《Broken Veil》


 0: A Bad Reincarnation

    Another day, another dollar, as they say...


    I thought as I left my dead-end job as a cashier at a gas station. Things get better; at least that''s what they say.


    I walked up to my car, gray and beat up. "At least I have a day off tomorrow."


    I searched for the keys in my pocket, digging through only to feel nothing. "You''ve got to be kidding me." I turned back around.


    I walked back inside, my manager, Josh, giving me the same scrutinizing look.


    "What are you back in here for?" He asked, his voice the same old grouchiness.


    "Back for my keys, you pig." I said, already pissed off by today. I mean, I told the woman we were out of bug spray! What the hell do you mean, "Can I check in the back?" Stupid!


    "The hell did you call me?!" He yelled as I reached to grab my keys.


    I heard the door slide open. "Sir, I''m not on du¡ª" I paused.


    Huh?


    I wasn''t crazy, right? I was staring down the barrel of a gun, a standard Glock 17.


    I immediately raised my hands in the air, but all I heard was a bang before everything went black.


    Did... Did I just die?


    No... Haha. This has to be some sort of dream... No!


    [System Initializing...]


    [Greetings, Mark Martini.]


    What the hell is this? This has to be some sort of joke...


    [This is no joke. You have been granted sympathies by an unknown entity, and they have given you a second chance to make your life right.]


    Entity? What''s even going on?!


    [Processing question...]


    [You are being given a chance at life, Mark.]


    [Will you take it?]


    [YES] [NO]


    I stared at the two options on the bright green screen in front of me. It seemed almost holographic, like I could put my hand through it.


    This is like one of those stories, right? I''m the chosen one, get a bunch of hot babes, real strong, save the world? Of course!


    I tapped yes.


    [Processing information...]


    [PICK ONE ROUTE.]


    A list then appeared in front of me. Before it showed the supposed routes, it showed me something else.


    [Life Choices: Routes designated based off how you lived life.]


    [Philosophies: Routes designated based off your philosophical nature and ideals.]


    [Evolution: Routes granted based off evolutionary standpoints.]


    [Choices: Routes granted based off the choices you make in your next life.]


    [Destined Routes: Routes that were meant to be.]


    I stared at the list, rubbing my chin as I tapped Destined Routes.


    [Gathering route choices...]


    [Route of Greed: Coin is your life, and all you want is more. You have a sly personality and a silver tongue, able to get away with most things.]


    [Route of The Worldbreaker: Existence itself rejects you. Your powers are immense, but using them caused your soul and mind to become unstable.]


    [Route of Sin: You are vile, a terrible person. However, what does all that matter when you have all the power at your fingertips?]


    [Route of Darkness: You are hated by all, and only those of The Dark will accept you as you are. The darkness is at your fingertips.]


    That... That''s all? These are all very vague...


    I stared at the list, checking to see if I could go back, but I couldn''t. I sighed, covering my face as I examined the options.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "I don''t want to live my life like a pig... So greed is off the table... But the rest sounds... bad." I rubbed my chin, examining the display with rigor.


    "I guess Worldbreaker. How bad could it be?"


    I tapped Route of the Worldbreaker, the display disappearing.


    [Your soul will be transferred to a random body that has recently passed.]


    [Race type: Undead.]


    [Subrace type: Vampire]


    Then everything went black again, before my eyes snapped open.


    I gasped for air immediately, but it was hard to breathe. My clothes, well... This body''s clothes were disheveled and stained with blood.


    Is that a fucking knife?!


    I yelled in my mind, Looks like a robbery gone wrong, I guess.


    Gah! This shit hurts!


    I tried to stand, albeit weakly. "What kind of reincarnation is this...?" I looked down at my hands.


    They too were covered in blood. I had a darker pigmentation than my previous body. Brown skin.


    Slowly, I moved through this dark and disgusting alleyway. The knife was still lodged in my chest.


    [Blood amount sufficient. Please remove object to heal.]


    I looked at the display; it''s once vibrant green, now a deep red.


    I narrowed my eyes and took a deep breath, but even that hurt. I grabbed the knife by the handle and yelled, taking out the knife.


    I gasped for air, falling forward as I felt the wound closing. It felt weird. Strangely enough, it didn''t hurt anymore either.


    I stood up, dusting what I could get off. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my skull.


    Ow! What is this?!


    Memories. I saw memories of this body and their life. It was a male by the name of Star Black.


    A man who ran from home at the age of fourteen, living off the land by himself. He did some shady stuff, fell into the wrong crowds, and got hooked on drugs by the time he was eighteen.


    It was really bad. He tried to overdose before, but it failed. Strapped for cash, he tried to rob somebody, which I assume is what led to this predicament.


    Then, a name flashed to mind. Jade Carmine. It was a woman this guy was supposed to be meeting in a few days. Wonder what it was about?


    I still took time to gather my bearings, my clothes a mess, but I still had some little money. Credits, yes, that''s what it was. I had 45 credits.


    That would only be enough to spend a single night at an inn. Well, damnit. This won''t be good.


    I step out of the alleyway, and the new world beholds me. A world filled with steam, iron, gears, machines, and engines. A steampunk world.


    There were pipes lining buildings, and smiths working hard at their shops as others advertised weapons.


    I really am in another world...


    I know my previous life sucked, but this one actually seemed ten times worse. This guy didn''t even have a job!


    At least I was comfortable in the solace of my own apartment playing video games!


    I tried to dig through memories about this world and how it worked, but they were fogged, as if intentionally blocked out.


    "Very funny." I said sarcastically as I took off the plain white button-up shirt I had on, revealing my rather slim frame.


    "He looks awfully feminine..." I said, feeling long hair reach to my waist.


    I run to the nearest reflective surface, which just so happens to be a puddle on the wet ground. It looked like it rained recently.


    My eyes were a deep crimson, with the pupils being narrowed like a cat''s. A rather feminine face and long black hair. How''s this a boy?


    I looked up at the sky. I couldn''t tell if it were smoke or clouds I was looking at. Then I saw a patch of orange. I took a sigh of relief, realizing it was just clouds.


    Alright. Before I meet this Jade woman, I have to plan stuff out. I have no idea what my powers are, how this world works, and all that stuff.


    [Notice: Due to you being a vampire, the sunlight is harmful to you. Consider yourself lucky it''s cloudy.]


    "So direct sunlight hurts... Good to know." I said, heading to an inn. The sign was hanging loosely off a singular metal chain. The name Tormick''s Inn printed on it.


    I step inside, the place being awfully run down and dilapidated. "Ouch..." I mumbled, looking around the place.


    Floorboards were broken, and pieces of furniture were missing. It reeked of alcohol and mildew. This wasn''t the best place.


    "Welcome to the inn. Want a room or not?" A man with a gruff and rather drunken-sounding voice asked.


    He had a big nose, fair skin, and seemed to be balding. He was on the bigger side, which didn''t surprise me for some reason. He reminded me of my boss.


    "Uh, yeah, one room, please." I said, realizing just how tall he was. Given his stature, I was around 5''2. This is terrible.


    "Forty-five creds." He said, holding out an expectant hand.


    "For this rundown place? That''s a ripoff! Ten." I said, crossing my arms.


    [Vampiric Charm activated... Target is charmed.]


    The man''s eyes became glossed over, nodding. "Of course..." His voice monotone.


    I wasn''t expecting it, but I wasn''t complaining. I handed him ten credits, and he handed me my room key.


    I grin, taking it upstairs and heading into my room. Which actually looked more clean and well-furnished than downstairs.


    It had two metal pipes sticking through the floor and ceiling. I could feel the heat coming from them.


    Ahead of me to my right sat a bed, the bedsheets and blanket neatly tucked into the frame.


    Next to the bed was a small nightstand to the right. It had a lamp and a singular drawer.


    The wood seemed to resemble the oakwood back on Earth. To the left of the bed, a window stood, giving a not-so-nice view of the city street. After all, this was only the second floor.


    I just sighed, lying in bed. "Hopefully this is just some terrible dream."


    I said, finally shutting my eyes.

 1: Another Reincarnation?

    I stirred the next day to banging on my door. Must''ve been the guy I convinced to let me stay for ten credits.


    I immediately got out of bed, still wearing my trench coat.


    "Hey! Open this door! Pay me the rest of my credits!" He yelled from the other side.


    Shit... This wasn''t a dream after all.


    Not happening, nope. I kick the window out, stepping on the sill and jumping out. Surprisingly, it didn''t hurt when I landed.


    [Your boldness and quick thinking are impressive.]


    [Choice Route: Brave acquired.]


    I stared at the display. "Okay, what?" I asked, walking away from the inn. It was still cloudy out, but I could tell it wasn''t going to last that way for long.


    [Notice: You can use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun.]


    [As you grow stronger as a vampire, you''ll eventually become immune to sunlight.]


    "So my new name in this world is Star Black, huh?" I asked myself, heading into a shop. I needed to get myself at least somewhat fitted before I met this Jade person.


    The shop was standard. It wasn''t like any modern shops I''ve seen on earth, but it wasn''t too bad. I began to scan for new trench coats, as that seemed to be the latest fashion sense.


    "Oh..." I checked the price tag, rubbing the back of my head before taking the cost. 785 credits. Jeez.


    I grabbed a hat as well, though it wouldn''t conceal all of my hair; it''ll at least do. I brushed my hair out of my face, walking to the sweater aisle.


    After a moment of selection, I saw a navy blue turtleneck. "Where am I?" I asked myself, the price of the turtleneck being 400 credits.


    I sighed, walking up to the store clerk. "Hey, I''d like to buy these."


    The clerk looked at me with a look of confusion. "Sorry sir, but the store for the, ahem... poorer people is in the Lower City."


    [Would you like to charm the individual?]


    "C''mon, cut me some slack, please?"


    The clerk''s eyes glossed over. "Sure, sir. One credit."


    "How about for free?" I asked, not trying to spend another cent. Wait, I forgot; there is no change in this world, at least in this region.


    "Sure, sir." The clerk said, his voice still remaining monotone.


    I looked behind him; a bin filled with umbrellas was right there. "An umbrella too?"


    The man reached over, grabbing a black umbrella and handing it to me. The handle was curved. Perfect.


    I grabbed the umbrella and left the shop, chuckling.


    [Your greed is astonishing.]


    [Potential Greed Route is attainable.]


    "Hey! It''s not greedy; I''m just trying to look nice for this Jade woman." I said, grabbing the interface.


    "What even are you anyway?" I asked, walking into an alleyway. "Shit... Forgot to buy pants. These will do, I guess." I said, referring to the black pants I wore. The belt was in good condition at least.


    I slipped out of my old clothes and put on the new ones. It fit quite nicely; I just had to adjust it a little. I put on my hat and left out of the alleyway, feeling like a million bucks.


    "Hopefully they have places where I can shower..." I mumbled.


    As I walked by a bar, I saw a person get thrown out of the bar, the door breaking as well.


    "AND STAY OUT, YOU VERMIN!" A raspy voice yelled, a man with an apron on walking back into the bar.


    I looked down at the individual, the display appearing in front of my eyes.


    [The person in front of you is unreadable. Like you, he is not from this world.]


    My eyes widened as I saw the words. As I processed this, it began to rain lightly, the sound of it pattering on my hat.


    I looked at the person, my eyes widening even more.


    "Wait... That uniform..." I watched the person stand up. The uniform was a little roughed up. It was a school uniform.


    A white button-up with a black blazer over it and a yellow and green striped tie. He wore black slacks with it as well.


    "You, kid!" I called out, the person immediately drawing a dagger on me. A dagger? Was that a dagger? That''s a whole broken sword!


    "That face... Those eyes... Kaido?!" I called out, Kaido lowering his weapon slightly


    "How... How do you know my name?" He asked, his breathing heavy. Now that I thought about it... I could hear very well. Much better than I could on earth.


    "It''s me! Mark? The guy you always called Martini Man back at the gas station when you walked back from school." I said, his eyes widening at my response.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    [I cannot gauge anything about this person. You seem to know him, so I will leave it to you.]


    The system displayed, disappearing once more.


    "No way you''re him! You look so... small, and your eyes are weird-looking!" Kaido looked me up and down.


    I opened the black umbrella I had, raising my hand to shield him from the rain.


    "I got shot and reincarnated into this body. Could this be considered reincarnation? I''m not sure..." I rubbed my chin.


    "What... You''re not really starting life anew from birth. Are you?" Kaido asked, me shaking my head in response.


    [Your meeting with Jade is in twenty minutes. Her location is in the Upper City, specifically in the tower at its center.]


    I looked at the display, then back at Kaido. "Come on, let''s find you some clothes really quick." I head back to the same place where I had gotten my original clothes.


    Luckily, the clerk was still hypnotized.


    Jeez, how long does this last?


    "Dude... What''s going on? What happened to you?" Kaido asked as I pushed him into the clothing section.


    "Just hurry! I don''t have all day! We''ve got somewhere to be!" I said, Kaido nodding in response.


    "Okay, okay." He searched around the clothing sections. Kaido was a nice kid. He was seventeen.


    Pretty tall, standing at 6''4, short black hair, fair skin, brown eyes...


    He wasn''t anyone or anything special. Then how did he end up here? Why can''t this system get a read on him? Maybe he has an ability too.


    [Scanning what I can...]


    [All I could gather is his name and his system of power.]


    [His name is Kaido Tamaka. A native to Japan like you.]


    [His system of power is Magic. As opposed to you, whose system of power is Routes.]


    "Wait... I went a Destined Route... How did I ever get a Choice Route earlier?"


    [You are lucky. Not many people have two Routes, as the people that have two are less than 0.5%.]


    [However, now that you have the Route of Choices, major choices will grant you an ability or two depending on that choice.]


    "Huh... interesting." I said, watching Kaido come back with a black button-up. The top button was unbuttoned, and he wore black jeans.


    He also had on some jewelry too. A few rings, a chain on his pants, and stylish shoes.


    "You sure you''ve got the money for all this?" Kaido asked, a bit of sweat forming as he looked at the clerk.


    "Oh! Yeah, don''t worry; he said it''s on the house. Come on!" I signal him to follow me. There was a bit of hesitation in his movement, but he eventually gave in.


    "Do you know anything about this world, Mark?" He asked.


    "Call me Star. That''s the name of this body; I''ll at least honor it by using the name." I said, having the umbrella over the both of us.


    The rain seemed to pour down. "Oof..." I mumbled, Kaido grabbing the umbrella for me.


    "Oh, thanks." I said, as we began to ascend a steep hill. I then noticed something. At the end of the steep hill, there was a drop.


    There were large wires carrying cable cars up and down, likely separating the rich from the middle class and poor.


    "Whoa," Kaido said, pointing down.


    As I looked down, there were large concrete walls mixed in with bronze and steel encircling the place.


    This entire area seemed to be a city in and of itself.


    I''ve got to find more information.


    As a cable car came down, Kaido and I stepped inside, watching the door close and take us up.


    We took a seat across from each other. Looking at each other with an awkward look. "So, what are you exactly?"


    Kaido asked me.


    "Oh, I''m a vampire." I said, Kaido raising a brow.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be, like, disintegrating right now?" He asked, shaking my head in response.


    "I''m assuming direct contact with the sun would, yes, but I don''t think it''d go through clothing, nor shade." I said, the cable car reaching the top.


    We stepped out, our eyes widening at the sheer opulence of the place.


    Extravagant houses, fountains, things you''d normally see in reality TV shows.


    "This is insane!" Kaido said, placing his hands on his head.


    I looked up at him. "Let''s go. Our destination is that tower." I said, pointing to a massive tower that loomed in the center of the city. It had a massive clock in its center, with stained glass surrounding it.


    The stained glass has lines going through them, almost like a pie. Time was off; I couldn''t make out that language, but they looked similar enough to Roman numerals. 14:32? They went by military time?


    I began to walk forward, Kaido following closely behind.


    As I got closer to the clock, I realized something: there were 18 numbers instead of the usual 12 like on Earth.


    "Days here are longer." I said, Kaido catching on quickly.


    "Yeah... Eighteen. Assuming that means in a day, then that means days here are thirty-six hours." He said, my eyes widening.


    "I''m a vampire! This is horrible!" I whined.


    "Calm down! You still have eighteen hours of darkness." He said, reaching the gate of the tower.


    There were two guards, both fitted out with navy blue coats with gold buttons on them and hats bearing an unknown crest.


    "State your purpose." The one on the right said, having his hand near the hilt of his sword.


    "I''m here to see Jade Carmine. Hope that isn''t an issue." I said, the guards looking at each other and then at Kaido.


    "Is he with you?" The one on the left asked.


    I nodded my head, tipping my hat. "Of course, my good sir!"


    The two guards nodded. "Twelfth floor to the left, fourth door." The left one said as they both began to push open the giant brass doors.


    As we walked in, the smell of colognes and perfumes hit us like a truck, though we weren''t complaining.


    We ascended up a spiraling staircase, counting the floors as they went by. I believed this type of architecture seemed a bit odd.


    The stairs themselves were made of marble, with the railings and bars being made of gold and steel. Above, there was a massive chandelier hanging overhead where the peak of the tower was.


    Once we reached the twelfth floor, we reached the fourth door.


    Me and Kaido gave each other a look before nodding, with me reaching forward and knocking twice.


    "Enter." A stern voice called out.


    I entered first, with Kaido following behind me.


    In front of us, behind a dark oak desk, sat a woman, her long green hair and same-colored eyes her most prominent features.


    "Greetings, Star Black."

 2: A New Job

    Kaido and I stared into the eyes of Jade. I guess she liked how her name sounded.


    "Please, both of you, take a seat." She said, waving her hand over to three velvet-cushioned chairs in front of us.


    Me and Kaido took our seats in front of her, watching her neatly fold her hands.


    Kaido took a look around the room. The room smelled like a doctor''s office, well sanitized and clean.


    There were various relics: weapons, animals, precious metals, and expensive perfumes.


    The walls were adorned with a maroon kind of wood with a yellow triangular pattern. Clearly they were painted on.


    There was a window that was closed behind her. More than likely to keep out sunlight. "I am aware of your vampiric nature, Star."


    "Awfully kind of you to keep the blinds down. So, what is it you want?" I asked, tilting my head.


    "I should be asking you that." She chuckled, leaning forward. "I never expected you to bring a friend, but hey, the more the merrier." She grinned, sliding us both a piece of paper.


    "You see, I sent one of my... recruiters after you because I just love it when people have nowhere left to turn." She said, a predatory look forming.


    "Sadistic much?" Kaido said. Immediately I reached up and covered his mouth, chuckling nervously.


    "Hehe... He didn''t mean that." I said, shooting him a glare.


    He rolled his eyes as I took my hand off his mouth.


    Jade looked at us, almost amused. "It''s nice to know you know your place so quickly."


    Jade then leaned back. "Don''t worry, I don''t kill contractors."


    She had on a green dress with a belt wrapped around her waist. She wore a thin jacket over it as well. The dress seemed silky and plain, with no real colors matched in with it.


    I tilted my head. "Contractors?"


    "You must be new, Star." She said, giggling.


    "You two are going to be my hired assassins. Don''t worry, I might be an elite, but I don''t own a business." She said, standing up and putting both hands on the desk.


    "How about it? Just sign the contract saying you''ll adhere to me and me only." She said, tapping the piece of paper.


    "What''s the pay looking like?" Kaido asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Of course, of course. The pay." She reached under the desk, taking out a large pouch. Placing it down with an audible thud.


    "65,000 credits for the both of you. You can split it down the middle. I wasn''t expecting Star to bring a friend.¡± She said, a small smile forming on her face.


    We looked at each other. I grabbed a pen and signed my name as ''Star Noir,'' while Kaido signed his name.


    When she grabbed the paper, looking at it, examining our signatures. "Kaido, was it? Not a name common in these lands. Are you from the nation to the west?" She asked, Kaido nodding quickly.


    "Oh! How pleasant. I was hoping to visit there some day; maybe you could give me a tour." She said, Kaido nervously laughing and nodding.


    "Sure..." he said, looking around the room sheepishly.


    "Anyway, let''s get down to business." She said, walking from behind the desk. She wore black dress shoes, the only thing green she didn''t wear.


    "I''ve been trying to help a certain individual''s band get a venue at a certain place." She said, walking up to the both of us. She was quite tall, not as tall as Kaido, though.


    "The place to meet him is in the Lower City, so you can expect there to be some shady gangs and organizations running things. That''s where you guys come in. He goes by the name Locke Blackhand." She said, reaching into her pocket and taking out a bracelet.


    "This will help me keep in touch with you. Are either of you a mage or have mana?" She asked, Kaido raising his hand in response.


    We both saw her eyes widen, a large grin forming on her face.


    "Amazing! I''ll pay you guys double then!" She said, giving us a small smile. "So, in the Lower City is a bar called Blackwood Bar. Ask the bartender for a C-note."


    "That''s so oddly specific." Kaido said, Jade walking up to him. "I know, sounds pretty weird, right?" She clamped the bracelet onto his wrist, the small orb on it glowing a little.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "There! That''ll allow us to communicate effectively. This world is massive, so certain things just won''t do the job." She said, turning around.


    "Anyway, shoo! I have work to get back to! These dealers aren''t going to find themselves!" She said, taking a seat on her chair.


    I gave her a skeptical look. "Thought you said you didn''t run a business?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    "Hey, hey. Listen, I don''t gain anything out of this except for seeing people progress in life through unethical ways. You''re the ones getting money." She said, leaning forward and getting back to her work.


    "Alright then," Kaido said. "We expect payment once our job is finished then."


    "Of course! By the way, watch out for any unwanted attention. The slave market is booming there, I heard. They have the OLA backing them; grimeballs just want to fill their pockets."


    She slammed her fist on the desk, her smile returning. "Anyway! Happy hunting!" She said, waving at us.


    We looked at each other and sighed, heading out of the room and back downstairs. When we looked out the door, we saw the sunlight shining on the ground.


    "Fuck." I said, opening my umbrella and taking a deep breath, my heart pounding. I take a step outside, my entire body thankfully not bursting into flames.


    I took a sigh of relief and quickly followed behind Kaido to the cable car. "At least you''re not dying again." Kaido said, stepping inside of a car.


    I followed behind him, taking a seat across from him as I positioned the umbrella towards the sun as to not get burned.


    "Dude, that''s sick! Your eyes are glowing!!" Kaido said, sounding amazed.


    "So what have you been through, dude?" I asked, feeling the car move.


    "It''s... a long story." Kaido said, "I''ll tell you when we''re done with this mission, alright?" He said.


    I nodded my head in response, seeing us come to the ground. We stepped out of the cable car, walking down the hill.


    The ground remained wet, small puddles being seen and water being heard going down drainage systems.


    "So, this Locke guy, what do you think he''s like?" Kaido asked me, having his hands in his pockets.


    "Well, I personally believe he''s going to be like a mastermind of sorts, y''know, planning all the gigs and that stuff." I said, chuckling a little.


    "Yeah, I guess." Kaido said, looking around as he slowly watched our surroundings get worse.


    Color seemed to drain a little; the people were hiding out in houses, sticking syringes in themselves, and doing all sorts of illicit acts in alleyways.


    "This is really bad." I said, coming across the bar to our left. The Blackwood Bar, written in fake gold letters.


    We entered the bar, the chaos immediately setting in. Loud music was playing, people were drinking, and betting games were being played.


    We took a seat in front of the bartender. It surprised me that he looked like a nice and respectful person, unlike the rest of these... deviants.


    "What can I get ya?" He asked, seeming quite young. He had circular glasses and black wavy hair that one of those rich kids would have.


    "A C-note." Kaido said, the bartender pausing what he was doing. He flicked his glasses, a glint shielding one eye.


    "Very well, follow me." He said, signaling both me and Kaido to follow. He led us into a back room, and it was filled with crates.


    The crates themselves were filled with drinks meant for the bar. There was an odd painting, which he moved out of the way, having a staircase leading deeper down.


    All three of us entered, heading down. The noise from the bar quieted down, but more noise from down below began to stir.


    When we reached the end of the staircase, he opened a door revealing people talking through multiple phones. They seemed to be phones that resembled trumpet horns.


    They were speaking into them, talking stuff about money and business, next moves, and how to crash parties.


    "Not everybody knows that, even some of our regulars. They know of the band, Lotus, and many know the man who made them who they are." The bartender said, his accent changing to that of a British one.


    "You''ll see," he said, knocking on a door. A green light flashed inside, the bartender opening it. "Good luck."


    Sitting on a chair, drunk, a man with medium-length, messy black hair with a bit of a red streak on its left bang that could be faintly seen.


    "Oh! Would you look at that? Look who the recruit brought in!" Locke leaned back in his chair, putting his feet on the desk.


    He had fair skin and wore a black tank top, leather pants, and small cowboy boots. Though, the most notable features were the cased bullets he used as a substitute belt and a bronze, metallic arm.


    "So, what do ya want? Hurry, I''m expecting a guy to handle some biz." He said, taking a puff of smoke from a cigar.


    There were bottles of alcohol scattered across the ground and a guitar with a strange emblem on the bottom right of it.


    "Uhm, we were sent by Jade." Kaido said, Locke slowly tipping down his glasses, revealing brown eyes.


    He flicked his glasses back up, scratching his stubble beard.


    "Ah, that bitch?" He said, taking another drag. "Alright then, she didn''t tell me there were gonna be two of ya, but whateva gets the job done!" He said, standing up, being 5''9.


    He had a blend of an American and a British accent. "Alright. So there''s this guy, Vance, right? Get this, this bitch is taking up my gigs! Scarin away me fans for the upper city!"


    "That''s terrible." I said sarcastically, Locke grabbing my shoulders. His grip was pretty strong. "I know, right, mate?!"


    "So, what I need you to do is kill that fucker and possibly take over his little business he''s got going on. Dismantle it; I don''t care; just get rid of him so I can perform. I''ll pay ya." He said, sitting back in his chair.


    "Alright then." Kaido said as Locke took a swig of some drink.


    "Perfect. Now get goin! Time''s wasting!" He said, Kaido and I leaving the room.

 3:The World They Live In.

    "This guy gave us nothing to work with." I said, walking out of the bar with Kaido beside me.


    Just then, the bracelet on Kaido''s wrist began to glow green. "Hello? Can you two hear me?" It was Jade on the other side.


    "Yeah, we can hear you." Kaido said, looking at me. Honestly, we were both surprised. We thought it was a tracker.


    "Good to know you''ve met Locke." She said.


    Alright, it is a tracker.


    "I''ll put him on the other line." She said, the green glow now turning blue.


    "Ello? You little cunts can hear me right?" Locke said on the other line.


    Before we could answer, he talked again. "Ah, I already know you guys can hear me."


    Alright then, asshole.


    "Listen, Vance is a man residing in the Upper City." Jade said, the orb flashing back to green.


    "It may now be common knowledge, but every semi-rich fella knows about his dealings with ''living'' auctions." Locke spoke through the device.


    Locke-"Only those in his inner circle know about his little drug deals going on, especially with Gahmiya."


    Gahmiya? What the hell is that?


    [Scanning...]


    [Gahmiya are a species of mushrooms on this planet, mainly found in the southern regions of this country. They produce psychedelic effects when ingested.]


    "What does he need that for?" I asked, the bracelet flashing a little.


    We made our way back to the cable cars, entering one.


    "You seriously asked that question?" Locke sounded annoyed. "You must be a real dumbass of a hitman, but if you must know."


    I remained silent; both of us did.


    "You''re serious? They''re fucking drugs, man! Not as potent as some, but they get the addicts rolling out of their alleys!" He said, Me and Kaido reaching the Upper City.


    "How big is the Upper City exactly?" Kaido asked, the orb flashing green.


    Jade-"Pretty big. Big enough to house a few underground bases despite the entire Upper City being on a floating island."


    "What? That''s why there''s a massive hole in the middle?" I asked, standing in the street with Kaido.


    Vance-"There was a war about 75 years ago. This place was affected heavily by it. A renowned knight by the name of Galmed fought an Aspect, specifically that of Gravity."


    An Aspect? What are these terms I am hearing?


    [Researching...]


    [The universe functions off three different systems of power, each affecting everything in their own way.]


    [The first, and most common, being Magic. The arcane arts can be studied, as it allows mortals to achieve what they can''t do physically.]


    [The second are known as Routes. These are special and slightly rarer traits that an individual attains at some point in their life, or not at all.]


    [They are, however, the most notorious and enigmatic, as Routes are still mysterious in nature, and Route Takers are often hunted.]


    [On that note, caution is advised when using World Breaker.]


    [The final, and rarest, system of power in this universe, and perhaps beyond, is Aspects. These beings are born, and it is something that cannot be attained.]The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "This is a lot." I mumbled, rubbing my head as my brain somehow managed to process all of this.


    It might''ve been because I was a vampire. This umbrella might be my best friend; it''s keeping me safe.


    [Aspects are beings that take on a core aspect of the universe. Ranging from tangible things like water and fire. However, they are not limited to abstract concepts such as violence or decay.]


    "Those are the three main ones, huh?" I asked, crossing my arms.


    "Why are you talking to yourself?" Kaido asked, causing me to jump a little.


    "Oh! Sorry... What''s going on?" I asked, Kaido sighing.


    "They basically said a massive fight broke out here, and the Aspect of Gravity managed to instill a core that made part of the ground float." He said, putting his hands in his pockets.


    "We''re supposed to head to the southeastern part of the city, which is the main industrial district." He said, starting to walk to the right.


    I followed behind him quickly.


    System, are you able to tell me the rarity of these?


    [Scanning...]


    [About 5% of this world possesses mana, and about 3% of them possess magic.]


    [1.5% of people have Routes, with the aforementioned 0.5% for those with dual Routes.]


    [Aspects, however, account for >1% of this world''s population, as they are one of the few beings who can transcend to a higher state.]


    "Interesting." I mumbled, Kaido looking back at me.


    "Dude, are you okay?" He asked, tilting his head.


    "Yeah, I''m alright. You know I have a system?" I said, his eyes widening.


    "Really?! Lucky! All I have is this one guy who appears in a different body each time and speaks to me in riddles or something." Kaido sighed, looking defeated.


    ¡°That sounds off.¡± We eventually reached a certain factory titled Vance Glassmaking Industries.


    Locke-"Alright, both of you at least look somewhat rich, so you can just waltz in there. Be careful of anyone with canes, though; real nasty fellas.¡±


    We thought Locke was joking, but he sounded a bit serious.


    We entered the place, looking around. The smell of sweat, iron, and heat filled this place. We saw people hard at work, though they didn¡¯t seem happy.


    Jade then spoke. ¡°Alright, here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen. Start up something. Enough to have the guards provoked, but not enough to kill you.¡±


    I and Kaido looked at each other, a grin appearing on my face.


    ¡±Hey boys!¡± I yelled out, some of the workers pausing what they were doing.


    ¡±A little birdie told me you guys can have the day off!¡± I said, the workers looking at each other in disbelief.


    ¡±OI!¡± A guard yelled while jogging over to us with another guard beside him.


    ¡°No one is supposed to be here during working hours unless you work here; now bugger off.¡± The guard to the left said as Kaido walked up to him.


    ¡°What¡¯re you going to do about it?¡± Kaido asked, looking down at the guard. Now that I look at it, when did Kaido get so fit?


    ¡°Well, then we¡¯ll just have¡ª" As the guard spoke, Kaido punched him in his face, knocking him to the ground.


    ¡°HEY!¡± The second guard yelled, pointing a small revolver at us. Immediately, we put our hands in the air.


    ¡±Whoa! Calm down now..." Kaido said, the guard he punched standing up and pulling out a metal baton, whacking him over the head with it. He fell to the ground with an audible thud, a bit of blood trickling down his head.


    ¡°Kaido-¡° Everything flashes white before going black immediately.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I groaned, the pain in my head throbbing.


    This hurts so bad¡­


    [Due to extensive healing, your blood amount is low. You must feed, or consume, others to replenish.] The system''s same crimson interface appeared before my eyes. Its white words blinding me slightly.


    Interestingly enough, it adapted to that. The words went from a snowy white to a deathly black. Not only was it easier to see, it was easier on my eyes.


    I looked around, trying to move my hands, only to find that they were bound together.


    I sat in a damp room; the floor had a cold, stainless steel feeling to it. The walls were of rusted iron, the smell being overwhelming. I saw small stains of blood on said walls; it seems like some sort of conflict went down.


    Kaido sat next to me, slightly bruised, but seemed to be kept in good condition.


    As my hearing came on, I heard the sound of cheering and an announcer, though I couldn¡¯t exactly hear what they were saying.


    Just as Kaido woke up, a bright light engulfed this dim room. I squinted my eyes, feeling a man grab me, and watched as another grabbed Kaido, throwing us onto a dirt ground.


    ¡±Place your bets now, folks!¡± An announcer said, standing in the center of this circular arena.

 4: The Monster Within, Evolves.

    I watched the announcer move to the side, a grin plastered on his face.


    "Kaido, your sword!" I said, facing my back toward him. I then felt the broken sword cut through the rope with relative ease.


    I stood up, massaging my wrists. I then grabbed the sword, cutting the rope that bound Kaido.


    The crowd cheered louder, some money and coins being tossed at us.


    "You guys seem to be really popular with the crowd!" He chuckled, pointing to me.


    "As you folks can see here, we have two rarities in our midst! First, our long black-haired contestant is a vampire!" As the announcer said this, the crowd gasped, their roars of cheer growing louder.


    "Our second contestant, although seemingly a novice, has traces of mana within his system, which means he has the capacity to be a mage!"


    The crowd clapped, tossing more money at us.


    "As you all know, should our specimens survive all three challenges, they get sent to the auction house, where any of you can bid for them!" He announced, the crowd cheering even more.


    "I''m going to buy the vampire!"


    "Obviously a mage is better!"


    Loose voices commented on them; after all, in such a large and potentially hostile world, people of our nature were hard to come by.


    A metal gate began to open up ahead of us, two orcs stepping out, bound in chains and growling.


    They stood tall, taller than Kaido and I. They were about 7 feet, soldiers hulking them in with attached chains.


    Their green skin and massive frames made them seem even more terrifying than they already looked. Not to mention the feral look in those eyes.


    The chains were taken off of them; they fell with a loud thud. The Orcs growled.


    "Oh my! It seems our lovely challengers are ready to fight." The announcer said, stepping onto a platform that shot him into the air, landing on the railings that separated him from the crowd.


    "Begin!"


    One of the orcs let out a loud roar, the vibrations of it running through the ground.


    I looked to my right, Kaido seemingly paralyzed with fear. "Come on, Kaido, snap out of it!" I watched as the one to the left began to run toward us.


    "Great." I said, watching it wind its fist back for a punch.


    I dodged out of the way, tumbling onto the ground. "Shit, I don''t know how to fight!" I yelled, getting back up off my feet.


    "Does this body know?" I tried to search through memories, but the important ones were blocked. You''ve got to be kidding me.


    [Consuming blood will not only evolve you as a vampire but also unlock more memories as you go.]


    [The body of Star Black is of the lowest standing of vampire possible, which is a fledgling. This is slightly above a Garmedian.]


    I stared at the display, only to feel a sharp pain in my right arm, followed by a sickening snap.


    I was sent flying into the concrete wall, right under the railing where the crowd sat.


    "Get up!"


    "Come on, you can do this!"


    These weren''t cheers of encouragement. Not in my eyes. These were the cheers of people who wanted a relic in their houses.


    "Star! Snap out of it!" Kaido yelled, making me come back to my senses.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    I saw the orc running toward me. So, I quickly stood up and dodged out of the way, watching it crash into the wall.


    I watched Kaido fight. He used his broken sword, but the missing half was replaced by a bright blue ethereal manifestation of his own mana. He was fighting off his orc just fine.


    I''m a vampire, dammit! He''s a whole human! I saw him slice off one of its arms, but it punched him in the gut, sending him flying into a wall.


    These rich slobs. I hate it; I hate them! Why do people have better lives than me? I thought reincarnating was a chance to start over!


    I stared at the severed arm, a pleasant aroma coming from it as I saw the blood begin to pool. I stood up, running over to it.


    I''m jealous of others. Is that too much of a sin to admit?


    I picked up the arm, both orcs heading to me. I saw Kaido stand up, blood leaking from his mouth, but he didn''t falter. He ran forward, managing to slash the back of the orc in front of me.


    The orc behind, however, was just about to strike. Until I took a bite into the arm.


    [Blood levels replenished. Starting regeneration.]


    [Consume approximately 15.5 liters of blood to evolve from a fledgling to a novice vampire.]


    I drained the arm of its blood. The green skin is going pale. How did I drink it so fast? Everything felt so slow.


    [4.5 liters of blood drunken.]


    I dodged the strike from the orc behind me, my body moving on its own. More memories came back to me, ones that knew how to engage in combat.


    I saw the orc cup its hands together and slammed them onto the ground. I dodged back. "Such strength."


    [Your jealousy has grown to new levels. Processing...]


    [Sin Route: Envy attained.]


    [Due to you being the only one with the Envy route, you are now labeled the Sin of Envy.]


    That blood, it tasted so good. I began to see red static, voices, and words whispering in my mind.


    Kaido jumped atop his orc, stabbing it in the head and killing it.


    He looked over, wiping the sweat off his brow while heaving. The blow the orc landed on his chest wasn''t a light one, and one of his ribs was broken.


    I looked back, watching the orc behind me charge at me once more. Why? Why does it feel like my mind is breaking?


    Is this what a little bit of blood does to me?


    I dodged out of the way, reaching my hand out to Kaido. He tossed me his sword, the mana portion of the blade disappearing, but that didn''t matter. I need more blood... MORE!


    I leaped into the air, grabbing the blade and landing atop the orc''s head. I slashed the back of its neck, blood splattering over my face.


    I felt myself cut bone. Good, I needed it to be paralyzed anyway.


    "What a ruthless display of power!" The announcer said, the crowd screaming with excitement.


    I licked the blood off my face, feeling myself grow stronger.


    The orc tried to move but couldn''t. I didn''t want to put it out of its misery; I wanted to feed on it first.


    I crouched down, the crowd leaning forward in anticipation. I then bit down on the orc, starting to rip off it''s flesh and drain its blood.


    The crowd cheered, chanting, "Feed! Feed! Feed!"


    Once I drained it entirely of its blood, I stood over it. The blood tasted sweet, rather than the stark contrast to the smell of iron that began to fill the room.


    [Sufficient blood levels reached.]


    [Due to Star Black having never consumed blood before, he is rather weak compared to some and often resists the urge.]


    [Now that you have tasted blood, you crave it. Your mental state has a higher chance of shattering if you''re around blood.]


    [Beginning evolution to Novice Vampire.]


    I didn''t feel any different, but then I felt a sharp pain in my head, causing me to fall over and grasp my face.


    "Star!" Kaido yelled, running toward me.


    "Agh!" Please, someone, kill me now. This pain would be worse than having a drill put through my skull while it''s on fire!


    However, soon enough, the pain faded.


    [Evolution complete. You are now a Novice Vampire.]


    [As a Novice, you gain basic blood abilities. You will be able to manipulate your own, but as you evolve further, you will be able to manipulate others and conjure blood.]


    [Your lifespan has gone from +100 years to +200 years.]


    [In order to progress to an adept vampire, you must drain the blood of a supernatural creature, and it can''t be the one you just consumed. Your blood reserves have increased.]


    [You still have a weakness to holy weapons/magic, fire, and sunlight.]


    [You now only have to feed once a week, though you may consume more if needed]


    "For our next challenge! A rarity in and of itself, a Rift Warden!" The announcer said, a pair of glowing pink eyes forming in the darkness beyond the gate.

 5: The Deadly Ignition.

    Out of the gate crawled a creature that was most definitely supernatural in nature.


    It crawled on all fours, its front limbs unnaturally long. I couldn''t even see part of its face, as if part of it was forever obscured.


    Its skin was black like obsidian, and its hind legs were thick, almost resembling that of a cat.


    It dragged a giant sword across the ground, the sparks flying as it did so.


    The sword itself had a silver blade with a curved guard that was brown in color. The handle was also brown, and the guard was a deep gray.


    It held the weapon in a reverse grip. Its bladed tail swayed menacingly. The Warden stopped just a few feet short of us, letting out a loud roar.


    The roar itself was deep, almost sounding like there were multiple things roaring at us.


    "Oooh! It looks like the Warden is ready! Very well then, begin!" The announcer said, swiping his hand down.


    "I''m surprised these monsters are abiding by the rules and not attacking us out the gate." Kaido said, readying his sword like a lightsaber.


    The Warden stared at us, circling the arena. The crowd watched in silent anticipation, observing both our moves and the Warden''s.


    Kaido narrowed his eyes, dashing forward and leaping into the air.


    The creature swung the greatsword at him, which Kaido managed to block. He got sent toward the crowd, but a barrier separated him from them.


    I looked at the creature, watching it prowl slowly. It then moved at me like a shadow; it was a blur. Why was something so big, so fast?


    I dodged out of the way of a sword swing, blocking the following strike of its claws.


    I got sent flying into the wall, hitting it with a crash. However, I didn''t feel any pain or fear.


    I stepped out of the smoke with Kaido, our eyes glowing slightly. We were grinning. For some odd reason, despite this new and mythical beast that stood before us like a brick wall. We felt alive.


    No more were the mundane ways of our old world!


    "Let''s go!" We both said in unison, dashing to either side.


    The creature looked both ways, a white, toothy grin forming on its face.


    My arms were bleeding, but I didn''t regenerate for a reason. I only had enough blood to make a sword, but that''s okay.


    The blood began to form into a simple sword, hardening.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    I and Kaido dashed at the creature, swinging both our blades at it.


    The Warden leaped into the air, swinging the greatsword at me. I blocked the attack, getting sent flying back once more.


    I dug my sword into the ground. "Something that big shouldn''t be agile at all."


    I watched Kaido charge the monster, their blades connecting. Surprisingly enough, Kaido stood his ground but did get staggered.


    [Scanning Creature...]


    [Due to you being the original Sin of Envy and a vampire, you have the Envy Variant: Devourer.]


    [It follows by the notion, "If I can''t have it, nobody can."]


    [This variant has two sides to it. One being you are able to destroy attributes, skills, or the abilities of opponents if you see them as better than you.]


    [The second part, you are able to steal the aforementioned traits for yourself, adding them to your arsenal and leaving your opponent defenseless.]


    [These will evolve over time.]


    [However, you can only fixate on one target, leaving you vulnerable in group situations.]


    [There are also other abilities to this, but you must keep using Envy to unlock them.]


    [You currently have the skill named Spiteful Drain. Which targets a singular ability, skill, or attribute of a person or creature and strips it away entirely. You may choose to either destroy this attribute or add it to yourself.]


    [As you use Envy, you will be able to take more of what you do not have.]


    "I''ll take that strength." I mumbled.


    Suddenly, black vines shot from the ground and coiled around the creature.


    It struggled against the vines, the crowd gasping at the unexpected display.


    The vines disappeared as the Warden growled. Lifting up its greatsword, still with relative ease.


    It moved with the same swiftness that belied its size.


    It leaped into the air, spinning around sideways and bringing down the greatsword.


    I dodged back, narrowing my eyes. "It''s lost a decent portion of its strength... It''s using momentum."


    Kaido appeared beside it, swinging his blade upward and slashing its side. For a moment, I swore the blade extended a little.


    I leaped into the air, kicking its chin and watching as its head reeled back. I wasn''t expecting to sap that much strength.


    It growled as it snapped its head forward. It then did something odd. It used its tail to slash open an area in space, a dimension filled with a pink and blue background. I couldn''t tell what I was looking at.


    It crawled, latching itself onto the air, which I didn''t know was possible, but whatever.


    "Looks like it''s begun its hunting tactics, folks!" The announcer said as I made my way to Kaido.


    We both looked around, looking for any sign of where the creature might be. I then saw a small fissure above us, my eyes narrowing.


    "Aim our swords upward." I said, raising my sword in the air, Kaido doing the same.


    We saw the creature come from above, dropping down and trying to stab us, but we were faster.


    We stepped to the side, its sword driving itself into the ground as it fell onto our swords. These things weren''t that smart, huh?


    "Ooh! With a strategic finish, they have murdered the Rift Warden!" The announcer said, as the crowd let out a roar of cheer.


    The final one awaits us.

 6:Once, Twice, Sold!

    Kaido and I were panting, staring at the body of the Rift Warden as the adrenaline began to wear off.


    The way we were moving, everything began to take a toll on us.


    Even though I was a vampire, the smell of blood began to take its mental toll on me.


    I want to use World Breaker, but the notion that if I use it, the universe is against me kind of scares me.


    [The way World Breaker works is slightly different. From the moment you attained the World Breaker Route, the universe has seen you as an anomaly.]


    [It has been subtle, but the situation you are in can be attributed to the side effects of World Breaker.]


    [These sets of misfortune will become greater the more you use World Breaker, but the effects can be halted through various means.]


    I stared at the text, the announcer''s words blaring in my ears once more.


    "Alright folks! For our final challenge is a human! A famous assassin by the name of Yatern. He has been the reigning champion for twelve years!"


    Twelve years? Who the hell are we fighting?!


    I walked over to Rift Warden, chomping down on it and sucking its blood. It felt ethereal.


    I can''t describe the taste well, but it tasted a bit like cotton candy; that''s the best way I could describe it.


    I felt weird drinking blood, but it''s the only way I can survive in this world.


    [You have drunk the blood of a magical creature. Evolving into an Adept Vampire, also known as a Bloodcaller.]


    I braced myself for the worst, expecting another mind-bending evolution, but it actually was that bad; I felt myself grow stronger.


    [You have gained the following abilities:]


    [You can now create blood of your own, though this will take from your blood reservoir, and it can''t be consumed to refuel blood.


    [You are able to sense magical creatures based off their blood resonance, as everyone has a unique one. This will make hunting easier.]


    [Enhanced speed, strength, durability, etc.]


    [Drinking blood temporarily strengthens you.]


    [Sunlight no longer instantly kills you, but you have 10 seconds before you burn to dust.]


    I stared at the abilities listed. "I need an overview once this is all over." I mumbled.


    The gate opened one final time, Kaido and I watching a tall, lithe man step out with two interesting-looking curved daggers.


    He had a mask covering his face, the crowd watching in silence as the man made his way toward us.


    In a blur, he dashed to the right, me and Kaido becoming on guard, Kaido specifically.


    I watched as the man appeared behind him, but I acted quickly, reaching out my hand to push Kaido out of the way.


    It was immediately cut off; however, my arm was bleeding profusely as Kaido was stabbed multiple times in the back before being kicked in the head and into the wall.


    He''s quick!


    I regenerated my arm and constructed another blood sword. Yatern looked at me and scoffed, his silver eyes glaring at me as his blonde hair seemed to wave with the dust.


    "Why..." I mumbled, dashing forward and swinging my blade. He parried my strike and stabbed me in the throat, bringing his silver and dark green dagger down and gashing me.


    I coughed blood, the crowd cheering while others seemed to be saddened, mainly disappointed by my loss.


    I wasn''t giving up, though, not now. I looked over at Kaido, who had gotten up and was still standing, despite his injuries.


    The crowd cheered louder as Kaido threw the sword. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, but to my dismay, the man dodged.


    He laughed, walking back to Kaido to finish the job. Why couldn''t I regenerate? I''m sure I was stocked on blood and everything...


    [Due to the weapon you were stabbed with, its main function seems to be ceasing healing of any kind for at least a minute.]


    That''s not even fair!Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Fairness. When was life ever fair to me, huh?!


    I clenched the ground, looking at the assassin. I thought he was getting paid for this too.


    I wondered when things would go my way for once. I''m not going to get taken down here and now just because of some fucking noodle with knives!


    I want to be stronger; is that too much to ask? I''ll pursue it¡ªanything to live a good life.


    I then came to a realization. I''ve always wanted a good life; I need one, but I can''t get it.


    I thought back to the way I lived. I wanted to be an astronomer, but I was so bad at math. I never abandoned the dream, but I failed to achieve it.


    I tried everything, from tutoring to studying. I believed I could do it, but the more I went on, the more of a pipe dream it seemed.


    I got jealous of those who were better; they went on to become great people, while I was stuck at a dead-end job!


    [Your Envy exceeds normal thresholds, potential for a-]


    I smashed the system interface in front of me. I stood up as my wounds began to heal.


    "Shut up," I said aloud as the crowd cheered. I felt roses being thrown at me.


    I''ll strive to live that comfortable life. To desire is to live, but am I living? No. I must desire endlessly, striving to attain what I cannot.


    To strive endlessly, a desert where I yearn for water. A vast ocean where I seek the land. An air of cold where I crave heat.


    To strive endlessly is to never truly be alive, but once I have power, I''ll live how I please, and this world will see that.


    [...]


    [Engaging special Envy Route, Obsession.]


    I felt different, like I needed to pursue my goal of becoming powerful. No, I want to. It''s not a need.


    [Due to your obsession with power and a comfortable life, another path is able to combine with the Obsession Route.]


    I didn''t give a damn about that. The man needs to die.


    I dashed forward, stabbing him in the chest before he could even make another move. I grinned, grabbing the back of his neck.


    [Replicating attributes... Adding...]


    [The target you have obsessed over has had their attributes emulated. You have no use for them.]


    I grinned, taking out the sword and biting into his neck, draining him of blood.


    The color and life drained from him as he remained paralyzed.


    The crowd gasped as the man dropped his daggers, which, once I was done feeding, were promptly picked up by me.


    "Come on, Kaido, get up." I said, helping him up. My envy has evolved, yet I feel nothing towards Kaido. That''s good.


    "Look at you, Mr. Power Boost." Kaido said, laughing a little as he coughed blood, the broken ribs starting to take a toll on his body from the orc fight.


    "Our specimens have passed all three challenges, folks! I hope you have your wallets ready! Because the bids for these are going to be through the roof!" The announcer said as the crowd cheered.


    Clearly, this was meant to demonstrate our worth to these rich slobs.


    Various guards entered the arena, surrounding us. Though I was still in a fighting mood, I''m not so sure about Kaido; he''s only human after all.


    We were guided to a room, two guards being left behind. "Take off your clothes, except for your undergarments."


    Kaido and I looked at each other, sighing as we stripped down to our underwear.


    The guards then stepped inside as nurses tended to our more visible wounds, and by our, I meant mainly Kaido''s.


    Since I was already seemingly healed, the two guards grabbed me. They were cautious with their movements, and they were clearly shaking. However, I wasn''t going to do anything to them. I had no need to.


    Hopefully, if, by some miracle, Vance is right there, I can give him a good shot or two.


    They blindfolded me with a black cloth, taking me somewhere. The ground beneath my feet felt cold and stale, but as I walked, it began to feel smoother.


    It switched from cold steel to fresh wooden tiles.


    "Great." I mumbled, hearing whispers from the crowd. I wasn''t sure if this crowd was a different one or the same.


    Probably a mix of both.


    "Alrighty folks! We have a rare one today! Here we have a vampire, a male, to be precise!" I felt a smooth hand grip my chin. It wasn''t rough, but it was firm.


    "Despite going through the trials, it''s completely healed and in perfect condition! Skin like chocolate, black hair like the darkness itself, and eyes that remain a mystery to us!" I could feel his gaze despite not being able to see him.


    "Now, ones like these are hard to come by! Especially with such a... clean face. That''s the vampiric charm, am I right?" The auctioneer said, the crowd laughing in response.


    "We''ll start at 650,000 gold pieces!"


    "1.3 million." A male voice called out. It sounded spoiled.


    "1.4 million." Another male voice called.


    "That''s 1.4 million from number 37! Going once, going twice!"


    A feminine voice then called out. "5 million."


    The crowd gasped, probably stunned into silence.


    "5 million gold pieces from number 84! Going once, going twice, sold!" The auctioneer said as the crowd clapped.


    I was escorted off the platform I was standing on, the wooden floor feeling like it was transferring to a soft rug.


    I felt a cloak wrap around me, the blindfold being taken off. I was in an unfamiliar room. It was dimly lit with candles, but it smelled nice.


    There was a wooden door in front of me, slightly to my left. It opened inward; a woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes entered the room.


    She wore a pink and gray puffy dress, having these fluffy fur things on her wrists. She was stunning to look at, almost mesmerizing.


    "Greetings, Star. You''ll be in my care from now on."

 7: Alice, my Mistress.

    I felt the cold feeling of steel shackling my ankles and wrists. I looked down, the guards making sure the chains were secure.


    What''s stopping me from escaping right now? I could kill everyone here, so what''s stopping me?


    The stunning lady in front of me had a calm smile. I could tell her gaze was studying me. She then turned to the guard, shooing him off.


    "My, my. Don''t you look stunning." She said, lifting up the cloak that was put over my body.


    I don''t know why, but I felt a faint blush creep on my face. I''ve never had such contact with a woman before, but I couldn''t help but feel strangely violated.


    "The body is in good condition." She said, looking into my eyes. "Your eyes are mesmerizing too."


    She giggled and turned around, waving for me to follow her, which I did so obediently.


    "What about¡ª" Before I could finish my sentence, she cut me off.


    "Don''t worry," she said, taking out a pink sun umbrella from seemingly thin air and opening it.


    We stepped outside, a man sitting on a horse-drawn carriage waiting for us.


    The lady opened the door for me, which was odd. I was a slave now, wasn''t I? Why am I not being treated like such?


    I stepped on the small wooden platform before taking a seat. The seat itself was cushioned and pretty comfortable as well.


    The inside of the carriage was dark, specifically made so; as if she was expecting to buy a creature that couldn''t handle sunlight.


    I watched her step in, taking a seat in front of me. I noticed something immediately about her. Her eyes had shifted from blue to a golden, yet subtle glow.


    "Who are you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    She smiled, closing the umbrella as the carriage began to make its move.


    "Coincidentally enough, my last name is your first. My name is Alice Star." She said, gently placing the sun umbrella on her lap.


    "Where are we going?" I asked, looking around the carriage. The windows were closed, and I didn''t want to know what would happen if I opened them.


    "To my manor." She said gently as she leaned back. Her left hand was gently placed over the right.


    "Are you left-handed?" I asked, Alice giggling in response.


    "You ask quite a few questions, don''t you?" She said, tilting her head.


    "Sorry." I scratched the back of my head. I wanted to get on her good side, so my new life as a servant or whatever wouldn''t suck.


    She giggled once more, taking a deep breath before pointing at me. "You''re fine." She said, waving her hand.


    "Besides, as a fellow Sin, why would I hold ill will against you?"


    Those words then struck something in me. Sin? How did she know?


    "...Who are you?" I asked once again, Alice sighing in response.


    "Alice Star, the Sin of Pride." She said, the words sinking in.


    Now that she said that, the air felt oppressive. The Sin of Pride? So there are others?


    "I know you''re going to ask, How did you find me? How do you know? Well, sins have an inherent connection." She said, leaning forward.


    She rested her elbow on her knees and her chin on her palm.


    "For instance, I can feel that jealousy radiating from you." She said, looking me up and down.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Now that I thought about it, she did have a certain way of carrying herself. The air around her felt... confident.


    "Sins have something called Variants. There can be more than one of the same Sin, hence the reason for them." She said, shifting her position to a more comfortable one.


    She lay across her seat, making herself comfortable.


    "Original Sins usually just have ''The'' in their title to indicate them being the original. My variant, which is the original, is Ego." She said, yawning.


    "You should rest; the ride is a long one, about a week''s trip." She said, shutting her eyes.


    "You''re a vampire; hibernation in the dark for you should be a piece of cake."


    I sat there, confused about everything I just heard. There were others? Other sins?


    In a world like this, I''m surprised no other sins of Envy existed before I did.


    I closed my eyes, starting to feel the weight of today set in. I just hope that kid is alright; he was the only one that made me look forward to a new day.


    When I awoke, I was lying on a comfy bed. I looked around, being in a dark room. The walls were a deep velvet, while the carpet on the ground remained a subtle white. The ceiling was gray, and there were a few lights hanging overhead.


    There were dressers, and different kinds of furniture, and even a mirror.


    I got up, checking the mirror. Seems like this world''s vampires function differently, as I could still see my reflection.


    My eyes were now a kind of pink instead of red, and my hair remained black. It was getting too long; I needed to cut it. I brushed a few stray locks to the side, walking out of the room.


    My eyes widened as I stared outside. There, a large moon hung overhead. It was bright blue in color. What caught my attention was the snow that slowly fell from the sky.


    The clouds were there, but they were thin. Not thick enough to cover this gargantuan moon that hung in the sky.


    Snow. I haven''t seen these for a while back on earth, due to the climate and all that jazz.


    "Enjoying the view?" Alice asked, raising a brow as she gracefully walked toward me.


    I jumped, not expecting her to just seemingly appear out of thin air. I went back to staring outside of the large, ornate window and staring at the moon.


    "I''ll take that as a yes." She said, giggling. "Welcome to my manor. Here is where you''ll be living. I know I bought you as a slave, but seeing as how we''re both Sins, I''ll null the contract."


    I turned to her, raising a brow. "What? You''re letting me go?"


    "Of course! I only brought you because I just wanted to discuss business, but since you''re a new Sin, I know you wouldn''t just accept me right off the bat." She said, signaling me to follow her.


    I followed behind her, still a little confused. "Wait, just how long have I been asleep?"


    "Oof, judging by how many times the moon has passed... Probably about a month and a half." She said, my eyes widening.


    "A month and a half?!" I yelled.


    Alice turned around and shushed me. Now that I looked at it, I wasn''t in my usual clothes. Instead, I was in a plain wool sweater and some silky pants, probably a form of PJs.


    "Vampires require much more rest than others, at the benefit of being able to stay up for months on end." She said, leading me through the large corridor.


    The moonlight peered through the windows, creating an almost luxurious feeling. It felt nostalgic, reminding me of my childhood and everything I wanted to do in life.


    Without noticing, I felt a teardrop from my face. Earth. My home. Since I have reincarnated, it has been a shit hole, but yet, despite the life that I dreaded on Earth, I still missed it.


    I missed the joy, the simplicity, the comfort.


    Would I truly be able to live this life as I pleased? It''s seeming like an impossibility.


    No, I can''t think like that.


    I wiped my face, entering a small room with Alice ahead of me.


    To the right of the room sat a large queen-sized bed with a small nightstand next to it. The walls were a bright pink, and the rug remained a nice brown. The ceiling above, being white. I must say, this world has a thing with strange color palettes.


    To the left of the door sat a desk with a cushioned chair and some books neatly placed on the edge of the desk. Of course, there were drawers and a wardrobe.


    "Okay, let''s talk business." She said, signaling me to sit at that same desk.


    I wanted to protest, but I already felt a strange need to submit to her will. I took a seat, watching her sit on her bed.


    "First of all, congrats on becoming a Sin, an Original Son at that." She said with a small giggle.


    "First, your vampiric nature. I can see and smell it on you. You''re only a Bloodcaller. The first four stages of being a vampire are easy to progress through, but stages five, six, and seven are a whole different ball game." She said, lying on her bed.


    "To become a Nightbound Vampire, you just have to go through some real introspective journey and accept who you are. Should be simple enough, right?" She asked, my gaze shifting off.


    She blinked before sighing, facepalming as well. "We''ve got a long road for you, friend."

 8:What is My Purpose?

    Alice stood up, walking over to me. "Okay, we''ll focus on the vampire evolutions later. Right now, we need to focus on your place as a Sin."


    I nod a bit, looking at her.


    "The rest of us have our stuff together. As a Sin, you need people to rule over, followers. Whether it be a simple cult, village, or maybe even a kingdom." Alice said, placing her hand on her hips.


    "Doesn''t that mean the world will see us as bad guys?" I asked, Alice nodding in response.


    "Of course they will. Do you not know how many holy nations are in this world? There''s quite a lot, not in this region, but there are about 7 holy empires around here." She said as she took a seat on the desk.


    "There''s a roundtable meeting we have to attend with the other Sins. They''re quite the characters, so be aware." Alice then swiped her fingers, opening a small portal and stepping inside.


    I followed behind her, the lights nearly blinding. When I opened my eyes, I saw that we were in a circular room with 7 portals, including the one I came through, surrounding the roundtable in front of us.


    The chairs seemed cushioned, having tall heads to them. "You can have a seat next to me." Alice said, walking to the table and taking a seat.


    I took a seat next to her, a little nervous and slightly confused. Then, I saw others beginning to enter, accompanied by who I assume were servants.


    "Ahh, is this the new guy? Doesn''t look jealous enough to me." A fat male with slicked-back hair and a suit on said, lighting a cigar. He had a thick accent to him, reminiscent of an Italian. "How ya doin'', kid?"


    "That''s Troul Marx, The Sin of Greed." Alice said as she leaned back in her chair.


    I narrowed my eyes. I didn''t even have to know him to know this dude was greedy. Look at all that jewelry, that slicked-back hair, and those predatory green eyes.


    "I''m doing fine." I said, my eye twitching. That opulence is making me mad.


    "Heya guys! Whoa! Who''s this?" A small boy, a demi-human I assume, hopped onto a chair. He had fair skin, red eyes, short white hair, and white bunny ears.


    "This is Star Black." Alice said, introducing me. "Star, this is The Sin of Sloth, Bun. We just call him Mochi, though."


    "Sloth? He seems so energetic, though." I said, Alice resting her chin on the table.


    "Not every Sin''s personality is what they are. Don''t get me wrong; Mochi is definitely lazy; he barely does the tasks he''s assigned." She said, Mochi leaning back on the chair.


    "But my room is so comfy!" Mochi said, whining as his ears swayed.


    "Of course you would say that." A tall woman entered the roundtable, taking a seat at one of its chairs.


    She had her hair in a messy ponytail, which reached to her upper back. Her hair was as red as my blood. She had brown skin and yellow eyes. She kicked her legs up onto the table, crossing them.


    I could see a bit of muscle on her; clearly, she was a tomboy. She looks pretty good too.


    "That''s Malica Root, The Sin of Wrath." Alice said, watching as Malica began to drift into sleep.


    I didn''t even want to greet her; she seemed scary as hell.


    "Hey darlings~" As everyone heard those words, the table collectively groaned.


    "That''s Marlin, The Sin of Lust." Alice said half-heartedly.


    "Sounds like nobody likes him." I said, watching a man in a rather revealing outfit that was skintight on him come into view.


    His skin was smooth and fair, having short pink hair and the same-colored eyes. I don¡¯t know why, but the air around him made me uncomfortable.


    ¡°Oooh, who¡¯s this lovely face?~¡± Marlin said as I saw his body meld into a shadow. I felt the darkness itself caress my chin.


    ¡±What¡¯s your name, hun?¡± Marlin whispered in my ear, but I reached back and grabbed him by his neck, slamming him onto the table.


    Marlin, however, seemed completely unscathed, and the table remained unbroken. I blinked a few times before I realized what I did. ¡°Oh, my bad.¡±


    Marlin sat up, massaging his throat. ¡°Good grip, I like that~¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Okay, this dude was a weirdo.


    ¡±Back to your seat, Marlin.¡± Alice said, Marlin willfully obeying and heading back to his seat.


    ¡±Okay, so Greed, Lust, Pride, Wrath, Sloth, and Envy are here.¡± Alice said, sighing. ¡°That just leaves¡­ her.¡±


    I heard light footsteps approach the table, along with a faint dripping sound. Everyone at the roundtable seemed nervous, all except for Alice.


    ¡±Did you guys start already?¡± A soft, groggy voice spoke; a woman with long, messy green hair took a seat between Bun (or Mochi) and Malica.


    The woman had dark skin, similar to me. She wore a tattered green shirt and skirt that were slightly ripped. She had an open trench coat that was brown in color.


    I swear I saw faint bloodstains on it as well. Her figure was slim, having decent curves and a nice face too. She had bags under her glowing green and yellow eyes.


    ¡±This is The Sin of Gluttony, Selene Proxy.¡± Alice said, everyone looking visibly uneasy around her.


    ¡±Now that we''re all here, everyone, I''d like to introduce you to the newest Original Sin, one that has been missing for a time. This is Star Black, The Sin of Envy." Alice said, Some of the sins clapping.


    "Now, down to business. Since Envy is a new Sin, he requires some... territory." Alice said, snapping her fingers and making an ethereal landscape appear on the table.


    "Star, your territory can be from anyone or anything. You must have a town''s worth of territory and about 500 people under your command to be considered one of us. Unless you prove your worth in a fight against a strong foe."


    I listened intently. To overthrow a town in another''s territory would be risky unless I could control it from the inside.


    "Believe it or not, Alice and Malica are the only two that own an entire hidden nation¡ªwell, two nations, but y''know." Marlin said, smoking a cigarette.


    "So, once you have your territory straight, we''ll know, and we''ll call for another meeting to accept you." Alice said, smiling.


    "Just a heads up, the only one of us that has no followers or territory is Selene for... reasons." She said, narrowing her eyes slightly.


    Selene just looked around the room, shrugging and munching on what looked like cooked meat.


    "Any other issues that need to be brought up?" Alice asked, looking around.


    Malica leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "Heard tales of a Hero, specifically in the eastern Holy Church Empire."


    "The ones that worship The Pure One?" Alice asked, Malica nodding in response.


    "That''s concerning. A Hero just popped up last month, and one is already hard enough to deal with." Alice stroked her chin.


    "Oh yeah, by the way, some unwanted attention has gone down in my business. Someone halted the gun trade, but later found out it was a rat, so I had to step away from a few meetings." Troul said, taking a puff from a little cigar.


    "Interesting. Well, I hope your business keeps going well." Alice said, standing up.


    "If no other issues are to be discussed, this meeting is adjourned." Alice said, grabbing my hand and gently leading me out of the Roundtable.


    I don''t know who, but I could feel some of their gazes on me.


    When we entered our portal, Alice sighed as she let go of my hand. "You have my permission to explore freely around my manor."


    "Oh, uh, okay. Do the Sins like each other, or something?" I asked, Alice laughing in response.


    "Oh! Sorry, sorry. No, actually, a good portion of them hate each other. The Roundtable is just a slight armistice zone to ensure stuff can get done." Alice said, smiling.


    "At the end of the day, we''re just really strong people with abilities tied to what we are." Sighing, she turned around. "It has been a long day, so I''ll see myself to bed. Do see how you''ll become like us. I look forward to it."


    Alice walked down the same corridor we were initially in. The moonlight makes her already elegant presence even more captivating.


    I looked around, wondering what to do now. In order to fit in with these guys, I have to basically rule over people? I don''t want to do that, though; people have lives, just like me...


    [Echo Fragment nearby. You can use it to view previous memory fragments of the original user of your Route.]


    "An... Echo Fragment? In a place like this?" I looked around, starting to walk around.


    The feeling was stronger when I looked outside and into the forest, so I searched for the entrance of this manor.


    There was nothing too interesting, just doors, interesting wall patterns that consisted of lines and swirls, and the soft carpet beneath my feet.


    I came to a flight of stairs that curved to the first floor of this massive manor, but ahead of the velvet carpet on the first floor stood the entrance.


    I went down, opening the door and stepping out. Surprisingly, despite there being snow beneath my feet and it being cold enough to see my breath, I wasn''t cold at all.


    [Due to your vampiric nature, you have a high resistance to cold environments.]


    I blinked at the interface. "Huh." I said, starting to jog to the place of interest.


    The closer I got, the weirder it felt. It felt like pins and needles across my entire body.


    Once I reached the point of interest, there was something strange in front of me.


    A small orb with cracks floating around it. I reached out slowly, its force beckoning me to touch it.


    Once I did, it began to shine brightly, blindingly so, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut.


    When I awoke, I looked around, being in a completely white void. "Greetings." A voice called out from behind.


    I turned around, my eyes widening as I saw a white-haired man with blue eyes and a crack in the air where his torso was.


    "So you''re the second user, huh?"

 9: The Realization of Self.

    "The second user, what do you mean by that?" I asked.


    The man chuckled. "You''re the second user of World Breaker, with me being the first."


    "Oh... That''s cool, I guess." I said, not really sure how to respond.


    "The name''s Sirus. I can already tell just by looking at you that you haven''t used World Breaker at all, have you? You''re scared." Sirus said, staring into my eyes.


    "What? Me? Scared? Pft, never." I said, his eyes narrowing in response.


    "Tell me, Star, or should I call you Mark?"


    My eyes widened, but before I could question him, he already started talking.


    "I know you''re a reincarnation, or just a transferred soul. We were both Route Takers; I know everything about you." He began to circle me.


    "A man with a dead-end job, nowhere left to run or go, hated his life... Has blood on his hands."


    My eyes widened. No... He couldn''t be talking about... That time, right?


    "January 17th, 2023. You were walking home, and a homeless man asked you for some money. You told him you didn''t have any." He spoke, the words piercing both my chest and head.


    "No... Shut up, please don''t remind me..." I pleaded, but he kept going.


    "He pestered you and pestered you. Already in a bad mood, you had enough. You didn''t know what came over you, but you beat the guy to death." He said, stopping behind me.


    "I said shut up!" I swung my fist at him, but he grabbed it.


    "See? That violent nature... Frustrated with the way things are. The strife for change. That''s why you''re the Sin of Envy, Star." He said, letting go of my hand.


    I took a step back, clenching my fist. He''s right; I hate the way things are, how powerless.


    "You can change. No more are you Mark; you''re me now." Another voice called from behind my ear.


    Startled I turned around, and it was Star, the same body and everything, though it seemed to be just him. Wearing the same clothes he had when he had supposedly died.


    That same bloodstain where the knife wound had been was visible.


    "What?" I said, stepping back.


    "You''re in my body now. I appreciate you taking care of it, but you were given a second chance, right? You already have power." Star said, Sirus chiming in.


    "The power of World Breaker allows you to shape what you see fit. Even reality itself can crumble to you. However, it''s not without its side effects. For you, they''re mental, I can tell." He said, standing next to Star.


    "You have the power now. Now tell us, Mark, or should we call you the new Star? Tell us, what do you truly seek? What is your dream?" Star asked, waiting for a response.


    I remained silent, going deep into thought. I killed a man, yes, but I felt nothing from it. I was only scared of getting caught.


    What did I want? I want to explore the stars, study them... I want a good life, one with power and everything.


    "I want to be strong... No matter the cost." I said, "I want to make my own dreams a reality, and I will do whatever it takes. Even if I have to obsess over one thing."


    Yes, I''m a killer. I was never a good person. Kaido made me feel like the human I should''ve been. I''ve tried my hardest to be one, but I guess that''s why my life sucked anyway.


    "Even if you have to trample on the lives of others?" Sirus asked, tilting his head.


    I hesitated. I thought I was getting better, but... Thinking back to the arena fight, it''s a kill-or-be-killed kind of world I live in now. I killed another man out of survival.


    That time, however, I enjoyed it. The feeling of his blood, the taste... That guy. He was a wonderful kill.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "Yes," I said.


    Star chuckled. "Alright then. Your true colors have shown, Mr. Villain. Make good use of my body, okay? It''s not like I had much use for it." He said, fading away.


    Sirus looked at me. "You might be willing to kill, manipulate, steal, and the like to achieve your goals. Will you risk insanity?"


    "I did say whatever it takes." I said, walking toward him.


    "Very well. I''m curious to see how far you''ll go in life." He said, his form fading before I woke up in the forest.


    [World Breaker Route Knowledge increased. You now have the alternate use, World Shaper.]


    [Due to your ambitions, Envy Route can evolve even further. Would you like to combine Obsession with the evolution path, Tyranny?]


    "Yes," I said, staring at the interface.


    [Very well. Evolving...]


    I felt different. Like the entire world was beneath my feet, yet I can''t claim it.


    [New Envy Route, Obsessive Emperor attained.]


    "Nice..." I said, turning around and starting to head back to the manor.


    [Due to you coming to a realization of who you are, you may now evolve into a Nightbound Vampire.]


    "Proceed." I said, feeling something strange course through me. Was this power? Who knows?


    I felt myself form wings on my back. Instinctively, I knew how to use them. I flapped them once, and I soared into the night sky.


    I flew above the sea of clouds, embracing this new feeling.


    "This feeling... Yes, that must be it. This must be freedom." I said, lying on my back and staring into the moon.


    The stars looked so beautiful, shining ever so brightly in the sky. The clouds, a sea of white below my new form. The moon, its blue atmosphere, hue, and large form painted the perfect picture.


    This is what it meant to have strength; this is what it meant to feel alive.


    "I''m no longer Mark Martini, that dumbass name... I am Star Noir, the Sin of Envy, and the soon-coming ruler of this world!" I yelled, starting to laugh into the night sky.


    Once the little manic episode was finished, I descended back to the ground, my wings furling back up and disappearing.


    [As a Nightbound Vampire, you have grown an immunity to sunlight.]


    [You have complete mastery over your own blood. Being able to small large constructs with it.]


    [Your external blood manipulation has also gotten better. You can now slightly manipulate the blood in people''s bodies. Such as slowing heart rates, blood flow, etc.]


    [Your blood can now be corrosive, explosive, or be used to infect others and turn them into lesser vampires, or creatures known as Getermids.]


    [Your blood reservoir has increased.]


    [You have grown wings for flight.]


    [You have gained lunar-based abilities that are only usable on weapons or for magical use during the night.]


    [Finally, the Sin Route of Envy: Obsessive Emperor has been fully added.]


    "Good." I said, walking back inside the manor. "I''ll start the process of domination tomorrow. I need to know the abilities that are part of my Routes."


    [Choice Route: Killer accessed.]


    "What? I didn''t kill anyone recently, though." I stared at the interface.


    The interface glitched out for a moment.


    [Your past catches up to you, so do your choices. Killing others reduces mental strain and insanity.]


    I sighed, being a little concerned as I went back to my room. As I entered, I saw someone lying in my bed.


    "Uhm, hey." I said, my eyes focused on the individual.


    Once they rose from the bed, my eyes widened once I saw who they were.


    Selene, The Sin of Gluttony. "Oh, Envy, you''re back... Or should I call you Star?"


    She said in a casual, yet sleepy tone. How is she not sloth?


    "How did you¡ª" She appeared in front of me, placing a finger on my lips.


    Despite my strength, I was still short. I needed to get taller.


    [Once you become a Warden Vampire, you become taller.]


    "Don''t say anything, okay? I want to help you; after all, we''re two sides of the same coin." She said, her glowing green eyes piercing the darkness.


    Her eyes were a different green from Greed''s. While his were predatory, hers were filled with nothing but the desire to consume everything.


    "Don''t tell Alice, okay? I''ll see you tomorrow morning." She said, rubbing my head and walking past me. The smell of perfume lingering on her.


    I didn''t think she''d be the type to smell good, but that''s besides the point.


    My body had just tensed up around her, like it was afraid of her by nature. An apex predator among the Sins.


    If she''s an apex predator among them... then who is Alice, to get everyone to listen to her?


    I got in bed, rubbing my face as I gripped my hair. "I''ll get stronger... Tomorrow is a new day."


    I said, closing my eyes.

 10:Plans Moving Forward

    I awoke the next day, sighing as I felt like I slept longer than normal. This body''s clock is used to sleeping for 18 hours a day, it seems.


    I stood up, stretching a little as I went to the mirror. I brushed some strands of hair out of my face, grumbling a little.


    As I was thinking of how to cut this long mess, I heard a knock at the door.


    "Come in." I said, the door opening to reveal Alice.


    "Well, what brings you here?" I asked, messing with my hair.


    "It is my manor." She said, having a fair point. "I''ve come to discuss your plans moving forward. Any ideas?"


    I thought about it. I was wondering if I should tell her about Selene. Maybe that would give me some insight as to her as a person.


    Should I?


    "Hey, Alice." I said, a bit of caution in my voice.


    "Hm?" She tilted her head, a small smile on her face.


    "So, Selene came in here last night. She said that she would help me out with territory and followers, basically saying we''re the same." I said, examining her facial expression.


    However, she looked more surprised than concerned. "Weird. She''s not the social type. You said she came here?"


    I nodded.


    "Wait..." Alice rushed out of the room, to which I followed behind her.


    We rushed through the long corridors before a butler came running down the hall in the opposite direction. "Madam Alice!"


    We stopped, the guard panting. "The maid''s room! They¡ª"


    Alice shushed him, walking to a room labeled ''Quarter of Maidens.'' She opened the door, remaining silent.


    I peeked inside, and my eyes widened. A gruesome scene that would probably make anyone else throw up.


    There were various maids dismembered, with organs and body parts across the entire room.


    One of the maids, still alive, unfortunately, but being paralyzed from the neck down. She was lying in a pool of blood.


    To be honest, all of this smell was intoxicating. I guess suppression of vampiric nature may be in order.


    On the wall, written in blood, it said: I''ll be waiting, Envy!


    There was a heart next to that exclamation point. I didn''t know why, but I felt no fear or anxiety from this.


    Alice turned around, sighing. "I''ll need new maids." She said, snapping her fingers, and a spike impaled the paralyzed maid, putting her out of misery.


    "As for you. She never liked Envy sins, but for some reason, she sees something different in you." She said, walking up to me.


    "She killed the last one; now she wants to be buddy with you. I want you to accept her deal and see what''s going on." She said, starting to walk down the hall.


    "Maybe she''s had a change of heart towards the other Sins."


    "Wait!" I called out; Alice turned around.


    Killed? What does she mean?


    "What do you mean she killed the last Sin of Envy?" I asked.


    Alice sighed, walking back toward me. "A little before you showed up as the new Sin of Envy, something happened."


    "Well, yeah, if the previous one ended up dying, I would suspect so." I said, leaning against the wall.


    "You see, Selene isn''t a normal person. Not just because she''s a Sin, but because she''s a Proxy." She explained, crossing her arms.


    "Proxies are alternate versions of another person at any point in time. More often than not equal, if not stronger, than them."


    "Okay? What does that have to do with anything?" I asked, Alice shaking her head.


    "Jeez. Clueless as per usual. It''s kind of endearing, but anyway, Proxies kill their originals on sight, or at least attack them." She said, trying to recollect the moment.


    "So, her original was the Sin of Envy; however, you might ask, then how is she Gluttony?


    Honestly, I was curious about that. Wouldn''t she just inherit her original''s abilities? Or something of that nature?Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "The reason why she''s Gluttony is because she ate the Original Sin." Alice said, my eyes widening.


    "How many of you... fought her?" I asked.


    "All of them except me. I was away on a mission. If she was able to fend off all of them and kill two in the process... She''s truly a terrifying woman." Alice said, turning around.


    "She called down after she killed her original, but she''s the one who left the power vacuum. Leaving her and you to become the new Original Sins." She started walking down the hall.


    "I''d go see what she wants. Having a Proxy on your side is like having a Route Taker."


    "Wait!" I called out once more.


    "What is it?" She sounded exhausted.


    "Where''s the bathroom?" I asked.


    Alice smiled and chuckled a little. "The bathroom should be in your room. It''s the only other door other than the closet in there."


    I nodded. Walking away from her and to my room.


    I went into the bathroom, which looked extremely nice. The tiled floor was clean and reflective; the walls were also tiled as well.


    The bathtub itself was extremely big, having enough space for what would be three or four people.


    I started up the water, nice and hot, and undressed. I stepped in, feeling quite relaxed as I felt the water envelop my body.


    "Ahh... This feels nice. You know what? Now would be a good time to look at an overview of what I have. System-" Just before I could give the order, an interface akin to a stat sheet appeared in front of me.


    [Star Noir.]


    [Race: Undead]


    [Subtype: Nightbound Vampire.]


    [Vampiric abilities include:]


    [Charm: You are able to hypnotize enemies.]


    [Immunity to sunlight.]


    [Mastery of internal blood manipulation.]


    [A degree of external blood manipulation and conjuration.]


    [Wings for flight.]


    [Enhanced physicals.]


    [Blood is explosive and/or corrosive.]


    [You can infect others, turning them into Getemeds.]


    [Sin of Envy (Obsessive Emperor) abilities:]


    [Even in Spite: You can take or destroy three abilities from another entity. However, these will likely have a much higher output and potency, likely harming the user.]


    [Singular Focus: You primarily focus on one target, leading to often bad group situations. However, all physicals are boosted, as well as mental speed.]


    [Domination of Rulers: You can force others to submit to your will. Whether it be through direct commands, coercion, subtle directives, etc. The stronger your tyranny grows, so does this ability.]


    [Crushing presence: You can focus on weakening the will of others. This, obviously, supports your first abilities.]


    [World Breaker Route abilities:]


    [ERROR, UNKNOWN.]


    [You won''t know until you find out.]


    [As obsession and tyranny mix, so will the birth of new abilities.]


    [You can steal the abilities, memories, or personality traits of those who are under your command.]


    [You can impose your will on entire groups of people. As a ruler, you must be suited for it.]


    "Alright, alright. I think I''ve seen enough. So it doesn''t list any physical traits I''ve taken. Alright." I said, just relaxing in the tub. Soon, I washed off, rubbing the back of my head as I tried to dry my hair.


    I looked in the mirror, sighing. Then, there was a knock at the door.


    I quickly got on a towel, opening it. "Yes?"


    It was a maid. "Oh! I see you''ve already cleaned yourself up. Would you like assistance with something else?"


    I thought for a moment. "Could you cut my hair?"


    "How much?" She asked. She had short silver hair, circular glasses, fair skin, and green eyes.


    "Just to my shoulders." I said, sitting down on a small stool in front of the mirror.


    "Very well." She said, pulling out a pair of scissors.


    I felt the weight on my head lessen as my hair was being cut. I breathed a sigh of relief as I finally would have less stuff to worry about.


    She cut off my bangs partially to prevent it getting in my head. Eventually, she finished.


    "How does it look?" She asked as I looked into the mirror.


    It looked good. Not too much hair over my face, and it draped over my shoulders as well. It was nice.


    I stood up, nodding. "Thank you."


    "Any time!" She said, stepping out before coming back with a broom and dustpan.


    I left the bathroom, closing the door behind me and opening the wardrobe. To my surprise, they had my exact type of clothes.


    "Ahh, no hat though." I said, taking out of pants akin to sweatpants. "These look like sweats." They were gray in color.


    [This world does have some degree of modern clothing. Things such as hoodies are more commonly worn among the poorer population of the world.]


    I put on the sweatpants, tying them so they wouldn''t fall off. "Modernized clothing, hm? This world is full of surprises."


    I checked out my body, which looked pretty slim. "I need to work out..." I mumbled, putting on a black shirt and a gray trench coat.


    I stepped out of the room, heading down the hall. "Alice. I''m off!" I yelled through the hall, hoping she would hear me.


    I made my way outside, the sun shining brightly on me. I stared up into the sky, the sun being a bright blue.


    The sun, something I haven''t felt since I became a vampire. Now it doesn''t even affect me.


    "I can''t wait..." I chuckled. "I can choose to be good or evil! I can do what I want! My life starts anew!" I began to laugh.


    "Now, off to find Selene." I said, walking into the snow-filled forest.

 11:An Unfortunate Restart

    I tread through the sparse forest, the snow crunching beneath the boots I initially had. They fit so well, and I kind of liked them.


    This woman, Selene... She''s an alternative version of another person.


    "Something caught my attention, though... Alice said that they''re from any point in time. Does that mean she could be from the future?" I rubbed my chin.


    I know she killed the original Sin of Envy, but thinking about it, if the original looked nothing like the Proxy, maybe, just maybe...


    I then felt something crawl on my neck, making me shiver immediately before slapping whatever it was.


    It was a spider, but it was made out of some black goo. It reformed back into its normal state before jumping on my ear.


    I shivered a little bit, as I have never been fond of spiders. It whispered in my ear, "Dread Ruins..."


    I seemed a little confused, but then the interface flashed in front of me.


    [Head southwest.] An arrow pointed in that very direction, and I began to walk toward the Dread Ruins.


    I could see the vapor coming from my breath as I breathed softly. The wind blew slightly as I walked through the forest, which only grew more and more sparse as time went on.


    Then, I began to notice bits of cobblestone in the snow and fallen, cracked pillars that looked like they''d been here for centuries.


    Ahead of me sat ruins of a grand scale. It looked like a Greek meeting place. The roof had fallen, the pillars had collapsed, and so what was left was just rubble and vines.


    A small hut was still open, still made out of stone, which confused me. I walked to the door and opened it, seeing a staircase leading down.


    As I descended, I noticed torches began to light up with dark green flames. I reached down, coming to an extremely large, circular arena. There were spiral, yet intricate patterns that led to the center.


    The walls had pillars surrounding the center, covered in moss and vines. Ahead of me stood something more unnerving.


    On the bones of what seemed to be a giant beast, Selene sat there, lazing and gnawing on one of them. Her eyes shifted towards me, and she smiled.


    "So you actually decided to show, Star Black." She said, hopping off the bones and walking toward me.


    "You don''t seem like the kind to heed requests." She said, stopping in front of me.


    She seemed a bit taller than me, but not by much. She looked down, a toothy grin forming over her face. "You know why I called you here, right? Remember what I told you?"


    "Yes, yes," I responded. "You wanted to help me gain territory and followers."


    Selene smiled, putting an arm around me. "Aren''t you such a good listener! None of the other Sins like me, but you''re new and different. So you''re my new friend."


    I never agreed.


    "Alright, alright. So how do you suppose we get territory?" I asked, Selene giggling.


    "We? You mean you, my friend. Don''t worry, we won''t start with humans just yet. You''ll start with The Tomb of Tanshe." She said, stepping away from me.


    "There are powerful monsters there, but we won''t kill them; we''ll subdue them." She said, grabbing your shoulder. "As Sins, the more we subjugate, the stronger we get. So in technicality, I''m the weakest."


    Wait, the one who killed two Sins is the weakest among them? By technicality?


    "I see..." I said, watching as Selene signaled me to follow her. "Come, let''s go."


    I followed behind her, watching her lead me away from the Dread Ruins.


    "As a Sin, you are a primary target among Summons, Reincarnations, Other Worlders, Saints, Priests, and especially Heroes." She said, narrowing her eyes.


    "I''d say the primary causes for concern are Reincarnations and Heroes. All of these are strong in their own right, but those two receive some sort of divine blessing." She said, humming quietly.


    "Well, isn''t that nice? Got a huge target on my back." I said as we walked through a snowy field.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Could you tell me more about this world?" I asked, hoping to get some valuable answers.


    "Well, for starters, it''s never been completely explored. Yeah, there''s portal magic or abilities, but those are only to specific areas with high mana density." She said, stopping in her tracks.


    We came to a 7-foot-tall pillar with a red orb in its center.


    "Really? How big is this world?" I asked, Selene shrugging in response.


    "Don''t know. Just know storms can get really violent. Each season lasts 244 years, so we''ll be in winter for a while, and this world is BIG." She said, placing her hand on the orb.


    "We''re here. Now, this tomb has 7 floors to it. As a Sin, conquering the first two should be enough, as each floor acts as a mini pocket dimension." A faint shimmer began to surround us.


    "Each floor has a ''boss,'' you could say. You must subjugate them mainly; I''ll handle the small guys." She said as we got transported into the first floor.


    There was a red sun in the sky, and the heat was damn near unbearable. There was sand blowing in the violent wind as we stood on a ruined circular arena; small claw marks and what appeared to be bloodstains were all I could see on the ground.


    "Hm..." Selene rubbed her chin, watching various desert creatures begin to emerge from the distant dunes.


    "As I said, I''ll handle the little guys; go find that floor boss, or master, or whatever." She said, walking off into the distance.


    I traversed the arena, feeling a slight bit of movement under my feet. I noticed a small crack in the ground when I looked down, so I stomped on it.


    Once I did, I felt the ground cave in, sending me down below. I hit the floor with a loud thud. "Ugh..." I said, standing up and rubbing my head.


    I looked around, and darkness was all that surrounded me. I heard growling surrounding me from all angles.


    A pair of orange eyes began to glow in front of me, and when I saw them, I summoned a bloodied sword. "Come at me..." I mumbled.


    The creature, which had been invisible in the darkness, began to move. Suddenly, something sharp gashed my throat. I immediately gripped my neck, trying not to choke on my own blood.


    I felt the same sharp object stab my abdomen, lifting me in the air.


    "Foolish Sin..." The creature spoke, its voice a culmination of everyone I ever spoke to in my life. How did it know I was a Sin?


    Did Selene do this on purpose? She knew this thing was here, didn''t she?


    Just then, I heard someone or something land behind me. I turned my head as best I could, Selene''s glowing green eyes right there. "Oh, I figured you''d be dead by now. I guess he''s just waking up."


    "You... bitch..." I spat blood as the creature growled at me louder.


    "You really think you can trust us as Sins? The only nice one out of us is Bun; even then, he has a side no one but me knows about." She said, the creature throwing me down to Selene''s feet.


    "Well, I hope you enjoyed being Envy, Star." She said, before everything flashed white to black in an instant.


    Not even a week, and I had died again.


    I stood in an all-white void, being back in my original body. "Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?"


    [The Entity is seemingly amused by your reaction to dying.]


    "Who? WHO GETS A KICK OUT OF THIS?" I yelled. Despite this vast expanse, there was no echo.


    [The Entity laughs at your reaction but has taken a liking to your drive to become powerful. It knows you are an Anomaly, and therefore do not abide by normal rules.]


    "Anomaly, what the fuck?" A blaring screech emitted from the screech as it glitched out.


    It was gone just as quickly as it started, and with it, that terrible noise. I don''t know why, but a total sense of isolation looked over me. Just then, a voice rang in his head, feminine, upbeat, and light.


    "Hiya! Hello? Helloooo?" It sounded like a child, and it ran throughout my entire brain.


    "The system can talk?" I asked myself before getting hit in the back of the head.


    "Ow! What the¡ª I turned around, and a faint mist appeared before a small girl formed. Her hair is a deep purple, her eyes are the same, she has brown skin, and she wore a plain T-shirt and some shorts.


    "Who the hell are you?" I asked, the girl giggling in response.


    "I can''t tell you that! Just know I''m an entity. She said, smiling, "If I told you exactly who I was, your soul would be obliterated from that information."


    "So this isn''t your actual form?" I asked.


    "Nope! I''m a boy, but I do get bored, so..." She floated beside me. "You''re stuck here, huh? Kind of a bummer."


    "Are you the one behind my reincarnation and this system?" I asked, hoping, praying for a good answer.


    "Nope! Not at all, and I don''t know who''s behind it either, but whoever they are, they''re trying to get something out of you." She said as the interface of my system appeared once more.


    [Beginning second Reincarnation Process.]


    "Wait! It said that The Entity has taken pity on me the first time I died, meaning you lied!" I yelled, my body starting to fade.


    "I''m not lying. I said I''m an entity because I''m the one that granted you the system... I''m not the one reviving you. Meaning there''s another person. I don''t believe in second chances." Was all I heard from her before a blinding white light filled the seemingly already bright void.


    Then, black. When I opened my eyes, I felt... vulnerable and small. I looked around, realizing I was in a crib of some sort.


    [This time is an actual reincarnation. Not a migration. Good luck; I''ll be watching.] The system displayed in a deep purple, simulating the entity''s control.


    I tried to stand, but was unable to find myself doing so. I tried to call out for someone, but all that came out was unintelligible babble.


    Shit... I''m a baby.

 12:My Second Reincarnation

    Well, I was reincarnated as a baby, but I don''t know what to do. This is the second time I''ve reincarnated, and I''m getting a bit frustrated at this point.


    The system appeared in front of me, its words displaying a robotic tone. [You have kept all of the abilities from your previous life except for your vampiric ones. You remain the Original Sin of Envy and still have World Breaker.]


    Huh, at least I kept some things. I was in the crib, alone, vulnerable, and helpless. So, I did the best thing I knew how. I cried.


    As I cried, my wails echoed through the wooden room. I heard footsteps rushing toward the door, a man with bright red hair coming in and picking me up.


    Immediately, I stopped crying and looked up at him. "Awh, looks like our little one just wanted his old man, huh?" He chuckled.


    His hair was, like previously mentioned, bright red. It was a bit longer, going down to his lower neck. Which, thankfully, I believed I had a lesser chance of inheriting extremely long hair again.


    He had a patchy beard and a mustache that seemed pretty full. Dear Lord. He was muscular and tall, like a lumberjack or something.


    He had brown skin, similar to mine, and his eyes were bright red.


    I heard another pair of footsteps; a woman, slightly shorter than him, entered the room. She wore a plain blue dress that complemented her ocean blue hair and eyes. The color contrast between these two was astonishing.


    "Look at our little Yohi. He inherited your eyes and hair." The man, presumably my father, said.


    My mother had more fair skin. One thing I noticed, though, was that Father had some strange markings on his neck, and my mother had curved horns coming from her forehead.


    The horns were thin, and their points were sharp. Wait a minute, are these people... demons?


    "Ahh, our little devil. What kind of magic do you think he''ll have?" Father asked the woman, presumably my mother.


    "I have no idea. We have to take him to see a Mystic. Kids do start displaying magical affinities when they''re ten, but demons do have it a little sooner." She said, reaching out and taking me into her arms.


    So they have people to determine what magic types people have, huh?


    I snuggled into my mother, sighing contentedly. If anything, I needed this. It''s been so long without someone to hug, talk to, or anything... It felt... Comforting.


    "I hope you don''t steal him from me." My father said jokingly, making my mother chuckle.


    "I won''t, I won''t." She said, cradling me in her arms.


    "Wait... Do you see that?" My father moved the collar of my shirt, revealing the Sin of Envy marking, which was a spiral of vines that looked like it was surrounded by a crown of chains.


    "By Lucifera! Our boy is a Sin!" My father yelled, my mother immediately shifting me in her arms and gasping.


    "By the Devils, you''re right!" She said, excitedly, raising me in the air. "Our precious Yohi is a Sin!"


    I became a little uncomfortable with this. Was being a sin a precious thing among demons? Why were they so happy?


    "If we protect him, and I train him long enough, he can become one of the 4 Demon Lords!" My father said, the term Demon Lord ringing too familiarly in my mind.


    Back when Kaido used to show up at my shops, he''d talk to me about certain manga or anime he had seen. A few Isekais mentioned the prospect of Demon Kings or Demon Lords that are eventually defeated by the Heroes of the story.


    If I do become one, that''s not going to happen to me.Stolen story; please report.


    "Well, if we want that for him, we have to keep his marking a secret, at least until he learns how to hide it if he can." Father said, placing his hand on his hips, "Well, I''m off on a delivery mission."


    He said, placing his hand on my small head. "Listen here, okay? Dad is going to be away for a while, alright? When you grow up, take care of your mother, alright?"


    I looked up at him with big, innocent eyes. I have to play the part of a baby until I can gather more information here. Now I know I don''t start off with magic immediately. Guess I have two systems, huh?


    [The Systems of Power I have told you about are only the beginning. As Aspects, Magic, and Routes are all main systems, each containing their own sub-systems. My information is limited, but there are potentially twelve systems. I only know of a fourth and fifth.]


    What would that be?


    [Mana is considered its own system, as one can be very proficient in mana manipulation but not have magic. They are able to mimic the properties of magic, in a way.]


    [Another system is called Flow Energy. People who have this are purely physical beings, going beyond what their race or species can produce. These beings are also more than likely resistant to magical effects. This is purely theoretical.]


    My small brain can''t take this...


    My mother put me in the crib, smiling at me. Not wanting to be back in there, I played the annoying card and whined, prompting her to pick me back up.


    "My, you''re a clingy one, aren''t you?" She asked, holding me close.


    I was starting to feel again. No longer tainted by the vampiric desire for blood, but this feeling was still unfamiliar to me. Like I had never experienced it before. Then again, I vaguely remember having a normal family, though I can''t say they were loving. They just did the basics as parents.


    Celebrated birthdays, going out to eat, attending whatever little things I did in school. I had a feeling they never truly loved me, though. At least, not showing it.


    This was new, though. Demons were always portrayed in a bad light in some stories, painting them as a race of monsters and deviants.


    This woman, my new mother, was kind. I could already see it. My father was out of the picture, for now at least, and maybe, just maybe, I can start anew. From a clean slate, no quests or deals, just me.


    If I needed to become a demon king, so be it. I nuzzled her cheek, prompting her to kiss mine.


    "Yohi, when you''re around six, we''ll take you to see what kind of magic you have at a Mystic, okay?" She said, talking as if I could understand her, which I could.


    "Shouldn''t take long. Demons do age relatively faster than most races do, and it slows down once they''re sixteen." She sat me down on a plush bed.


    I looked around the room, which was quite quaint. These people more than likely lived in the countryside, or, that, or just a nice town.


    There was a lantern on the nightstand next to the bed I was on. Indicating that this place wasn''t as technologically advanced as the previous place I had been.


    The floors were made out of a fresh, but unknown type of wood. It was brownish red in color and seemed pretty smooth. There were a few drawers and dressers made from the same kind of wood.


    A small window above the bedframe stood, giving a nice view outside.


    Curious, I crawled over, trying to grab a peek, but I was too small. My kind mother, however, lifted me up, giving me a nice view.


    Outside were multiple small to medium, yet simple wooden houses. There was some farmland and rolling hills that could be seen in the distance, as well as the faint sound of animals. To my surprise, I heard a moo, the call of a cow.


    Looks like I might enjoy being here for a while.


    Suddenly, I heard footsteps running toward the door before hearing it burst open, causing me to jump.


    "Oh my goodness! He''s so adorable!" A woman yelled; immediately, I was grabbed by my small body and held in the air.


    In front of me stood a woman, having long white hair and yellow eyes.


    "Yohi, this is your older cousin, Lilith." My mother said, as I noticed a bladed tail swaying from behind Lilith.


    "A few bodies on his hand and he''ll be a fine boy in no time flat! I know a place where he could accelerate his aging." Lilith spoke in an excited manner.


    My mother sighed, taking me back into her arms. "Lilith. You know good and well I don''t trust certain mages..."


    "Come on, Maulie! You''re still relatively weak after that sickness, right? You''re not in the condition to protect yourself." Lilith spoke in an almost manipulative manner. Why did she want me to grow up so bad?


    "We''re a battle race, created by our wonderful Sin of Pride, Lucifera. She made us to spite the perfection of the angels and made us in her image of beauty." She said with a smile, "It''s important that Yohi grows up fast to establish his place in this world."


    "I''ll do it when he''s about 4 years old then. Since he''ll be 7 in human years." She said, Lilith jumping up and down excitedly.


    That''s some weird aging stuff...


    I sighed, seeing the road ahead is going to be a long one. This time, I won''t be as trusting and/or careless.

 13:Time Flies

    "Alright, Yohi, one more time, okay?" Lilith said, having a sports bra on with sweats. It was chilly outside, yet she still wore stuff like this? I saw beads of sweat drip down her forehead as she pants.


    I stood up, rubbing my chin, being a little worse for wear. It had been four years, having spent most of my time being coddled by my mother and protected by Lilith.


    I was four now, yes, but I had the body of a six-year-old. Yet, she was going this hard on me?!


    I dusted myself off, sweating profusely as a stinging pain persisted in the lower left side of my body, like when you run for too long. "Lilith, please, I''m tired!" I whined.


    "Stop being such a baby! You''re four. When I was your age, I¡ª" I immediately tuned her out. When she was four, she was allegedly battling teenage dragons, bringing back their parts for the townsfolk.


    "Okay! I get it!" I yelled, getting into a fighting stance.


    "Glad to know!" She said, crouching down and spreading her arms and legs, like a sumo wrestler or grappler.


    "Go!" She yelled, dashing forward and aiming for my waist.


    I leaped over her, my knees brought to my chest. I then thrust my legs downward, hoping to hit her head, but of course...


    She evaded, her form a blur as she grabbed my left knee, slamming me into the ground.


    The wind was knocked out of me, causing me to cough as I heaved my chest.


    I didn''t have time to catch my breath, though, because immediately, Lilith had her arm cocked back, a devilish smile on her face as she threw her fist forward.


    Luckily, I rolled out of the way, getting on my hands and spinning around. She blocked my incoming kick, grabbing my ankle again, but that was my plan!


    Immediately, I wrapped my legs around her neck, putting her in a leg lock. Still, she stood tall, having the advantage over me in age, of course.


    She giggled and tapped my leg. "Alright, alright. You can have that one. That was impressive, Yohi."


    I let go, falling onto the ground with a soft thud.


    Lilith helped me up, rubbing my head. "Oh! By the way, I have a present for you." She grabbed my hand, leading me back to the house. The fields were nice this time around, but we were still in the winter.


    The time here functioned weirdly. Technically, it has been four years, as I''ve been counting the months... But as I''ve learned about the world, a single orbital period is actually 976 earth years.


    Then that meant that each season was around 244 years, and the months in this world were around... I don''t even know; some big number. Still, I''ve grown quite used to this body and this family.


    As I''ve come to realize, being a Sin puts you at a higher status than most Demons. Sins are seen as fragments of the original Sin, Pride, therefore seen as a gift from Alice.


    It didn''t take me long to notice that Alice was, in fact, Lucifera. According to most demons, she was the one who created them after her fall from heaven.


    All sins, by extension, are part of her, but not under her.


    Lilith led me to her room, which was a normal room with black wooden floors, a singular bed, a large dresser with a mirror to the left against the wall, and a closet to the right.


    She reached into her drawer, taking out a revolver that resembled a Colt Python. Its barrel was about 9 inches long and silver in color. The barrel had intricate, bronze patterns while the handle seemed to be crafted out of a deep crimson wood.


    "It''s a magical item I got from a dungeon. It''s called the Gun of Return. We all make mistakes in life, and some are irreversible, but with this, you can go back and undo it. All it takes is a simple trigger pull." Lilith said, rubbing my head as she handed me the gun.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    You''re seriously handing a four-year-old a gun?


    Then again, we were a battle race. We were meant to fight. This could be much more useful than anticipated.


    "Thanks, Lilith..." That wasn''t the main issue; along with trying to live a good life, I have to find out who''s behind these reincarnations. Those, and I have to find Kaido; I do hope he''s alright.


    "Of course, bud. Now that you''re at that age, we can go check your magical affinities and age you up so you can get on with fighting! Maybe exploring too." Lilith spoke with a smile on her face.


    Mother entered the room, having a bag next to her. She saw the gun in my hand, and her eyes widened, stepping forward and snatching it from me.


    "Lilith, what''re you thinking?!" She yelled, Lilith taking the gun back.


    "Calm down, Maulie. He''s at the age where he can defend himself. Besides, we have to head to the guy to grow him up; after all, word around is that there''s been a recent batch of Summons lately, all human too." Lilith''s tone became more serious.


    "Really? I''ve heard rumors, but..." Maulie fiddled with her fingers as a protective gaze lingered in her eyes.


    "They were summoned by the Queen of the Ventu Kingdom. Since she prepped her ability this time, this is the biggest bunch she''s summoned yet." She said, putting the gun in her pocket.


    "Are you willing to risk his life or give him a chance to actually defend himself?" Lilith tilted her head.


    Maulie looked down at me, a look of sadness in her eyes. The thought of her boy dying to people who deemed them evil sickened her. She sighed, kneeling down and grabbing my shoulder. "Do you want this, Yohi?"


    I looked at her, then at Lilith. With this, I could finally open my eyes to something new. Then, when all is said and done... I can fulfill my lifelong dreams of exploring the stars. I''ll push this world forward, and we''ll reach a new age.


    "Yes..." I said, Maulie taking a long, deep breath.


    "Very well. If you decide to explore after you''ve grown, I won''t stop you, but do know I love you, okay?" Mother pulled me into a tight hug, to which I responded with a hug of my own.


    This life¡ªthis second life. It will be my last reincarnation. I''ll make sure of it. Lilith and Maulie may not know, but while I was a baby, I was experimenting with mana since I didn''t know any spells yet.


    Apparently, magic is something that is studied and not inherited, unless you''re an Aspect, at which point the force is bound to your soul.


    They had a book in the storage room labeled Arcane Texts, and I gave it a quick read but immediately stopped because my mother entered the room. I just forgot about it from there.


    Lilith grabbed my hand, putting the gun in it. "Let''s go now, okay?" She said, lifting me up and taking me outside as my mother waved goodbye to me.


    After a few hours of walking, Lilith and I reached some circular stone ruins. She put me down in front of a cloaked individual, their face obscured.


    "Have you come seeking something again, Lilith?" The figure asked, Lilith smiling.


    "Tell me my little cousin''s magic and age him up for me, please." She said, the figure nodding.


    "Come close, young one." They said their voice was indiscernible. I couldn''t tell whether it was a man or a woman. Whatever.


    I stepped forward nervously, not trying to die on my second run. The Mystic placed their hand on my forehead, and I didn''t feel anything for a moment before feeling dizzy.


    "Ugh..." I mumbled, the Mystic using their other hand to keep me straight.


    "Ahh, yes. Most impressive. His mana pool is vast, and he''s one of Triple Affinity." The Mystic said, taking their hands off. The dizziness immediately dissipated.


    "Triple Affinity?!" Lilith said, looking at me.


    "Correct. I sense Water, Light, and something else... Something I can''t discern. Only time will tell what this third affinity is. Now, it is time for you to age, boy." The Mystic made a magic circle under me.


    Its dark blue glow shines beneath my feet as I look at the intricate patterns and carvings. I feel myself grow taller, stronger, more developed.


    Soon, I stood at 5''5, looking at my body.


    "You''re now 18 years of age for a demon. You will be able to fight and defend yourself. May the ones above have favors upon you, Yohi." They said, raising a hand, and within the blink of an eye, they were gone.


    Lilith looked at me, hands on her hips. "Not as tall as I''d expect you to be." She said, tilting her head. "Sorry we couldn''t give you an education. It''s... weird. Demons aren''t allowed in many places. It seems like you inherited your dad''s trait of no horns, so that''s good."


    She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Still need me? Or do you think you can function on your own?"


    "I''m fine on my own." I said, smiling.


    "Remember, keep that gun safe, okay?" She said as I nodded.


    Turning around, she then walked away. "Bye, Yohi, see ya soon!" She waved, with me only smiling at her.


    Now, life starts anew. My first objective is to become a Demon Lord. For that, I''ll need to join a human adventurer group set on that goal. My second objective would then be to find Kaido, my third... Find out who''s behind my reincarnations.


    That''s... if all goes as planned.

 14:Blending in To Join

    I was out on my own now. No one to hold me back, so my goals are laid out in front of me.


    I walked along a dirt path, the winter breeze softly blowing in my face. "Well, now''s a good time to ask the system about these reincarnations. Hey, System." I said, but to my dismay, no response.


    "System?" I asked once more. No response.


    "Shit... Well, I''m on my own now, I guess." I said it was truly weird. I guess I would just keep heading this way till I found a village or town.


    "Weird... The place I came from didn''t seem as advanced as when I was in Star''s body, but the place of my birth seemed to be your classical medieval fantasy village." I said, expecting the system to clarify for me, but once again I saw nothing.


    "Alright, I guess it just abandoned me." I sighed, conjuring a small orb of mana in my hand and tossing it into the air.


    The orb went down the road for a few feet before imploding in on itself. "So I am on the right track."


    I studied mana when I was around three. About twelve months ago. I found that mana had three general attractions. Life, Magnetism, and Magic.


    With magnetism, people have been able to locate vast structures and ancient, yet advanced ruins. Not only that, people that rely on magnetism for their industrial uses, mana is able to reinforce these things.


    Mana practically melds with life. It''s not a type of life force, but it does have a very big impact on physics. For instance, this world I''m on is twenty-one to twenty-three times bigger than Earth, give or take. Without mana, life would be crushed by its gravity, and things would be flattened.


    Not only that, it increases blood flow, lung capacity, etc. That''s what mana can do.


    Mana surrounds everything. Even those who don''t know it, which is why they''re even sustained.


    Magic would be self-explanatory. Mana is like a conductor for magic. Snuff out the mana, and magic won''t work. That doesn''t apply to Aspects, however, as I''ve read.


    I just used the ball to locate the highest density of living beings. So I''m assuming I''m heading to a large city.


    Being a demon, some things made me stand out. Though I didn''t have horns, my eyes were the main things that stood out. Demons often had pupils akin to a cat''s, but many races did, including feline demi-humans.


    However, not many in this region have blue hair, at least that''s natural. As far as I know, dyes aren''t at the point where they''re long-lasting with hair.


    Meaning¡ªI have to blend in! I wonder how I''ll do that. I can just say I dyed my hair, and my eyes look weird. Might need to wear glasses.


    My mother told me the kingdom we resided in was named The Vine Empire. Known for its robust army and vineyards, this empire has a dominant presence in the wine trade. The neighboring, much larger kingdom was the Ventu Kingdom.


    The Ventu Kingdom is located east of here and is ruled by Queen Amarae Saint. She''s a powerhouse in this region of the world, as not only does she house the world''s most adventurers and monster hunters, but she also has the ability to bestow the title of Hero or Heroine to others.


    Due to this, she''s viewed as a goddess in her own kingdom, and her dislike of demons, the Sins, and monsters alike only made things worse under her rule, for those mentioned at least.


    I heard she also has a superiority complex.


    I''m pretty sure she has more abilities, but that''s her most notable one.


    As I snapped out of thought, I realized I had reached the town, and the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. I was walking for that long?


    "Uhh..." I looked to my right, conveniently seeing a man sleeping on the side of the street. Not many people were out, so that was good.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    I walked over to him, looking at the polarized sunglasses over his eyes. Circular frames too. "These are pretty modern... Then again, there is a steampunk nation somewhere."


    I take them off of his face, putting them over my eyes. "Alright, perfect! Though I''m not sure how this would fare for me at night, I don''t think I''ll need it during that time."


    I walked down the sparse streets. Watching as people would head into their homes to clock in for the night.


    Sellers were closing shops, occasionally asking buyers if they would want something before they closed. I could hear sounds in a bar where people were seemingly having a good time.


    I eventually came across a building labeled ''Guild Hall.''.


    "There you are." I entered. The place was quite nice. It had two stories, with a staircase ascending to the second floor on the left. In front was a guild clerk, an Elven female with long blonde hair, a brown vest with a bowtie, pointy ears, green eyes, and flawless skin.


    The floors seemed a bit old beneath me, but it wasn''t anything too bad. To the right were some tables and chairs, presumably a lounge area. They also had a couch.


    I walked toward the guild clerk and rested my arm on the table. "Hey there."


    The lady looked up from whatever she was doing and looked at me with a small smile. "Hello! Welcome to the guild hall! Are you looking to join or create a guild?"


    "I''m looking to join one." I said, the elf smiling.


    "Alrighty! Do you already have an adventurer''s ID?" She tilted her head.


    "I do not." I responded.


    "That''s fine! Just sign your full name here, your age, and your place of birth." She said, taking out a clipboard and sliding it over to me.


    She pointed at a few lines, slowly descending the paper.


    I grabbed the quill that she handed me, writing down the information.


    Once she grabbed the clipboard, she took a look and raised a brow. "You''re from Cleinsfield? Isn''t that home to a majority of Demons?"


    "Ah, my family doesn''t have much money, but they''ve been kind enough to let us stay." I said, chuckling nervously and scratching the back of my head.


    The elf looked at me with scrutiny. "Ah, I see." She reluctantly handed me a card, my name written on it with a small barcode on the bottom.


    "Have a nice night." She said, her tone sounding a little indifferent. She probably figured I was a demon but chose not to say anything about it to keep some sort of professionalism.


    ...


    A few hours earlier, in the Ventu Kingdom, a knight ran inside of the throne room, wearing a blindfold. "Great Goddess Amarae!" The man looked up to a high throne, wrapped in velvet and made of gold.


    He had to blindfold himself to handle the sheer radiance that Amarae, the Goddess of the Ventu Kingdom, emitted. For if he were to gaze upon her flawless form, his eyes would melt out of his sockets, forever blinding him. Maybe even worse, his head could possibly explode.


    There were many things that could happen to an individual who gazes, knows, or even speaks of a being higher than themselves. From their very being erased to their minds permanently fractured.


    "Speak." Amarae, a woman clothed in a silky golden dress. A golden necklace with a blue gem in its socket hung around her neck. Her golden hair, as well as her eyes, seemed perfect, with no sign of a blemish or anything. She sat tall, her legs crossed, and her gaze indifferent.


    Her skin was fair, a bit more on the pale side, but still no sign of flaw. This is Amarae, The Perfect.


    "Marx, The Sin of Greed, has been spreading his underground business, and it''s encroaching on our territory." The knight said, waiting for a response.


    "I see... Well, the summons I have brought here the last forty-eight months ago should be strong enough to stop his expansion a little." She said, her voice bringing a sudden wave of calm over the man.


    "Yes, my queen. Should we alert one of the guilds?" He asked, a smile appearing on his face, happy to gaze upon the presence of his queen, even though he couldn''t see.


    "Do so, but not to the ones in our kingdom. Send it to the Vine Kingdom, as that''s where Greed resides. Make the reward seven hundred gold pieces and around eighty-five thousand credits for the guild to share." She said, waving off the knight.


    The knight, sensing he was overstaying his welcome, stood up and bowed. Running out of the throne room immediately.


    Amarae looked around her throne room, the reflective marble flooring, the six pillars that stood on both sides, resembling Greek architecture. There was a red carpet leading to her throne, with gold linings on its edges. Above hung a chandelier.


    "To be at the pinnacle of all... I love it." Amarae said, a smirk spreading across her face.


    ...


    Presently, Yohi stood outside of a wooden door, knocking on it.


    The door opened, revealing a group of five inside.

 15:The Balforn Guild.

    "Are you serious? They want us to deal with a Sin of all things?!" A man with a heavy British accent spoke, slapping a piece of paper.


    "I know Brad, but look at the reward!" Lilac said, her hand pointing to numbers underscored on the paper.


    Lilac was a knight, and her companion, Brad, was a berserker. "I know, but we don''t have a mage."


    Lilac had a short stature, but her skills as a knight were undoubted. She had silver hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.


    Brad, a tall man with a rough face. Having a scar on his left cheek, short black hair with a beard, and brown skin. "I know, but still, we struggled with a Black Dragon; don''t you think a Sin is a little much? Why can''t that damned woman send one of her prizes?"


    "Well now, people can''t be that free now, can they?" Yan Xiafing, a man from rural China, spoke. He was a martial artist of the group, wearing a white robe with gold linings along with some dark blue pants. He had fair skin, purple eyes, and long black hair.


    "We all have a singular type of magic, right? Too bad we can''t learn more due to that stupid fucking price of being summoned. In exchange for a leveling system, we can only have one kind of magic." Alyssa Marick, a woman from southern Canada, was the group assassin.


    She had on skintight clothing, but it allowed for flexible and agile movement. She wore a black cloak with the hood down, concealing her clothes from the others. She had short blonde hair and brownish-silver eyes.


    The final member, a duelist by the name of Aofie Sonnis. She had on light clothing, with braces around her kneecaps and elbows. She had short black hair and eyes of the same color. She was from southwestern Ireland before getting transported here.


    "Well now, why don''t we just find a mage willing to help?" She asked, the accent thick in her voice.


    "Who in Amarae''s name would be willing to help?" Brad said.


    Knock Knock


    "Hm?" Alyssa, who was sitting next to the door, opened it slightly. She peered her head around the door, revealing a short male with brown skin, blue hair that reached his upper back, and polarized glasses. The left front part of his hair had been braided, which threw her off a little.


    "Hey, uh... Is this guild accepting members?" The guy asked, carrying a hopeful glint in his eyes.


    The group looked at each other and gave silent nods. "Are you able to be a mage for us?"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The man immediately stood up straight, rubbing the back of his head. "Yes," he said slowly, "but I need a tome. I don''t know any spells."


    The group sighed, but Yan Xiafing pulled a tome from under his robe. He tossed it to Yohi, who caught it with ease.


    ---


    "Thanks." I said, chains binding around the tome as it became bound to my very being. I opened its contents. It was filled with arcane texts that I have never seen before, but I could understand perfectly.


    "Names Yohi, by the way." I said, each member of the group introducing themselves. These people were definitely from Earth. They probably think I''m just a random native of this world wanting to join their guild.


    "Yohi? That''s an odd name." Brad said, crossing his arms. "Anyway, kid, listen here. This is an extremely hard mission. Do you think you''re up for it?"


    "Always." I said, holding the tome close to my chest. I could feel its already warm surface against my plain shirt.


    "Great, we''re going to be going against The Sin of Greed, Marx." The moment he said that, my body visibly tensed.


    "Oh! Nice, Coolio! Haha..." I chuckled nervously as everyone gave me confused looks.


    "Coolio? Are you from here? That''s what people on Earth used to say sometimes..." Alyssa narrowed her eyes.


    "Oh, no, I''m originally from Earth too." I said bluntly, seeing as how these guys were all from Earth, I believed I would be able to make myself comfortable.


    "Really? How come I didn''t see you when The Goddess summoned us?" Alyssa asked, tilting her head.


    "Oh, I wasn''t summoned... It''s... complicated." I said, rubbing the back of my head. "My real name is Mark, but I''m just going by Yohi, since that''s the name of this body."


    The group looked slightly shocked but decided they would talk about it later. "Alright then. What''s up with the shades?" Aoife asked.


    "I don''t like my eyes. Anyway, when are we leaving?" I asked, the group looking at me with slight suspicion after wanting to change the topic so fast.


    "We need to leave ASAP. We don''t know exactly where he''s located, but judging by what Amarae said in the letter, his main base of operations is in this town. It''ll bring us one step closer to beating the Demon Lord of The North." Brad said, a small smile playing on his lips.


    "Demon Lord of the North?" I tilted my head.


    The group began to wrap up, Brad extending a hand to me. "Welcome aboard, Yohi."


    I shook his hand firmly. "You never answered my question." I said, letting go.


    "You''ll find out that he''s very notorious. I''ll let you see for yourself when we get near his area. He''s located in the northern continent of Askio, across the Maw Sea." Brad said, walking out of the room with everyone else.


    "The Maw Sea is a damn colossal ocean compared to those on Earth. I''ve never been there, but from the maps I''ve seen, that can''t be called a sea. Crossing that space alone would take us at least two months." Yan Xiafing said, looking back at me.


    "Besides. We''re heading north anyway, since we''re all the way south. Maybe Marx is somewhere that way; who knows?" He said, turning away and stepping out of the room.


    It was still nighttime, but we were heading off on our journey already. Whatever, I''m ready. I have my own plans anyway.