Disappointment has been my shadow for as long as I can recall. I've devoured countless adventure tales and isekai stories, dreaming of a life bursting with thrills. Then, one unforgettable night, I settled into my couch with a cold beer, scrolling through a web novel on my phone. Suddenly, the screen exploded with blinding light, and I felt the universe narrowing down to that little device. It was as if I was being drawn in, the screen expanding while I shrank away, until my entire being was engulfed by my phone.
I burst into a wild dash through a tunnel, engulfed by an endless expanse, with lights zipping past me in a dazzling blur. As I finally broke free, I was embraced by a warm, comforting vibe, like being snuggled in a soft blanket. It hit me then—I must have dozed off and totally blanked on hitting the hay. That totally adds up!
A fully armored man, sword in hand and mounted on a horse, shouted, "The beast is heading your way—don't let it escape!" Behind him, four other brave adventurers in shining armor trailed closely, all hired by the village to vanquish the monstrous bat terrorizing their home.
A woman with flowing red hair drew back her bowstring, aiming at a colossal bat boasting a wingspan of thirty feet and fangs that measured eighteen inches. The beast towered at ten feet tall. As she released the arrow, it pierced the creature's wing, eliciting a piercing screech. In a furious dive, the bat slashed at her with its claws before soaring back into the sky.
"Do not allow the Ahool to escape if it attacks the village; countless lives will be lost!" said a man with an axe and wearing armor.
Bursting out from the warm cocoon of my blanket, I shot a fierce look at the chaos surrounding me. To my astonishment, the ground was a mere smudge far beneath, and I was soaring through the sky at breakneck speed. I caught sight of riders on horseback, and a fiery-haired woman was nocking an arrow, aiming straight at me with lethal accuracy!
"The beast has offspring! Act swiftly to eliminate them before they flee!"
A sharp jolt at my side snapped me to attention, and there it was—a bat, towering right beside me! A strange screech erupted from my throat as I instinctively recoiled from the brown bat flaunting its striking orange wings. My hands shot out, showcasing tiny, furry gray limbs tipped with long, curved claws. Intrigued, I rubbed one paw against the other, savoring the soft gray fur beneath my fingertips. It hit me—this was my furry arm, and I was completely covered in fur!
I stared up at the colossal bat holding me in its pouch, a beast that looked like it had flown straight out of a nightmare. Its wings were so massive they could cover the whole sky, a true titan of the night. I must be a bat! With my little paw, I reached back and grabbed one of my wings, feeling the soft surface as I pulled my peach-colored wing forward to take a closer look. I have wings! I've always dreamed of soaring through the air, but I never thought it would be like this. Still, having wings is nothing short of incredible. But man, controlling them is a whole different story; they felt so unwieldy, making it tough to flap both at once. It was like trying to rub my belly while patting my head—awkward and heavy. Why are they so hard to control? They're my wings!
I suddenly heard another piercing screech right next to me as an arrow struck the other baby bat in the chest, sending warm blood spraying across my face. The gruesome sight filled me with horror, yet an overwhelming hunger surged within me, compelling me to instinctively lick the blood from my skin. In that moment, primal instinct took control, and I dove into the feast of the freshly slain bat lying beside me.
"It's eating its sibling, quickly kill the vile beast!"
I blinked awake, the fog of hunger finally clearing, and my mind sharpened. They were talking about me like I was some kind of monster. I never intended to devour the other bat; the mere idea sickens me, honestly. Can't they understand the sheer desperation of blind hunger? Maybe they can't, because I sure didn't until this moment. It felt like my sanity was fading, swallowed by the relentless ache of hunger. I quickly tucked myself back into the pouch, trying to avoid becoming an easy target.
[Congratulations, new user Enzo! You've successfully linked up with the Dark Lord System. Your ultimate ambition? To ascend as a Dark Lord and reign supreme, or you can spend your precious end-goal reward points to scurry back to your mundane old world.]
[Ding! Hooray! Your first taste of blood! You've snagged 100 points for that delightful sip from a creature that matches your strength! New skills are now up for grabs. Care to select a skill?]
Given all that I've just gone through, this twist didn't really catch me off guard at all.
"What skills do I have available to choose from?"
[Sharp Fang: 100 points down the drain. Activate this delightful little skill to turn your bite into a full-on dental disaster for your target. Just remember, you have to actually decide to use it—no accidental chomping allowed.]
[Wind Block: Shell out 100 points for this gem. With your wings, you can whip up a windstorm to swat away incoming attacks, like pesky flies. Just don't forget to activate it; otherwise, you might as well be flapping your arms.]
[Swift Wings: Cost? A mere 100 points. When you take to the skies, you'll glide like a pro—no effort required. This passive skill is always on, so you can focus on looking fabulous while defying gravity.]
[Will you choose to purchase a skill or save your points?]
I was just about to pick Swift Wings when a new idea emerged. I leaned out of the pouch, trying to catch a whiff of the monster bat's blood. Peering up, I spotted an arrow lodged in the side of its neck. I couldn't resist; I licked a drop of blood that had trickled down, but to my disappointment, it didn't earn me any experience points. The beast was losing altitude, desperately flapping its wings as it darted into a dark cave carved into the cliffside. Meanwhile, the adventurers dismounted their horses and began scaling the steep, narrow path alongside the cliff.
The massive bat crashed down in the rear of the cave, right by a steaming hot spring, where moisture dripped from the jagged rocks above. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood as the bat gasped its final breaths, wrapping its wings around its pouch before succumbing to the darkness. Realizing it was gone, I opened my jaws wide and bit down, but her tough hide resisted my teeth. I struggled to break free, but her wings pinned me down, making it nearly impossible to maneuver. I faced a crucial choice: snag Swift Wings now to escape or go for Sharp Fang, hoping my attack would be powerful enough to pierce her tough flesh for more points. This was a prime chance to boost my strength, and I knew that leveling up later would be far more perilous without this early advantage. So, I decided to take the risk.
"I choose the skill Sharp Fang."
[Sharp Fang has been graciously chosen to utilize 100 points, leaving you with a thrilling total of 0. Congratulations on your purchase! To activate your shiny new skill, simply think of Sharp Fang right before you decide to bite. How original!]
I silently hoped for the best and focused on Sharp Fang as I opened my mouth wide, effortlessly sinking my tiny fangs into the massive bat like it was nothing more than soft butter, and began to drink.
[Ding! Wow, look at you! You've just sipped from a creature that's way out of your league. Bravo! You've jumped from level 1 to level 10. Aren't you special? You've also snagged yourself 1000 points! New skills are now up for grabs after your first evolution. Just a friendly reminder: find a cozy spot before you evolve, because you'll be taking a nice, long nap. Old skills are still available for purchase at any time.]
"I choose Swift Wings."
[Beep! Congratulations on acquiring Swift Wings. You now have a whopping 900 points left. Enjoy your flight!]
I threw my wings wide open, and to my astonishment, they opened with ease, as if I were driving them with my legs or arms. I flapped and pushed, battling against the restraints that held me down, until finally, I burst out of the pouch. Just as I broke through, I heard the adventurers scraping at the cave's entrance.
Coming Next Time: Poison Mana Gem
Dinner for one please, hold the knives and fire.