Origin of the Demon with a Human Soul

In his past life, Dante Varos was a soldier, a man who lived and died by a code of honor. He fought to protect the weak, upheld justice where he could, and never strayed from his beliefs—even when the world around him descended into chaos. But his convictions cost him his life. Betrayed by his own comrades for refusing to partake in a massacre, he was left to die, bleeding out beneath a crimson sunset.

Yet death was not the end.

When Dante awakened, he found himself reborn in Erethis, a world dominated by monstrous beings, demons, and ancient gods. But he was no longer human. His hands were clawed, his skin darkened with markings of power, and an unnatural hunger burned in his core. He had been reincarnated as a Demon of Wrath, a creature born from violence, one that thrived on consuming souls to grow stronger.

But unlike others of his kind, he remembered everything—his past life, his morals, his honor. And most importantly, he remembered the feeling of losing himself to the cruelty of men. He refused to become the same kind of monster that had betrayed him before.

The World and His Struggle

In Erethis, power was everything. The strong devoured the weak—literally. By slaying opponents, beings could absorb their souls, gaining their skills, memories, and strength. Those who ascended beyond mortals became Legends, and if they continued their rise, they could claim the mantle of Godhood itself.

Demons, in particular, thrived in this brutal hierarchy, their strength growing through

destruction and chaos. But Dante rejected this path. He fought, not to consume the innocent, but to protect those weaker than him—monsters and humans alike who sought to survive in a world that demanded their submission.

However, his refusal to embrace his demonic nature made him a target. Both monsters and humans saw him as an anomaly—a demon who refuses to be a demon. The ruling Demon Lords mocked him, the humans feared him, and even among monsters, he was an outcast.

Yet, he fought on.

The Path to Legend and Beyond

Dante trained relentlessly, acquiring skills through combat and hardship rather than mindless slaughter. He hunted those who preyed on the helpless, taking only what was necessary to grow stronger. Through battle, he adapted, learning how to harness his demonic power without succumbing to its corruption.

Each victory brought him closer to Legend-tier, a status few demons achieved without losing themselves entirely to darkness. He became a force of nature—neither hero nor villain, but a warrior who defied fate itself.

But the path to Godhood was still distant, and a question loomed over him:

If he ascended to divinity, what kind of god would he become? Would his mortal soul be enough to withstand the temptation of absolute power? Or would he finally become the very monster he fought against?

Erethis was watching. The gods were watching. And the abyss within him whispered, waiting for the day he would break.

For Dante, the true battle was not against others, but against himself.