Ren opened his eyes. His head hurt, but not from the flower pot this time. He was kneeling on a cold stone floor. His hands were bound in glowing golden chains.
He looked down. White robes, long silver hair, and a very distinct lack of... chest muscles. Yep, he was a guy, but a pretty one.
System, status report, Ren thought.
[DING! You are currently in the Holy Temple. The High Priest is about to sacrifice you to the Demon King Malphas to 'appease' him. In the original story, you get thrown into the Demon Realm, seal the King, and die. Your stats: Weak body, Max Holy Power.]
"Great. I'm a battery," Ren muttered.
The High Priest, a greasy old man with a fancy hat, stepped forward. He held a dagger.
"The Demon King approaches!" the Priest shouted to the crowd. "We must offer the Saint to satisfy his hunger!"
Ren rolled his eyes. "Hey, old man."
The Priest froze. The Saint was supposed to be silent and pure. "Silence, sacrifice!"
"Look," Ren said, his voice clear and echoing in the hall. "If you throw me down there, he's just going to get annoyed. I'm skin and bones. You really think a Demon King eats salad?"
The crowd gasped.
[Host, what are you doing? The script says you cry and beg!]
"Scripts are boring," Ren whispered back.
Suddenly, the temple doors exploded. BOOM!
Black smoke filled the room. Shadows twisted and formed into tall, muscular figures. In the center stood a man—no, a monster. He had long black horns, skin pale as death, and eyes red like blood. He was shirtless, showing off a chest that could grind stone.
Demon King Malphas.
He walked forward, the air turning freezing cold. The High Priest started shaking.
"O-Oh Great King... we bring you an offering!"
Malphas looked at the Priest with disgust. "I asked for the Dragon Stone. You bring me... a boy?"
He gripped the Priest's neck. SNAP.
The Priest fell dead. The crowd screamed and ran.
Ren stayed kneeling, looking at the Demon King with zero fear. He analyzed the situation. Strong, arrogant, clearly has anger issues. A classic tsundere villain.
Malphas turned his gaze to Ren. He expected the boy to scream.
Ren smiled. It wasn't a nice smile. It was a smirk.
"Nice entrance," Ren said. "Very dramatic. 8 out of 10."
Malphas narrowed his red eyes. He walked over, his heavy boots clacking on the stone. He grabbed Ren's chin, forcing his head up.
"You are not afraid, Saint?" Malphas's voice was a growl.
"Why should I be?" Ren shrugged, rattling his chains. "You killed the idiot who kidnapped me. Thanks for that. By the way, do you have the key? These chains are chafing my wrists."
Malphas was stunned. He had met thousands of humans. They all cried. They all prayed. This one was... criticizing his dungeon decor?
[Host! His Dark Energy Level is rising! He might kill you!]
Shh, System. Watch the master work.
"You are strange," Malphas muttered. He snapped his fingers. The chains broke.
Ren rubbed his wrists and stood up. He wobbled a bit. The body was weak. "Yeah, well, you're the Demon King. I expected you to be taller."
[HOST! NO!]
Malphas blinked. Then, a dark, chilling laugh escaped his throat. "Hahaha... You have a death wish, little Saint."
"Ren," he corrected. "My name is Ren. Not 'little Saint'."
Malphas leaned down, his face inches from Ren's. His hot breath smelled of ash. "Fine, Ren. You amuse me. I won't kill you today. You will come with me to the Demon Realm. You will be my... jester."
"Jester?" Ren scoffed. "I can cook. I can clean. But I don't do funny dances. Also, I need a soft bed. My back is sensitive."
Malphas grabbed Ren by the waist and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Whatever you say, Saint. Try to escape, and I eat your heart."
"Put me down! I can walk! This is undignified!" Ren kicked his legs, but he was too weak to do damage.
As they walked into the dark portal, Ren thought, This might be easier than I thought. He's touchy-feely for a villain.
[Mission Update: Survive the first night. Difficulty increased.]