System notification
The shelter was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the dying fire. I sat cross-legged on the mat, letting exhaustion ebb away as I stared into the embers. The battle had left my body battered, but the thrill of victory still lingered in my veins.
Just as my eyelids grew heavy, a faint chime echoed in my ears—a sound both alien and familiar. My vision blurred for a moment, and then a translucent blue screen materialized before me.
---
System Notification:
New Items Acquired:
Ember Stone — A rare crafting material. Can be used to unlock or enhance abilities.
Skill Updates:
Shadow Manipulation: Unlocked (Level 1)
Harness and control shadows in battle. Effective for stealth, attacks, and defensive maneuvers. Note: Drains HP when used excessively.
Hellfire Conjuring: Locked
The ability to summon and wield the devastating power of hellfire. Defeat 100 demons to acquire.
Demonic Possession: Unlocked (Level 1)
Gain control over lower-ranking demons and manipulate them to your will. A powerful ability that strengthens with use.
Infernal Strength: Locked
Increases physical strength exponentially. Unlock requirement: Gain 50,000 XP.
Demonic Speed: Unlocked (Level 2)
Enhanced speed gained through previous battles. Allows for lightning-fast movement in combat and traversal.
Regenerative Healing: Locked
Unlock Requirement: Craft Ember Stone using Rosario Stone.
Dark Empathy: Locked
Grants heightened connection with demons and insight into their emotions. Unlock Requirement: Become an official Demon King candidate.
Legion Command: Locked
Allows the summoning and control of an army of demons. Unlock Requirement: Gain 1M HP.
Hellish Dominion: Locked
Establish control over a region in the Underworld. Unlock Requirement: Defeat Elzarath the Blood Lust Demon (Rank: S).
---
I blinked at the notifications, my mind racing to process the information. Each new skill and item carried with it a weight of responsibility—and potential. But it wasn't the unlocked abilities that caught my attention; it was the locked ones, their descriptions hinting at challenges that lay far beyond anything I'd faced so far.
"What's that look on your face?" Aurora's voice snapped me back to reality. She was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her piercing blue eyes fixed on me.
"Something just… happened," I said, gesturing to the screen.
She arched an eyebrow. "The system, huh? Let me guess—you've unlocked some shiny new abilities and think you're invincible now."
I frowned. "It's not like that. These skills aren't just handed to me. I have to work for them."
"Good," she said, pushing off the wall. "Because nothing in Purgatorio—or the Underworld—comes for free. Let me see."
I hesitated for a moment before sharing the details of my unlocked skills. Aurora listened intently, her expression unreadable until I mentioned Hellish Dominion.
"Elzarath," she muttered, her tone dark. "That's a name you won't forget if you ever cross him. S-rank demons aren't just powerful—they're practically walking disasters."
"I'll deal with him when the time comes," I said, though the confidence in my voice felt hollow.
Aurora shook her head. "You'll need more than confidence to survive him. But let's focus on what you can do now."
She stepped closer, her gaze sharp. "Shadow Manipulation, Demonic Possession, and your improved speed—those are your tools. Let's see if you can use them properly."
I nodded, standing. My body still ached from the earlier fight, but the prospect of testing my new abilities ignited a spark of determination.
"Good," Aurora said. "Let's head outside. The shelter's too cramped for real training."
---
The barren landscape of Purgatorio stretched before us, its oppressive red sky casting an eerie glow over the jagged rocks. Aurora gestured for me to stand in the center of an open clearing.
"Start with Shadow Manipulation," she said. "The description says it drains HP, so you'll need to balance its use with your stamina. Try summoning a shadow weapon."
I closed my eyes, focusing on the power I felt coursing through me. The ground beneath my feet seemed to shift, dark tendrils rising and coalescing into a blade in my hand. The weapon felt solid yet weightless, its edge gleaming with a faint, dark aura.
Aurora nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Now, attack."
"What?" I asked, caught off guard.
She smirked, raising her own blade. "Attack me. Or are you afraid I'll beat you again?"
Her taunt worked. I lunged forward, the shadow blade slicing through the air. Aurora met my strike with her own weapon, the clash sending vibrations up my arm.
"Too slow," she said, sidestepping my next swing.
I adjusted, channeling more power into the blade. Its form shifted, elongating into a spear. I thrust it toward her, forcing her to leap back.
"That's more like it," she said, her smirk widening. "But you're burning through your energy too quickly. Control it."
I gritted my teeth, trying to stabilize the weapon's form. But the strain was evident, a dull ache spreading through my chest as my HP dwindled.
Aurora lowered her blade, stepping back. "That's enough for now. Shadow Manipulation is powerful, but it'll kill you if you're not careful. Learn to use it sparingly."
I nodded, panting as the shadow blade dissolved back into the ground.
"Now, Demonic Possession," Aurora said. "Let's see if you can handle it."
I hesitated. The idea of controlling another being felt… unnatural. But I had no choice. I closed my eyes, focusing on a small, bird-like creature perched on a nearby rock.
The power surged through me, extending toward the creature like invisible tendrils. Its red eyes glowed brighter, and it squawked in alarm before falling silent.
When I opened my eyes, the creature was hovering in front of me, its movements no longer its own.
Aurora's expression was unreadable as she watched. "You're a natural," she said finally. "But don't get cocky. Possessing a demon's mind is one thing. Controlling its will is another."
I released the creature, watching as it flew away. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, but there was a sense of accomplishment—a small victory in the endless trials of Purgatorio.
As we made our way back to the shelter, I couldn't help but glance at the system screen again, the locked abilities taunting me. Each one was a promise of power—and a reminder of the challenges yet to come.
One step at a time, I thought. One step closer to becoming the Demon King.