Chapter 3: Path to Power
Kael stood in the empty alley, his body still adjusting to the overwhelming power surging through his veins. He clenched his fists, feeling the sheer difference between his former human body and his new form as a Demon God.
The transformation had skyrocketed his strength, placing him at Hero Level, meaning he could now defeat opponents even between Level 35 and 42. He wasn't invincible, but compared to the average adventurer, he was a nightmare.
His Sky Spear ability pulsed within him—a weapon of pure destruction. The more mana he poured into it, the deadlier it became, capable of piercing through even the strongest defenses. It was not just an attack; it was a manifestation of his will—a spear that moved according to his thoughts, a weapon no enemy could dodge.
But more than that, it was his passive skills that made him a true nightmare to magic users.
As a Demon God, Kael had gained powerful passive abilities:
High-Level Magic Damage Reduction – Any magic below Super-Tier had its effectiveness reduced against him, making even 8th or 9th-Tier spells far less dangerous.
High-Level Magic Damage Increase – The power of his own magic was amplified, making his attacks even deadlier than those of regular casters.
Negative Status Immunity – Curses, poisons, debuffs, mind control, and illusions had no effect on him. Unlike humans, who feared enslavement spells, Kael was completely immune to such tricks.
Demon Wings – Though currently sealed, once unlocked, these wings would grant him true flight, making him nearly impossible to hit in combat.
These abilities made him a magic user's worst enemy. Mages relied on spells to deal damage and weaken their foes, but against Kael, their strongest weapons would be useless.
However, despite his immense power, he was far from being the strongest in the world.
Kael knew that this world was not weak.
Platinum Dragon Lord – A being rumored to be the strongest dragon still alive, possessing an ancient arsenal of god-tier equipment, including a World-Class Item.
The Five Dragon Lords – Other powerful dragons that, despite being weaker than Platinum Dragon Lord, were still among the strongest entities in the world.
Rigrit Bers Caurau – A legendary human who once fought a God-tier entity and survived. She had seen players before and understood their power.
The Slane Theocracy's Black Scripture – A special forces unit that had weapons capable of killing even the most powerful beings in existence.
Even though Kael was powerful, he wasn't untouchable. The world had monsters beyond his level, and he wasn't arrogant enough to assume he was at the top.
The history of this world proved that even powerful players had fallen before.
Six hundred years ago, six players arrived in this world. These beings, known later as the Six Great Gods of the Slane Theocracy, had godlike abilities compared to normal humans. They established a religion and ruled as divine beings.
However, they eventually disappeared—or rather, they were defeated. How they died remained a mystery, but many speculated that they had been hunted down by dragons or another powerful force.
Then, five hundred years ago, a new group arrived—the Eight Greed Kings. Unlike the Six Great Gods, these players were conquerors, ruling the world through power.
Yet, despite their unimaginable strength, they too perished. Some say they turned on each other due to greed, while others claim they were defeated by an even greater enemy. They were remembered as the Desire Gods.
Three hundred years ago, yet another player arrived. However, he was swiftly killed by the Dragon Lords, proving that even a powerful YGGDRASIL player could die in this world.
And now, in just one month, a different kind of player would arrive—one who far surpassed the others.
Ainz Ooal Gown—The Overlord of Death
Kael knew that Momonga—Ainz Ooal Gown—was different from past players.
He had countless World-Class Items. These reality-defying artifacts granted him immunity to most forms of attacks.
His summoned familiars were monsters that could challenge even Dragon Lords.
His army, Nazarick, was filled with Level 100 NPCs, beings with perfectly optimized skills and abilities.
He had no weakness in his build. Momonga wasn't just a powerful caster; he was an undead overlord with extreme resistances and strategic intelligence.
Ainz was not someone who could be beaten by luck alone.
Kael estimated that if he reached Level 70, he would be strong enough to protect himself from most threats.
But if he wanted to truly stand at the top, if he wanted to be a real threat to Nazarick, then there was only one solution.
He had to reach Level 100.
Kael clenched his fists.
What he lacked most now was experience.
Upgrading required experience.
The Lottery required experience.
And if he wanted to gain experience, staying in E-Rantel was useless.
Even if he killed thousands of weak adventurers, it wouldn't be enough. He needed to fight high-level monsters, push himself beyond his limits, and grind his way to power.
He raised his eyes and looked into the distance.
His gaze seemed to penetrate the fog, locking onto the dark forest beyond the city walls—a place where monsters lurked, where danger was everywhere.
The Forest of Tob.
There, he would find the undead. And there, he would begin his path to power.
Without hesitation, Kael's body shifted into a shadow, merging with the darkness.
Then, with a silent movement, he vanished—his journey had begun.