Level up? Is it some game phenomenon?
"We have to increase our power level, expand our domains, reach our peaks". He tries to explain.
"I know". He says to someone aside from me.
I look around. I don't see any ghosts or spirits.
He catches my expression.
"I was talking to my system".
I blink. Of course I know you can talk to the Grim System. I just didn't know that it offered advice.
"The system can be customized. It's a feature for only diamond rank members".
"Why do you guys have to get all the good things?" I whine.
"Why don't you try getting to the top of a league consisting of roughly twelve thousand people?"
I say nothing.
"As you worked your way to the diamond league, did you level up?"
"No. Barely. Leveling up comes from visible increase in your power and possession of mana."
"Then how does one level up?"
"By fighting your equals and superiors. You get better with time. You push yourself to the limits you set for yourself and exceed them".
"How can I do that in this place?"
"You can actually level up in challenging nightmares. You can fight the annihilation beast and level up".
"How do I know?"
I hate being so naive.
"That you've leveled up? You just know".
I contemplate on his words.
It takes me back to the time I became a paid bounty hunter. I was the only necromancer who could find and put cursed corpses to a peaceful death. With each foe I encountered, I had felt myself growing stronger.
I think I know what he means.
My system appears with a count down.
Is the next nightmare due so soon?
"Calm down. That's a timer for commoners' meal time".
"Commoners?" I nearly choke on the word
"Yes, darling. There's a strict class distinction".
"What would it take for me to become a member of the diamond rank?"
"A lot of killing, or you face your fear. There's a trick, you know. Most people pass on to the next nightmare, but don't realize that they don't earn significant points".
I raise an eyebrow.
"Let me enlighten you. The leaderboard does not show the amount of points you earn. The Grim System does not show it as well, except you are a member of the diamond rank. The way you face your nightmares matter. You score even higher points when you don't use your given weapon. They expect you to combine both wit and power to overcome each nightmare. By power, I mean your special powers. Running nightmares through with your weapon is a common as dew on a leaf in the morning. Take me for example, I earn the highest points in the System with just my wit. There are times that I resort to other methods, but wit is unparralled. Using your mana gives you the same point value as wit. It depends on the skills and techniques you use, your control, and some other factors.
Advancing to the top is not a day's job". He explains through his mind.
"But that would mean that one of the diamond rank members would have to be demoted".
"I'm afraid there's no way around it".
"How many points do you lose when you die?"
"A thousand. It's much lower for you commoners. It's always a pity when people die with barely any coins left to be deducted from".
"Your position is infinite as it is".
He smirks.
"But, its getting pretty boring. Now, you're here to spice things up".
I tense. Spice things up? I am on the verge of nervous breakdown.
I look up at his shaggy white hair. His hair is long and messed up. As if to prove a point, he runs a hand through his hair and ruffles it.
I am beginning to feel more relaxed in his company.
"You can rest, or read a book, or do whatever you like to do."
"What are you going to do?" I ask him.
"I'm going to meet up with my mentor".
"Shut up, system". He murmurs under his breath.
I need to become a diamond rank member. The priveleges are worth killing for.
He said that brute killing would get me nowhere. That's the only way I know how to kill.
My necromancy powers are poorly developed. I know I have much undiscovered potential. Maybe, Xian Xi is the person to help me discover it.
After a demon body was imposed on me, I began to depend on it, instead of myself, for survival.
Plus, I always thought that my gift of necromancy was a curse, something to be pushed aside. Raising the dead and seeing souls is just the tip of the iceberg. Necromancy is much darker than that. It is a very dark place, which is why I have been running from it throughout my existence. But, I have to confront the fact that the only way to defeat the demon queen would be to embrace the darkness. Only darkness can destroy darkness, in this case. Light has failed woefully. I might succeed, or die trying, but one thing is certain, nothing about me would be the same. My dark side would have to emerge and take over. There is no coming back from that.
"Can I meet your mentor?" I ask.
"I think you should rephrase the question. My mentor is a squalid drunk".
I firm my shoulders. I am not in the position to judge anybody.
"Alright. If you insist".
We walk into an ancient study. It has so many scrolls resting in the built- in book shelves. The shelves extend to the ceilings. The room is simply breath taking.
"There are so many volumes on beasts and their weaknesses. A few have been stolen, of course, but all the originals are intact".
I see his mentor, leaning back on an armed chair with his head lolling at a dangerously angle. I can smell the alcohol stench emanating from him. His hands are spread over the arms of the chair he is sitting on. His legs are crossed on the table which is scattered with scrolls and books. His eyes are half open, but he does not register our presence. I doubt he can even see us. His mouth is partially open. He has dark, curly hair, not at all bad looking. A good shave would give his face a fresh look and good sleep would get rid of the bags under his eyes. I turn away from him when I realize I am gawking.
I go through the shelf beside me. I see one on the history of the demon empire.
"Is the demon queen comfortable with you having so much access to demon archives?"
"Why would she? Nothing in here would help me defeat her. It mostly contains tales of the wars against the humans and how the territories guarded by the demon rulers were conquered."
"It says here that demons were once human".
"No one really knows. It is a well known myth".
I read further.
"Then, who wrote all these scrolls. They must have some form of human nature in them".
"Demons are deceptive creatures. They can take the form of humans, they are capable of speech and cognitive thinking. It is part of their nature."
I go through another scroll. It is written by the fifth demon ruler, Claw.
It says he had a past. He died in battle and had been reborn by the demon queen. He had left a pregnant wife and baby brother behind.
I take in a deep breath.
His brother's name was Wen Xian Xi.