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

Renji Kuroda stood in his own gauntlet—unscathed, bored, and half-smiling as he walked through a trail of bodies. His blade, a curved obsidian katana crackling with violet electricity, dripped with demonic ichor.

Ability Unlocked: Soul Reaper Slash

"Too easy," he muttered, wiping his blade on the rags of a fallen beast.

But something about this place felt… off. Not the trial. Not the enemies.

A feeling he hadn't experienced in years. A pressure, a quiet fury masked behind a disciplined rhythm. Someone in the new batch carried it.

He hated that feeling. It was like the past clawing its way out of the grave.

The staircase ended at a black stone balcony overlooking a chasm of fire. Above it, an enormous structure floated in the void—part fortress, part throne room, part living entity. Its towers writhed like they breathed.

Bael appeared once again, seated lazily on a throne of scorched bone, swirling a goblet of glowing ichor.

"Welcome to the Spire," he said. "From now on, this is your base. Your proving grounds. Your prison and your temple."

Bael flicked a finger and summoned a list into the air:

Kaito's eyes narrowed. Fifth. Not bad for a start—but Renji was first.

"You recognize him, don't you?" Bael said, almost lazily.

Bael grinned. "Good. Hate sharpens the blade."

"Next phase starts soon. Squad trials. You'll be paired with other Contractors—friends or enemies, doesn't matter. The System loves chaos."

Kaito didn't flinch. "When do we face each other?"

"Soon," Bael said. "But tell me, Kaito… when the time comes, will you kill him?"

Kaito looked out over the infernal world below. "If I don't… I'll never be free."

Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past