As I stepped out of the villa, the cold night air greeted me like an old friend.
I didn't look back.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't feel anything.
For some reason, the moment I left that place, I forgot her face.
Her voice.
Her existence.
As if she had been nothing more than a passing thought.
A name I could no longer recall.
I exhaled, the breath leaving my lips in a slow, controlled sigh.
Then, without breaking my stride, I spoke.
"System. Show me the stats."
A faint chime echoed in my ears as the holographic screen flickered to life before me.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Samuel Gebb
Title: Heavenly Demon
Level: 80 (+35 from the merging of souls)
Strength: 250 (+91 from evolution)
Agility: 220 (+75 from increased combat adaptation)
Endurance: 230 (+80 from merging and black heart enhancement)
Intelligence: 200 (+50 from battle insight and mastery)
Charisma: 180 (+40 from natural dominance)
---
New Abilities Unlocked:
Heaven's Wrath – A strike so powerful it distorts the air itself, sending shockwaves that tear through everything in its path.
Void Step – Allows the user to move with an instant flash step, making attacks impossible to predict.
Dragon Fear – Exerts an aura of absolute terror, forcing weaker enemies to kneel before the presence of the Heavenly Demon.
Breath of Destruction – The ability to erase an opponent's very essence, leaving no trace of their existence.
---
I smirked.
"So this is what I've become?"
My fingers curled into a tight fist, feeling the raw power pulsing within me.
I raised my hand to the sky, watching the moonlight dance across my palm.
The world felt… different.
Lighter.
Weaker.
"I am not bound by the past anymore."
I exhaled slowly, my lips curving into a dark grin.
"From now on, I move forward. No attachments. No mercy. No regrets."
The wind howled through the empty streets as I activated Void Step for the first time.
In the blink of an eye—
I vanished.
The Heavenly Demon had been reborn.
I continued to move through the night, each Void Step carrying me effortlessly through the city. The buildings blurred into streaks of light and shadow as I glided through the streets, every movement a flash of speed and precision.
But there was something gnawing at me—something I needed to understand.
I slowed down, coming to a halt on a rooftop overlooking the sprawling city below.
The lights flickered, and the bustling world seemed so insignificant from up here. I wasn't bound by anything anymore. I was free.
But that question kept lingering in my mind, pulling at me.
"System," I called, my voice cutting through the silence of the night. "What is my occupation in this world? What have I always done?"
A soft chime rang in my ears as the system responded, its voice steady.
"You are a private investigator, Samuel Gebb."
"A private investigator?" I repeated the words to myself, the weight of them settling in my mind.
It made sense, in a way. The cases, the investigations—they had always been a part of me, a part of my past life.
I had been someone who sought the truth, unraveling the mysteries of others' lives. But was that all there was to me now?
"And what do I do now?" I asked, my tone barely more than a whisper.
The response came just as calm.
"You solve cases, uncover secrets, and bring justice in your own way. You do what needs to be done, regardless of the cost."
I closed my eyes for a moment, taking it all in.
This was who I was. Who I had always been.
A witness to the darkness, a seeker of the truth. Someone who could disappear into the shadows and reveal what others wished to keep hidden.
The past no longer mattered. My soul had merged, and now I had the power to change the course of everything.
But would I still be that investigator, uncovering the secrets of others— or had I become something else entirely?
I opened my eyes again, a dark smile forming on my lips.
"Time to get to work, then."
I stood on the rooftop, the city sprawling beneath me, the winds picking up and swirling around my form. My thoughts were like a whirlwind, not sure of where to land, yet the pull of destiny was strong. I was no longer bound by the constraints of the past, and now, with the power I had acquired, the future was a blank canvas, waiting for me to paint my path.
The darkness inside me had given me strength, yet it also made me question what I should do next.
What was I meant to do with all this power?
"System," I called out. "Show me the quests available."
A soft chime echoed, and the familiar screen appeared before me, the words lighting up one by one.
----
[Available Quests]
1. Defeating the Gate Keeper of Hell
A powerful demon guarding the gates of Hell itself. Defeat them and unlock the path to the deepest realms.
Reward: +15 Strength, +10 Charisma, Hell's Blessing.
2. Clear the Demon Caste
The Demon Caste is a notorious stronghold, ruled by an ancient family of demons. Cleanse the castle and destroy the ruling family to claim its riches.
Reward: +20 Agility, +10 Endurance, Demonic Weapon Unlock
3. Fight a Heavenly Monster
A monster of celestial origin has been wreaking havoc in the mortal world. Defeat it to claim its essence and gain divine abilities.
Reward: +30 Strength, Divine Gift, Heavenly Armor
----
I looked over the quests, each more daunting than the last. Each one was a test of my strength, my willpower, my determination. They all carried their own rewards, but one thing was certain: this path would not be easy.
I ran my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath. What was I truly seeking?
I thought about the Gate Keeper of Hell. A demon guarding the very gates of Hell. Defeating it would give me access to a realm that most would never dream of stepping foot in. But I wondered if I was ready for that, if I was ready to step into the depths of the abyss itself.
Then there was the Demon Caste. A fortress of demons, a family that had likely ruled for centuries, their strength unknown to mortals. Destroying them would bring riches, power, and perhaps even greater danger.
The third—Fight a Heavenly Monster. A monster of celestial origin. The thought of battling something so pure, yet corrupted in this world, stirred something inside me. That felt like a fight I could sink my teeth into. It was a divine challenge. A challenge worthy of my rebirth.
I took a long breath, staring out over the city as I thought about what awaited me in each of these quests.
"The Heavenly Monster," I muttered to myself. "That sounds like the one."
My instincts told me that the other two would be tests of sheer willpower and strength, but the Heavenly Monster was something different. Something that could stretch me, push me, evolve me.
"System," I said with conviction, feeling a shift in my core, a growing sense of purpose. "Activate the quest: Fight a Heavenly Monster."
The system responded instantly, a soft chime ringing in my ears. "Quest activated. Prepare for battle. The Heavenly Monster awaits."
I smiled, a predatory grin, the thrill of the hunt coursing through me.
"Let's see what kind of monster thinks it can challenge me."
With that, I vanished, moving at blinding speed toward my destination. The world around me was nothing—it was just another battlefield, and I, the hunter