[Lucifer's POV]
The scorched earth bore the marks of battle—charred craters and ashes scattered like remnants of a nightmare. The air still cracked faintly, the residual energy of Hellfire lingering as a testament to my struggle.
I forced myself to sit up, every muscle screaming in protest. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists, the lingering heat of the flames still faintly burning beneath my skin. I was drained, yes, but I was alive. And that meant I had succeeded.
The scorched earth bore the marks of battle—charred craters and ashes scattered like remnants of a nightmare. The air still cracked faintly, the residual energy of Hellfire lingering as a testament to my struggle.
I forced myself to sit up, every muscle screaming in protest. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists, the lingering heat of the flames still faintly burning beneath my skin. I was drained, yes, but I was alive. And that meant I had succeeded.
'Profile'
[User: Lucifer Morningstar]
[Level: 01, 18/100 Exp]
[HP: 10/10]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Stamina: 10]
*Skills*
[Hellfire (Lvl.01, Exp.50/100): A technique that consists in invoking the infernal flames of the hell itself. The fire of hell were no different from normal fire, but after purifying so many sins and so many sinners, it became the most powerful fire, having even burned the god of fire himself, making him beg Lucifer to put out those flames before he died. To increase the power of the hellfire, you must burn either sins or sinners in it.]
---
I stared at the system prompt with dazed eyes, my mind struggling to process the information through the haze of exhaustion. The aftermath of the battle left a strange emptiness, a momentary silence both outside and within. The system prompt flickered faintly, a reminder of what I had gained—and what I still lacked.
Eighteen experience points. Barely a fraction of what I needed to ascend to the next level. My body felt like it had been through hell, yet here I was, standing at the bottom of a seemingly insurmountable mountain.
The details of my Hellfire skill caught my attention. Burning sins or sinners to grow stronger? The concept made sense in its cruel simplicity, but it also raised questions. How exactly did the system define "sins"? Would I be judged for the lines I might cross to grow stronger? Or was judgment something I had already forsaken long ago?
My lips curled into a faint smirk, though it held no warmth. It didn't matter. I had chosen this path, and there was no turning back. If the power of Hellfire required me to confront the worst of humanity—or myself—so be it. I would not falter.
Pushing myself to my feet, I took a deep breath, the scorched air filling my lungs. The pain was dulling, replaced by a grim determination. This was only the beginning.
As I surveyed the charred battlefield, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter had been more than just a skirmish. The way the creatures moved, their almost coordinated attacks, and especially the intelligence in the leader's actions—it was deliberate. Planned.
But by whom?
[Ding! New mission available!]
'Mission?'
The system's cold, metallic chime echoed in my ears, cutting through the lingering haze of exhaustion like a blade. My eyes snapped to the prompt that materialized before me, the flickering text casting an eerie glow in the smoke-filled air.
[New Mission Available!]
[Mission: Dungeon Clearance]
[Objective: Defeat the Dungeon Boss (0/1)]
[Rewards: 50 Exp, 2 Attribute Points]
[Failure Penalty: Loss of Hellfire Skill and -50 Exp.]
[Y/N]
---
"..."
'If I were refuse—'
[If the user is to refuse, then the failure penalty will be imposed immediately.]
The system's words sent a shiver down my spine, the cold finality of its conditions tightening like a vice around my chest. Refusing wasn't an option—it was a trap wrapped in the guise of a choice.
My fingers twitched, and a faint growl escaped my lips. 'Tch. You've really got me on a leash, don't you?'
'What is your endgame, anyway I don't think just because I am highly compatible with the system. I want the true extent of this deal you're offering, but it seems like you won't give me a clear answer, will you?'
[The user is to become the next King of Hell. For that, the user has to become strong, by each levelling up the user gets one step closer to the power of Lucifer—The most powerful fallen angel...]
The system's response echoed in my mind, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. The next King of Hell, it claimed. It seemed so simple, so inevitable, but I knew better. Power like that wasn't something that could be taken lightly. Becoming Lucifer? Was that truly what the system had in mind, or was it manipulating me to serve its own unknown agenda?
I clenched my fists, feeling the heat of Hellfire still simmering beneath my skin, though it was weaker now. The power was tempting, but it came with strings attached. Strings I had no interest in being tangled in.
'I didn't ask for it, why should I become something I didn't choose?'
[The system is not to harm the user but encourage with rewards and threats equally and, When the user becomes the King of Hell, He will get a wish... A wish to ask anything.]
Suuuu!
I took in a sharp breath as my gaze fixated on 'A wish to ask anything.' Especially anything, my heart started beating faster at the thought.
'M-My Celeste, C-Can you resurrect someone with that wish? Could I bring her back from... from the dead?'
My hands shook from nervousness as I looked intently at the system prompt. The thought of having the power to resurrect Celeste, to undo the pain of losing her, was both a beacon of hope and a terrifying temptation.
The system's silence stretched on, as though contemplating the weight of my question.
[The system cannot confirm nor deny the specifics of the wish until it is made.]
The vague response sent a cold shiver down my spine. Was this its way of manipulating me further, dangling the possibility of resurrection just out of reach? Or was there more to this wish than I could understand right now? The uncertainty gnawed at me.
I clenched my fists tighter, my knuckles turning white. The heat of Hellfire still simmered beneath my skin, but it no longer felt like power—it felt like a burden. The cost of wielding such destructive force weighed heavily on me.
But the thought of Celeste... The idea of seeing her again, feeling her presence once more—was that not worth any price?
Absolutely! Anything is worth it, she was the only one I ever truly loved.
The desire to bring her back burned deep within me, mingling with the relentless pull of the system's promise. But I had to be careful, cautious not to lose myself in the pursuit of something that might not be as simple as it seemed.
'If I were to become the King of Hell… how much of myself would I sacrifice in the process?'
The question echoed in my mind, each word heavy with consequence. The system spoke of rewards, of power beyond measure, but at what cost? What would I have to forsake along the way? The path ahead was obscured, and every step I took felt like walking deeper into a trap.
I turned my gaze back to the battlefield, the wreckage of the battle still fresh in my mind. My body was sore, my energy drained, yet there was a strange sense of accomplishment. I had survived. But I couldn't afford to linger here, not now. The dungeon boss awaited, and with it, the next trial—the next step toward the power I needed to shape my fate.
'The next King of Hell,' I repeated to myself, my voice a low growl. The weight of the title felt both daunting and inevitable, but I would carve my own path. I would control my destiny, not the system, not anyone else.
I took another deep breath, steadying myself despite the exhaustion. There was no turning back now. I had chosen this path, for better or worse, and I would face whatever came next head-on. The dungeon boss awaited, and with it, the promise of strength. I would conquer it, just as I had conquered everything before it.
The air around me crackled with the residual heat of my Hellfire, and I stood tall, my resolve hardening like iron. My path was set, and I would not be swayed by doubts or fears.
With a final glance at the scorched earth, I turned toward the next trial, my heart beating in sync with the power surging within me. I would become the King of Hell—and nothing, not even the system, could stop me.
[Mission: Dungeon Clearance]
[Objective: Defeat the Dungeon Boss (0/1)]
[Rewards: 50 Exp, 2 Attribute Points]
[Failure Penalty: Loss of Hellfire Skill and -50 Exp.]
[Y/N]
"So, currently I am in a dungeon. That explains those bizarre beasts and the intense atmosphere. The system's insistence on this mission feels like an ultimatum wrapped in a veil of promises. It's clear that this trial isn't just a simple dungeon clear—it's another step toward whatever grand plan the system has in mind for me."
I glanced at the system prompt again, the words weighing heavily on my mind. The dungeon boss... it was inevitable, wasn't it? This wasn't just a place to test my strength; it was another barrier to force me to grow, to become the King of Hell.
'I can feel these are truly my power, not something the system can control over me—it's all me. That assures me that I have power over my own actions because if it were not...I will take my own life, I refuse to live a new life just for someone else to control it again... never again!
.
..
...
[To Be Continue]
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