The forest seemed endless, stretching in every direction, its shadowed paths filled with unknown dangers and hidden creatures. Fayt felt the weight of the Demon Territory pressing in on him, but he wasn't afraid. Not anymore. His new body was strong, his abilities growing with every passing moment. He had no fear of the beasts lurking in the underbrush, no fear of the unknown. He was Fayt Valentine, a Blood Demon, and the world of Elast was his to conquer.
But even with his newfound strength, the path forward was treacherous. Fayt didn't know much about this Demon Territory, but his instincts told him that the Demon Lords were not the only threat here. There were other creatures, rival factions, and ancient powers that would challenge him.
He had to be careful. But he also had to grow stronger. This was a world of magic, and the more he learned about it, the more he could reshape his destiny.
The God of Death's voice echoed in his mind once again, a soft reminder of his mission.
"You have the potential to be great, Fayt," she said, her tone filled with a mixture of encouragement and warning. "But remember, power without purpose is meaningless. Find your path, carve it with blood, and claim the world as your own."
Fayt nodded mentally, absorbing her words. He had already made the choice to embrace his powers, to live for himself and not for others. He was no longer the man he had been in his past life, and that man's weaknesses were gone.
Several hours passed as Fayt trekked deeper into the forest. The trees seemed to grow denser, the air colder, as if he was crossing into a different part of the Demon Territory. The creatures he encountered were not as dangerous as the Blood Fang Beast, but they were still formidable. Fayt used his Status Appraisal to examine each new enemy and dispatched them with precision.
The forest was vast, and while Fayt felt stronger, he couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of isolation. No allies, no guidance, just the God of Death and her distant whispers. She had given him the power to survive, but it was up to him to figure out where to go from here.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the forest in a dim orange glow, Fayt finally noticed something. A faint glimmer in the distance—an unnatural light in the otherwise darkening woods. Curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate.
After a short walk, he arrived at a clearing in the forest. In the center stood a ruined stone structure, partially overgrown with ivy and moss. It was a gate—no, a portal—its edges faintly glowing with an eerie, crimson light. The air around the portal seemed to hum with power, as though it were alive. Fayt's instincts told him this was no ordinary place. This was something important, something dangerous.
He stepped forward, his footfalls silent on the forest floor as he approached the gateway. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
"The portal is a relic," the God of Death's voice echoed in his mind, catching him off guard. "It leads to a place of great significance, but it is not without its dangers. The demons who control this land use these portals to traverse the boundaries of their territories. Tread carefully, Fayt."
Fayt nodded mentally, his heart beating faster. He could feel the power emanating from the portal, the pull of it drawing him closer. He wasn't sure where it led, but part of him knew that this was his next step. He wasn't going to get any answers by staying in the forest forever. He needed to explore, to test his strength against what lay beyond.
He stepped through the portal, his blood-infused shields raised, ready for whatever came next.
Suddenly, Fayt was no longer in the forest. He found himself standing in a vast, empty cavern, its ceiling disappearing into darkness far above. The air here was thick, heavy with the scent of ancient stone and arcane magic. Faint glowing runes were etched into the walls, casting an eerie, flickering light across the cavern. The ground beneath him was cold and uneven, and the only sound was the echo of his breath.
He glanced around, assessing his surroundings. There were no enemies in sight. No immediate threats.
But then the ground trembled beneath his feet, and the air seemed to shift. Fayt's instincts flared, and he immediately activated Sanguine Shield as the shadows around him began to move. Something was coming.
The air grew colder. The shadows shifted again, and from the darkness, a figure emerged. It was humanoid, but twisted, its body covered in black scales and its face obscured by a dark helm. Its claws were sharp, extending like deadly talons, and a trail of dark smoke curled from its body.
The creature stepped forward, its presence intimidating, but Fayt was ready.
"Another demon?" Fayt thought, his blood beginning to boil with anticipation. His shields were raised, the magic inside them surging with energy as he prepared for battle. He wasn't sure who or what this creature was, but it would be his next test.
Before the creature could strike, Fayt activated Status Appraisal, using his magic to get a full read on the demon's abilities.
Demon's Status Window (Appraised)
Name: Infernal Knight
Race: Demon (Infernal)
Level: 10
Health (HP): 350/350
Magic Power (MP): 80
Class: Infernal Warrior
Skills:
Flame Slash (Physical, Deals 60 damage, Ignites target for 5 seconds)
Infernal Roar (Special, Deals 50 magic damage and stuns nearby enemies for 2 seconds)
Hellfire Blade (Ultimate, Deals 100 damage, can burn enemies for 10 seconds)
"Level 10," Fayt muttered. This demon was stronger than him, but he wasn't going to back down. His dual shields were ready. "Flame Slash" and "Infernal Roar" would be dangerous, but if he could time his attacks right, he could win.
The creature spoke in a language Fayt didn't understand, but its intent was clear. It raised a black sword from its side, the magic within it humming with a dark energy. It was here to fight.
Without hesitation, Fayt activated Blood Reprisal as the demon swung its blade toward him. He felt the sting of the attack, the damage flowing through his Sanguine Shield. But before the demon could strike again, Quickstep took over, and Fayt was already moving, circling behind the creature.
Damage Taken:
Damage Taken: 45 (via Sanguine Shield)
Damage Absorbed: 40
Damage Remaining: 5
Fayt's shields were his primary defense, and his body was already reacting to the blood magic coursing through him. The Blood Reprisal fired off a drop of blood, striking the demon's back with force.
Damage Dealt (Blood Reprisal):
Damage Dealt: 13 (30% of damage taken)
Critical Hit: No
The demon hissed in pain, spinning to face him. Its sword cleaved through the air, but Fayt was faster. He dashed forward, using the blood-infused shields to block the next attack, the Sanguine Shield absorbing most of the blow. He retaliated immediately, his dual shields slamming into the demon's torso with brutal force.
Attack: Shield Bash (Dual Shields)
Damage Dealt: 60
Critical Hit: No
The demon staggered but didn't fall. It lunged again, but Fayt was already moving, activating Quickstep to dodge the attack. His shields swung again, the magical power inside them rippling through the air as he landed another strike.
Attack: Shield Strike (Dual Shields)
Damage Dealt: 70
Critical Hit: No
The demon let out a snarl, its body beginning to glow with dark energy as it launched one final flurry of attacks, each strike faster and more aggressive than the last. But Fayt was ready. With every blow he took, his Vampiric Aura continued to sustain him, and with every Shield Strike, the demon's defense began to crumble.
Finally, with a well-timed dual shield bash, Fayt sent the demon flying back, its body crashing into the cavern wall. It collapsed, lifeless.
Final Damage Dealt
Total Damage: 180
Creature's Remaining HP: 0
EXP Gained: 100
Fayt stood over the fallen demon, his shields still raised and glowing with the last remnants of battle magic. He could feel the power coursing through him, his blood magic still active, still resonating from the recent fight. He had gained 100 EXP for the kill, bringing him closer to leveling up.
He breathed heavily, taking in the quiet of the cavern. The God of Death had been right—the world was full of danger, and this was just the beginning.
Fayt Valentine – Brief Status Update
Level: 2
EXP Progress: 100/1000
Attributes:Attribute, Base Value, Notes
Strength (STR)12 Increased due to Blood Demon lineage.
Dexterity (DEX)14 Agility suited for shield-based offense.
Constitution (CON)15 High health, regenerative capabilities.
Intelligence (INT)12 Average magic affinity for blood-based spells.
Wisdom (WIS)10 Average perceptive skills, enhancing status appraisal.
Charisma (CHA)8 Low impact on social interactions in Elast.
Luck (LCK)10 Average, random encounters and loot.