The throne pulsed with blackened veins of magic. Saejin—now the reborn Demon King—stood before a mirror carved from void crystal.
His reflection stared back: horns spiraled like celestial crowns, eyes glowing like twin suns drowning in blood. His body towered, clad in shadows and majesty. A form unfit for mingling among humans.
"So this… is what I've become."
Power leaked from his breath. He couldn't step into the human world like this. The very air around him distorted. He needed to blend in—to move unseen. The world wouldn't recognize him. But they would fear him.
Suddenly, a metallic chime rang inside his head.
[System Notice: Unique Skill Unlocked — Sovereign Shift]
[Effect: Transform into any physical form within the limits of your mana.]
"A shape-shifting ability? Fitting for a Demon King."
With a flick of his wrist, demonic flames coiled around him like silk. His monstrous form shrank, reshaped, refined—until a tall, lean young man stood in the mirror. Silver hair, eyes glowing faint gold. Noble. Handsome. Human.
As he took in his new form, something shimmered near the throne.
A jagged, obsidian shard lay embedded in the stone—almost invisible unless one knew where to look.
He stepped forward, frowning.
[System Notice: Unknown Fragment detected.]
[Name: Fragment of the Unknown | Type: ??? | Origin: Unknown]
[Warning: Data cannot be processed.]
"What is this...?"
A chill ran down his spine. It radiated power—familiar, yet impossible to decipher.
"Could this be… related to the former Demon King's death?"
His mind flashed back to the 999th floor—the terrifying monster he'd faced. Now, realization crept in.
"That wasn't the Demon King… Just a puppet. Then who—what—killed him?"
He pocketed the fragment, eyes sharp. A mystery for later.
"Now… for my court."
He raised his hand, dark sigils spinning into the air like raven feathers.
A tremor shook the Demon Palace.
One by one, portals of sin opened—and out stepped his seven warlords.
The Seven Kings of Sin:
Azelia – Lust: A crimson-haired seductress with charm that bent empires.
"Oh, my king… you look divine in every shape. Care to try another form for me?" she purred, a playful glint in her eye.
Gorath – Gluttony: A hulking beast who devours mana, matter, and even memories.
"Tch… I smelled a feast brewing. Are we eating gods or humans today?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
Velkar – Greed: A golden-masked tactician obsessed with conquest.
"So the throne has returned. And with it… so many kingdoms ripe for taking," he said with a calculating smirk.
Sylvain – Sloth: An icy man in a sleep robe, whose gaze alone seemed to freeze time.
"You summoned us…? I was in the middle of a rather pleasant nap between universes," he muttered lazily, barely opening his eyes.
Maelis – Wrath: A fire-wielding berserker, uncontrollable in battle.
"Finally! Tell me who to burn. I've waited too long," he snarled, flames licking his gauntlets.
Lilith – Envy: A silent assassin who copies others' skills perfectly.
She said nothing—only smirked, her sharp eyes lingering on Saejin's new form with unreadable intent.
Duran – Pride: A noble swordsman who once defied gods with a single swing.
"My King," he spoke first, kneeling with sharp grace. "The underworld awaits your command."
"We're going back," Saejin said, voice low but resolute. "To the human world."
Shock flickered among the sins.
"But… your majesty, your power—" Azelia began.
"I will reign there. But first, I must re-enter it unseen. There is a dungeon gate... the one that leads back to Earth."
The warlords nodded, but none followed. Their king had chosen to walk alone—for now.
In the southern wastelands of the demon realm…
A massive black gate pulsed—one that connected to Earth through an unstable dungeon. Saejin stepped toward it, his magic cloaked, his form refined.
But something unexpected.
"...A human presence?"
Inside the dungeon, chaos.
A team of six human hunters—bloody, cornered—faced a rampaging hellbeast far beyond their rank.
The girl in the lead stood protectively over her injured squad.
Long black hair flowed behind her like silk in war. Her golden eyes, sharp yet kind, locked on the beast. Her aura was elegant yet powerful, unlike any hunter Saejin had seen in his past life.
She raised her blade—cracked, shaking, but unyielding.
"I'll hold it off. Run!"
But the beast lunged—
Until time froze.
A flash of silver crossed the battlefield.
When the hunters blinked, the monster's head hit the ground—cleanly sliced. The girl gasped, eyes wide.
"Who… are you?"
Saejin met her eyes calmly, lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Call me Kael," he said. "Kael Arkanis."
He turned away, stepping into the dark beyond the dungeon's portal.
"Names don't matter," he added over his shoulder. "Not to someone who'll rule the world."
To be continued…