A dull ache pulsed in Alex's skull as consciousness slowly returned to him. His eyelids fluttered open, and the cold, sterile scent of burnt metal and blood filled his lungs. His body felt heavy, but not unbearably so.
"Ahhh!" He gasped, chest heaving as he bolted upright, breath ragged and uneven. His heart pounding like a war drum, his mind anything but calm.
I'm alive… I'm alive?
Flashes of what had happened before he passed out surged through his thoughts. His hands shot to his face, trembling as he traced every inch—his cheeks, jaw, chest, arms, legs—searching for any changes.
"My face… it's fine. My body… still the same." A shaky breath escaped him. "Phew… thank goodness."
But the relief was fleeting. The memory of that thing clawed back into his mind. Just the thought sent his heart racing again.
Calm down. Calm down. Calm down!
He forced himself to take deep, steady breaths, his fingers digging into his thighs to ground himself. Gradually, the tightness in his chest eased. His thoughts grew clearer.
His gaze shifted. The professor's body was still there, collapsed, no sign of movement. No sign of anyone else.
"…Not a dream, then."
His face darkened, brows knitting together.
"This… isn't right."
A fragment of memory surfaced.
I think I heard someone speaking… just before I passed out.
His gaze darted around the room. Debris was scattered everywhere, some chunks still smoldering faintly, though most of the smoke had thinned, escaping through the vents above. Visibility wasn't an issue. The door was blocked by collapsed rubble, undisturbed. No signs of anyone having moved it.
There's nowhere to hide…
A chill crept down his spine. Was it… a hallucination?
Then it hit him.
Right. That system thing…
"Uh, status?" he muttered, feeling a little ridiculous—until it happened.
A translucent screen flickered into existence before his eyes, glowing with faint green letters:
Name: Alex Draven
Race: Human ( unevolved)
Level : 1 (10%)
Soul points: 3/5
Life level: Awakened
Power index: E
Source index: E
Growth index: Taboo
Str: 13
AGI: 11
SPIRIT: 116
Free attribute Points: 2
Skills and abilities
Blank Mist
??? (Locked)
Alex stared, mouth slightly ajar.
"For real."
This looks like… an MMO interface.
Alex's lips curled slightly. "Huh. So it wasn't a hallucination."
Before he could focus on it, a smooth, unfamiliar voice echoed in his mind.
"Well now… you certainly are an interesting one."
Alex froze, he cautiously surveyed the room again carefully not to miss a single detail. There was nobody else in the room.
He slowly massaged his temples.
I'm starting to hear that voice again. Did my head get hit too hard? Or... am I being haunted?
" Hehe- " the unfamiliar voice giggle echoed in his mind.
Alex felt an uncomfortable chill up his spine.
" Who are you?" Alex asked in a deep wary voice.
"My name, huh... I've been called a lot of names... you can call me Asmodeus. Demon King of Lust Asmodeus." the unfamiliar voice replied casually.
Alex was confused when he heard the unusual introduction. However, although confused, he accepted it rather easily.
" I see." Alex nodded. His expression indifferent. " So, what does the demon king want with me?"
The unfamiliar voice, Demon king Asmodeus, asked a little surprised " You're not surprised by what I just said? You believe me that easily? "
" Surprised? Believe you? " Alex said bitterly and turned to look at the professor's body. " I have a system flashing messages before me, the professor turned into a demon something and there's that strange terrifying thing that came out of his corpse. Those are things that usually exist in fantasy novels, besides... calling yourself a demon king shouldn't be much surprising. Why wouldn't I believe you? "
"Oh? You're quite composed. A person who knows how to accept reality as it is, the sooner the better. Most would be screaming or in denial by now."
Alex's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't react outwardly. The same voice from before I blacked out.
" You still haven't answered my question."
" Let's just say for now, I'm… a temporary benefactor. You've been given some gifts. Or rather, a loan."
Alex's gaze remained steady. "A loan?"
"Exactly. A few perks, consider them rented for now. If you survive what's coming, we can discuss ownership."
"…And if I don't?"
"Then the contract is null. And you die."
Alex let out a soft exhale. "Straightforward enough. And the terms?"
"Ah, I do enjoy talking to clever people. Let's keep it simple, use what you've been given, make it through the trials ahead, and at the right moment… consider my proposal. That's all."
There was something unsettling about how he spoke. Not malicious, but patient. As if he had all the time in the world.
Alex glanced at the professor's lifeless form, then back at his status window. "…And if I refuse?"
A low chuckle.
"Refuse now? Nothing changes. You'll still have the gifts. You still have to fight to survive. You'll just lose the chance to own them... permanently."
A brief silence stretched between them. Alex could feel the weight of an unspoken truth behind those words. There was more to this. But for now, he had no choice but to move forward.
Alex focused on his skills.
---
[ Blank Mist – Unique ]
[ Description - Your soul is in a unique state and this state allows you to possess an extremely rare talent to control a unique unattributed mist. The mist can absorb and integrate various energies, elements and mystical characteristics to achieve various special effects. ]
[ Talent has the following effects: mist manipulation, soul points conversion, unlimited soul points.]
[ Mist manipulation : you can create, infuse, shape and control mist and various mist special effects. Resultant effect depends on your spirit and imagination. ]
[ Soul point conversion : Whenever you kill a living being, the absorbed soul essence will be filtered leaving only pure soul points. The higher the level of the target the higher the amount of soul points obtained. ]
[ Unlimited soul points : You are able to absorb all soul points without limit. ]
---
Alex focused at the other skills showing '??? (Locked)'
I'm guessing the locked skill is the gift. How do I unlock them?
Instantly the '??? (Locked)' disappeared, new lines of text appeared:
[ You have received the favour of the demon king of lust, Asmodeus. ]
[ The other party has gifted you a certain power. ]
A sense of understanding appeared in his mind.
Instantly, new lines of text appeared.
[ You have grasped the special skill: Glutton. ]
[ Glutton : This skill allows you to grow stronger by devouring. The target will be absorbed to a special space where you can restrain or store, or devour and analyse their properties. There's a chance to obtain a skill or abilities from the devoured target. ]
---
Alex's gaze fell on the professor's corpse. I wonder if I can use devour together with blank mist.
He reached out, mentally willing the ability to respond.
A ball of almost invisible mist extended from his arm to the body.
A thin, almost invisible mist draped around the corpse like a curtain, the body slowly disappeared, vanishing without a trace. Alex felt the body's presence in another space.
It works. Felt like the mist was an extension of my hand.
A new notification flashed.
[ Devoured Devouring demon human mutant. Devouring demon human mutant bloodline obtained. ]
A crystal orb with a dark red drop of blood the size of a marble emanating a sinister aura appeared on his palm.
[ Devouring demon human mutant bloodline - special ]
[ Description: This is a resultant mutated bloodline from human and demon bloodlines. ]
[ Effects: Devouring demon human mutant physique, morph, ultimate mutant.]
[ Devouring demon human mutant physique: Your physique is enhanced close to that of a demon. ]
[ Morph: Ability that allows you to transform different parts of the body into different weapons or armor. ]
[ Ultimate mutant: Devouring demon human mutant innate skill. Grants the chance to take the form, trait and power of any living creature you absorb by reading the genetic code and adding to your own. ]
[ Assimilate bloodline? YES / NO. ]
[ Special note: Assimilating the bloodline has a high chance of causing mutations. ]
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
He exhaled sharply.
At this moment, he turned toward the ruined entrance of the lab.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
" Are those... zombies?"