The wind felt fresh, and the sunlight made his body feel warm as he lay on a patch of grass near a tree, his head beside him. It was nice… and quiet. Tres's body got up as it picked his head up. He thought, It's been two days since I came into this world through the Demonic Portal. And… it seems like a normal world. Quite a beautiful one at that. He looked ahead, at the beautiful landscape with a big city in the distance.
Luke… I'm sorry, Tres said as he opened the system. I'll remember you, my friend.
---
Rift Emporium:
Enhance System: (Unlocked)
Enhance Replication System: 300,000
You currently have 1,136,003 points.
---
"I got an additional 100k points? Is it because I became an Archdemon overnight? Then should I assume that the points system is based on achievements? The greater the achievement, the more the points?"
"Well, whatever. Enhance Replication System."
He tapped his fingers on it as a message popped up.
---
Your system grows in power. You can now copy two systems at a time.
1. Demonic System
2. –Empty–
---
"Two systems? So that's what it is. My Replication System doesn't count itself as a system… that's nice. Well, whatever. Currently, I need to figure this place out."
Tres's body placed his own head above his neck and let go.
"Oh yeah, that's better." Tres looked ahead as he clenched his fist—and it worked. He moved a step forward as his head slipped.
"AHHH WH—" His body caught the head as Tres said, "Wait… does this mean I can't reattach my head?! I DON'T WANNA BE A HEAD AWAY FROM MY BODY!" he screamed as loud as he could. Birds in the distance got startled.
…
He reached the city that was in the distance, moving slowly while holding his head. Passersby entering the town glanced at him. Tres got into the line, still holding his head. As he reached the entrance, the guard stopped him.
"Wait. Give us your ID."
"ID?" Tres said, using both hands to hold his head. "Uh… I lost it?"
The guards weren't buying it.
"Sir, I'm going to need you to step away for a second. Please come with m—"
"He is with me."
A girl with pale-colored hair wearing a hoodie walked forward. She showed her ID as she said, "This person is with me."
Tres looked behind at the girl as she winked at him. The guard looked at her.
"Oh? Lady Runa?"
The people in line began muttering excitedly as they heard the name. The girl removed her hoodie and smiled.
"Yes. This person is with me."
"Oh—OK." The guards stepped back as Runa grabbed Tres and pulled him inside with a smile. Tres turned slightly as she noticed him looking at her, and she smiled.
Who the fuck is she? Tres thought. "Uhh… who are you?"
The girl smiled. "I am Runa. Also, why are you holding your head with both hands?"
"Just a habit," Tres said. "Also, I figured out that you're someone called Runa. I meant—why did you help me?"
"Oh? Aren't you a researcher from the Demonic Guild?"
Tres tensed up as he nodded. "Ah… yes. I am."
Runa walked as she said, "Still, it's forbidden for researchers to enter the portal. But you must have feared for your life, so I don't blame you."
"Are you the same?" Tres asked.
Runa shook her head. "I was sent here to investigate. The person you were running from—the faker who ate the Tier 6 fragment. I don't think you know, but right after you entered the portal, he must have as well. We saw the door broken."
Tres tensed as she felt it. She said, "Don't worry. You were lucky not to run into him."
Tres smiled awkwardly as he thought, Ah fuck… she's investigating me without knowing it…
"So did you get a Demonic System? You must have since you entered the portal. Everyone who enters gets one. I got mine nine months ago."
"Ah yes… I have a skill… detect hostility or something. And something called weak soul punch."
Runa laughed. "Of course, everyone starts weak."
Tres nodded, remembering the skills he first got from copying the Demonic System. Tres saw she was leading him and asked:
"Uhm… excuse me, where are we going?"
Runa looked at him. "Oh, you might not know, but we have a base of operations here." The two stopped as she pointed to the big building. "This is ours."
The building seemed luxurious compared to the small medieval houses nearby.
Tres sweated. I'm going right where they have the most employees… Should I make a run? No… If she was sent here to investigate me after they knew I, a Tier 6 Archdemon, killed their Branch Sovereign, they wouldn't have sent someone weak… I should stay alert.
The two entered the building. It seemed like a normal mansion. The servants greeted Runa as she said:
"Can you take him to a room?"
The servants nodded. Tres looked at Runa, who said:
"Take a rest. I have some work." She waved as she walked away.
She was surprisingly nice… Tres thought. Wait… I didn't tell her my name… Well… luckily I didn't. He followed the servant who took him upstairs.
In the hallway, there was someone buff standing and talking to two other people. As Tres saw the back, he felt something familiar. The buff man turned as Tres's eyes widened.
"LUKE?!"
"TRASH?! I MEAN—TRES!!!" Luke ran up to Tres as he hugged him. Tres almost let go of his head but stopped himself.
"Luke, what the hell? I thought they ki—" He stopped as he noticed the other two whispering. "I thought they killed you?"
Luke, realizing why Tres whispered, told the servant, "You can go. This is my friend. He'll sleep in my room."
Luke quickly pulled Tres into the room and locked the door. He turned.
"Dude, I have a lot to tell you. First of all… hey, why are you holding your head?"
Tres looked at Luke. "Uh… no reason?"
Luke walked up to him and pulled Tres's hand away.
Tres panicked, but it was too late.
"Funny, you look stupid rig— AHHHHGHGGFHHHH!"
Luke screamed in a high pitch as Tres's head fell to the ground. His body quickly picked up his own head.
"DON'T SCREAM! I CAN EXPLAIN!"
Luke continued screaming. "How are you HEADLESS?!"
"STOP SHOUTING! LET ME EXPLAIN!"
…
"So yea… I ate the Tier 6 fragment thinking it was yours and… well, the Branch Sovereign came, cut my head using a curse, and I became strong, and well… I uhh… can't put my head back…"
Luke stared in disbelief. "Wow… I mean, I had to tell you a lot, but yours is crazier than mine… But okay, let's start with—ARE you crazy?! You tricked everyone?! And then you ate a fragment stone that you thought was mine?!"
"I wanted to make sure they didn't use you."
"So you wanted to use me," Luke said.
Tres nervously responded, "Not my intention. But I'm glad you're alive…" He smiled.
Luke smirked. "Well, yeah, of course. But they actually told me to go through the portal when you went to give the exam, and told me to wait here for orders."
"Orders? They didn't specify?" Tres asked.
Luke shook his head. "Not at all…"
Luke looked at the corner of the room, where the headless body was basking in sunlight next to the window. He whispered to Tres:
"So are you two different guys now?"
"Nope." Tres moved the head in front of Luke. "That's my body, and I wanted a sunbathe. I can still control it." The body waved at Luke. "See? But still, I can't reattach it… and I need to find a way fast…"
Luke stared. "I think I have an idea." He went to the drawer and pulled out a sewing kit.
"Hey… Luke, are you planning on stitching it together?"
"You got any better ideas?" Luke said. "You can't get caught here. There are crazy strong guys here."
"Should you be speaking so loudly?"
"It's soundproof."
Luke grabbed the head as Tres sighed, his body lying on the bed as Luke started sewing his head back.
…
"Not bad." Tres smiled at the mirror, looking at the stitching mark on his neck. Other than that, his head was perfectly intact.
Luke sighed. "I had to sew multiple times to keep it tight so your head doesn't fall…"
Tres smiled. "Thanks."
"No problem." Luke then asked, "Hey… can you actually remove the parasite?"
Tres looked down. "Not yet… But I'll figure it out."
"Oh, sure. Don't worry, I was just asking," Luke said.
Tres walked away. "I have some work I need to take care of."
As Tres reached the door, Luke said, "Hey, dude…"
Tres turned.
"Thanks for giving me a chance."
Tres smiled as he exited the room, leaving Luke inside. He sighed.
"Now then…"
Tres walked downstairs and exited the building. He turned his head up toward the sky.
"You can stop looking at me, Patricia Carmel."
"Huh?!"
Patricia opened her eyes as she fell to the floor. The church priests rushed to her.
"Saintess Patricia! What happened?!"
Patricia was still trembling. "H-how did he know…?" She looked up at the Archbishop. "Call the Cardinal and send a squad to Morshine City!"
The Archbishop looked concerned. "Was it the Archdemon you were staring at?"
Patricia nodded. "Yes… I felt the presence a day ago. Something quite disturbing. So I started looking into the source… It's a person… But I couldn't see his face… I only heard him…"
"What was he talking about?" the Archbishop asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing important… But he went inside a room and I couldn't hear anything. It's as if something was sitting beside the window and blocking my hearing… It's a powerful Archdemon. We need to exorcise it immediately, Archbishop! It knows my name!"
The Archbishop turned to the priests.
"You heard her. Get to work! Prepare an elite force to exorcise the Archdemon!"
Patricia sat in fear, holding her chest as she clasped her hands.
"Oh dear God Axalia… Please keep everyone in this continent safe… from the demon that has appeared."