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

Kaito barely had time to process Renji's presence before the ground rumbled beneath his feet. The arena split apart, revealing glowing red cracks that spiraled outward like veins of fire.

Bael floated above them now, his wings of molten shadow unfurled.

"Time for your first trial. You call it training—I call it weeding out the weak."

With a snap of his fingers, the entire arena began to sink.

The ground shifted, dragging each Contractor down into a separate pit of stone and flame. Kaito tried to resist, but a powerful force seized him and pulled him under.

The last thing he saw was Renji's unreadable smile disappearing behind rising smoke.

> Zone Entered: Infernal Gauntlet - Tier 1

Bonus: Finish under 5 minutes for extra EXP

Caution: Failure results in termination of contract.

Kaito hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet in a tight corridor of jagged obsidian. The air crackled with heat and the distant growl of something... not human.

Something screeched around the corner. A grotesque beast, twice the size of a man, all muscle and bone with fire leaking from its eyes. A Hellhound.

Recommended Action: Do not hesitate.

"Noted," Kaito muttered. He summoned the Hellbrand Blade again, the black fire roaring to life in his hand.

Kaito ducked, rolled, and slashed upward. Sparks flew. The beast howled but wasn't down.

A second one emerged from the shadows. Then a third.

He gritted his teeth. "Fine. Let's dance."

He activated his passive: Demonic Regeneration. Wounds began closing almost instantly.

> Skill Unlocked: Infernal Instinct (Lv. 1)

Gain short bursts of slowed perception during combat.

Kaito moved like lightning. He dodged a fiery bite, leapt off a wall, and buried his blade into the first hound's neck. The second came in with a swipe—he countered, flipped over it, and slammed its head into the wall.

The third tried to flank him—but he was ready.

> Skill Upgrade: Hellbrand Blade (Lv. 2)

New Effect: Ignite (Burns target over 3 seconds)

One clean slice and the final beast burst into black flame, howling as it collapsed.

Kaito stood alone, panting, surrounded by ash and glowing embers.

He was stronger now. Faster. Smarter.

A stone door opened in the wall ahead, revealing a dark stairway upward.

At the top? Probably more pain. More death. Maybe answers.

Chapter 4: The Infernal Gauntlet