“It’s a girl!” A voice exclaimed in the background. Who? I wondered to myself. Befuddled, my mind attempted to recollect itself. My last events seem to be…
What was I saying again?
I struggled to find my thoughts. I couldn’t focus, I felt some sort of loud noise near my ear. Am I screaming? I look down at myself. Normally, I would be frightened out of my mind to see what appears to be green rock where skin should be. However, it was the tiny hands and feet in front of me that really scared me. I was a baby.
I was a fucking baby.
Reincarnation?! No way. Why do I still have my memories? No, calm down. Think back on what happened. I was driving home, with a couple of my friends. Someone was pulled over, signaling for help…
What was I saying again?
Exhaustion washed over me, drowning my attempts to focus. I grit my teeth, I need to stay awake.
Focus.
Remember…
Remember what?
Who am I?
I’m so tired…
The next time I opened my eyes, I was inside a kitchen. An intoxicating smell covered me, drifting from over where an old woman sat. She was wearing a maid outfit.
Maid?
I frown. Where did that word come from? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m hungry. They’re not feeding me.
My scream reverberated around the room, causing the maid to rush over to me. Or rather, trudge over. Eyes dead, she muttered, asking me what I wanted. I gestured to the food and without a word she went back over and started mushing up some. When she finished, she spoon fed me with a dejected posture. I couldn’t blame her, this place felt dead. The food enveloped me in its warmth, making me drift off once again…
Remember…
??
Was I forgetting something? No matter, it’s not important. I’m so tired…
Years passed, the only living being I ever saw was the old maid. She told me her name was Roselia. A beautiful name. Not fitting for one devoid of life. She didn’t even notice my abnormal growth rate for a baby, being able to speak their language by the age of 3. It wasn’t that far off English, so I simply translated subconsciously. Why do I think that’s abnormal? What’s English? I can’t remember anymore.
Every day was the same. The maid fed me, growing wearier with each passing meal. At first, I thought she was simply aging, but over time I realized that the decay rate was simply too fast. I asked her many questions. She answered none. Beyond that, we simply sat there. I have attempted to leave the Kitchen sometimes, but every time she collects me before I reach the door. Having nothing else to do, I thought.
I spent many years in my mind. The maid would not talk to me much. Eventually, through niggling, I learned that she was the only one who still lived. My mother died in childbirth. I knew there was something different about me, but I couldn’t figure it out. I spent a year trying, but finally decided to forget about it for now. Instead, I thought on other topics. I spent some time on philosophical points, but it was strategy that I loved to think about. I spent many years simply on that one topic, thinking of different ways to change a scenario. I put myself in impossible situations, finding a solution that shouldn’t have existed. I put myself at a disadvantage, then an advantage. I thought of ways to cover weaknesses, or exploit strengths. I thought of many things while the maid that took care of me aged at an alarming rate.
It was on my 10th birthday that she collapsed. To the exact day, not early nor late. I tried to mourn for her, but I never even knew her. From the day I was born, she was already dead inside. Continuing on as if she ran on a program. The only thing she did in her existence is feed me. I guess, for that commitment, she deserves a proper farewell.
I walk over to her, noticing the position she was in. Knees down, looking up in a silent plea, as if begging for her life. I feel my memories stir. Something’s screaming to be released, just on the edge of my consciousness. I keep looking at the old maid, straining to think.
?!
The memories came crashing down on me, suffocating my existence. I screamed, a tormented scream, begging for release. Before I even realized it, the knife was at my throat. I gripped my own hand in an attempt to stop, as if I was possessed. I bear it. I take the pain in, the memories, the tormented existence. I let it wash over me, corrupting and torturing me, before squashing it down.
That is not me.
With those words, my hand finally relaxed, dropping the knife. Sighing with relief, I collapsed on the floor. This is no time to have a breakdown. I’m on my own now. I grab the maid, dragging her out of the room. I’ll give her a burial from my homeland, Earth.
I drag her through the empty corridors, full of decay from age. The castle itself seemed about to collapse, but remained resolute. I dragged her past empty room, after empty room. All crumbling, all begging for death. I felt afraid now, afraid of what I would find outside. Perhaps there was a reason I wasn’t let out of my room.
I finally reached the front door. With a deep breath, I pushed myself throughout in one go.
And collapsed.
In despair.
Why…
IS THIS MY PUNISHMENT?! FOR WHO I WAS?!
I cried, tears flowing down my cheeks in release. I looked at the picture before me. It was a barren landscape. Dead trees that seemed to decay through centuries, groaning for release. The land itself nothing but hard ground, cracked and grey. I saw lines indicating what once must’ve been roads, withered and disappeared. It led to a town, or rather what was left of a town. Nothing lived in it. Its buildings had collapsed a long time ago. With grim determination, I picked myself up and started walking. I had already forgotten about the maid I had left in the hallway. Forgotten about the castle behind me.
This wasteland told me something. I was alone, in a dead world.
So I walked. I walked and prayed. For something, for a miracle. For anything. I prayed that I would find something in my search. Something to live for.
Yet nothing. Only despair. Days passed like this, with the same barren wasteland greeting me every time. It was on the 6th day that I collapsed. Still, I dragged myself on. I would not give up yet. On the 8th day, I could no longer continue. With a fading conscious, I cried.
But I did not die.
Or rather, my consciousness didn’t.
Activating Project Vendetta.
Assimilating Lord.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Assimilation Successful.
Project Vendetta…
Start.
I feel myself slowly awake, unsure of what I’m experiencing. I try and move my body…
I don’t have a body.
I panic, my mind screaming in fear.
[???]: Subject showing negative reaction. Stabilising.
Suddenly my fear turned to happiness. Was I injected with endorphins?
[???]: No. Currently, you don’t exist in the physical realm. Your brain was convinced it was injected by endorphins, causing it to enact the process.
What? Who’s speaking? How can you hear my thoughts?
[???]: I do not have a name. My purpose is to provide you information about Project Vendetta.
What is Project Vendetta?
[???]: Project Vendetta is you. You are Project Vendetta.
What is my purpose, then?
[???]: You are the revenge of the various races that once existed inside this land. Your mission is to eradicate the species known as ‘Human’.
What?! No…explain. Start from the beginning.
[???]: Some knowledge has been fractured over time. I will try my best. It started with a Kingdom. This kingdom was known as Dragstheil…
The voice spoke for a long time, detailing what it could about the events that led to the creation of this project. Once, the kingdom known as Dragstheil was extremely prosperous. Its lands were full of wealth, and gave more than the races of the land could ever hope to keep. It was decided that this land should be shared, by other sentient species who deserved to be part of its wonder. They sent representatives of each race on a mission to explore and find these species.
Unfortunately, they came across Humans. While humans were not innately evil, they experienced something that they had never known before. Discrimination. Branded as ‘Devils’ by these creatures, the representatives of Dragstheil were tortured, and then killed.
Learning of this nation full of wealth, the Humans became overcome by greed. Gathering an army beyond imagination, they marched into the peaceful lands of Dragstheil and consumed them. As they passed through the lands, they withered. Anything that moved was either killed or imprisoned. Valuables were taken, homes destroyed. All under the pretense of eradicating the ‘Demons’.
In reality, the people of Dragstheil were just different in their appearance. A horrible truth that was never known, as the victors write the pages of history. Being a race that had known no wars, they stood no chance. It wasn’t long before the entire kingdom fell.
The people were full of rage. The current Lord at the time, as well as the many people that lived in the capital known as Melroth, sacrificed their lives to create a World Magic. This magic, known as Project Vendetta, would create an entirely new race. The Lord named it ‘Demon Lord’ because it would become everything the humans accused them of. The Demon Lord was still a shell, however, requiring a consciousness.
The Lord, being the only one left alive after the event, hid this Demon Lord in a place no-one would be able to find. Marking it so that only a Lord could activate it, he named it ‘Project Vendetta’. He then sent his wife, pregnant with his baby, and a few retainers to hide deep underground until the humans disappeared.
[???]: That was 1000 years ago. To be frank, it’s a wonder that you made it here.
So…Revenge is it?
[???]: Yes, that is your purpose. When you are ready, you will assimilate the Demon Lord. You have 70% chance to successfully become the Demon Lord.
What have I got to lose? I’ll take that risk. Start the process.
Assimilation in progress.
Demon Lord Assimilation 20%...
30%...
50%...
60%...
75%...
85%...
90%...
95%...
100%...
Simulation successful.
I opened my eyes, feeling a body for the first time in a while. Power flow through me. I felt invincible. Looking around, I saw I was inside an underground cavern. My form was that of an Elf, except where skin should be was black scales. When you looked at them, you felt like you were sinking into unimaginable depths. I felt something behind me, turning around to discover that I had a tail made up of the same colored scales. I turned my eyes skyward, and saw two distinct, red horns on the top of my head. My hair was of the same red, flowing down it reached my waist.
Wait, Elf?
I’ve never known an elf, but suddenly I knew now. Elves looked similar to these ‘Humans’ except for longer ears and a larger life span. They were a peaceful race that was discovered when the people of Dragstheil travelled, but they wished to stay in their homes. Apparently it had some connection to the God they worshipped.
How do I know this?
[???]: The Demon Lord contains the knowledge of every being who gave their life to create you.
Great. You’re still here.
[???]: I am here to provide information on Project Vendetta.
Sigh. I know that.
[???]: Then we must now discuss how to get revenge.
And what makes you think I want revenge?
[???]: Project Vendetta’s goal is-
[Freya]: I KNOW WHAT ITS GOAL IS!!
I roared, my eyes full of dangerous anger. I would not go down this road. I have already seen what it does.
[Freya]: YOU THINK COMMITTING GENOCIDE IS AN ANSWER?! THERE IS NO RELIEF, NO SATISFACTION IN REVENGE. ONLY DEEP REGRET. AND EMPTINESS. THOSE WHO ARE DEAD, ARE GONE. KILLING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL NOT FIX THAT!!
[???]: Project Vendetta has failed. Activating final protocol, Burial. Commencing in 5…
Shit.
They must’ve made this protocol in case something went wrong. Still, I don’t regret my decision, revenge is a broken road that only creates more suffering. When I looked into that man’s eyes, all I saw was regret. I will not go down that road.
[???]: 4…
This isn’t the time to get distracted. THINK! I slap myself, trying to focus. I won’t have time to escape, only an idiot would create a protocol that allowed that. Dig down? Impossible. I look around, trying to pinpoint a place to hide. There’s nothing. The explosion itself?
[???]: 3…
I try and find the source, and immediately see some sort of crystal glowing brighter and brighter. That’s it. I reach over and grab it, attempting to crush it. It remains stoic, however, and hot to the touch. I cried out in pain as I quickly dropped it, too hot to carry.
[???]: 2…
SHIT. Okay, calm down. There’s no escapes, no cover, and no way to dig. The crystal can be moved. Is that a crack in the wall…?
[???]: 1…
I no longer had time to think. Ignoring the searing pain, I grab the crystal and slam it into the wall next to me. The crack widens slightly, holding the crystal in place. Quickly turning around, I take one big stride and then dive to the farthest corner in the room.
[???]: Protocol Burial commencing…
Everything flashed white…