《His Devilship Chan》 001? Dead Sun Illumination I ¡°Gambler who schemes behind the scenes,¡± I look up at the dragon. At his condescending gaze. ¡°Fortune has abandoned you, a flame on a frozen field.¡± The scythe presses sharp against my neck. Blood snows from hell. Hell now and then, hell ever after. This fairy tale was never meant to have a happy ending. How long since I¡¯ve been lost in this world? Are they waiting for me still? Is she still¡ª ¡°It''s over.¡± I wonder if it ever truly began. If so, when?... When did it all begin to fall apart? From the very beginning? From the very beginning¡­ *** Every day feels the same. Some kids pursue passion. Others chase goals. And me? Hahh. I just exist. Nothing moves me now that my body¡¯s old. In my youth, I pursued thrills also. I fought in the underground rings where every brawl could end me. I broke bones for money and it paid better than an honest job. So it went. All highs come with a fall. I now count my days while awaiting the inevitable. Though there are still rare moments worth holding onto in these miserable days of mine. ¡°Uncle Chuan! Happy birthday!¡± shouts the scrawny kid before me. The boy. ¡°Greetings, Uncle. Happy birthday to you!¡± babbles the other one. The girl. My nephews. I limp to the door, open my arms wide, and embrace the twins as I buckle. My back screams in pain despite the innumerable spine surgeries I¡¯ve spent half my life savings on. ¡°Hahaha! Look who¡¯s grown so much! You were at my knee the last time we met. It was just a month ago,¡± I greet grandly. The girl hugs my arm while the boy, the bastard, climbs onto my shoulder. ¡°Let go, Cei!¡± my sister Mei shouts at the little dipshit, hanging the coats on a hanger as she steps through the doorway. She then takes off her shoes and says in a disciplinary tone, ¡°Uncle has undergone another operation. He¡¯s not well. Let go of him this instant!¡± ¡°Lies! No way!¡± Cei raises his hand, staring back at his mother with a furrowed brow. ¡°Uncle is strong, so strong in fact he can carry a boulder on his fingertip! Didn¡¯t you say so yourself, Mom? Isn¡¯t that right, Uncle?¡± The boy looks back and forth between Mei and me. ¡°Of course! There¡¯s nothing this uncle of yours isn¡¯t capable of!¡± I lie shamelessly, lifting the boy high into the air. A proud smile suppresses my screams. Internally, I cry rivers. ¡°Me too! Me too!¡± says Wei, raising her hands and waving them with a stupid grin on her small face. Oh hell no. These unfilial children haven¡¯t seen the face of a slipper or the whip of a belt, it seems to me. Anyway, I lift the other kid, too. Oh, is that a crack I just heard? It can¡¯t be my spine, can it? I slowly put the two rascals down, barely holding myself back from dropping them midway. My neurologist won¡¯t be pleased at tomorrow''s meeting.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. It is worth it still. I¡¯d rather die a man than a coward! This kind of sacrifice is nothing. I don¡¯t want Cei and Wei to think of me as some weak old man destitute of strength when they grow. I lead the family to the kitchen and slump onto the sofa. After some small talk, Mei prepares dinner while the children go play in the living room. They build a bastion from all the pillows they can find throughout the house. ¡°How have you been?¡± my sister asks absentmindedly, tasting the soup she¡¯s boiling with a spoon. ¡°Still clinging to old life? You look like you¡¯re about to kick the bucket from boredom.¡± ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve long said my goodbyes to my associates,¡± I say, grabbing some bread. ¡°As for health,¡± I mumble, biting into the dough. ¡°I¡¯m more or less fine. Nothing to worry about. Didn¡¯t you see for yourself?¡± She sighs in clear annoyance, lightly stamping her foot on the floor. ¡°Have you found any hobbies? Maybe a woman? It¡¯s not the health I¡¯m most worried about.¡± ¡°Hobbies, you ask? Well, I¡¯ve been writing a book recently,¡± I tell her as I listen to the kids quarrel in a room afar. ¡°A book?¡± she asks with bewilderment in her voice. ¡°Would never think you¡¯re into literature. But¡­¡± Mei turns the gas off, opens a shelf above, and takes a handful of bowls. ¡°Come to think of it, you used to be into reading literary fiction when we were young, before you got involved with the mafia¡­¡± ¡°So,¡± she utters, ¡°what¡¯s the book about?¡± ¡°Not sure yet,¡± I say as the delicious smells assault my nose. ¡°I¡¯ve been inspired by the novel I recently read. I¡¯m cranking out a few pages daily.¡± ¡°Well, whatever it is, I¡¯m glad for you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± She sets the dishes on the table one by one: vegetables, bowls filled with red soup, more bread, and then the utensils and napkins. ¡°Any news from your friend?¡± she asks. ¡°The last time you said he was opening a business. A restaurant. What was his name again¡­ ah, Gin. Right.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± I muster, grabbing the ancient spoon she hands me after sitting. ¡°Shot dead. Gambling debts got to him. I knew it was coming, but pretty sad that with Gin, everyone''s dead now.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he quit?¡± ¡°No way,¡± I say, spooning the bowl of creamy delicacy before me and puffing on it to cool it down. ¡°Gambling is as severe an addiction as smoking and drugs. Only a few crawl back from the rabbit hole once deep in. Gin wasn''t one of them, unfortunately. Well, he didn¡¯t have much to lose besides his life anyway.¡± Mei kicks my knee from under the table. ¡°You realize how depressing you sound?¡± I sigh. ¡°Wait, I know,¡± she says, pointing at me. ¡°Have you had a hand in video games?¡± ¡°Video games?¡± I look at her questioningly. ¡°That¡¯s children''s stuff. I remember playing Mario and¡­ you remember that game with the tank we used to play? Was fun, but I think I''ve grown out of it.¡± Mei forces one more piece of bread into my hand as I finish the last. ¡°Not that¡­ Like RPG games and stuff¡­¡± She heaves a sigh. ¡°How do I explain¡­ Uh, they¡¯ve got action. You explore an open world: trade items, manage territories, fight monsters, and progress through leveling up. You should give it a go. Our company has been developing one recently. They''ll even grant you exclusive items as an early player.¡± ¡°Listen, Mei,¡± I tell her, locking eyes with hers. Her messy hair covers her dead-fish eyes and the dark bags beneath them. Her pale skin looks illsome, and her thin hands waver, the nails dirty and unkempt. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me at all. I''m fine. I''ll be fine. You have a busy life with work and two responsibilities on your shoulders, so better worry about yourself.¡± ¡°Three responsibilities,¡± she interjects with fuss, fingering the table. ¡°You''ve taken care of me before; now it''s my turn. I didn¡¯t realize sooner.¡± I extend my hand and firmly grab hers. She blinks tiredly, her tremors ceasing, her expression softening. Blinking, the lights above color the table in a yellow tone. The tune of the chirps from the open window disrupts the silence. ¡°Let''s not talk about it. The past is past,¡± I say, backing and forking a piece of tomato from the plate to my left. ¡°You know what would truly drive me mad? If you were to suffer. As long as I can see you and the kids smile, I''ll be happy.¡± Mei looks down. ¡°It''s just¡­ the children have lost their father, I don¡¯t want them¡ª us to lose you too¡­ Speaking of which¡­¡± ¡°Cei! Wei!¡± Mei calls, taking her chance to leave the table. ¡°The food is getting cold!¡± ¡°...Just five more minutes!¡± the little rascal yells from the other end of the house. There she goes. I grab my phone as I feel the vibration of a notification. Something''s come to my mailbox. How weird. I''m pretty sure I''ve paid the due bills: TV, gas, lights¡­ oh, the internet? Strange. I thought I still had four days. As I swipe, the notification appears: a massive banner with dozens of fantastical creatures and mythical weapons in a row. At the center stands a kid, an angelic boy with a clever face, rainbow hair, and feathers covering his bare body. His left hand is extended in a welcoming manner, while his other hand holds a thunderbolt. The Fish Constellation Pisces grants you an opportunity to participate in the Grand Battle Royale! Press now and escape into the magical and mysterious world of Noitavitluc! An ad? How come? I''ve never logged into any catchy sites before. What¡¯s this anyway? I push my finger onto the delete button, yet before I click, I halt. This looks like¡­ a video game? 002? Dead Sun Illumination II ¡°...You''ve made such a mess! Who''s going to clean it all, huh?!¡± Mei shouts. ¡°...Wei will! She''s behind most of it!¡± Cei screeches. ¡°...Lies! It was Cei! I swear!¡± Wei weeps. Scooping one more spoonful of the warm soup and slurping it, I press on the ad, which brings me to a weird website. Indeed, it¡¯s a game. As I¡¯m reading the description, I get more and more invested. Log in to claim a free character pull! Build your kingdom with immemorial jade beauties!! Triumph over the demonic dungeons for wealth and glory!!! Become the hero of our story now! Reading further, I reach the bottom of the page. There''s a huge, shiny download button in the hands of a cute maid. But when I press it, a survey pops up. 1: Is all life equal? What kind of question is this out of nowhere? Maybe it''s not a game, but some secret government shenanigans. I should''ve known not to indulge my curiosity. But I can¡¯t exit the questionnaire. No matter which button I press or how many times I tap the screen, the message doesn''t change. Do I have no option but to answer? ¡°...Nooo!!! Don''t touch our castle!¡± ¡°...Mean! Mom is so mean!!!¡± I mean¡­ I don''t have much to do. It says question number one, which posits the chance of numerous following questions. What will await me in the end? Do all the games nowadays force you into a survey? Curiosity takes hold of me. I reread the question. 1: Is all life equal? Three options. The first is disagreement. The second is for agreement. At last, the third is for neutrality or avoidance. Presumably. Equality? Hmm¡­ This is a tricky question. It asks whether one life holds more value than another. But¡­ how do we go about determining the value? From what they possess? No. Wealth, for example. What is the use of wealth for a dying man? Even eternity. What is the use of eternal life for a man desiring death? It''s hard to discern the value of matter too. Water is a calamity for a drowning man, yet it is a necessity for a thirsting man. On the other hand, what if the drowning man wants to drown, and the thirsting man wants to wither? So, is there a universal value that we can attach to things? 2: Is there no absolute truth? What a weird question. What is the truth of things? Is there such a thing as an absolute truth? Hmm¡­ The truth¡­ Beauty, let''s say. Beauty is generally considered to be an excellent quality¡­ Yet does this always hold true? For example, a carpenter ignores an ugly tree. Its ugly qualities save it from being cut. Now, with all the supposedly beautiful trees dead, who can say it¡¯s atrocious? Who is to say it¡¯s useless? The dead cannot talk. The wooden house cannot speak. In the end, the one remaining tree cannot talk either. Is it beautiful? Is it ugly? If a man sleeps in a damp place, his back will ache, and he will end up half-paralyzed. But does that apply to a loach?This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. If a loach lives in a tree, he is terrified and shakes with fright. But is this true of a monkey? Of these three creatures, then, which one knows the proper place to live? 3: Is there no good and evil? What is good, and what is evil? My mind is clouded with uncertainty. Why is the survey so overly complex? Or am I overthinking? Good? Evil? Ha¡­ For a man, the death of a pig is inconsequential, while the death of a dog is aggravating. What makes the dog more precious than the pig? Why is the slaughter of countless pigs considered a norm, yet the death of a single dog mournful? Why is one good, the other evil? For a man, the death of an old man is saddening, while the death of a young girl is insufferable. What makes the girl more precious than the man? Why is the slaughter of countless men in wars considered a duty, yet the death of a single child sensational? Why is one good, the other bad? An old man proclaimed as a wise ruler will have people lament his death. An old man proclaimed as a murderer will have people cry with joy at his death. What if these two are the same person? What if the wise ruler of his people is also the cruel murderer of others? Does this make him an evil or a good person? ¡°...At-at-a¡ª My ear! I''m sorry, I''m sowwy¡ª¡± I answer the questions one by one. It''s been a while since I''ve given things this much thought. ¡­Does this quiz ever end? 6: Is there a meaning of life? 12: Is a government in need of absolute authority with an iron fist? 17: Is it foolish to be proud of one¡¯s country? 29: Is the primary function of schooling to nurture the future generation to find jobs? Sigh¡­ I think my phone is broken. This is definitely an interrogation of sorts, but I¡¯ve gotten so far¡­ I want to see what happens after I complete the query¡­ The questions are becoming more specific and targeted. The first ones were way funnier and easier to respond to. 32: Is an individual depriving themselves of their lives under societal pressures committing a justifiable act? Is life ever worth giving up on? Few would color the world red for the slimmest chance to prolong it. Is life ever a gift worth any? Fewer still would wish they were never cursed to experience it. Who among them has any right to speak of left and right or right and wrong? Go left, and nothing will be right. Go right, and nothing will be left. 33: What faction do you believe most resembles you? Oh, a different answer set? ¡°Hey!¡± I hear as something shakes my arm. I look at Mei''s annoyed expression. ¡°I''ve been calling you again and again. Are you out of it?¡± Huh? I absentmindedly glance at the children beside her. At the girl with a freckled face, who has her head hung low, and the boy with folded arms, his face turned, a red handmark present on his cheek that he so desperately tries to hide. ¡°Hey! Are you fine?!¡± Why would I not be? I nod my head. ¡°What¡¯s happened? Why are you so worked up?¡± Congratulations! You have a 100% alignment with the Demonic Faction! Hmm? The survey finally ends. I didn¡¯t choose to be demonic, though. Weird. What now¡ª ¡°Hey! Chua¡ª¡± You''ve been given a |Villain| Title! A mechanical voice echoes in my head. Her voice is light, soft, smooth, soothing, sweet, amiable. Then why is it rough and bleak and bitter and noisy and nasty and¡ª cruel, distant, and cold all the same? ¡°ARGHH!¡± I scream my lungs out. Painful! How agonizingly painful! Gift |The Hero''s Curse |A|| has been granted! Damage against the players with |Hero| Title -50% Gift |Reverse Plot Armor |S|| has been granted! Luck Attribute -50% Experience Gain -90% Divinity Resistance -90% I can feel my luck leave my body, the distance between me and the faraway divine entities furthering. The gods, whoever they may be, completely give up on me. My nose bleeds. I press my hands hard on my eyes, blinded by burning sensations. The innards of my head melt. The pain. Unbearable. Unstoppable. You''ve been chosen as one of the 72 Demon Lords to rule over the demons! Race |Human |F|| has been promoted to |Demon Lord |S||! For the perfect results in the survey, you''ve been chosen as one of the 7 Archdemons to rule over the Demon Lords! Race |Demon Lord |S|| has been promoted to |Archdemon |SS||! To suppress the pain, I bite my lip as hard as possible. Forcing a smile right after, I lick the blood flowing down my nose. Commencing Inauguration¡­ Commencing Pathway Selection¡­ Chapter 0. Walpurgis Night ¡ª Phase 0 ¡°Chuan! Brother Chuan! Hold on! I''m calling the ambulance!¡± ¡°Uncle Chuan!¡± ¡°Uncle¡ª¡± Best of luck, Player. To die! This¡­ This¡ª This is bullshit! Is this how I die?! ¡°Chuan¡ª¡± Chuan¡­? ¡­ Who is¡­ Chan? ¡­ ¡­ Ah¡­ I¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Who is¡­ I? 003? Black Moon Overture I Opening my eyes, I''m greeted by a foggy space and a round table. Seven other people sit around it. With small horns on their heads, all except one appear human. The exception, a rainbow-haired boy, the same angelic figure from the ad banner, catches my attention. He''s the only one who looks different, not just in appearance. The others are confused, scurrying their eyes across the space. This boy, however, overflows with confidence. His hands are clasped before him as he smilingly sweeps his relaxed gaze across each individual. Finally, his sunny eyes fall on me, his lips curving further downward. ¡°Attention, everyone!¡± he calls with authority. ¡°You seven have been chosen to become Archdemons.¡± All seven pairs of eyes fall on him. ¡°No!¡± he bellows, raising his brows. ¡°You chose to become Archdemons of your own volition. You lot are the most evil scum among the millions.¡± ¡°The lowest of the low.¡± Silence befalls. Some listen attentively, uncaring about the insult. Some hold to their confusion. Some even laugh. What''s happening? I remember completing a survey and then an immense pain taking over me. What happened after? Wait¡­ What happened before? ¡°My memories! Only fragments of who I was remain!¡± I shout at the rainbowhead, pointing a finger at him. ¡°Who are you?! What have you done to us?!¡± I try to stand, yet I can''t. I''m stuck to the grand obsidian throne. I strike my fist against the gargantuan ebony table, the sounds drumming through the space like thunder. ¡°You motherfuc¡ª¡± ¡°Patience, lowly demon.¡± The very moment he raises his finger, my voice dies down. ¡°Such a raw temperament. Lacking common sense, I see. Well, you wouldn''t be a demon otherwise, you mongrel.¡± I open my mouth. No words come. Did he just seal my voice or something? Infuriating. How dare he?! Bloodlust courses through my veins. If I were to be released, I fear I''d pop his head before getting an answer¡­ My thoughts are disrupted when I hear the blonde sitting to my right giggling. I gaze at her piercingly, yet she only waves at me cheerfully. ¡°Anyhow,¡± the rainbowhead says, clapping his hands. ¡°Let''s get started with the Inauguration Ceremony, shall we?¡± At the center above the table, cracks start to form in the space. Bluish colors swamp from the fractures, and a transparent orb emerges from the opening fissure. The Fragment of The Great Dao Words form in my head, identifying the object before me. That¡¯s not what I should pay attention to. I turn my head to the rainbowhead, observing every expression he makes with utmost attention. For hints and such. This bastard is a prime suspect in being responsible for everything, after all. On his face, I see reverence and respect directed toward the orb. That orb moves toward a pale man in a black robe with a golden cross on his chest. A member of the clergy? How familiar¡­Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Pride Sin Songdra The words form inside the orb, identifying the middle-aged man. Its colors repeatedly change as it circles him, his raven hair waving as the orb speeds. The man stares ahead with his skyly eyes, expressionless and unreadable. At last, the orb halts, shaking. Then, in the spur of a moment, a smaller blue orb splinters off The Great Dao. The Fragment of the Time Pathway It whisks and closes in on the man, puncturing through his right eye. A lazuli clockwork tattoo forms in and around his eye, with gears coalescing around the iris and metallike lines scoring outward. His face ages. His horns grow tall and straight, starting as blue and whitening the farther they rise to the top. The strands of his hair turn darker, his eyes brighter, ocean-clear. Two sapphire wings sprout from his back. The Archdemon of Time, The Lord of Dragons, Pride Sin Songdra Finally, he stops glowing. On the table before him forms a staff half his size, with an hourglass spinning on its head. Throughout the process, I didn¡¯t take my attention off the rainbowhead even for a moment. When the time pathway fragment was separated from the orb, he drew his brows together in annoyance. It appears to me the time pathway is strong, given that it soured the rainbowhead¡¯s mood. After all, he clearly views us as enemies¡­ The blonde to my right gasps without a care for our predicament. ¡°So cool!¡± Her dark eyes sparkle. ¡°Time Pathway! Isn¡¯t that a cheat?! Imagine your enemy draws their sword only for you to stop the time and shove it up their ass!¡± She receives weird glances from the others. I want to voice my agreement, but I can¡¯t speak. ¡°But say, what happens if you foresee the future? To give an example, what if you''d eat a cake and sit on a cock the following morning, but after having a look at the future, you gobble a cock and sit on a cake instead. Wouldn''t that create a time paradox¡ª¡± Her voice breaks. She gapes, yet not a single peep comes out of her mouth. ¡°How vulgar,¡± the rainbowhead sneers, frowning. ¡°Don¡¯t show your filthy nature before me, mongrel. In the presence of The Great Dao, at that.¡± Fuck The Great Dao. I see that the blonde and I think alike. She points a middle finger at the orb and raises her other hand with a finger aimed at the rainbowhead. Not a single flying fuck given. Yeah. Him too. Fuck him too. Sincerely. The Great Dao moves to the seat opposite, floating above a dark man. His stature gives the impression of a bodybuilder, yet his stern demeanor and clothes speak of a soldier. Envy Sin Goliath This time, a smaller fragment parts from the orb, purple. The Fragment of the Mind Pathway It paves toward the man¡¯s forehead, hazy on its way. There, an amethyst marking of an eye forms, malicious, double the size of his determined eyes. He grows in size also, his clothes stretching, then tearing apart. The horns grow as well, sideways, akin to a bull''s. Brutish, with purple and yellow tints. The Archdemon of Mind, The Lord of Giants, Envy Sin Goliath Gauntlets materialize, one violet and the other pearly yellow, with golden spikes and paddings predominant on each. Throughout this, the rainbowhead didn¡¯t frown. He¡¯s still annoyed, clearly. Yet not as much as he was with the dragon guy. It¡¯s settled, then. More likely than not, the larger the orb in size, the stronger it is. I¡¯d love to discuss it with others, but my mouth is shut. Though, that¡¯s me. What about them? Why don''t they talk? Are they wary of each other or the rainbowhead? Boring fuckers. The orb continues in its path, moving toward an excited young man. His lab coat crinkly and wet, he extends his gloved hand toward The Great Dao. ¡°This is not a dream¡­¡± he whispers under his breath, hesitant. ¡°In this life¡­¡± Greed Sin Deviod ¡°In this life, I¡¯ll reach immortality! Hahaha!¡± he declares, laughing like a maniac. His arms outstretch to the sides. ¡°No matter what!¡± Nice. Another crackhead. His eyes shine as the bright, utterly white sphere departs from the orb. Small in size in comparison to the mind and time pathway fragments. Yet, the very next moment, a second sphere departs. Devoid of shine, black like starless skies. They revolve around each other, like yin and yang. They then fuse. The Fragment of the Death Pathway Turning gray, the new orb fully converges on the man¡¯s nose. Below his left eye forms an image of a white cicada flying toward the black lotus under his right eye. Gray embers mark his nose, spreading as they reach the black lotus, amidst which stands a candle. His skin pales further, his eyes darkening. Most strands of his hair turn ashen. Curvy horns form from his temples, almost quarter-circular. One on the right grows white, bone-like, while the other appears darker than charcoal. The Archdemon of Death, The Lord of Ghosts, Greed Sin Deviod He seizes the deathly sharp scythe twice his size, his cloudy eyes abnormally wide and manic. Great! The rainbowhead is clearly pissed. Good job, young man! I¡¯ll cheer for your success! Kill as many of these fuckers as you can on your way to immortality! I start clapping, and the blonde, my spiritual ally, joins me. She attempts to whistle, yet to no avail. Instead, she intensifies her claps. Yeah! Me too! The enemy of our enemy is our friend! The Archdemon of Death, as one would assume from his name, ignores our applause. Truly an epitome of edginess. Impudent youngster. The blonde starts to boo at his dismissal, shaking her head disapprovingly. Yeah! Fuck him too! Fuck everyone except us two! 004? Black Moon Overture II The Great Dao flies toward an even younger person in a high-school uniform from some private school. Her chestnut hair reaches her dotted skirt while her jade eyes remain disinterested. Overall, she looks more dead than The Archdemon of Death. Sloth Sin Asherah ¡°Is this karma for wasting my parents¡¯ credit card on gacha games?¡± she asks in a whisper, adjusting her puffy headband and lazily turning toward the rainbowhead. ¡°The scary uncle was right. Memories are gone. I can¡¯t even remember their faces¡­ I only vividly remember a survey with meaningless questions¡­ Whatever. Do I get a bonus for becoming an Archdemon? Can I switch sides and join the heroes or whatever? Since there are villains, surely there are heroes. What are the drop rates? What¡¯s the difficulty?¡± What the fuck is wrong with these people? ¡°Demons will remain demons, filthy and irredeemable,¡± the rainbowhead spits, begging for a punch with his smug expression. ¡°That¡¯s kinda racist.¡± The girl yawns, fixing her glasses. ¡°Sloth? I¡¯m not even that lazy. I grind twenty-four-seven. I don¡¯t remember much, but among all the games I¡¯ve played, this kind of game I haven¡¯t seen. Whatever, I guess.¡± This time around, it¡¯s a green ball. It rushes toward her right cheek. ¡°It is what it is. Whatever happens, happens.¡± The Fragment of the Nature Pathway On her right cheek forms a rose with every green color. Sparkly. Light and dark. Grassy and lime green, soft and sap green, and mint and pastel green all the same. The rose blooms, all thorny and leafy. Her eyes brighten, turning emerald, sparkling like an emerald would. Her messy hair straightens and flows like honey, and her tired expression soothes into harmony. Calmness, seamless tranquility, complete and utter semblance with mother nature. All the while, her skin dries further, her height lowers further too, and her hair brightens before lengthening, reaching her feet. Two horns grow like branches. The Archdemon of Nature, The Lord of Nymphs, Sloth Sin Asherah Before her, a sword, just a straight wooden sword, minimalistic in its appearance, comes to fruition. Literally. Sprouting from the strands of her hair, the extension of her being. Despite the smaller size of the orb she absorbed, especially in comparison to the time pathway fragment, this girl seems like the most capable among the bunch. It¡¯s just a hunch, of course. Yet something tells me within the facade of a high-schooler hides a¡­ ¡°Whatever,¡± she mutters. ¡°I thought I¡¯d get an OP ability. How unlucky¡­¡± Lies. A masquerade. I can¡¯t tell where I¡¯ve developed the instinct. Only one thing I can tell. One thing. From her actions. From her lack of emotions. From her eyes. From her behavior. From her demeanor. I¡¯ve been through innumerable life-and-death brawls, surviving on luck, petty tricks, and schemes. What kind? I don¡¯t know. When and where? I don¡¯t know. Yet, despite missing my memories, the animalistic instinct developed within me remains. It screams¡ª Avoid that girl. Avoid that pain in the neck at any cost. What may at first seem like an innocent youngling is in actuality a walking catastrophe sure to bring forth a cataclysm. A greater disaster that has never before been seen or is never to be seen after. The rainbowhead directs his gaze elsewhere, dismissing the girl with slight annoyance. No one else but me can see. What exactly? ¡°Uncle? Are you into younger women? What a creep.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She knows it. She knows something no one else does. Exactly what? ¡°I¡¯m barely graduating from school this year. Well, I was about to.¡± I don¡¯t know. The fact that she¡¯s played many games before? Her being good at them? The presented probability of her already knowing this game? No. That¡¯s where she¡¯s guiding us. These are merely distractors. A ploy. I try and try, but no ideas come to mind! How frustrating! Think! Why am I so fucking stupid¡ª Lust Sin Takshaka Oh? During the time I was ruminating, The Great Dao flew toward yet another individual. Right, I can think about her later. There are more pressing matters at hand. Why am I so hot-headed to begin with? Was I always like this? No. I get unreasonably angry and lose control. There¡¯s logic behind everything. What may seem unreasonable initially must have a reason behind it; I just don''t know it yet. Did they mess with my head? The Fragment of the Decay Pathway I slap my face. It''s not time to theorize but rather to gather as much information as I can! Concentrate! ¡°Why are you so harsh with your body? Friend?¡± asks a handsome bastard. ¡°To care is to firstmost take care of yourself. Always. One must foremost care for oneself. Always. That''s where you find love for the world. Remember.¡± Motherfucker, learn to talk before you point to others¡¯ inadequacies ¡ª is what I''d love to say. The rainbowhead be damned. Unseal my fucking vocal cords! Back to the handsome bastard. I look at him as a large pink orb pierces his lips. There, a tiny bit above, whiskers sprout. The lips enlarge and pinken, standing against his bronzed skin and reddish chin-length hair. Some of those strands change in color: a slight green, brown, and red. Pink droplets mark the area between his lips and chin. He grows body fur as a foxy, fluffy tail extends from his back, fiery, withering toward the tip. Overall, he¡¯s dressed like a pimp. An expensive white and orange pinstripe suit, a repertoire of accessories like golden watches and shiny rings, and a fedora hat with tiger linings and a straight black feather. He also has a disposition one would expect from a popular Hollywood actor. The pimp guy swipes his poisonous, raspberry eyes through the rainbowhead, four spirally horns with pinky dots and varying shades of dark reds growing on his head. Licking his jelly lips, he savors the boy¡¯s body proportions with his molten gaze. ¡°There¡¯s not an ounce of innocence on your cute little face. Fascinating. I don¡¯t think I would enjoy it as much as I¡¯d love to. Then. But I do still love new experiences. Delightful. The younger they are¡ª¡± His voice breaks. Talk about creeps. Well, this time, the sealing of voice was justified. The Archdemon of Decay, The Lord of Chimeras, Lust Sin Takshaka A thick amulet, going in a circle around his hairy chest, manifests. The silvery chain, with a giant black spider insignia at its center, sets against his veins. Strange. The size of the orb was definitely larger than the fragment of the time pathway. Yet the rainbowhead, despite his annoyed sighs, doesn¡¯t seem very staggered. Then, does the size not matter? After all, how can decay be a grander concept than time itself? Oh! On the other hand, how can chimeras compare to a mythical race as grand as mighty dragons? Maybe that¡¯s the reason. What if it¡¯s not the fragment of the time pathway the rainbowhead is vexed about but rather the dragons? Perhaps even a combination of both. That¡¯s the most likely scenario. Gluttony Sin Hlam Again, I watch the giant orb, The Great Dao, as it levitates above the blonde. It seems our turn has come. But gluttony? I¡¯ve never considered it, but how is gluttony different from greed? The two concepts sound similar to me. Gluttony appears to be a more extreme version of greed, is all. At the same time, they¡¯re like complete opposites. Greed is the desire to possess, while gluttony is the desire to devour. One collects, and the other destroys. One is just insatiable, and the other is always hungry. Anyhow, I hope she gets a nice¡ª The Fragment of the Slaughter Pathway My friend?! Are you okay in there? Surely this must have been random. Slaughter? This doesn¡¯t fit her at all. Yet why do I feel she has the biggest screw loose inside her head among everyone here? Again, it''s a gut feeling. Should I trust these hunches of mine? How do I even get these? The crimson-red orb approaches the woman in workwear. She looks average. Not appealing, yet not hideous. A person whose face one would forget the next moment they see. Even her clothes are regular. Long, white sleeves. Straight, navy jeans. Her empty eyes are dark, and her smile is light, yet also empty. Her honey-blonde hair is tucked behind her ears. Despite the lack of makeup, her natural face gives the impression she¡¯s wearing a thick mask. And behind that mask, it¡¯s as though there¡¯s a void. Not malice, or hatred. Just absolute emptiness. Worse, even. Emptiness beyond emptiness. A black hole. Just as the orb almost touches her pale skin, it halts. A smaller orb splinters off The Great Dao, the color of the abyss, shooting toward the crimson orb. They converge, forming an ominously bloody orb before it infuses onto her neck. Larger than any orb I¡¯ve seen yet. Excluding The Great Dao itself, of course. The rainbowhead gapes at that, his brows twitching. This is a face I¡¯d pay to see. I¡¯m sure the pimp guy would pay handsomely too, though for an entirely different reason.