A heavy silence hung in the alleyway, broken only by Damons' uneven breathing. He was alone, huddled in the shadows, staring at the black screen suspended in front of him. This strange interface, almost alive, seemed to absorb his thoughts, his doubts, his fears.
Each violet symbol dancing on it shone like a fragment of truth. And in that calm darkness.
Damons straightened slightly, still out of breath.
"The demons are probably more suited for this role. So why me? Why a human?"
There was no anger in his voice, just raw, almost painful confusion.
The AI replied without hesitation:
"A long time ago, the former Demon King had a vision. A prophecy. He saw that his successor would not be a demon… but a being of different blood. Someone capable of breaking the chains of the old world."
Damons frowned. He felt that every word carried immense weight. But the questions kept flooding his mind, and he couldn't hold them back.
"How did the former Demon King die? What are these chains? And what is this 'Old World' you're talking about?"
Silence fell. A long silence. Suffocating. As if the system itself hesitated to answer. Then finally, the voice resumed, deeper, slower.
[DEMONIC SYSTEM]
"The death of the former Demon King was not a simple end."
"He was not defeated… he was judged."
"By something… or someone… even demons fear."
Damons felt a shiver run through him. The kind of truth one would rather never uncover.
"Judged by who?!"
UNABLE TO CONFIRM – INSUFFICIENT AUTHORIZATION LEVEL. the system simply replied.
He clenched his teeth, frustrated, but tried to stay calm. This wasn't the time to lose control.
"So… what can you tell me? I'm not trying to know everything. Just enough… to not walk completely blind."
The AI seemed to appreciate the maturity of the request. It responded with an almost benevolent neutrality.
"Before vanishing, he created seven systems. Seven demonic intelligences like me. Each one tasked with choosing a candidate. But none of these candidates were to be demons."
Damons thought aloud, trying to piece it all together.
"And… what about humans?" he asked, uncertain.
"Humans had never been chosen. Until you. The six other chosen ones are non-human beings. Some hybrids. Others from forgotten races. But all… are powerful, experienced, and already advancing toward the Throne."
The words hit Damons hard. He took a deep breath, but it wasn't enough to ease the pressure in his chest. His fists clenched.
"And me? I'm supposed to fight them? With what? My love handles?"
At that very moment, a soft sound echoed.
DRING
[CANDIDATE STATUS: LEVEL 1 – NO ACTIVE SPELL – NO AWAKENED ATTRIBUTE]
The AI, unshaken, responded calmly, as if everything had long been planned.
"The competition for the throne doesn't begin with battles. It is based on trials. The Monarch Quests. Each quest tests an essential quality to rule: courage, cunning, loyalty, power, strategy…"
Damons listened closely, but his mind was already bracing for the worst-case scenarios.
"And if I fail?"
"Then you receive no reward. Nothing more. Failure doesn't eliminate. It delays. And in this race… every delay could cost you the crown, and they will most likely kill you to eliminate any risk."
The words dropped like a sentence.
There would be no second chance.
No safety.
No respite.