: ???? MAGIC: ???? SKILL: ???}
"Shit," Void blurted out. A Rank 1 demon was classified as a low-level demon? What the hell? Void felt like this demon was far stronger than any portrayed in movies or novels.
"System, when will you tell me the status of demons? What's after low-level demon?" Void asked anxiously.
(Ding... Host will know once he reaches Rank 1)
Hearing this, Void cursed the system before revisiting the stats.
Damn. Void was shocked. Level 78? This was incredible. Looking at the strength and other attributes, Void realized the 390 represented the +5 attributes gained after each level-up, while the +60 came from consuming its shell.
The magic attribute was a combination of two factors: the base gain from leveling up after level 20 (+116) and the additional bonus from eating its shell (+64). Sighing, Void felt small, and his inflated ego deflated. Observing the second stat, Void wasn't surprised. The oppressive aura radiating from afar confirmed the Rank 1 demon's superiority. Rank 1 was a watershed, signaling a leap in life level.
As for the question marks, the system explained that stats were hidden for beings 50 levels higher than the host. While contemplating this, Void recalled something—the fairy loli had mentioned their server number: 358 billion. That meant there were at least 358 billion servers. If a Rank 1 demon existed in his server, ranked 358 billion, didn't that imply higher-ranked servers housed Rank 3 or even Rank 4 demons? (Author's note: Hmph, the MC thinks it's that easy to reach Rank 4, or even Rank 3... Oh, I shouldn't say that.)
Void's face turned red. "Damn, I have to work hard," he thought, clenching his fists.
"But first, system, add a thousand souls to my stats," Void commanded with a grin. He believed this would make him stronger than a Rank 1 demon. (Author's note: Hehehe, our MC is dumb. I hope his IQ increases in the future.)
However, Void's imagination was cut short as the system poured cold water on him.
(Error. A maximum of ten souls can be added to a stat)
Furious, Void cursed. "This system is bullshit. The game is bullshit!" But as he reflected, he realized that if souls could be added limitlessly, other demons would be just as strong. A Rank 1 demon with a hundred thousand souls added to its stats would be unimaginable.
"Scary..." Void thought, regaining his fighting spirit.
"Okay, system, add ten souls to all my stats and eight to strength and stamina. Then, show my stats."
"Ding."
{HOST: Void. RACE: Demon. STATUS: Low-Level Demon}
{RANK: 0. LEVEL: 40. HEIGHT: 18.4 meters}
{STRENGTH: 320 (200+100+20 [Bonus from shell]). SPEED: 320. STAMINA: 320. MAGIC: 40}
{SKILLS: LOCKED. EXP: 0/28000. SOULS: 18000}
Seeing his stats, Void was confused and asked the system for clarification.
(Ding. The host's stats are calculated based on the number of souls added and the bonus from consuming a shell. The bonus is like a random lottery draw. Some demons might gain 1 or 2 points, while the maximum for an average demon is 2. Rarely, lucky ones can gain 10, 20, 30, or even 100 points. For EXP, after each level-up, the counter resets to 0 (e.g., 200/200 becomes 0/300)
Hearing this, Void was ecstatic. If his stats were already comparable to a Level 78 demon while he was at Level 40, wouldn't he be able to fight a Rank 1 demon by Level 100? (Author's note: The MC is really delusional. He thinks leapfrogging levels is normal. Yo, that's only possible because the rank gaps are too small.)
Void dismissed thoughts of lucky demons gaining higher bonuses. He wasn't a genius or a being with a strong physique, and dwelling on it would only lead to despair. His goal was simple: to grow stronger. As for becoming the most powerful, Void scoffed. No matter how strong you become, someone will always surpass you. Those OP protagonists in novels were only as powerful as their writers made them.
As the area grew more crowded and demons prepared for another slaughter, the loli's voice echoed.
"Jump."
Without hesitation, the demons leaped. Seeing this, Void followed suit.
Void fell for about 10 seconds before the system spoke.
"Server merging in process."
"Servers merged."
"Host, this is to inform you that servers have merged. You are now in Server 201."
"Wait, what? How many servers are there?" Void asked mid-fall.
"500 servers, host. They are ranked from first to 500."
Relieved, Void was glad his server wasn't last.
Splash!
Void landed in liquid magma, struggling briefly before passing through it. Moments later, he landed on a new plain. It was scorching, as hot as the magma, but his demonic body adapted quickly.
Surveying his surroundings, Void spotted a primordial forest of massive black trees. The terrain was chaotic—a desert on one side, a forest on another, with rivers of magma flowing through. Worst of all, demons were everywhere, killing each other.
"Hmm, system, where am I?" Void asked.
(Host, you are at the second level of the Abyss)
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