The air around me was thick with tension, the metallic stench of blood mingling with the faint whisper of the wind. My newly empowered form thrummed with energy, the power I had absorbed from their defeated bodies invigorating me. Notifications blinked in my mind, their tone both triumphant and clinical:
Level increased to 12.
I allowed myself a moment to savor the feeling of growth, of strength coursing through me like an unstoppable tide. Only one of the strange beings remained alive—the smallest of the group. It was a pitiful sight: trembling on the ground, its form barely holding itself upright. Its wide, glowing eyes darted between me and the mangled remains of its comrades.
"I'll tell you everything!" it cried, its voice high-pitched and quivering. "Just... please, don't kill me!"
Pathetic.
But pathetic could still be useful.
I stepped closer, letting the severed head of their leader fall from my grasp. It hit the ground with a wet thud, sending a visible shiver through the creature. Its fear was almost tangible, radiating off it in waves.
Leaning down slightly, I let my voice carry the weight of my power, calm yet laced with menace. "Then start talking. I want the date, where I am, and the location of the nearest town, village, or city. Quickly now."
The small creature swallowed hard, its gaze flicking nervously to the dark tendrils that hovered at my sides, their movements slow and deliberate. It nodded frantically and began to stammer out its answer.
"Y-you're on the outskirts of the Demon Kingdom, Exitour," it said, its words tumbling over one another. "The nearest place is Phenix City, a-about two days south by foot. T-the date is Febriteny 1st, year 500. A-and..." It hesitated, fear seizing it before it continued, "the kingdom you're in is at war... with the Human Kingdom of Lionis."
I straightened, letting the information sink in. Exitour, the Demon Kingdom—a place I had only heard whispers of in fragmented memories. And a war with humans? That was either an opportunity or a complication, depending on how I played my cards.
I turned my gaze back to the creature, who flinched under my scrutiny. "Good," I said, my voice cold. "You've proven useful. For now."
The creature exhaled shakily, its relief visible even as it remained wary. I considered my next steps. Phenix City seemed like the logical destination—a place where I could gather more information about this kingdom and its struggles. But the war intrigued me. Wars bred chaos, and chaos could be shaped into opportunity.
"Tell me more about this war," I demanded, my tone sharper now. "What caused it? How long has it been raging? And which side is winning?"
The creature's trembling returned, its words halting and uncertain. "I-I don't know all the details," it stammered. "The humans accused the Demon King of breaking an ancient treaty. I-it's been five years since the fighting started. The humans keep pushing into our lands, but our forces are holding them back. Phenix City is one of the last major outposts before the capital."
Five years of conflict, and neither side had gained the upper hand. That told me everything I needed to know—both kingdoms were likely exhausted, their resources stretched thin. A perfect environment for someone like me to thrive.
I nodded slowly, the tentacles beneath my hat shifting as I considered my options. Then, I turned my focus back to the creature. "Very well," I said, my voice cold and detached. "You've served your purpose. Now, goodbye."
Before it could react, I summoned my Shadow Flame skill. A dark fire shot from my hand, piercing its skull and igniting its body in a searing blaze. The creature's scream was brief, its form consumed entirely, leaving nothing but ash.
A notification chimed.
You have gained 25 XP.
I smirked, the lingering heat of the flames casting faint shadows against the carnage around me. "Interesting," I muttered to myself, turning my attention to the horizon. "Phenix City," I said, the name rolling off my tongue. "Let's see what this Demon Kingdom has to offer."
But before I left, something caught my eye—the coat worn by the fallen leader. It was a sturdy, dark garment, frayed at the edges yet surprisingly well-made. I picked it up, running my fingers along the fabric, and an idea struck me. Holding it aloft, I let my abyssal energy flow into the coat, infusing it with a fragment of the dark magic that now defined me.
A notification rang out:
You have created an Abyssal Cloak.
The coat shifted under my influence, its material darkening to an inky black that shimmered faintly with a faint iridescent sheen. It pulsed with the same energy that coursed through me, a piece of the abyss made manifest.
I slipped it over my shoulders, feeling the comforting weight of the cloak settle around me. The energy within it seemed to resonate with my own, amplifying the power that now surged through me.
"I was getting cold," I said dryly to no one in particular.
The battlefield behind me, I set off toward Phenix City. The terrain was rugged, the ground beneath my feet uneven and littered with rocks and sparse vegetation. The journey south gave me time to think, to plan my next moves.
The Demon Kingdom was clearly in turmoil, its resources strained by years of war. That meant the people were likely desperate—desperate enough to cling to anyone who promised them hope or power. I could be that figure, if I played my cards right.
Phenix City would be my first step. From there, I could gather more information, gauge the state of the kingdom, and determine how best to position myself within its fractured hierarchy.