A wave of relief washed over Dante as Marzanna sealed their meeting with a gleeful smile. ''Now go, Dante Ashbourne, and embrace your new life. The wronged hero, reborn as my Death Monarch.''
In an instant, darkness engulfed him. A sensation of falling gripped his senses, only for him to crash onto solid ground. The air hummed with the rustle of bushes and the gentle sway of trees. Dante's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a dim, overcast sky smeared with shades of grey. Above him, a dense canopy of dark green foliage loomed, its tangled branches swaying gently in the humid air.
As he pushed himself upright, a sharp stiffness radiated through his limbs, each muscle groaning in protest. Confusion gripped him until he took in his surroundings. Towering trees, thick underbrush, and the distant cries of unseen creatures filled his senses. The realization struck him like a thunderclap; he was in a jungle.
Not just any jungle, but one teeming with shadows and secrets. His breath hitched, and his eyes widened with a mixture of awe, confusion, and growing dread. ''Did she put me in the infamous Dark Jungle?'' he muttered under his breath, the name alone sending a chill down his spine despite the heavy humidity clinging to the air.
With a groan, Dante rose to his feet, joints stiff and body sore as if he'd been unconscious for hours, maybe days. His eyes swept over the dense foliage, the looming trees draped in vines, and the mist that clung low to the ground like a warning. As he took it all in, a soft pattering began above, but most of it was being blocked out by the canopy. Then, within seconds, rain poured down in cold sheets.
He let out a frustrated grumble, wiping water from his brow. It was only then he became fully aware of his attire, basic adventurer's armor, scuffed and worn, hugged his frame beneath a damp, hooded cloak. Nothing about it was luxurious or customized. Dante knew it was the kind of gear given to those who weren't expected to return. With a sigh, he checked his status, as he didn't check everything when talking to the Death Goddess.
[Name: Dante Ashbourne]
[Class: Death Monarch]
[Level: 0]
[Experience: 0/10,000]
[Rank: F]
[MP: 4]
[HP: 1]
[STR: 1]
[DEX: 1]
[INT: 1]
[CHA: 1]
[DP: 0]
[Skills: SSS: Arise SS: Death Blast (0)]
When Dante saw his status, he checked the information the system had on his skills.
[SSS: Arise - Allows the Death Monarch to resurrect a target to become your underling at the cost of MP]
[SS: Death Blast - Create a deadly beam that destroys any living thing it touches - Gets stronger when levelled up]
His eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively thrust his hand toward a nearby tree, the words echoing in his mind. 'Death Blast.'
A strange sensation surged through him. A black beam formed in his palm, pulsing due to the dark energy, then launched forward with blinding speed, shocking him. It struck the tree, engulfing it in shadow. The bark withered, turned black, and with a splintering crack, the tree collapsed to the ground. Dante was shocked as he looked at his hand, mumbling. ''I hardly used magic in my last life, I preferred the sword, but this is something different, something better.''
Just then, two notifications blinked into view, startling him. But the initial shock quickly gave way to a deep frown; the messages carried an ominous weight.
[Mana: 4>3]
[System Quest: Survive the night in the Dark jungle - Reward: 5 Death Points + Survival Equipment]
His jaw dropped when darkness covered the land, causing his heart to drop as he scanned his surroundings. Dante spotted a tree hollow not far from him and rushed toward it as the howls started. Moments later, he skidded into the shadows just as the ground started to shake thanks to an incoming horde of monsters. He hid among the roots as dozens of Giant Jungle Wolves appeared from the underbrush.
Their aura sent a chill down his spine. As D-Rank creatures, they radiated power far beyond his own. Dante knew he stood no chance without ranking up first. Frustration boiled within him. 'Why did I have to end up as F-Rank? The lowest of the low... But at least I can level up, something no one else can do.'
He continued to watch the monsters until they passed on, prompting him to sigh in relief. Afterward, he settled down in the dark and damp hollow. He let out a yawn before curling up and falling asleep. At dawn, a sharp notification jolted Dante awake. He bolted upright, shaking his head as he read it.
[Quest Complete: 5 Death Points + Survival Equipment]
Moments later, a small bag, a knife, and a heavy cloak thudded at Dante's feet. Stunned, he draped the cloak over his shoulders, warding off the biting cold, and gazed in awe at the points he'd earned. Following that, he decided to upgrade his status, allocating two points to Strength and the other three to Mana. Once that was done, a strange feeling washed over him as he felt a tiny bit stronger, prompting him to check his status.
[Name: Dante Ashbourne]
[Class: Death Monarch]
[Level: 0]
[Experience: 0/10,000]
[Rank: F]
[MP: 4>7]
[HP: 1]
[STR: 1>3]
[DEX: 1]
[INT: 1]
[CHA: 1]
[DP: 0]
[Skills: SSS: Arise (0) SS: Death Blast (0)]
'Oh, so I get one attribute per Death Point,' he mused excitedly. 'Atleast it isn't over the top like in some novels I've read.'
Dante rose, stretching his stiff limbs as his stomach rumbled. He rummaged through the small bag, finding only a chunk of bread. Surprised but grateful, he tore into it, glancing outside to see nothing but darkness. Ten minutes later, he stepped out, the icy air biting his skin as branches swayed overhead in the gusting wind. Shaking his head, he started walking, hoping to warm up and find a settlement.
''If I recall, beyond Eldoria, this world mirrors The Witcher's, wild and thrilling,'' he mumbled, pushing through the dense underbrush.
After that, Dante trekked through the tangled jungle, sweat beading on his brow as he navigated the dense undergrowth. The air was thick, alive with the chirps of unseen creatures and the rustle of leaves. Hours dragged on, each step heavier than the last, until he stumbled into a sunlit clearing, the sudden openness a stark relief. He took a moment to catch his breath, wiping his face on the edge of his cloak.
As he passed a gnarled tree at the clearing's edge, a sharp thunk shattered the silence. An arrow quivered in the trunk, inches from his head, its fletching still trembling. Just then, he froze, heart pounding, eyes darting to the shadows for the unseen archer.
[System Quest: Kill the F Rank Goblin Ambushers - Reward: 2 Death Points + New Skill]
''Goblins! Fuck!'' he muttered in frustration.
Several of the little green humanoids appeared around him, making him gulp as he reached for his sword at his waist, only to swipe air as he remembered that was two hundred years ago. In a heartbeat, a snarling Goblin lunged, its crude spear thrusting toward his thigh. Just then, a surge of instinct, Dante leaped back while channeling his new powers. Seconds later, he unleashed a Death Blast, a torrent of dark energy that roared from his hand.
The blast slammed into the creature's chest, its wretched form disintegrating in a blinding flash, reduced to ash within moments as the jungle quaked in awe.
[F Rank Goblin - 50 Experience]
Dante's heart raced as he scanned the clearing; six more were creeping around him, their beady little eyes glinting. Yet, a feral grin split his face, adrenaline surging as he charged into their midst. The creatures yelped in fear as they never expected to run into a crazy human. One Goblin sprang forward, its jagged blade slashing at him, but he sidestepped. In a flash, he drove his knife into the creature's skull, the blade sinking deep with a sickening crunch.
[F Rank Goblin - 50 Experience]
Dante carved through the goblins, his blade and will unyielding, until only one remained. The creature cowered, its eyes wide, fueling his exhilaration to a fever pitch. He moved like a predator; he closed the distance, his hand crackling thanks to his mana. A Death Blast erupted from his palm, engulfing the Goblin in a searing maelstrom that reduced it to ashes in a triumphant roar of power.
[MP: 7>4]
[5 F Rank Goblins - 250 Experience]
[Quest Complete: 2 Death Points + New Skill: SSS: Death's Domain]
'Death's Domain?' The words thundered in his mind, a legend from a bygone era when powerful mages created their realms. 'That was centuries before we were summoned to this forsaken world.'
That's when he pulled up the skills information thanks to being curious.
[Death's Domain: A shadowed realm where your undead minions dwell, each housed on distinct floors alongside their lesser kin. As this skill grows, new floors can be unlocked, each customizable with landscapes suited to your dark creations]
'This will come in handy,' he mused excitedly. 'Now let's move on.'