The sky was an intimidating shade of red. Red so dark it almost looked like a sea of blood.
However, the sky was not this way because of the sun, which burned like a molten ruby above.
The sky was like this because… it had always been this way.
Since the dawn of their time.
A blood-red sky and a sun to match, decorated with faint white clouds that made the whole scenery look like art. To humans, it would seem apocalyptic. But to the demons, it was beautiful.
Their perfect world.
A much younger, highly energetic Selora stood barefoot on the lawn, clutching a practice blade in her hands.
She looked up at her father, panting as she anticipated his next strike.
"You're learning fast." He commented as he demonstrated a clean arc with his mana blade, and Selora smirked.
"I have an amazing teacher." She replied as she copied his move, and he smirked.
He was about to charge at her again, but stopped when he noticed that her attention was once again diverted.
Her eyes, for the umpteenth time, had wandered to the steady stream of demons marching past the lawn.
A crowd of creatures of all kinds that looked like dark water flowing through their crimson-tinted world.
"Pa, where are they all going?" Selora asked, finally, as she stood up straight, and her father let out a breath.
His mana blade vanished into thin air as he stood beside her. He wrapped an arm over her shoulders as he looked at the passing crowd.
Some demons paused to nod or wave at them, and he returned their gestures with a polite, strained smile.
His name was Zarus. A towering incubus with skin as beautiful as a red Zircon stone. He had two long obsidian horns arched out of his head above his brows. His eyes were twin pits of violet flame, and they flickered with concern as he watched the crowd move.
His massive wings were folded behind him, but they were lethal things that could cause day to become night if he spread them across any sky.
His bare chest bore ancient sigils carved into his skin, and his presence alone could make lesser demons fall to their knees in fear.
He was no ordinary demon.
He was Second in command to the Demon of Lust.
"Is something wrong?" Selora questions further, and Zarus turned back to his daughter.
"Yes, my dear. Something is wrong. But they all can't see it yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Heaven is proposing a peace treaty. They want humans and demons to live in harmony, if only we agree to certain ground rules." He explained as he took his hand off Selora and started walking towards their house.
"That's impossible. Heaven hates us. They call us filthy and unworthy of life. It has to be a trap." Selora exclaimed, and Zarus turned to her with a smile.
"I know. That's why I gave you that system. Keep it with you. It's not fully developed, but it's your only chance of surviving what I think is coming. Remember, you can only activate it when you get into a human host."
Selora watched as he looked up at the sky.
"Heaven is up to something. I can feel it in my bones"
BEEP.
BEEP.
BEEP.
Selora startled out of her slumber when the alarm clock beside her began to ring. She hit it off the table in annoyance, and silence consumed the room once more.
"Ugh…" She groaned as she sat up. It was that dream again… Her dream about home.
That jerk Isabel called her father must have stirred up something in her to awaken memories she hadn't faced in years.
A yawn escaped her lips, and this time, a soft voice spoke in her mind.
[Good morning, Selora. System Update Completed. Would you like to see the changes?]
Selora blinked in confusion as she stared at the screen.
"You talk?!" She questioned in alarm as the system had never spoken before.
[Yes, I do. I needed to upgrade properly for that, though.]
"So now you're upgraded?"
[Yes. Killing an S-ranked NightBinder promoted this upgrade. Would you like to see the changes?]
Selora blinked as she understood the words. What she killed was an S-ranked Nightbinder?!
Pride and glee filled her veins as she thought about it. All her life, she had only heard of S-ranked errand demons. And yesterday, she just so happened to kill one. Wow!
[Would you like to see the new upgrades?]
"Yes, please."
[Level- Up Achieved: Level 2. Sin core integrated]
New Stats Unlocked.
Mana Capacity: +25
Health Recovery Speed: +10
Corruption Pulse strength: +15%
Physical Strength: +1 Tier
[New Abilities Available for Unlocking]
~Hellrend Slash:(Cost: 20 Mana)
A violent wave infused with corrupted mana. Causes damage over time and leaves wounds that resist healing.
~Phantom Lure:(Cost: 15 Mana)
Summon a clone to confuse enemies and misdirect attacks. Duration: 8 seconds.
~Demonic Regeneration (Passive)
Faster recovery of injuries. Recovery speed doubles during sleep.
~Tail Whip: (Enhanced Physical Skill)
~Partial Evolution: (cost 150 Mana)
Can reveal parts of demon host's true form for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Selora blinked in shock as she looked at the upgrade. Usually, it would take her days or even an entire week to attain half of these. Especially the new abilities.
She felt something hard pulse beneath her skin. A dark, humming rhythm right from the heart. It was the sin core. Giving a foreign, deeper strength to Isabel's human heart.
She smirked as she placed her palm over her heart, and possibilities swirled in her mind. She was getting closer to her goals.
"Looks like I should start hunting down Nightbinders"
She joked, and her system's voice chimed in her head.
[That's not advisable]
Selora rolled her eyes at the system's inability to get the joke.
She shoved the blanket off her body and had just gotten off the bed when Isabel's mother's voice yelled from downstairs.
"Isabel, honey, are you up?! You're leaving with your father in thirty minutes!"
Selora froze as she remembered she had to go somewhere so early in the morning, and she groaned in exasperation as she fell back to the bed, kicking her arms and feet.
"Honey, did you hear me?" The voice questioned more softly now. This time, right outside the door.
Selora turned to the door in annoyance, and from under it, she could see Isabel's mother's legs.
Yes… Mom," Selora muttered, dragging the blanket over her head like a tombstone.
"Thirty more minutes till I have to fuck a priest."