A Monster Is Born

Three hours later.

James gazed absentmindedly at the unremarkable walls of the library's entrance. Not wanting to return empty-handed, he ventured to the second half of the library, hoping to find some luck with the spells from the path of light. However, despite sacrificing another damned soul, he ended up with the same system notifications from the previous library.

'They are more cunning than I expected. Should I take my chances with the executioner?' James sighed as he slowly shook his head. 'It's not worth it.' James mused. He couldn't risk anyone finding out his secrets because of a few high grade skills.

'If I can't get new skills using the libraries, then it's time to use another method.' A ghoulish light flicked across James's eyes. His lips inadvertently curled. He had yet to use all his skills in his Grim Reaper form. Apart from being the oppressor of all souls, it gave him the ability to devour and assimilate the knowledge they had.

'The only problem is finding targets with suitable skills and knowledge.' James thought. He could never forget how he got most of his skills. If he hadn't devoured Blay De Tover's soul, he doubted he would have accomplished the annihilation of the Dumin household.

James wasn't delusional to believe he could go against someone similarly ranked as Blay De Tover. However, he believed with careful consideration, he could find targets with suitable skills prime for devouring.

With his course of action determined, James's mood brightened. Readjusting his robes, he swagged towards the exit of the hallways.

Heavy Knowledge Assimilation Initiated... (Previous User's Settings).

Estimated Time Until Completion: 6 hours...

Warning! Warning! Warning!

User cannot remain conscious during assimilation!

Initiating Temporary System Shutdown!

5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0.

Temporary System Shutdown Enabled!

A wave of fatigue overwhelmed James. Swirling darkness devoured everything before him, while thunderous echoes muffling faint screams filled his mind. His mind went blank, unable to muster the courage or will to speak. A thump followed, as James lay on the cold marble titles. Disbelief still etched on his face.

...

Meanwhile, at James's manor, two figures stood under the radiance of the crescent moon.

"Sir, aren't you going to turn in for the night?" Layla asked. Her grip tightened on a plain gray blanket. Silence, however, greeted her words. Helplessly, she could only sigh while leaning on a swaying oak tree.

'Why is he being so obstinate? Surely he should have realized Master wouldn't return today.' Layla's gaze shifted between the trail leading to the manor and Finley. Before James departed, he notified Finley he would return soon. However, James didn't give a specified time frame. Layla couldn't help but shudder as she stared at the eerily quiet, dimly lit forest. Midnight approached, yet there was no sigh of James's mount. She couldn���t help but imagine something had happened to him. After all, everyone knew about the terrors of the forest. Although she didn't know how James's got to be their master, she believed he was too young to handle the barbarians within the unforgiving forest.

"You can go in if you're tired. I'll wait for a few more hours."

A smile bloomed on Layla's lips. She turned towards Finley, who quietly relaxed in a rocking chair. She quickly suppressed her emotions, before saying, "I will wait a few more minutes with you, sir."

"Do as you wish." Finley retorted causally without turning.

Two hours later. The croaking echo of hundreds of frogs and the chirping of crickets filled the air. Layla had long departed, leaving Finley under the oak tree. The butler leaned to the side, drool dripping from his mouth has be half-heartedly stared at the path ahead.

'I should call it a night. It doesn't look like master will return tonight.' Finley thought. He slowly stood up while yawning, stretching his arms and legs. Without a second thought, he turned towards the manor's main entrance. He couldn't afford to miss the staff meeting in the morning. Just then, however, a faint rustling reached him.

Startled, Finley quickly turned towards the origin of the noise. "Who's there?!" Finley called out. Wearily staring at the bushes ahead. Although hundreds of fireflies wheezed through the air, he saw nothing. 'Was it the wind?' Finley mused. The manor was in a windy area, so it wasn't uncommon to hear the odd, but occasional rustling of leaves and branches. There was also the possibility of small animals wandering towards the manor. 'It must have been the wind.' Finley believed.

"I should get in before it's sunrise..." Finley muttered. Turning once more, he walked towards the manor's entrance in light steps. At that same moment, however, the rustling intensified.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" Finley howled. Despite his age, his voice carried an authoritative aura. Silence, however, followed. The rustling leaves intensified, yet only a calm, but frosty wind echoed around the manor.

'Is it a beast? Or did those barbarians stray to the manor?' Finley paled at the thought of either possibilities being a reality. He took in a deep breath, calming his tensed heart. His eyes remained fixated on a certain section of the bushes. Although he didn't know what approached, he quietly remained in place. With each passing second, the rustling intensified. Finley's heart thumped wildly. He could hear faint footsteps approaching.

"Whoever you are, this is the manor of someone who passed the rights ceremony! Don't..." Finley's words trailed off. Unable to believe who had emerged from the bushes.

"Theo?" Finley called out anxiously. Staring at the youth who emerged naked from the forest.

Theo smiled bashfully while using his hands to cover his privates. "Could you please help me with something to wear, sir? It's cold."

'It really is him.' Butler Finley woke up from his stupor. Joy quickly replaced his surprise. A moment later, anger flashed across his face. "You stupid boy. What happened to you? Don't you know how treacherous these woods are? How could you stupidly run away?" Finley hurriedly approached Theo. The joy in his eyes betrayed the venom in his words. Theo, on the other hand, lowered his head. Not daring to refute or interrupt Finley.

Just then, he heard the butler's voice again. "Aren't you going to explain yourself? Where have you been? What happened?" Before Theo could speak, he felt a warm clothing drape over him. Blocking the chilling winds. Theo raised his head, stunned to see a black fur coat placed on his back.

"Wear it properly. I don't want you to fall sick before I deal with you." Finley chided.

Theo bowed deeply, as he said, "I'm truly sorry for my foolish actions, sir. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

"Enough with your nonsense. Don't think you can escape being punished. Follow me. I want to hear what happened and how you ended up like this," Finley said. His teeth involuntarily clattered as the unforgiving cold assaulted his body.

Saying nothing further, the two walked into the manor in hurried steps.

...

Several hours had gone by since James collapsed on the marbled floors of the library, yet he continued to lay motionless while breathing ever so faintly. No one had left the library or entered since the temporary system shutdown. Partly because of the notoriety of the conditions required to gain the tomes within the library. The Hall masters and the hidden caretakers, on the other hand, had their own private entrance and exit.

Estimated Time Until Completion: 5 seconds... 4 seconds... 3 seconds... 2 seconds... 1 second... 0.

Congratulations!

Heavy Knowledge Assimilation Completed!

Initiating System Reboot!

Estimated time Until Completion: 1 second...

Congratulations!

System Reboot Completed!

Congratulations!

The User has attained a new Level!

The User has attained a new Skill.

Refinement Completed!

The User has obtained a new Item!

The User has unlocked the ranking requirements for the next rank!

Will the user like to learn the new skill?

James's body shuddered slightly while his arms and legs curled at odd angles. A bout of hoarse cough escaped from his dried mouth. At that same moment, his eyes suddenly opened. A wave of pain assaulted his head, muddling his mind.

'What the hell happened...?' All he could hear was the unceasing chimes of the system's notification echoing in his mind. Slowly, James's vision cleared, and so did his mind. Before he could vent his anger for the sudden system shutdown, he glimpsed at the various notifications.

Skill: Mantra of the Abyss!

Rank: God Tier!

Path: Eternal Darkness!

Those who seek the path of the abyss shall summon the wraith chains of Nehé, the eight monarch of the Abyss realm.

{Abilities}

- The user can reap multiple souls using the chains of Nehé.

- Chains of Nehé can pause time.

- Chains of Nehé can summon the gates of the Abyss realm.

- The chains of Nehé can merge with Title-Grim Reaper. Upon Merging, the user's Grim Reaper form will evolve to the next level.

- The user can summon wraiths with the chains of Nehé.

- All wraiths shall tremble in the presence of the chains of Nehé.

{Limitations}

- The user's level is too low to use the skill to its full potential.

- The user can only summon and maintain the chains of Nehé for five seconds.

- The user can only summon the chains once per day!

Will the user like to learn this skill?

Item: Dark Souls!

Rank: Superb!

Path: Darkness.

Origin: Lesser demons tortured under the undying flames of hell and the all-consuming flames of the Netherworld. Nourished with the souls of the damned!

Loyalty: 100%

James glanced at the notifications, unable to quell his disbelief. 'New Skill? How?' The other system notifications also left James slack jawed.

"System, show me my stats. Hurry!"

Age: 14

Rank: Journeyman.

Level: 31 (10,701,840.89 Exp needed to upgrade to the next Level).

Current Exp: 18,000.00

{Stats}

Intelligence: 4000. Wisdom: 1100. Strength: 5. Endurance: 4301. Luck: 100. Agility: 2252.

Defense: 2252. Charisma: 200.

{Skills}

-Mana Manipulation.

-Death Magic.

-Dark Arts.

-Undead Physiology.

-Rot Inducement.

-Curse Inducement.

-Hell-Fire Manipulation.

-Shadow Barrier.

-Blood Magic.

{Titles}

-Necromancer.

-Grim Reaper.

-Soul Cleaver.

-Netherworld Survivor (Branded).

{Items}

-Odon Alloy Ring.

-Golden Six Clover Orchid.

-Mask of the Dead.

-Nightbane, Warblade of Dark Souls.

-Army of the Fallen.

-Dark Souls (Refining completed).

-Damned Souls.

-Corpses.

{Bloodline Vault}

-??? (The user's Rank is too low to access this information)

-Blood Essence of unevolved beasts.

-Blood Essence of a demon.

-Human Blood Essence.

-Ogre Blood Essence.

{Status}

-Transitioned!

{System Ranking Requirements}

- The User must assimilate two grade 1 bloodlines.