Daniel opened his eyes, his vision settling on the familiar surroundings of his bedroom.
The dim light filtered through his blinds, casting a pale glow across his desk, scattered with papers and empty energy drink cans.
Everything looked the same as it always did, but a strange unease lingered in the air.
For a moment, he stayed still, his mind replaying what had just happened.
The void, the crimson figure, the voice, it all felt so vivid, so real. Yet, doubt crept in.
“Was it all in my head?” he muttered, gripping his hair tightly. “Am I going crazy because of these assholes?”
The memory of the [Hatred Demon] gnawed at him, but there was no way it could’ve been real. Could it?
He didn’t even seem to care that much about the fact he failed to establish his city, or about the panels that appeared around him showing that several people were texting him.
“Damn it.” He rose from his bed, pacing the room. “I’ll kill them all. Every single one of them. Aurelia, that useless traitor… FateBreaker can’t protect her forever.”
His hatred burned like a wildfire, growing hotter with each passing second.
He clenched his fists, imagining the faces of those who had wronged him.
Alex, Aurelia, and everyone else who dared stand in his way, they’d all pay.
Just as he was about to leave his room to grab something to eat, a sudden chill washed over him.
A crimson panel materialized before his eyes, its ominous glow filling the space.
Two sharp horns jutted out from its top, an unmistakable mark of the demon.
[Task #1 of the Hatred Demon]
Daniel froze in place, his heart pounding.
[Objective: Kill 100 Players in Universal Descent.]
[Note: It cannot be people part of your guild. Do not try to cheat me. I will know.]
[Time Limit: 3 hours.]
[Penalty for failure: destruction of the soul.]
His eyes widened, his pupils trembling. “What the…?”
The panel floated closer as if mocking his shock.
The words burned into his mind. Three hours to kill 100 players?
It wasn’t an impossible task, but the time limit made his throat tighten.
“What the hell did I get myself into…?”
The voice from the void returned, deep and menacing.
[Power.]
Daniel froze, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.
[If that is what you seek, then do as I say.]
[Reward: +2,000 Strength and “Random Hatred Demon Skill.”]
[I have thousands of these skills. Don’t disappoint me.]
His disbelief faded, replaced by cold acceptance.
The demon wasn’t a figment of his imagination. It was real, and it had claimed him.
Daniel knew there was no escape. Failure meant death, not just in the game, but a true and final death.
Still, he couldn’t ignore the temptation of the reward.
A chance to grow stronger, to surpass everyone who had mocked him or stood in his way.
He smirked, his fingers curling into fists.
“It’s my turn to win,” he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. “This world is mine for the taking.”
His laughter filled the room, low and menacing.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he swore he heard the demon’s laughter echoing his own.
…
Meanwhile, at the Fox Tribe Village
Alex stood in the middle of the bustling village, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the smiling faces of the fox girls who waved at him.
The air was warm, the scent of blooming flowers mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest.
He had killed Viktor, another big shot and one of the leader of the [Black Flame Family], which meant that he had officially become an enemy and also proven that he was too strong for them.
Dawn had escaped his grasp by using some item, but it didn’t matter as he had made his point.
But Alex’s expression remained serious as he turned to Aurelia, who walked beside him.
“Aurelia,” he said firmly, “don’t go back to your house.”
The girl blinked, surprised. “What? Why?”
“Daniel’s going to be furious,” Alex explained, his gaze scanning the lively village. “Ask your father to move himself and you somewhere safe. If he doesn’t, you need to find somewhere else.”
Aurelia’s face darkened, understanding the weight of his words.
Somehow she had the feeling that Alex knew Daniel better than most, he knew the man’s pride and how deeply it had been wounded.
At this point, Alex knew that Daniel might have already fallen to insanity, willing to do anything to rise above them all.
He would go to the other families, and when he would ask them for aid to make him a leader even after his failure to establish his city, they would simply give him a few tasks.
The [Garden] family, the [Black Flame Family], and others would seize the opportunity to manipulate him, dangling promises of support in exchange for loyalty.
“Well… why don’t you eliminate them in the real world?” the leaders would suggest, their smiles thin and calculating.
Daniel’s mind would race at the suggestion.
He’d hesitate for a moment before nodding, his resolve hardening.
“That’s… true…” he’d mutter, his hatred rekindling.
Within weeks, Daniel’s wrath would descend on both the [Thunder] estate and the [Stardust] family.
His madness would claim the lives of Aurelia and Mike Thunder, their own families betraying them for personal gains.
As for Richard, he had obviously not died in Alex’s past life since he had been a powerful warrior in the game, not leaving at all no matter what to avenge his daughter.
But in this life, Richard didn’t grind the game at all, mainly focusing on his business since his daughter was safe and protected by someone reliable.
Which meant that Alex would need to intervene again.
And a simple [Death Call] wouldn’t cut it anymore: he needed some abilities.
In fact, he didn’t want any of his powerful spells or his [Bleeding Strike] as it would be too difficult to control his strength and also since a single bullet would put an end to his life.
Alex would much prefer getting [Impenetrable Fortress] or his [Superior Awakener’s Set] as it would mean total defense against bullets.
The man had seen this all before in his past life.
He’d watched as Daniel’s rampage left a trail of devastation in its wake, all because the man couldn’t accept failure.
This time, Alex wasn’t going to let it happen.
As they entered Alera’s house, Alex’s mind churned with plans.
He exchanged pleasantries with Alera, Lilith, and Eleonora, the beige dragon, though his focus remained on the bigger picture.
The fox girls offered their hospitality, but Alex’s thoughts kept drifting to the challenges ahead.
He knew Daniel wouldn’t stop until he had what he wanted.
But… what Alex didn’t know… was that in contrary to his past life, Daniel now had a way bigger advantage.
With the [Hatred Demon] fueling him, Daniel’s power would grow at an alarming rate.
And that was something Alex wouldn’t expect.
…
Later that evening, Alex stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against his skin.
The sky above was a canvas of stars, their light flickering like distant flames.
He stared up at them, his expression resolute.
“Alright,” he murmured to himself. “It’s time to speak to Alphox about that bloodline.”