Excruciating pain tore through my body, each heartbeat a reminder of my dire state. The steady rhythm of blood dripping from my shredded clothes underscored my suffering, and I swayed with the waves of encroaching unconsciousness. Yet, I held onto my sword tightly, my glare unwavering at the group of Demons standing before me."Fifteen...when...will it end...?!" I gasped out, my chest heaving with exertion. There was no answer to my desperate plea, no respite from the oppressive fatigue that wrapped itself around my body like a vise.The Kobold Guardians took deep, ominous breaths, heralding the commencement of their vile skill. I cursed under my breath, and through sheer force of will, propelled myself beyond the reach of their impending sonic assault. The invisible shockwave rushed past, causing the hairs on my skin to stand on end just from the residual force.Seeing an opening, I charged at the immobilized monsters, momentarily incapacitated by the after-effects of their skill. Wi
“Guraaaaaaooooo!!!” The beast let out an ear-splitting roar, sending shockwaves throughout the cavern.I dug my heels into the ground, bracing myself against the tremendous force emanating from the Hell Kobold King.“Keukk!”With a menacing glare directed at me, the Demon King gestured towards me, uttering commands in an indecipherable language. The subordinates, the Guardians, sprang into action immediately, lunging towards me with unwavering loyalty.At that moment, I understood why the King's intelligence stat was so high. This Demon possessed a degree of self-awareness, enough to command its lesser minions.I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword, preparing for the imminent assault, or so I thought…>Kkkkrrrtttt
From the earliest moments of my existence, it was as if a cruel destiny had etched a painful truth deep into my soul: life was profoundly unfair. I was reminded of this harsh reality by my playmates, classmates, teachers, even by my own father. "Damian is so odd!", "Stop acting strange, Damian!", and the countless instances of, "Shut up, Damian!", echoed in my mind, ringing like an unwanted melody from a broken music box. I was the outcast, the one they couldn't comprehend, the child who danced to his own tune, albeit a tune they saw as odd and disturbing.In this unjust world, some were blessed with charming faces, eloquent speech, and charismatic personalities that drew people towards them. Others were born with the golden spoon, their wealth and influence making them untouchable. However, what I had come to understand was that the greatest fortune of all was sheer luck, something utterly beyond our control. If you were born lacking in looks, wealth, or sociability, there was littl
A sense of befuddlement permeated my consciousness as I came to grips with my current situation. "What's happening?" I whispered into the engulfing darkness, my voice bouncing back like an echo in an empty cavern.The assumption that I was dead seemed to crumble, leaving me confused and disoriented. I found myself secluded in an empty space, an abyss of darkness that stretched on infinitely in every direction.I was alone, surrounded by nothing but the void. The only exception to this was a shining anomaly that suddenly appeared before my perplexed eyes.In the midst of the darkness, a golden window manifested, casting a warm glow that sharply contrasted the black void around me. “What on earth could this be?" I mused, my voice barely above a whisper.[System Alert]- Will You Proceed?[Yes] [No][..]I was presented with a choice— a job. I remembered having a slot for it in my Status Window, although it had been blank up until now. This must mean that I was now eligible to select a p
During my tenure at the Sacred Hall, one of the most significant lessons I learned was the mechanics of the Demon Core 'explosion method.' This understanding was gleaned from closely observing the struggles of the Gifted, in their fierce battles against the Demons.Demon Cores are intriguing as they are the physical manifestation of a Demon's energy, condensed into a tangible form. This energy is distinctly demonic, and it inherently rejects any form of interaction with energy that originates from humans. Attempts to amalgamate these two contrasting energies have invariably led to an energy clash, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.Utilizing this knowledge to my advantage, I channeled my recently harnessed magic power, conveniently stored as 'MP', into each of the Demon Cores. This task was simplified by the fact that all of my possessions bear my unique 'Signature', enabling them to readily accept my infusion of Magic Power.The outcome of this strategic move was nothing short of
The broad grin on my face was a mirror reflecting my sheer delight as I surveyed my plentiful collection of Demon Cores. After a brief period of unconsciousness that I used to rejuvenate my weary body, I found myself still surrounded by the deserted expanse of the ground floor, a stark reminder of the grueling battle I had recently endured.Re-examining the items stored in my [Subspace], a grin crept across my face, almost involuntarily. The progress I had made within a mere couple of days was astonishing. I was no longer the terrified boy I had been a few weeks ago when I first stepped back into the world; my growth was undeniable."Yet, there's more to come…" I muttered, glancing at the entrance not far from where I sat. The sweet aroma of freedom was intoxicating. However, my journey was far from over."Patience is key! I can't rush this!" The external world surely held more dangers than I could possibly predict, and my only source of knowledge was my time spent in the Sacred Hall.
With an expression of distinct discomfort, a young woman groaned, "Urgh! I still can’t get used to this…” She seemed to be in her early twenties and was garbed in a form-fitting outfit studded with various pieces of survival equipment. Alongside her were four other figures, three males and another female, their clothes varied but their gear echoing the practicality of their apparent leader's.One of her crew swiftly admonished her, “It can’t be helped, also keep your voice down!” His voice echoed a little too loudly for his liking, earning him a swift, scathing glare from the leader. Sheepishly, he fell silent.“You’re the one making noise, stupid. Take your own advice…” she retorted, her voice trailing off as she scanned their surroundings. The scene before her was distressing, to say the least, with collapsed buildings and raging fires, but by now it was a familiar sight. The stagnant air was stifling, exacerbated by the sweltering sun and sporadic gusts of wind that only added to t
With a wide grin, I mused, "This has been well worth setting up. Now then… let's see what they're capable of!" [Flashback to Earlier]Upon conquering the entire building and stepping into the outside world, I was welcomed by a deathly silence. The tangible sensation of solitude seemed to permeate my very being, causing a peculiar tingling sensation on my skin.I scanned my surroundings, and even with my heightened senses, I couldn't detect a single sign of life for miles around. It led me to question, “Am I the sole survivor in this area?”I had barely walked a short distance from my apartment building when I surveyed the surrounding structures. Some stood defiantly against the sky while others lay collapsed, their once formidable heights reduced to rubble. Surprisingly, my surroundings were eerily devoid of any monstrous presence.What made my apartment so distinct, I wondered? The answer was already forming in my mind, “It must have been due to the Gate that had materialized in the