Rise of the Demon King: Caleb Gonzales's Rat Race

Chapter 3: Learning About the System

[Quest]

[Defeat the Demon Wolf]

[You have successfully defeated the demon wolf.]

[Quest Rewards]

[You have gained a level and received 1 gold.]

Caleb wasn't sure what to feel as he looked at the messages hovering over him. He didn't know how long he had been out, but it must have been a couple hours at least, as night had already fallen in the time he had been unconscious. Honestly, he was lucky that nothing else had shown up while he was out cold. Then it would be really over for him.

"System. Explain," he said as he stood up to investigate the corpse.

[What is your query?]

He could feel the veins in his head pulsating as he said, "Everything. You've barely explained anything since I arrived here. Start from the very beginning."

[Since the beginning of time, angels and demons have waged war...]

"I don't mean that." The last thing he needed was for the system to relegate the entire prologue of the video game to him. "I mean, explain why I'm here and how to use the system."

[The user was selected based on a set of criteria.]

"What does that mean?" Caleb said as he prodded the corpse.

[It means that the user was deemed suitable to cross into this world. However, upon further analysis, it was confirmed that the user was mistakenly brought here.]

Caleb froze. "Excuse me?"

[The user was not meant to be brought here.]

"Are you kidding me? Then what did you say I was supposed to be here?" he said as he waved his paws at the system. "You know what. Never mind. Just send me back!"

[That is currently not possible. The user has already been integrated into the new world.]

"This is some sick joke," he muttered to himself.

While it was true that he had fantasized several times in the past about going to another world, he didn't really mean it. At least in his fantasies, he was overpowered and had a harem. He was currently neither powerful nor would it be possible for him to build a harem. No girl would want a rat as a lover. If he did encounter one, then he would be highly concerned.

[If that is what the user wishes, then the system will help.]

"How will you do that exactly?" he asked dryly.

[The system was specifically designed as a consolation for the user for their circumstances. With the power of the system, the user can become more powerful than the heroes and build a harem if the user wishes.]

He felt slightly better after hearing that, but he wasn't completely satisfied. "I don't know about the last part. I don't want to date a bunch of demon rats just because I am one now."

[The user can obtain a humanoid form if the user's level is high enough.]

"Why didn't you say that before? What level do I need to be?" he asked as he jumped up and down.

[The user would need to at least reach level 25.]

Caleb grimaced as he checked his stats. "That's going to be difficult."

[Caleb Gonzales]

[Level 2]

[Species: Demon Rat]

[Strength: 2]

[Intelligence: 6]

[Stamina: 2]

[Endurance: 3]

[Dexterity: 5]

[Mana: 7]

What a joke. He leveled up, but his stats didn't change in the slightest. Then what was the point of leveling up? Fortunately, he didn't stay angry, as he saw there was actually more information if he scrolled down, saying he had available stat points he could use. Available skills were also listed on the bottom, and he scanned the very short list.

[Skills]

[Fireball]

[Level 1]

[Create a ball of fire that can be launched at enemies.]

Well, he wasn't sure what he was expecting to be on the list other than [Fireball]. He couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing that running and hiding weren't counted as skills. Caleb didn't miss how [Fireball] was still only at level one despite having used it twice to the point of collapsing. The description also left much to be desired.

Speaking of which, Caleb recalled something the system mentioned earlier and said, "System, you mentioned something about past lives. Explain."

[The user's soul was scanned for its history. Older souls will have many past lives, while younger souls may not have lived a previous life yet. The system was granted permission to use that information and integrate it into the user's current life.]

"So you're saying that I was a mage in a previous life? That's pretty awesome, I'm not going to lie," he said.

[However, it's also the reason why you should have been disqualified. The user's current form is the result of the same soul occupying the same space and time.]

Wait, are you saying I'm here?" And wasn't that a doozy.

[Correct. Another version of the user already exists as a 'hero'. Therefore, the user was integrated into this world as a demon rat.]

He was still trying to wrap his mind around how there were two of him. Honestly, it was beginning to feel like a sci fi movie instead of a fantasy w******l. It better not end up like those stories about doppelgängers where only one of them could live because there was no way he would be able to take on his other self in his current state.

[The user will not have to worry about that. Since the user has been modified to a different species, there will be no problems with both coexisting.]

Hooray for small mercies. "Okay, is there anything else you haven't forgotten to tell me? I don't want there to be any more surprises. For example, how to use my past lives. I would have preferred they just sent me back instead."

The last part he had mumbled to himself as he turned his attention back to the corpse because it was seriously dumb of them to change his species instead of just sending him back. He couldn't see how the system thought that would be the best course of action. He would gladly sue if he could for his poor treatment, but he doubted that would fly with them.

[That is currently not possible. The user has already been integrated into the new world. The user will have to level up before it is possible to return to his world.]

His head snapped back to the system. "Hold on. You didn't mention the last part before. Why do I have to level up to leave? Couldn't you just put me back?"

[When the user was brought here, resources were used. In order to return the user, a greater quantity of resources would need to be used. As such, the user must gather them in order to successfully return.]

"What level do I have to be at in order to return?" he asked.

[In order to return permanently, the user must reach level 100.]