"Freedom is all I wanted. But not this life where every step caused me lose humanity. Bit by bit."
*******
"#%@&#$£##@@#@#@!!"
"&#&@#%&@&@?"
The first thing he (Subject 017) heard was a noise of frantic chittering. The words were spoken in a language he had never heard before. Almost like insects arguing in the dark.
However, just then a sharp pain struck his mind, which nearly made him breathless.
Then, memories of a different person flooded his mind like a torrential river.
"Who's this?"
He saw a tiny creature being born from mana inside a broken nest. He felt its hunger, fear, and instinct. He tasted ash on his tongue. He saw flames rising like waves. He watched a giant Salamander inhale, its throat glowing bright orange, and then release a scorching breath that swallowed everything.
The world turned white. Then black. Then nothing.
He collapsed to his knees as the last memory faded. The ground felt wrong. His limbs felt wrong. When he looked down, the shock nearly stopped his heart.
His legs were thin and bent in strange angles. His skin had turned a deep charcoal red with faint cracks that glowed like dying embers. His hands had become small, clawed, and bony.
The moment he realized what he was seeing, his hands started trembling violently.
When he spoke, the voice barely sounded human. It came out like a raspy croak:
"What— what happened to me?"
He tried to stand, but immediately felt something heavy on his back. He turned around in panic, but almost fell again when he noticed wo leathery wings sprouted his back, small and batlike. They twitched in confusion, as if they had a mind of their own.
His heart started beating faster.
He reached up to touch his face. The texture was rough, almost stone-like. His ears were long and pointed. His eyes also felt unnatural.
If he had third person perspective right now, he would have seen the small impish creature no taller than three feet he had become.
But it didn't take him long to connect the dots. He had become the same creature whose memories he had just inherited.
The same creature that had died screaming under a Fire Salamander's breath.
"I've been reborn as an Imp?"
In his lonely time, he had this small privilege to read those fantasy novels. So he knew what reincarnation / reborn means.
Frantically speaking, he always yearned to travel into one of those worlds.
And today his dream come true.
He had obtain his freedom. So what if he was an imp? The sensation of freedom was enough to wipe away all his worries and insecurities.
Ding!
All of sudden he had faint chime in his mind. It was so soft he failed to register it in first time.
But inthe next moment, several line of text on a translucent window appeared in his mind:
[ Congratulations! You have been chosen as a Paragon ]
[ You haven awakened your Unique Skill: Genesis Overclock (Ultimate) ]
Name: Egon Quintessence (Blessed by the Goddess of Mischief)
True Name: —
Race: Demon
Species: Iron-teeth Imp
Rank: Pawn (Absolute Beginner)
Physical Stats: [ Expand ]
Conquered Territories: 0
Soul Shards: 1
Skills:
• Bite (1st Order)
Unique Skills:
• Genesis Overclock (1st Order)
Genesis Overclock (1st Order – Gene Accumulator):
> At the beginner level, it allows the user to collect and store genes from other species. It grants minor biological enhancements and evolution points.
Genesis Overclock?
He pondered about the most important part first.
It might not sound overpowered at first, but after reading its description, he realized this skill had great potential.
At higher orders, it would grant gene integration, mutation, hybridization, and eventually creation-level abilities.
If he wanted to survive in this chaotic world, he needed to grow stronger. No, not just strong; monstrously strong.
However, from the status window another thing caught his attention.
"I have name?
His new name: Egon Quintessence. The name was blessed by some Goddess of Mischief it seemed.
That meant she was the one who probably helped him, though he didn't know why.
There was a chance she could have hidden agenda, but he didn't care too much as long as she try to order him around.
He had enough of imprisonment. He now wished to be free.
"The old pitiful me is dead. From today onward, I am Egon Quintessence. I am free," he vowed.
"Those who try stand in my way, I will bring ruin to their existence."
What was a Paragon?
It means the highest form of lifeforms.
And his Unique Skill was tailored made for this whole reason.
But there was also a problem. As an Imp born from mana, he had no reproductive organ.
Hopefully, he would get that organ back once he evolves.
"Number 9, you survived?"
Suddenly a voice reached his ears.
He turned toward the voice, only to see another imp like him.
There was two choice: Kill him and obtain his genes, or obtain a shelter.
He chose the later.
"Yes, somewhat," Egon replied while acting nervous.
He had enough intelligence to quickly slip into the character.
"Haha! You're one lucky bastard, Number 9. Come, let's celebrate," the muscular imp said, pulling Egon along.
Egon followed without a word.
In the meantime, he checked his Physical stats.
[ Strength: 3.00 ]
[ Agility: 3.00 ]
[ Vitality: 4.00 ]
The stats were probably lowest among all demons. Still, he wasn't too discouraged.
Strength here referred to average of combined physical and magical strength.
Agility referred to speed and dexterity.
Vitality is average index of Health, Stamina and Defense.
He finally turned of the System Window.
Very soon, he and the muscular imp pushed through a curtain of thick vines until a cluster of crude huts came into view.
Each hut was made of stitched leaves, bones, and dried mud, barely large enough for two imps to crawl into.
The wind was filled the smell of roasted insects and damp moss.
The moment they stepped into the clearing, several imps turned their heads.
Upon noticing number 9, their beady eyes widened in surprise.
"That's Number Nine! He's still alive!"
Some of them cheered by holding half-chewed beetles, others raising their stone knives as if celebrating a returning hero.
A particularly tiny imp which was barely up to Egom's chest scrambled forward and hugged his waist with surprising force.
"Nine, I thought you got squashed by that Giant Salamander! Number Nine always dies first!"
"That's not something to cheer about," Egon muttered, but managed a weak smile.
The muscular imp shoved him gently toward the center.
"See? Everyone's happy you made it back. We already lost three brothers. The tribe needs every hand, even the clumsy ones."
Paah!
Another imp slapped Egon's back hard enough to almost knock him down.
"Lucky Nine! Lucky Nine returns!"
Egon forced a laugh, but inside, he was still sorting through the shock of his new healthy body, new identity, new environment and the dormant power of Genesis Overclock.
The hut assigned to Number Nine sat at the edge of the cluster. It was small, round, and smelled faintly of moss and burnt feathers. The imps gathered around it, clapping their clawed hands together.
"Come number nine! Tell us how you survived the fire Salamander!"
"Did you kill something?"
"Or did you hide like last time?"
Egon raised both hands. "I… uh… I'll explain later."
He stepped into the dim hut, the familiar yet unfamiliar dirty bed greeting him like memories that weren't his.
The crowd stayed outside, still buzzing with excitement, waiting for their returning brother to share stories of bravery he absolutely did not have.
Egon took a slow breath.
If he wanted to survive, he needed to fit in.
If he wanted to rise, he needed strength.
And Genesis Overclock reminded him he now had a path.
As the imps waited eagerly just beyond the vines, Egon straightened his small, imp-like shoulders.
"Alright… let's give them something they will remember for their whole life."