"Man... I really need to stop overworking," I muttered, pausing at the crossing. My body ached, my vision blurring at the edges. Another all-nighter. Another project finished just to be handed another.
The traffic light glared red—a bloody eye in the dark. I closed my own, savoring the brief break.
"Finally... a break."
A sharp BEEP sliced through the silence.
Too drained to care, I stepped forward—
—And the world exploded in light.
My eyes flew open. A truck's headlights swallowed the street, its horn screaming. I jerked toward the signal.
Red.
'No—that's impossible!'
Time crawled. The screech of tires. The stench of burning rubber. My last thought wasn't fear, but something darker.
"This... isn't how I die."
Then—impact.
Darkness.
And then... laughter.
Blood pooled beneath me.
I skidded across the pavement, my body a broken mess. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth as I weakly touched my head—my fingers came away crimson.
'Guess this is it... No saving me now.'
My vision blurred as blood trickled into my eyes. The truck that hit me paused for just a second... then sped off, tires screeching.
'That bastard... left me to die.'
Blood filled my mouth. A bitter laugh bubbled up, but all that escaped was a wet, rattling cough.
'Pathetic. I never created anything. Never mattered.'
<
'Huh...?' My fading mind struggled to process it. Was this a hallucination? A final joke from my dying brain?
'I never even asked out that girl... Dying a Great Sage.* How fitting.'*
<
Then—another thought, weaker this time.
'...Didn't even finish reading about Azathoth.'
<
<
<
<<...Successful.>>
'...Never even visited my parents back in the US.'
<
A choked, gurgling laugh escaped me.
'Hah... I'm... the worst son... ever...'
Then Darkness swallowed me whole.
Then—light.
My eyes snapped open. A figure stood before me, radiating an aura of unfathomable power. Violet hair golden eyes and a presence that made the air itself tremble.
'What...? I'm not dead? Where the hell is this?'
I scrambled to my feet, scanning my surroundings. A vast cavern.
'Kidnapped? No... this isn't Earth. And that guy's outfit—what is this, a fantasy cosplay?'
The man smiled, his voice calm.
"Please, do not be afraid."
I forced my voice steady. "Who are you, if I may ask?"
'Play it cool. If this is a kidnapping, I need info.'
"I am Veldanava. A True Dragon."
My blood ran cold.
'Veldanava...? That name—no way. True Dragon? That's from Tensei Slime.'
A nervous laugh almost escaped me. 'Am I hallucinating? Did I hit my head too hard?'
I swallowed hard. "So... to what do I owe the pleasure, Sir Veldanava?"
'Stay polite. If this is the creator of the universe, pissing him off is a bad idea.'
Veldanava tilted his head, studying me with something like amusement.
"I am here to see how the Demon Progenitor is doing. You were asleep for quite some time."
'Demon Progenitor...? Me? But in Tensei Slime, the first demons were the Primordials. Unless...'
My mind raced. 'Does that mean I'm Something before them?'
I forced a smile. "I'm... good. How are you?"
'Internal screaming intensifies.'
Veldanava chuckled. "I am quite well, thank you for asking."
I hesitated, then dared to press further. "So... when you said 'Demon Progenitor,' you're referring to... me?"
"Yes." His eyes gleamed with pride. "You are the first of your kind. I must say, you are far more well-mannered than I envisioned."
'Wait, does that mean he created me? Or did I just wake up here?'
I glanced down at myself—no blood, no injuries. My body felt... different. Stronger. Lighter.
'If I'm the Demon Progenitor... what does that make me to the Primordials? Their creator?'
Veldanava's voice snapped me back.
"Come. There is much to discuss."
With a wave of his hand, Veldanava conjured two ornate chairs and gestured for me to sit.
I swallowed hard but obliged, lowering myself onto the seat across from him.
"So... what exactly do you want to tell me?" I asked, a cold sweat trickling down my forehead.
Veldanava leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming with something between pride and curiosity.
"You are the first of your kind. And by releasing your aura... you can create life."
I blinked. "Create life?"
"Yes." He nodded. "Your presence alone will spawn demons into existence. The stronger your aura, the more will emerge."
'Like a damn demon factory.'
"So, other demons will just... pop up?" I frowned. "Will they be like babies? Or—"
"Some will be small. Some big. Some will be powerful. But all will be born with ego, ambition... and aggression."
I let out a dry chuckle. "Well, at least I won't have to babysit them."
"No," Veldanava agreed, amused. "But do not mistake their independence for mindlessness. They will be cunning. Ambitious."
'Great. So I'm Satan.'
"I see... Good to know," I muttered.
Veldanava's grin widened. "You're taking this remarkably well. I expected more panic."
I smirked, despite the storm of questions in my head. "Ha. Guess I'm just built different."
He laughed. "Indeed. And that is why I have high hopes for you."
"Well, I believe I've said everything you need to know for now. I'll be going back."
Before I could even form a response, Veldanava rose from his chair and gave me a casual wave. In a shimmer of light, he simply... vanished.
"Haaaaaaah..." I exhaled so hard my entire body slumped into the chair, melting like a deflated balloon. 'I just had a chat with the creator of the friggin' universe. What even is my life—wait, is this technically my second life now?'
After what felt like an eternity of existential crisis, I forced myself upright. 'Okay. Okay. Get it together. You're the friggin' Demon Progenitor now. Act like it.'
With renewed determination, I raised both hands and—
SMACK!
The twin cheek-slaps echoed like gunshots. My head snapped sideways with such force I actually saw stars, swirling in my vision. The impact sent me staggering three steps back before I collapsed onto the floor.
"Gah! What the hell—!" I groaned, clutching my now-throbbing face. 'Note to self: Supernatural demon strength is no joke. Nearly decapitated myself with a motivational slap.'
As I lay there staring at the ceiling, a hysterical laugh bubbled up. 'This is my life now. Not even five minutes as the progenitor of all demons and I've already almost killed myself. Some all-powerful being I turned out to be.'
"Wait... if this is the Tensei Slime world, does that mean I have skills?"
I frowned, trying to remember how Rimuru checked his abilities. 'Do I just... think about it?'
<
A robotic voice echoed in my skull.
<<- Ultimate Skill [Creation Lord Ahura Mazda]
<<- Unique Skill [Great Sage]
<< Ultimate Skill [Void God Azathoth]
<<- Unique Skill [Visitor]>>
"Holy shit.'"My breath hitched. 'I actually got them all—wait, why does this feel like reading a broken OP RPG character sheet?'
But the voice wasn't done.
<
<<- Ultimate Skill [Hell King Satan]
<<- Ultimate Skill [Death God Thanatos]
<<- Unique Skill [Demon Lord's Haki]>>
My legs gave out. I hit the cave floor hard, hands shaking. 'What the actual fuck. This isn't just strong—this is break the world levels of busted.'
<
"SEVEN MILLION—?!" I choked out. 'That's—that's Milim-level and I'm not even trying!'
Then, worse:
<
A crack split the cave wall. Something black and liquid began oozing out.
'Oh. Oh no.'
<
I was gonna need a lot more self-control.
The black ooze twisted upward, coagulating into a towering figure wreathed in crimson flames. It—no, he—knelt, his voice a velvet snarl.
"My Progenitor."
'Rouge?!' My mind raced. 'That's Guy Crimson's original name! The hell is his proto-form doing here?'
Before I could react, the cave's shadows ripped open. A second demon oozed forth—this one pure darkness given form, with eyes like smoldering coals.
"Tch. Beat me by three seconds, flame-brain."
Rouge's fire flared. "Silence. Our Creator deserves respect."*
'Noir?! As in—Diablo?!' My fingers dug into my palms. 'I spawned the two most dangerous bastards in the underworld.'
Noir slithered closer, his grin dripping with mock reverence. "Mmm~ What an honor. To think the Progenitor would—"
CRACK.
Rouge's fist sent Noir crashing through solid stone. "KNEL."
From the rubble, Noir's laughter rang out, unnervingly cheerful. "Ahaha! Such passion! But Progenitor—"
"Silence."
My voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. Both demons froze as if gravity itself had shifted.
'Great Sage. My aura—we need to contain it before more of these disasters spawn.'
<
'Do it.'
Power coiled inward like a collapsing star. My demonic signature faded until I looked—felt—human. Completely ordinary.
Noir's eyes widened. "You... hide your glory?"
Rouge growled. "Our Lord need not explain—"
"Names." I cut him off. "Do you have them?"*
Noir bowed deeply. "We are but shadows awaiting your light, Progenitor."
'Right. Blank slates.' I took a steadying breath. 'Great Sage—keep the magicule drain at 1% max.'
<
I raised my hand. "As firstborn, you shall be Rouge." Crimson flames wreathed the kneeling demon. "And you—Noir." Darkness swallowed the smirking secondborn.
Their bodies twisted—bones cracking, forms stretching—as primordial energy remade them. When the cocoons shattered, two men in their prime stood before me:
Rouge, now broad-shouldered with hair like liquid fire, his presence simmering with restrained violence.
Noir, lean and sharp-suited, his smile now edged with genuine awe rather than mockery.
Noir's fingers lingered over his chest where his True Name burned. "To think mere words could rewrite one's very essence... Magnificent." His crimson eyes glowed with unsettling fervor.
Rouge remained kneeling, his fist clenched so tightly over his heart that flames leaked between his fingers. "Command us, Progenitor. Let us prove our worth."
The cave walls groaned under the weight of their concentrated magicules. I barely heard Great Sage's warning through the static in my skull.
Noir tilted his head. "What is your order, my Lord?" The question dripped with barely-contained hunger.
'Shit. They're like overclocked weapons waiting for a target.' I schooled my face into icy calm.
"You have free will. Do as you please—so long as it doesn't interfere with me."
The temperature plummeted. Rouge's flames guttered out.
"Does... my Lord wish to discard us already?" His voice cracked like burning timber.
'Christ, they're like demonic golden retrievers.' I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No. There will come a time when I require your strength. Until then—"
Noir suddenly laughed, the sound like shattering glass. "Ah! A test! You wish to see what paths we choose without guidance!" He spun toward Rouge, grin widening. "Shall we build our Lord a kingdom? Conquer the underworld? Burn the—"
"No wars." My shadow stretched unnaturally long, swallowing Noir's manic energy. "Observe. Learn. And when I call..." I let my power whisper through my teeth. "...come running."
Both Primordials shuddered in perfect unison.
As they lef, I finally exhaled.
'God. I just created two apocalyptic toddlers with abandonment issues.'
I cracked my knuckles. "Alright, Great Sage. Teach me magic without getting vaporized."
<
'Right. So... gentle taps.' I held out my palm, imagining a tiny flame.
FWOOOSH
A pillar of fire erupted through the cave ceiling.
<
"Shit! Rain! Make it rain!" I flailed, imagining water.
The sky tore open. I dumped enough water to drown a city.
Noir's voice echoed from somewhere in the underworld: "My Lord's weather magic is... enthusiastic."
time skip 1 month
The Underworld had become my personal training ground—or more accurately, my personal disaster zone.
I stood at the edge of a massive crater, arms crossed, staring at the aftermath of yet another failed experiment.
'Well. At least I didn't accidentally open a portal to the abyss this time.'
Progress Report:
[Visitor] – Mastered.
Teleportation was now second nature. Think of a place, and poof—I was there. No more accidentally phasing into walls or materializing upside-down.
[Demon Lord's Haki] – Mastered.
Lesser demons now dropped to their knees the moment I so much as glanced in their direction.
But the Ultimate Skills?
'Yeah... those are a problem.'
I sighed, rubbing my temples. [Creation Lord Ahura Mazda] was the only one I could use without risking destruction of the Underworld—and even then, my "creations" had a habit of developing personalities.
'Who knew making a simple sword would result in it screaming insults at me?'
[Void God Azathoth], on the other hand, was a walking catastrophe.
And [Hell King Satan]?
'Let's not even go there.'
I kicked a pebble into the abyss below, watching it vanish into the darkness.
'Great Sage, remind me again why I thought becoming the Demon Progenitor was a good idea?'
<
'...Fair.'