doomed_author

When Kaito Yukimura dies in a blaze of betrayal, he expects darkness. Instead, he wakes in the underworld—chosen by the Devil’s System, a sentient power that offers him a second chance… at a cost.

Reborn as a Contractor, Kaito enters a brutal realm where the strong carve their names into history and the weak are devoured. With a blade forged from shadowflame and a system that feeds on his rage, Kaito rises fast—but something inside him is changing. The more he fights, the hungrier the system becomes.

Haunted by the past, hunted by a forgotten enemy, and burdened with powers that threaten to consume him, Kaito must decide: will he conquer the system, or become its next devil?

In a world of blood, betrayal, and broken gods…
Redemption has a body count.

Reborn with the Devil’s System

A sharp gasp tore from Kaito's throat.

He sat up—suddenly, violently—as if surfacing from deep water. His hands trembled as he clutched at his chest, but the pain from before was gone. The wounds, the blood, the cold alley—all of it… gone.

He was in a dim chamber lit by flickering crimson torches. The walls were made of black stone, pulsating faintly like something alive.

A notification blinked before his eyes again.

> Devil's System: Tutorial Mode Activated

Starter Skill Unlocked: Hellbrand Blade

Passive Ability Unlocked: Demonic Regeneration

Kaito blinked. "This… this can't be real."

But the system didn't care about his disbelief.

[Eliminate the Lost Shades in the Chamber to proceed.]

A grinding sound echoed behind him. He spun around and saw dark shapes forming from smoke—grotesque humanoid figures with hollow eyes and twitching movements.

"Hell of a tutorial…" Kaito muttered, then instinctively raised his right hand.

Flames burst from his palm, forming a jagged blade of black and crimson energy.

> Skill Activated: Hellbrand Blade

Kaito didn't have time to marvel. The first Shade lunged. He sidestepped, almost instinctively, as if something inside him guided his movements. The blade arced in a clean sweep—cleaving the creature in half.

It vanished in a wail of smoke and sparks.

By the time the last Shade dissolved, Kaito stood in the center of the chamber, breathing hard, his blade still flickering in his hand.

The system chimed again—calm, mechanical, and utterly inhuman.

> You've passed the trial. Welcome to the Infernal Path.

A slow clapping filled the chamber. From the shadows, Bael emerged again, clapping with a satisfied grin.

"Well, well. You didn't die in the tutorial. That's already better than most."

Kaito wiped the sweat from his brow. "You threw me into a death trap."

Bael shrugged. "What doesn't kill you makes you... more demonic."

A swirling portal of fire opened behind the demon.

"Come. It's time you met the other Contractors. You're not the only one who made a deal."

Kaito narrowed his eyes. So this wasn't just a second chance.

Chapter 2: The System Awakens