As I was getting dressed, I stared at a translucent screen stretched out in front of me.
This screen contained a single message.
[Congratulations!]
[You have completed the main quest "The Path to Power."
Requirements: Acquire knowledge about demons. (completed)
Secondary objective: Gain a good impression from Rias Gremory. (completed)
Rewards: Demon Hunter Kit.]
It still felt strange.
Eighteen years of a normal life, and only after becoming a demon did I awaken a system.
Why now?
However, this wasn't bad—any doubt or frustration would be ignored.
Power was all that would be necessary.
The rest was just useless distractions.
[Would you like to use the Demon Hunter Kit?]
— Use it.
Immediately, the world changed.
An overwhelming darkness swept through the room.
Shadows crawled and seeped into every corner.
For a brief moment, a chill ran through my body as the shadows approached.
But they circled around me and rose toward the heavens.
A starry sky appeared above my head, illuminating the darkness ahead.
An infinite horizon as far as the eye could see.
In less than a second, I was no longer in the same place.
What kind of place had I gotten myself into?
Certainly not my room.
[This is the Void.]
[Here you will receive your rewards, and you may also use it for training.]
'The Void.'
A fitting name.
Only shadows and silence.
While I contemplated the void, a purple glow appeared among the floor's shadows.
Five steps away, like a being from the infernal depths, a chest was expelled outward.
Made of aged wood, with a lock shaped like a skull.
From that skull, horns grew; its mouth was open in a scream full of agony.
Deep grooves ran down its face like tears.
Through the crack of the chest escaped a purple light that illuminated the void.
My heart pounded uncontrollably.
Something resonated within me.
It burned like a furnace inside my chest.
A desire I had never felt before.
A powerful yearning for whatever was inside that object.
The instinct in my body begged to open it and witness what the purple light concealed.
Before I realized it, I was kneeling with my hands on the irresistible object.
With a heart trembling in anticipation, I placed my hands on the chest and forced it upward.
However, it didn't open.
Then I noticed that new letters had appeared on the screen.
[The following items will be obtained:]
* Devil Arm
* Talent
* Consumable item
* Usable item
* Usable item
[The Demon Hunter Kit guarantees one A-rank item.]
[Note: The acquired items are random.]
[Would you like to proceed and open the reward?]
— Just do it already!
I ordered.
Right after, a key appeared in the palm of my hand.
However, I would hardly call that object a key under normal circumstances.
What rested in my hands was a skeletal finger.
I looked at the chest and inserted the key into the screaming mouth.
Traces of blood dripped from the empty eye sockets, and an audible click came from the chest.
The lid opened, and purple light burst toward the heavens.
Something seemed to twist and take shape within the light.
Before I could react, something shot out of it.
As soon as the thing was ejected, the light faded.
A small object fell in front of my feet.
Something small, wrapped in a silver cord.
I felt a certainty grow within me.
That was it.
What my body desired was this object.
My entire being yearned for the cord.
I knelt and gently picked up the silver object.
Silver chains slid through my hand until only a rough bluish stone hung down.
Immediately, a system notification appeared.
[Half of the Perfect Amulet]
[Description: A necklace given by Sparda to his beloved wife; later, she divided it and gave one half to each of their twin sons.]
[Effect: Increases demonic energy recovery.]
[Note: This item can be upgraded by reuniting with its other half.]
[Rank: B]
So this was the necklace given to the twin brothers.
I slid my fingers across the rough blue stone.
I didn't know why I needed this.
However, with the necklace in my hands, a… calm seemed to flow through my body.
As if I had reunited with a part of myself I didn't know was missing.
I gripped the necklace with determination and fastened it around my neck.
With the necklace in its rightful place, an energy began to flow through my body.
Something cold and dark.
That energy started in my heart and spread like a virus.
In seconds, my body was overtaken by a chilling cold.
It was uncomfortable.
However, there was a subtle taste of power in that energy.
My heart began to beat more vigorously.
My muscles filled with energy.
[Effect activated: Demonic energy regeneration.]
I clenched my fists and felt the strength coursing through my body.
So this was demonic energy?
Rias Gremory hadn't lied—indeed, I had gained power.
Momentary discomfort was a small price to pay.
I tried to reach for the demonic energy flowing through my body, but something distracted me.
A light burst from the chest.
However, this time it was golden in tone.
Once again, something twisted within the light and was expelled soon after.
A purple object the size of a head landed in front of my feet.
It writhed as if it were alive.
There was a smiling, mischievous face carved into it.
What was this?
[Purple Orb]
[Description: An orb capable of drawing out the soul's latent potential.]
[Effect: Increases the maximum amount of demonic power.]
[Usage: Crush between your hands.]
[Rank: A]
I rolled the orb between my hands.
I wanted to use it, but instinctively I knew I shouldn't.
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of using the orb.
However, how could I store the object?
[The user may use the mental command 'store.']
[This object will be kept in a separate space-time, ready for use at any moment.]
(— Store.)
I ordered in my mind.
The shadows on the floor stretched and swallowed the purple object in my hands.
To my disappointment, I couldn't observe the interesting process.
Because a light burst again from the chest.
A red, aggressive light.
I felt my heart race even faster.
That light… that intensity.
I could feel it.
The object that would emerge from that light would be formidable.
Could this be my Devil Arm?
Once again, the light spat out the object onto the floor and then dissipated.
With my heart in my hand, I approached and grabbed the object, raising it to eye level.
Obviously, it wasn't a Devil Arm.
It smelled sweet.
In my hands was a small object made of soft fabric.
With elegant, semi-open patterns embroidered on the piece of cloth.
A pair of panties.
I got a pair of panties.
[Lady's Special Panties]
[Description: A refined and elegant piece of lingerie, worn hopefully by a lady.]
[Effect: Smells nice.]
[Usage: Various.]
[Rank: S]
What am I supposed to do with this?