Chapter 5: Mark of the Abyss

Zain knelt in the alcove, his obsidian scales gleaming under the faint blue glow of the crystals, the air still heavy with the sulfurous tang of the Abyss's lowest floor. Power coursed through him, a searing heat that made his claws tremble, his wounds now healed, his body stronger than ever before. He had done it—sacrificed 250 souls to the Will of the Abyss, ascending to the rank of Low Level Demon (Low). The crystals pulsed faster, their rhythm a heartbeat echoing his triumph, but the air felt heavier, an unseen weight pressing against his newly forged essence. Something was wrong.

The Jack of All Trades System hummed to life, its interface shimmering in his mind's eye, a cascade of crimson runes against a black void.

System: Congratulations, Host. You have advanced to the rank of Low Level Demon (Low).

Current soul balance: 3 souls.

Zain's golden eyes narrowed, a flicker of pride igniting within him, but the system's next message sent a chill through his scales.

System: The system has detected that the Will of the Abyss has left a mark on the Host. The will of the abyss marks every demon whenever it breaks though a new level.

A cold sensation slithered through Zain's core, like icy tendrils wrapping around his essence. He growled, claws digging into the volcanic glass beneath him, the sharp edges cutting into his palms, black blood pooling. The Will of the Abyss—the malevolent force that governed this realm, the entity he had just offered his souls to—had marked him. He could feel it now, a faint, oppressive presence lurking within him, a shadow that dulled the fire of his newfound power.

System: The mark of the Will of the Abyss will prevent all the demons from becoming stronger than the Abyss itself. Starting the process for elimination of mark of the Abyss....Process completed-Mark eliminated.

Zain's growl deepened, a snarl of defiance echoing through the alcove. The crystals' pulsing faltered, as if the Abyss itself sensed his rage. He had fought, bled, and killed to rise above the chaos of this infernal realm, and now the Will sought to chain him? He would not be bound. He was Zain Oul Zachus, a demon born of this abyss, and he would carve his own path, even if it meant defying the Will itself.

System: Recommendation—use the newly unlocked World-Traveling Function to break through to new levels.

Zain's eyes widened, the system's words cutting through his fury. A new function? He focused on the interface, the crimson runes shifting to reveal a new tab, glowing with an ethereal light. The World-Traveling Function—a gateway to power beyond the Abyss's grasp. His instincts flared, urging him to explore this opportunity. He needed to understand.

The system continued, its messages unfolding like a scroll of dark prophecy.

System: The Host can send a part of their soul to another world, where they will master the power of that world.

System: Upon becoming the ruler of that world, the Host can synchronize the power of that self with their main self.

System: The Host must then gather enough souls in the Abyss or worlds connected to it to break through to the next level.

System: This process will reduce the impact of the Will of the Abyss on the Host to the minimum.

Zain's mind raced, the system's words painting a path forward. Send a part of his soul to another world—master its power, claim its throne, and bring that strength back to his main self. The idea was intoxicating, a way to circumvent the Will's mark, to grow beyond its reach. He imagined himself wielding powers unknown to the Abyss, his claws dripping with the essence of worlds beyond this infernal crucible. But the system's mention of gathering souls afterward grounded him. Even with this new power, he would still need to hunt, to kill, to offer souls to break through to Low Level (Mid)—500 souls, a steep climb from his current 3.

He rose to his feet, tail lashing, the volcanic glass crunching under his claws. The alcove seemed smaller now, the jagged walls closing in, the Abyss's oppressive presence more tangible. The Will's mark was a chain, but the World-Traveling Function was a key. He would use it, defy the Will, and rise to heights the Abyss could not contain.

The system's interface pulsed, drawing his attention back.

System: Current available world—Harry Potter.

System: Available subsystems for soul fragment—Shenhao System, Thief System, Goddess Conquering System, and others.

Zain's gaze lingered on the options, his mind sifting through the possibilities. The Harry Potter world—a realm of magic, of wands and spells, a far cry from the blood-soaked floors of the Abyss. He had read many of it's fanfic in previous life and the system's mention of "mastering its power" and "becoming its ruler" sparked a hunger within him. He would dominate this world, bend its magic to his will, and return stronger than ever.

The subsystems intrigued him. The Shenhao System likely offered wealth, a power he had little use for in a world of magic. The Thief System might grant stealth, but Zain was already honing his skills with Shadow Step. The Goddess Conquering System, however, caught his attention. A system designed to charm, to dominate through influence and allure—it was a power unlike anything he wielded in the Abyss, where strength and violence ruled. In a world of magic, where alliances and manipulation could be as deadly as a wand, this subsystem could give him an edge. He could conquer not just through force, but through the hearts and minds of those who stood in his way.

Zain's claws hovered over the interface, the crimson runes glowing brighter as he navigated to the World-Traveling Function. The tab expanded, a swirling vortex of light forming in his mind's eye, the gateway to another world. His heart pounded, a mix of anticipation and determination. This was his chance to break free of the Will's mark, to grow beyond the Abyss's limitations.

He selected the function, the vortex pulsing with energy.

System: World-Traveling Function activated. Please select a subsystem for the soul fragment.

Zain's gaze locked onto the Goddess Conquering System. He clicked, the runes flaring with a brilliant light, the vortex spinning faster.

System: Subsystem selected—Goddess Conquering System.

System: Destination world—Harry Potter.

System: Preparing to send soul fragment. Host's main self will remain in the Abyss.

Zain felt a sharp tug at his core, a piece of his essence peeling away, like a shard of glass breaking from a larger whole. The sensation was jarring, a cold emptiness where that fragment had been, but the system's interface stabilized, the vortex now a steady portal of light. His soul fragment was on its way to the Harry Potter world, armed with the Goddess Conquering System, ready to conquer and claim its power.

Zain exhaled, the emptiness fading, his main self still intact. He flexed his claws, the alcove's crystals pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. The Abyss stretched out before him, a realm of blood and souls, but now he had a new path. His soul fragment would rise in the Harry Potter world, and when the souls synchronised, he would be stronger, strong enough to ascend beyond Low Level (Low).

He checked his skills, grounding himself in the present.

Skills: Fireball, Enhanced Stamina, Enhanced Strength, Claw Sharpening, Shadow Step.

He would need to hunt again, to gather souls in the Abyss while his soul fragment conquered the other world.