In the northern region.
Neil stood amidst the depths of the mountain range, its jagged peaks looming ominously against the bruised sky.
"Elder..." he said solemnly, his voice ragged, his body pale as scars crisscrossed his flesh like a map of past battles.
A trail of blood marked his path, each scar a testament to misery and haunting memories.
"This is the work of a demon! How could there be such a mass of beast tide? I'm alone... everyone else is gone."
Neil stood frozen, his voice trembling, the weight of despair pressing heavily on him.
As they turned to investigate, an Ogre and a group of Brutes charged at them. At first, they kept a considerable distance, but as they ventured deeper into the range, they were stupefied by the chaos around them: hundreds, no, thousands of demonic beasts ran rampant.
The smaller monsters clustered in groups, while the larger ones charged wildly, trampling those beneath them, the ground shaking with their immense weight and the air filled with roars and snarls of dying beasts.
They continued their run in terror, to not attract the attention of the demonic beasts, they had run having no way to retaliate.
Wherever they went, the location they ended up in seemed to be the same, it was as though they'd been entrapped by a demonic beast, a monster with intelligence.
To break through, they had to force their way into the corner.
Every second was chaotic as they slowly became slower and fatigue set in, Neil's heart raced.
The two investigative masters were falling behind. "No one will be left behind!" he shouted, rushing to assist them despite the danger.
"Ahhh! My arms!" two more in his group were caught, their arms were broken, and each bones were exposed, exposing a terrifying sight.
"Neil, quickly go back to the tribe! Don't mind us, warn them and fulfill our mission! Even if we die protecting you... we will be just a burden to you at his point, we are all wounded!"
"Please, Neil. I know you can do it! You are our pride!"
"Go!
"I'm sorry everyone, I'm the strongest yet... in front of these monsters, I am but a pitiful lamb!" he lamented.
"GO!"
Beneath him, the demonic beasts stirred—towering 4 to 5 meters tall, muscles rippling beneath matted fur. Some had grotesque human features combined with monstrous wings, while others were brutish monstrosities, roaring with suffocating killing intent, each capable of striking down their prey in a single, merciless blow.
The voices had vanished, their laughter and images swallowed by the encroaching darkness, leaving him alone in this nightmarish solitude.
"I must go, I can't let my friends' sacrifices be in vain!"
Swoosh—
He leaped, parkouring through the trees, each branch a reminder of his fallen friend, leaves and feathers whipped past him as he rushed toward his village.
A heavy dread enveloped him, each heartbeat echoing his growing fear. A chilling premonition gnawed at his gut.
Thud. Thud.
A sharp whistle sliced through the air, and a figure emerged, locking its gaze on him. Its eyes were unfathomably deep, like the pit of an abyss—a void of endless darkness. Its body resembled that of a human, but he knew... it was a monstrosity.
...
Inside the cave.
"WAAHH!
What the hell was that!?
Huh...? There's light in here... I didn't die?
Strange. Was I inside this ruin all along? I clearly remember that I was struck with lightning..."
"HA HA HA! I'm back! I, the Grand Twilight Demon is back!" A Lump of Will screeched in an eerie tone, its noise reverberated through the cave.
"After so long... I've returned! Nothing can stop my vengeance, you can seal me but never kill me!"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Chrove squinted at the flickering figure of the Lump of Will, its light pulsating like a heartbeat.
"Pfft, HA HA, is that you kid?," the will arrogantly said. "Kneel before your god!"
Pak.
"Too noisy."
"A mere human dare hit me? Hehe haha" the will retorted even laughing maniacally as its figure shivers.
"What a twisted lump of will... Hurry up and enter my stomach."
"Huh?" The Lump's gaze pierced through him, a glare that felt like daggers. Its aura surged, a wave of demonic might washing over Chrove, yet all it did was flutter his messy hair.
A smile crept across his face as he thought this Will was no mere danger. "You do know I can devour you, stop your futile resistance."
"Hehe, go ahead and try me." the will smirked confidently.
I know this demon has its ways of retaliating. It's complicated but at the end of the day... it's just a lump of Will. What's the worst that could happen? It's just a demon; I can be one too, or I will die at best hehe.
Chrove firmly held the lump of will, its ethereal body had no chance of escaping, his hold tightening every second. 'Hehe HEHAHA!' the will laughed inwardly, as it prepared itself for an opening.
Swoosh
A wave of stench enveloped the will's body, catching it off guard. Its plans crumbled with a single breath.
Hehe, I knew it was bluffing.
Chrove basked in his triumph, he naturally felt confident with his physique, until suddenly, a burst of aura enveloped his body. His limbs stretched, his body distorting as he grew into a terrifying monster; wings grew on his back, revealing a terrifying sight. Horns erupted from his skull one, two, three and still counting.
His face paled as intense pain surged in his body. "I'm getting taken over, damn it!"
"Hehehe." laughter embraced the air, space distorted, resonating with the laugh. He screamed until his voice faded into mournful whispers.
Persevere!
"Give up hehe"
Wake up! Wake up, ------!
"It is your honor to have me, The Grand Twilight Demon take over your body."
'Once I take over this body, I will go back to my arrangement, and finally... hehe, I will finally kill you and your descendants my dear Aamon, for the betrayal you've committed... for massacaring my clan! Hehehe HAHAAH!'
"Hehe, is that all?"
"I... impossible!" the will retorted in denial.
"There is no such thing as impossible in front of me... now, be my nourishment."
"Die, human! Die!" The Will screeched, attempting to seize control of Chrove's body. Its power flickered, quickly dissipating into the air, absorbed by him.
"What a truly unique existence—still resisting my domination, hehe. Twilight Demon, was it? How interesting."
Suddenly, an intense headache split through him, and darkness swallowed his vision. The last sound he heard was the ringing of bells.
Ding!
You have devoured the essence of a Grand Demon.
Ding!
You have completed the awakening.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
...
"Where am I?"
His own fragmented memories crashed into him like waves, each scene of his previous life shattered and scattered.
Clang. Clang.
Clamors echoed through the wind, with each mournful cry seeping through the battlefield.
That's right... we're amidst a war.
Screams echoed, filling the air as the sky turned crimson, blood painting the vast expanse.
What am I fighting for?
"Run! The monster is here!" a war veteran whose clothes were tattered while blood sullied the unsheathed sword on his hand.
What is justice?
"Please... my son is just a child! Please, at least let him live...!" a civilian pleaded.
"Kill!" a chant that resonated.
That's right... we're in a war.
I kill, thus I'm prepared to die.
To die with honor,
To die protecting what I love.
...
"My disciple... carry my will, protect i..."
Master, I will! This disciple shall fulfill this duty!
"Good, good. As expected from my disciple hehe."
But master, I'm afraid of the uncertainty.
"Disciple, there is a variable in everything. As such, there is no easy way or shortcuts. Humans are fated to die, but the way they live differs. All of us share the same fate, whether you do good or not will depend upon yourself, thus, you must believe.
...
"AHHHH! Die!" A person of deep hatred screamed over the top of his lungs.
Xia Er! Run!
"Demon! I will kill this woman if you don't hand over the Sword Manor Heavenly Book!"
Let her go...
Sceech.
"Oh. My hand slipped."
Die!
...
Why... why must you betray your duty and make me like a fool...? Why, Master, why?
"You are but a fool, my disciple... you really carry the blood of your mother."
My mother... don't tell me you!
"As expected from my disciple."
YOU!!
...
Please, why!?
"You're no fun at all"
"You are but a broken toy."
Why does everyone's voice resonate as one?
...
At Present
I pleaded and begged until I was left with bitterness.
I screamed and lamented until I was left with emptiness.
I died, again and again and again, but to no avail, everything leads to the same thing.
Must being righteous be this difficult; the weight of responsibilities and suffering?
Fragmented memories, twisted calamities.
But now,
I will live without regrets.