The message from the system hovered in front of Charles like a silent threat.
[New Quest: "The First Shard Will Soon Awaken."]
Time Frame: Unknown
Difficulty: ???
Reward: Hidden
Failure Consequence: [Redacted]
Charles stared at the glowing text.
"…I swear the system is trying to give me a heart attack."
Midnight climbed onto the table, pawing at the message with a grumpy meow—as if scolding the system itself.
The system clarified:
[Warning: A First Shard is a Major World Event]
[Level: Catastrophic (if unchecked)]
[Your involvement: Required]
Charles leaned back, paling.
"Catastrophic? Required?! I'm sixteen! I haven't even finished homework!"
Midnight tilted his head as if saying: Yes, but you're also OP now. Suck it up.
---
The Shard's Meaning
The system screen shifted.
[Explanation: "First Shard" refers to one of the Seven Fragments born from the First Demon Sovereign's death during the Great Outbreak.]
Charles blinked.
"…The First Demon Sovereign?"
The system continued:
[Each Shard holds immense demonic power.]
[If awakened, it chooses a Host.]
[The Host becomes a Vessel capable of evolving into a Greater Demon.]
Charles felt a chill crawl down his spine.
"So… someone in this world could turn into… what? A demon king?"
Midnight growled low.
[Quest Objective: Locate and Neutralize the First Shard]
[Warning: Bureau and Guilds are also searching.]
Charles buried his face in his hands.
"Of course they are… I just got done hiding from Creed."
---
The World Reacts
The Bureau Moves First
Across the city, alarms echoed through the underground Bureau command center.
Screens flashed red:
[DEMONIC SIGNATURE DETECTED — CLASS UNKNOWN]
[POSSIBLE SHARD AWAKENING]
Agents scrambled.
Inspector Creed stood silently in front of a massive display, jaw clenched.
"…So it begins," he muttered.
A subordinate asked, "Sir, should we deploy the Rift Response Division?"
Creed's eyes narrowed.
"Send them. Full squad."
He paused.
"And flag Charles Reyes for monitoring."
The subordinate nodded.
"Yes, sir."
---
Guilds Also React
In a luxurious floating meeting hall above the capital, three guild masters from the Top 10 Guilds gathered:
Aegis Vanguard
Dragonflare Dominion
Aurora Nexus
A hologram of the Shard's faint pulse hovered over their table.
"The energy spike is weak but unmistakable," said the Dragonflare Dominion master. "A possible Shard."
Aegis Vanguard's commander folded her arms. "This changes everything."
Aurora Nexus's archmage added, "Prepare scouting teams. No one else can get to it first."
Their gazes hardened.
---
Charles's Home – Midnight's Warning
Back in the Reyes family's small apartment, Midnight sat in front of the window, tail flicking nervously.
He hissed—once.
Twice.
Then three times.
Charles's eyes snapped open.
"What's wrong? Midnight…?"
The cat's fur stood on end, glowing faintly with Charles's passive holy energy.
The system chimed:
[Alert: Minor Rift Distortion Detected]
[Distance: 782 meters]
[Strength: Weak… but growing]
Charles paled.
The system added:
[Shard Resonance Detected]
[One of the First Shard fragments is awakening nearby]
Charles stood slowly.
"…Of course it's near me. Why wouldn't it be?"
Midnight meowed sharply, as if saying:
Get your gear. We're going.
Charles groaned.
"Midnight, I don't have gear! I don't even own a wooden stick!"
The cat's stare said: Not my problem.
---
The Distortion Grows
The ground shook lightly—barely noticeable.
But Midnight felt it.
Charles felt it.
The system felt it.
[Shard Host Candidate Appearing]
[Class: Unawakened]
[Risk Level: Sky-High if Corrupted]
Charles froze.
"A normal person can become a Shard's Host?!"
The system responded:
[Any living being can be chosen.]
[Once chosen, the corruption begins.]
Charles's heart dropped.
This isn't just a monster. It's a person in danger.
The message continued:
[You are the only awakened near the developing corruption.]
[If ignored, the host will lose control within minutes to hours.]
Charles rubbed his temples.
"I'm gonna die one day because of this system…"
Midnight jumped onto Charles's shoulder, claws gripping him lightly—ready.
Charles exhaled deeply.
"Fine. Let's go."
He glanced at his younger brothers.
"Eat dinner and stay inside. Don't open the door."
Charlie blinked. "Where are you going, Kuya?"
Charles smiled gently.
"Just… helping someone."
Midnight meowed in agreement.
Charles stepped out into the night.
The system displayed a compass marker:
[Direction: North-East]
[Approximate Arrival Time: 7 minutes]
Charles whispered under his breath.
"…Here goes nothing."
---
The Unknown Host
Unbeknownst to Charles, a few blocks away, a boy about his age knelt in an alley, coughing violently.
Black cracks spread across his skin.
His eyes flickered red.
The Shard pulsed in his chest like a second heart.
He whispered:
"Help… someone… anyone…"
The Shard whispered back:
"Become mine…"
The boy screamed as his mana twisted.
A premature demon.
A corrupted host.
Charles ran toward the alley, guided by the system.
Midnight hissed on his shoulder, fur shaking with tension.
Charles whispered:
"Hang on. Just hang on."
He didn't know—
This encounter would change his fate forever.
---