The Awakening of a Villain
Pain. Searing, intense pain. That was the first thing Vritra felt as consciousness began to seep back into him. His body lay on the cold, rough surface of what felt like stone, and his mind was a haze of confusion. His eyes fluttered open, but the light was dim, casting shadows across jagged walls of obsidian rock.
With a groan, Vritra pushed himself up, every muscle in his body aching. The heat in the air was suffocating, carrying with it the scent of sulfur and ash. His breathing came in shallow gasps as he looked around, taking in the dark cavern that surrounded him.
"Where... where am I?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
As he rose to his feet, he noticed his clothes—black leather armor, tight but flexible, with silver inlays that glimmered faintly in the dim light. His hand instinctively reached up to his neck, where he found a cold, metallic pendant in the shape of a serpent coiled around a flame.
Before he could process anything further, a voice rang inside his head.
[Ding! You've acquired the Heroine Stealing System!]
"What the hell?" Vritra froze, looking around. The voice had come from nowhere, but it was loud and clear, as if someone was speaking directly into his mind.
Before he could say anything more, the voice continued.
[Your first task is to steal the daughter of the Eastern Kingdom's king!]
"Steal... the king's daughter?" Vritra repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. "What kind of twisted joke is this?"
Suddenly, a surge of memories rushed into his mind—memories of another life, another world. He had been someone else before this. But those memories were fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle scattered by the wind. And now, here he was, in the body of someone else... someone powerful.
Vritra. He was Vritra, son of the Demon King, heir to the Hell Continent. The realization hit him like a wave. He was no longer human, no longer the person he once was. He was a demon, born of fire and darkness.
The voice returned, interrupting his thoughts.
[Your Fate Value has increased by 10!]
"Fate Value?" Vritra muttered, narrowing his eyes. "What the hell is that?"
But there was no answer, just an empty silence. Whatever this "system" was, it was clear that it wasn't going to explain itself.
He sighed, his mind racing. "So, let me get this straight. I'm in a new world, I'm a demon prince, and now I have to go around stealing princesses? Sounds like something out of a bad fantasy novel."
Before he could continue to wrap his head around the situation, footsteps echoed through the cavern. Heavy, deliberate footsteps. Vritra turned toward the sound, his muscles tensing as a massive figure appeared from the shadows.
The man—no, the demon—stood tall and imposing, clad in black armor that seemed to shimmer with an unnatural light. His face was hard, chiseled like stone, with a pair of glowing crimson eyes that radiated power. Long, dark hair fell over his shoulders, and from his back protruded a set of bat-like wings, their membranes faintly glowing in the cavern's light.
This was Demon King Zahrak, Vritra's father in this new life. His presence was overwhelming, like standing in the path of a hurricane. Even without knowing the full extent of his power, Vritra could feel the sheer magnitude of the man before him.
"Vritra," Zahrak's voice boomed, deep and commanding. "You're awake."
Vritra took a step back, instinctively lowering his head in deference. "Father," he greeted, the word feeling foreign on his tongue.
Zahrak eyed him for a moment, his gaze sharp and calculating. "You've been unconscious for days. I was beginning to think you would never wake."
Vritra cleared his throat, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. "I... I don't remember much. Everything's a blur."
"That's expected," Zahrak said, his voice softening slightly. "The ritual to strengthen your demonic bloodline took a toll on you. But you survived, and that is what matters."
Vritra's mind was still reeling from the strange voice in his head, but he forced himself to focus on the present. "A ritual?"
Zahrak nodded. "Yes. You are no ordinary demon, Vritra. You are my son, born of the royal bloodline of the Hell Continent. But to harness that power, you needed to undergo the Ritual of Ascension. It is painful, but necessary for those destined to rule."
Vritra rubbed the back of his neck, trying to make sense of everything. "Destined to rule, huh? Sounds like a lot of responsibility."
Zahrak's lips curled into a slight smile. "It is, but you will bear it. The world beyond the Hell Continent is changing, Vritra. Humans grow bolder by the day, and the heroes they send threaten the balance of power. You will need to be strong, cunning, and ruthless to survive."
Vritra nodded slowly, but inside, his thoughts were elsewhere. The Heroine Stealing System... Whatever that was, it had chosen him for a reason. And no one—not even Zahrak—seemed to know about it.
"Speaking of which," Zahrak continued, "there is a banquet tonight. Representatives from the Eastern Kingdom are here, seeking an alliance. I expect you to attend and make a good impression."
"An alliance?" Vritra asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we weren't exactly on friendly terms with humans."
"We are not," Zahrak said, his eyes narrowing. "But the Eastern Kingdom has sent their princess to negotiate. It seems they are desperate, likely because their heroes are failing to protect them from the rising demon threats. Use this opportunity to learn more about them."
Vritra smirked. "A princess, huh? I'll do more than just learn."
Zahrak gave him a sharp look. "Do not be reckless, Vritra. The Eastern Kingdom may be weak, but they are still dangerous. Their heroes are not to be underestimated."
"I'll keep that in mind," Vritra said, his smirk never fading.
Zahrak gave him one last nod before turning to leave. "Prepare yourself. The banquet begins at sunset."
As Zahrak disappeared into the shadows, Vritra exhaled slowly. His mind raced with possibilities. A banquet meant people—important people. A princess, no less. And according to the system, she was his first target.
[Ding! Quest received: Steal the heart of Princess Lyria! Reward: +50 Fate Value.]
Vritra's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Steal the heart of a princess, huh? I guess this system isn't pulling any punches."
He glanced at his reflection in the polished black stone of the cave wall. The face that stared back at him was undeniably handsome, with sharp features, jet-black hair, and eyes that gleamed with a mischievous light. This was not his old body, but it was powerful, alluring even.
"Well, Vritra," he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face, "looks like this world is about to get a whole lot more interesting."
With a final glance around the cavern, Vritra stepped out, ready to embrace his new life—and the chaos that came with it.