Demon King

Jinma – 4

[A breakthrough joins this Evolution.]

[Limit breakthrough means surpassing the limits of the lower system of living things and entering the upper system. The existence of the lower system cannot properly interpret the existence of the upper system. Even if an ability is used with the same power, it will be pushed out of the battle and be unable to generate power.]

[If the limit is broken, all elements that compose the soul will be replaced with a higher quality of energy. This includes physical abilities and skills, as well as magic.]

[Would you like to evolve?]

Instead of the usual choice of evolution, I was greeted by this notification window. I thought evolution was breaking through the limit, but apparently not. This talk about becoming a higher being was odd; the regular evolution had been shocking enough. What would this be like?

Still, when I thought about it, parts of this made sense. The mana of Jinma, for example, was mana that I couldn’t fully deal with. I was able to use part of it, but its full power was much greater than I could physically exert. It made sense it would be designed to be used by these so-called higher beings. A, L, that monster I just killed. All of those who dealt with it or mana like it must technically be these superior creatures.

‘Perhaps the Knights of Elakatra are like that too?’ That knight’s power was definitely great, and their mana felt similar to that of Jinma’s. It was certainly possible. More thoughts filled my mind about these subsystems and higher levels, but I soon concluded it was pointless. If I wanted to understand, then I should just become an entity that was a part of this higher-level system. Maybe then I would learn more about it and get stronger to boot. That was my goal all along, anyway.

Before that, however, I still had some work to do. Because my Shadow Walk had reached the highest level, it became possible for me to synthesize special high-level skills. According to that notification, my skills would change in this evolution, so it would be wise for me to do that first.

[Special advanced skill ‘Reaper’ can be synthesized.]

[Top-notch Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, top-notch combat skill (Martial Arts), top-level or higher special movement skill (Shadow Step)]

[Possess the highest-level magic skill (Flame Magic).]

[Possess top-notch combat assistance skills (Detection, Command)]

[Would you like to synthesize the ‘Reaper’ skill? The Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, Martial Arts, and Shadow Walk skills will disappear.]

I closed my eyes and thought about what I would lose. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy to synthesize a new skill. Nothing had been ever since I opened my eyes as a goblin. I opened my eyes and looked through the skills again, finally nodding.

[Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, Martial Arts, and Shadow Walk skills have been synthesized.]

[You have acquired the Reaper skill.]

[Reaper Lv1]

[Death is in everything that exists. All actions related to killing are heavily increased. With a higher skill level, you can deal death in more diverse and powerful ways.]

I looked at the other skills I had access to, several I had known about before. Many of them were still at the beginner level and couldn’t do much yet. This Reaper skill, however, felt like the sort of skill I would have associated with that of a higher being. Its limits were unclear, and its potential was absurd. I had to make sure my abilities supported it so that I could use it properly. It had the potential to be a ridiculously powerful skill.

“No sense waiting around anymore.” I wanted to finish devouring this giant monster and check out the final reward of this dungeon, as well as figure what this key was for. But first, I had to evolve. It shouldn’t be all that different from what I had been doing up until now, but I was still nervous. I tried to shake off those emotions and confirmed that I wanted to evolve in the notification window.

Several items popped out of my inventory, circling around me. They were Pelcadia’s Jewels I had acquired throughout the dungeon, gradually growing closer to me as they orbited around my body.

“No way…” The gems fused into my body as soon as I had said it. It didn’t hurt much, but fear consumed me as I felt like everything that composed my body was shattering apart. I lost consciousness.

“Huh…!” When I woke up again, I was surrounded by darkness. I couldn’t feel or see anything around me.

‘What is this…? Did something go wrong when I chose to evolve?’ I felt like I was floating in space. This didn’t seem like the dungeon, and even though my sensing ability should have reached the highest level just now, I couldn’t sense anything around me. Was I even in a physical state right now? I couldn’t tell; all I knew was that I existed.

[You betrayed us.]

A voice echoed through the dark space, the voice of a young man.

[You like that word, don’t you?]

A new voice, somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.

[The promise has been broken. I will not allow you to become the monarch.]

[Do whatever you want, I’ve already abandoned it all.]

[Your ability to run away is amazing but remember this: I am the only monarch. From the moment you went down there.]

[You won’t be able to do as you please. How about putting in some effort for once?]

[You…!]

The voices of the two men disappeared without a trace as I tried to concentrate on them.

[Absolutely not!] Immediately cutting through the silence, the sharp voice of a woman appeared. I could tell who it was right away. L.

[You don’t have to sacrifice anything!]

[It’s not a sacrifice, I’m just taking a small step back so I can keep moving forward.]

[How many steps back?]

[I don’t know… about fifty?]

[You… you idiot!]

[Stay here. I’ll come back someday.]

[Someday?!]

The voice opposite of L’s was a man, still familiar sounding. Their voices calmed down after a while, fading away once more. I shook my head, unsure of what their conversation had been about.

[It’s an impossible choice for me to make.]

This time it sounded like Rain. His voice was so familiar to me by now.

[You just can’t be bothered to choose.]

[You know I respect you.]

[That’s the first time I’ve heard that.]

[I know you’ll be back, don’t look sad.]

[You trust me too much. Don’t you know praising a child too much is bad?]

[Is that so? I had thought that the more praise you gave them, the more they grew…]

Silence for but a moment.

[I’ll be here waiting for you, Fate.]

Both voices vanished again, and light began to shine through the space I was in. I thought over the voice who was responding to Rain, engraved into my mind for a moment before it slipped away. That had been my voice, talking to Rain. This place was inside of me, my brain or soul, or whatever. It was a place that contained all that I was. My being promoted to a higher level, by breaking through that limit, my knowledge and memories that I hadn’t even realized I forgot were returning, bit by bit.

But this was the end of that. I had barely taken the first step toward Jinma, and I was still so far away. I could tell this place was rejecting me, slowly pushing me away.

[Sorry, little one.]

[It’ll be a miracle if they wake up.]

[They seem to be about six years old… who will take care of them?]

My consciousness began to fade once more as I heard the voices of some unknown adults. I considered these words briefly, chewing over them before my mind went black.

[Belkena]

[Belkena are among the rarest of the races underground, outstanding fighters that have always stood at the center of the demon lineage.]

[Belkena, who were born under God’s favoritism and fell due to the curse of all the other races who loathed them. They walk a path close to death, having awakened to deal with the power of Jinma, which they use as a weapon to kill their opponents.]

[Belkena are a race of evolution, known for their fast rate of evolution and strength. Many Belkena die out, however, before they can show off their talent. If you do not have the will to follow this path, you too will share that fate.]

[Kill and devour, and the path before you will open.]

[The seal of the castle has been released by completing all conditions.]

[You may use the key to return to the castle.]

My eyes slowly open, feeling odd in my new form. I hadn’t experienced the agony of evolution that usually came, but I didn’t mind that.

Only

“Hmm…” Everything felt different; the appearance of the world itself feeling new before me. I could feel everything around me, the details so vivid. Jinma’s mana welled inside me, filling out every inch of my body to protect and strengthen me. I could tell that my mana was affecting the mana of the world around me, changing its shape in direction to my command and spreading out. I felt like I could handle Jinma’s mana perfectly now.

I created a mirror of ice before me, looking at my reflection. My face was much the same as it had been as a Crimson Elf, although my ears were shorter. My skin was as dark as pitch now, instead of that blood-red hue, and my body didn’t look as fragile as it had as an elf. I was more muscular now, and perhaps a bit taller, although not quite as large as I had been as a bugbear. I wasn’t dissatisfied, though, feeling the power welling up inside of me.

I decided to call out my status, barely able to register what appeared before me.

[Fate]

[Belkena Lv1]

[New Magic – 52, Soul Magic-87, Luck-???]

[Skill-Gluttony Lv1, Reaper Lv1, Lunatic Trickster Lv1, Ubiquitous Lv1, Domination Lv1, Blackmine Lv1, Belkena Spell Lv1]

“Ha…haha…” I laughed weakly, too shocked to speak.