The Strongest Player is a Demon Lord

The New Earth - Requiem

[System Loading…]

[Collecting data from the Demon Lord Azazel…]

[Collecting data from the player Merlin Warlock…]

[Data Merge is underway…]

Merlin felt something different. He’s warm and cold at the same time. It’s not a pleasant feeling, more like a tug of war between these two sensations. Where one wants to win over the other. Then there is the still darkness. Merlin can’t feel his limbs, nor any other part of his body for that matter. But his mind is intact, smudged and unreliable still, but intact.

[10%]

[20%]

[Failed]

[Restarting data merge…]

He has no control over this screen that he is seeing in front of him. It’s probably under Requiem’s command, are the words running through his head. Ah yes, his thinking is now becoming clearer at least. But that just makes the experience all the more dreadful. A clear mind won’t help him get out of there – it’ll only cause him worries.

[10%]

[25%]

[Failed]

[Restarting data merge…]

Slowly but surely the feeling of warmth on his veins began to return. The cold disappearing along the way. Then came a rapid jolt that Merlin felt reaching every fingertip. Allowing him to finally make use of these as he started to move them slowly.

[15%]

[30%]

[Failed]

[Restrictions will be placed on character creation.]

Merlin has no idea how much time has passed. He does not understand how the subspace he has been brought in works. Nor does he have any concept of anything anymore. He’s just there – wherever there might be. Though his consciousness is now slowly coming back to him, there is still a great gap in his memories.

This is something that the child has not told him. Not because it was forgotten, but because it was purposefully omitted. All for the sake of making sure that Merlin Warlock will not back down. Though there is definitely no way that Merlin will back away from the deal that was made with him by the new god of the world where he is resurrecting. And though I wish to speak more of the things that are about to happen to Merlin, it is better for you to see it for yourself. After all, everything will naturally unfold as time goes on.

[Restarting data merge]

[18%]

[49%]

[77%]

[…]

[100%]

[Invading New Earth]

A brilliant flash of light welcomed Merlin. He felt something different, a sensation that almost brought a kind of nostalgia to him. It is the same as the feeling of a newborn coming out from its mother’s womb. But there is no way for him to know nor to understand this. He does not remember the day he was born after all.

All he knows is that there is a gentle warmth. One which caught him by surprise. He is a creature who has never experienced love and affection after all. But this is temporary. Merlin slowly opened his eyes and all the light disappeared. What replaced it are is a gentle light and message that awaited him.

[Welcome Master]

Are the words displayed on his game system window. His memory is hazy but everything is also quickly coming back to him. The deal he struck with the child who calls itself Requiem. The same child who was once his weapon as well.

[Character Name: Merlin]

[Level: 1]

[Class: Demon]

[Specification: None]

These are the things shown at the top of his screen. The same things that a player sees once they arrive at Genesis City. There are a couple of variations however. The first is that instead of placing a player name at the beginning, what he has is a character name. The same one that he has chosen.

Merlin.

[A Main Quest has been added]

“Already? Shouldn’t there be a tutorial first?” Merlin complained.

[Main Quest: Proof of Darkness]

[Quest Grade: F]

[Requirement: Kill a Human]

Murder.

Merlin has experienced killing before. Not in the real world but in Requiem. He has killed multiple characters from his years as the strongest of the game. The effects within the game are as realistic as could be. The scent, the sound, the visuals, everything is spot on. Giving the feel of actually killing a person.

But that is a game. That’s it. Nothing more than a game. The players he kill in Requiem will still be alive in the real world. Now, that has to change.

“You want me to kill a person?” He asked.

Merlin let out a nervous laughter. He can’t help but do so because of how absurd this request is. It isn’t even a high-grade quest. An [F+] quest can be finished by a [Lvl 5] player without breaking a sweat. Even as a [Lvl 1], Merlin will have little difficulty finishing a quest of this grade. But the requirement for this specific [F+] Grade quest has a heavy toll. One which is already weighing down the half-demon.

“You were so cocky when you talked with the child, are you nothing but talk?” Merlin is saying this to himself. He’s not crazy; yet. But he needs to assure himself that he can do this. He doesn’t have any other choice. If he doesn’t, he won’t progress with the quests.

“You could’ve given me an easier quest to start with you know.” Merlin said.

He doesn’t know if the child, Requiem, can hear him. Probably not. His words might simply be wasted. Then again, it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of his frustrations out. He’s still gonna do it of course. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be complaining about how problematic this quest is. So the demon made one last sigh before surrendering to his unbelievable fate. Impeccable timing because of what followed.

“HEEEELP!”

A woman’s cry for help caught Merlin’s attention right away. Taking the entirety of his attention. The voice echoed from where he stood – coming from somewhere below him. Immediately telling him that he’s not alone. There’s company. More than one to be exact as he heard familiar sounds right after it. Battle screams of kobolds.

Merlin looked around. He’s in a closed space, with rocks and earth surrounding him. It’s the first time that he took notice of his surroundings after the reincarnation. Now he knows that he isn’t in a safe place. Not in the slightest bit.

The half-demon reached the edge of where he is standing. Giving him sight of the woman who seems to be an adventurer, as well as the group of kobolds that are behind her. As well as the kobolds waiting for her at the front of the path.

“That’s not good.” Merlin voiced as he watched the scene unfold.

He doesn’t want to get involved with things like these while still at level one. But the situation seems to demand his presence. That’s why he took a quick glance of the skills he currently owns. These made his brows furrow right away. Nevertheless, Merlin decided to push through with his idea.

“What does a guy have to do to catch a break around here?”

Not wasting another second, Merlin leapt into action.