Chapter 1: The System

Sarah woke up to the sound of screaming. She could hear faint sirens and what sounded like explosions in the distance, kicking in her adrenaline and helping to turn her fully awake in moments. Not knowing how long had passed, she quickly realized she was lying on the cold ground in the cellar where her ritual had taken place. Her eyes began to focus, and she saw some blurred text in front of her.

Then the memories hit.

I summoned a demon. Fuck. The ritual worked. What. Soul compatibility? Oh god, she thought, only now coming to terms with what had occurred and just how thoroughly screwed she likely is. Panic filled her, adrenaline beginning to kick in from her near-death experience, until suddenly it stopped and calm filled her mind.

At the sudden unexpected peacefulness she could only think, Was the camera on? At least I should get bonus marks….

Her thoughts were interrupted by what she could only describe as a nudge in the back of her brain, and with some brief focus some new text appeared in front of her.

Congratulations Earth, you are now the 281,730,198,001,076th planet to enter The System.

To view hosts information, think ‘status’.

As a human, you begin your journey with the perk [Adaptive]

* Gain 1 additional free stat point per level.

You have successfully completed a [Demonic Ritual]

Ability Unlocked: [Ritual Magic] Rank 1 Level 1

* Based on the ritual undertaken, summons a being, an object or energy from another world to temporarily follow the user’s will.

* The summon is affected by elements such as strength of the user, components used in the ritual, and sacrifices made to the being.

You have successfully completed a [Greater Demonic Ritual]

You have successfully completed a [Legendary Demonic Ritual]

You have successfully completed a [Mythic Demonic Ritual]

[Ritual Magic] Rank 1 Level 1 -> Level 9

[Ritual Magic] Rank 1 Level 9 -> Rank 2 Level 1

* Rank 2 effect: Rituals require significantly less mana.

For the feat of completing a Mythic ritual well above your ability and surviving, you have unlocked the Perk;

[Ritualess]

* You may substitute reagents for mana in your rituals.

As one of the first of your world to cast magic, you have unlocked the ability;

[Mana Manipulation] Rank 1 Level 1

* You can feel the mana of the world, and command it to follow your will.

[Mana Manipulation] Rank 1 Level 1 -> Level 6

Due to changes in your body, your race has evolved from [Human] into [Half-Greater Demon]

As a Greater Demon, you unlock the perk;

[Demonic Mana]

* Your mana has the demonic attribute.

* [Mana Manipulation] Level 6 has evolved to -> [Demonic Mana Manipulation] Level 6

* Your blood now fills with demonic energy and it circulates within you. Demonic attributed mana may be used to heal you, while holy mana will cause greater damage.

As you have gazed deep into yourself, you found your spirit gazing back at you, you have unlocked the ability;

[Soul Sense] Rank 1 Level 1

* Allows you to sense both your own soul and the souls of others at a similar strength to you.

Due to your actions, you have unlocked the Common class [Summoner].

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* Through your own power, you bend the minds of another world to your will.

* Stats per level: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +1 free.

Due to your actions, your class of [Summoner] has evolved into the Uncommon class [Ritualist].

* You have moved along the summoner path towards rituals capable of binding great beings beyond your power.

* Stats per level: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +1 free -> +2 free.

Due to your actions, your class of [Ritualist] has evolved into the Rare class [Demonologist].

* Rituals are feared by many, and demons by more, but you have persevered to reach the peak of such summoning by calling forth a true demon and surviving.

* Stats per level: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 free -> +3 free.

Due to your actions, your class of [Demonologist] has evolved into the Epic class [Hellbringer].

* Rulers of the underworld, the Greater Demons, are feared by many for their unstoppable power and prowess in battle. You have walked the path of a summoner, and as a titan of Hell you wield your power to call others to serve.

* Stats per level: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +3 free -> +4 free.

You have levelled up.

You have levelled up.

…

You have levelled up.

The text faded away as Sarah read it, still in disbelief of what had occurred. I am a Demon? No, half-Demon? Half-Greater Demon? And what were these stat increases, a game?

Wow, what’s in these candles. Is this the smoke, how high am I? No, something definitely happened. Am I going through shock? That’s it. PTSD like those Roman legionnaires that we studied or soldiers in World War 2. What do I do? The pop ups mentioned something about a status. She felt like she should be panicking at this point as her mind went on overdrive, but somehow she couldn’t help but feel strangely calm.

Still not expecting anything to happen, she called out “status” as one of the first messages asked her to and, to her disbelief, more text appeared in front of her.

Status:

Name: Sarah Rose

Race: Half-Greater Demon

Class: Hellbringer

Level: 0->10

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Wisdom: 12 -> 32

Intelligence: 12 -> 32

Vitality: 8

Endurance: 7

Charisma: 13

Unused Stat Points: 0 -> 50

You have unlocked new [Perks].

You have unlocked new [Abilities].

She couldn’t believe what she saw on the boxes that appeared in front of her.

“This feels like I’m in one of those books I read, but I didn’t get hit by a truck…”

“You are so weak, use your points on intelligence and wisdom for now.”

Upon hearing the voice that seemed to speak in her head she quickly sat up, then felt her head spin from moving so suddenly.

That’s it, I’m definitely insane, that’s the only reasonable explanation. Weird text, stat sheets, abysmal charisma scores, and finally a voice in my head.

“Not an inaccurate claim, you would have had to be insane to try and summon me, a king of Hell. Insane, stupid, and incredibly lucky.”

A king of hell, it was here that she finally cast her mind back to who she had called in her ritual and came to a realisation.

“You wouldn’t happen to be Lucifer, would you?”

“…”

She practically felt the eyeroll the demon gave her, or at least metaphorically as it probably didn’t have eyes while sitting inside her. Or did it?

“That is unfortunately correct, at this point I have no body and due to pure luck I am inside your soul.”

There were so many thoughts racing through her mind she didn’t know where to begin.

Now I have to deal with the fact that some weird stat sheet is telling me I’m half-demon and the system has decided to merge my soul with something that doesn’t even exist. Plus, the ominous noises of gunshots and explosions that came from above the basement seem to be getting louder.

She was still in the cellar but could hear faint noises in the distance that made it sound like they were in a warzone.

“Before you do anything stupid, I would suggest you put those stat points down into intelligence and wisdom as I said, and familiarise yourself with your class [Hellbringer] and your [Demonic Mana Manipulation] skill.”

“And why should I listen to you Lucifer? After all, you are a demon. How do I get you out of my head?”

“The probability of what just occurred borders on impossible. Your ritual only worked because the System was flooding your world with mana, as you would not have been close to able to call on that much mana yourself. Then I was in the midst of consuming your soul when the System was simultaneously merging into it, and it appears the system thought I was part of you, and merged us together in order to succeed in its own integration.”

“Essentially, our souls have been fused together.”

As amazing as it was to meet a real demon, she would much rather have it be outside her body. “And how do I get rid of you?”

“Right now, we are linked. While I could forcefully cut us apart, this would likely irreparably damage both own souls. Your soul needs to grow sufficiently for me to be able to leave.”

Still lying on the ground where she had woken up, she could hear the gunshots directly overhead, along with shouting and screams. The noise is definitively closer now. Fearful for what was occurring above her but still dealing with what was happening inside her, she went through her options.

Ok, first step, what do I have that can help me. Surely figuring out my own abilities first can only be a good move. Unless he just wants me to use the [Demonic Mana Manipulation] so he can gain some control over me, as it is demonic….

I’m surprised I haven’t had a panic attack yet, I mean I did nearly die and am like half possessed by a demon. Maybe I should have a panic attack now, could help me relax a bit….

“I can read your thoughts human, and I will not let you get us killed by attracting too much attention while being as weak as you are. I am suppressing your emotions.”

Her sudden calmness made a lot more sense with this. Should she be worried, if she even could be worried, that the devil itself was controlling her emotions? I suppose that when considering the sounds of the apocalypse outside it is probably for the better that she is calm now. Oh… so you’re like my inner demon? Do I have to speak out loud then or can you hear my thoughts too?

“I can read your thoughts, and others are not able to hear my words, for I speak directly to you through your soul.”

And so, my inner demon is messing with my emotions. Fitting I suppose. Although this is only making me more paranoid about having something else in my soul. What else can you control?

“I have not controlled your emotions, only suppressed them so you do not faint like you did only a moment ago when you summoned me. Now stop, those explosions are getting closer, MOVE.”

She quickly stood up. Strange how one’s life can turn around so quickly, and even stranger when that change involves actually summoning a demon.

Guess the sheep’s blood was real then.