"You think mere numbers can bring me down?" Malrik's voice boomed, laced with disdain. He raised his massive greatsword, a weapon pulsating with dark energy, and unleashed a devastating wave of power. Rows of soldiers were obliterated in an instant, their screams silenced before they could even echo.
Yet, this time was different. It wasn't just his enemies standing against him. His most trusted allies, the ones he had fought beside for decades, were among the crowd. Malrik's smirk faltered as he spotted familiar faces. There was Eris, the Holy Knight whose divine magic had once saved him from the brink of death. Beside her stood Kael, the Shadowblade, a man he had once called his brother. And there, leading the charge, was Serath, the Flame Sorcerer, his closest confidant and betrayer.
"Why?" Malrik growled, his voice filled with fury and pain. "Why would you betray me?"
Eris stepped forward, her golden sword glowing with righteous light. "You've grown too powerful, Malrik. You've become a threat to this world. We—the ones who know you best—couldn't allow you to continue."
"A threat?" Malrik spat, his crimson eyes blazing. "I brought peace to Drakharis! I crushed those who sought to harm our lands!"
"At what cost?" Serath interjected, flames dancing in his hands. "Your rule is built on fear and destruction. We had no choice."
Malrik laughed bitterly. "No choice? You had a choice. You chose betrayal."
The battle resumed with renewed ferocity. Malrik fought like a demon unleashed, his power tearing through his enemies. But even he, the mighty Demon King, could not stand against the combined might of his former allies and their armies. Wounds began to accumulate, his movements slowed, and his vision blurred.
Finally, the fatal blow came. Eris's sword pierced his chest, her divine magic searing his flesh. Malrik dropped to his knees, blood spilling from his lips. His greatsword fell from his grasp, embedding itself in the ground.
"This is the end," Eris said softly, her voice tinged with regret.
As Malrik's life ebbed away, a sudden light enveloped him. It wasn't the darkness of death he had expected but a warm, mysterious glow.
"Do you seek a second chance?" a disembodied voice echoed in his mind.
Malrik's consciousness wavered. Was this a trick? A hallucination born from his dying mind? Yet, the voice felt... real. Powerful.
"A second chance?" he whispered weakly.
"Yes," the voice replied. "A chance to rise again, to seek vengeance on those who wronged you. Will you take it?"
Malrik's lips curled into a faint, bloodied smile. "I will."
The light grew brighter, consuming him entirely. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer on the battlefield. He was lying on a soft bed, in a small, dimly lit room. The air was cool and unfamiliar. Gone was his imposing armor and towering physique. Instead, he found himself in a frail, unfamiliar body.
"Where... am I?" Malrik muttered, his voice weaker, higher-pitched. He sat up, his head spinning as he took in his surroundings. The room was filled with strange objects: a glowing rectangle on a desk, a pile of books with indecipherable symbols, and an odd contraption with spinning blades.
Before he could process his situation, a glowing interface appeared before him, floating in mid-air. The words it displayed sent a shiver down his spine.
[Welcome to the Woman Hunting System.]
Malrik stared, dumbfounded. The floating text shifted, revealing more information.
[This system grants you the power to grow stronger by hunting and conquering the wives and daughters of your enemies. Complete tasks to gain power and unlock new abilities. Your ultimate goal: vengeance.]
For a moment, Malrik was silent. Then, he began to laugh. It started as a low chuckle, growing into a manic cackle that echoed through the room.
"Fate truly is twisted," he said, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "Oho, to think you guys have been hiding your families in another world." "Even in another world, I'm given the chance to exact my revenge. Friends or enemies, none will escape my wrath."
The system chimed again, interrupting his thoughts.
[Tutorial Quest: Begin Your Journey]
Objective: Identify your first target.
Reward: System Activation and Basic Power Boost.
"First target, huh?" Malrik mused, his eyes gleaming. He stood, his new body unsteady but filled with determination. "Let's see what this world has to offer."
He approached a reflective surface, finally seeing his new face. He was... pathetic. A pale, skinny boy in his late teens with sunken cheeks, hollow eyes, and unremarkable features. The kind of body that looked like it had been starved for years. It was a far cry from the intimidating presence he once held as the Demon King.
"So, this is my new vessel," Malrik muttered, a hint of disdain in his tone. "No matter. Power is power, regardless of the shell."
The system's interface shifted, displaying a map of the surrounding area. Points of interest were marked, each labeled with names and descriptions. Among them, one caught his attention: "Marian Carter Wife of Serath."
Malrik's smile widened. "Serath. The Flame Sorcerer who drove the final nail into my coffin. How poetic that his beloved wife will be the first to witness my rise."
He turned to the floating interface. "System, guide me. Show me the way to Marian Carter."
The interface complied, projecting a glowing path that led out of the room and into the unknown world. Malrik took a deep breath, his resolve unshaken. He might have lost his kingdom, his allies, and his former power, but he had gained something just as valuable: a second chance.
As he stepped into the bright, bustling streets of this strange new world, Malrik couldn't help but chuckle. The humans here were so naive, so vulnerable. They had no idea what had just been unleashed among them.
"Let the hunt begin," Malrik murmured, his voice carrying the weight of his dark determination.
For the Demon King, rebirth was not a blessing it was a weapon.