The Azure Oni moved with a precision that was almost poetic, his every strike an intricate dance of power and grace. Valerie, drenched in sweat and blood, stumbled backward, her breath coming in sharp gasps. His katana flashed like lightning, each strike deliberate, yet there was restraint—a sense that this was not mere combat, but a lesson.
“You wield the strength of a mountain,” the Oni intoned, his voice like a distant rumble of thunder, “yet you scatter it like sand in a storm. Strength without control is no strength at all. Your blade is silent, but your rage screams louder than you know. That is your greatest weakness.”
“Shut up!” Valerie spat, her voice trembling with pain and frustration. She forced herself to her feet, gripping her sword tightly though her hands shook with the effort. “Fight me! Stop lecturing me like I’m a kid!”
The Oni’s eyes gleamed beneath his helm, faintly glowing with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. He began to circle her, his steps slow and deliberate, his blade held loosely at his side. “A warrior does not rage blindly, child. Anger is a blade that cuts both ways. Wield it carelessly, and it will carve your defeat before the enemy ever lifts their weapon.”
Valerie screamed and lunged at him, swinging her sword with all her might. But he was gone before the blade even came close.
Suddenly, pain erupted across her body—sharp, searing, relentless. She collapsed to her knees, her screams echoing through the chamber. Blood streamed from a dozen fresh cuts that seemed to appear from nowhere.
“How…” she gasped, struggling to lift her head. “How are you doing this? What are you?”
The Oni sheathed his katana with a click that reverberated in the tense air. “You fight with the strength of a beast,” he said, his tone laced with both pity and disdain. “But beasts do not conquer. They only destroy. A true warrior triumphs not through brute strength, but through mastery of mind, body, and spirit.”
“You’re just… talking nonsense,” Valerie stammered, clutching her sides. “I fought Thor. He didn’t make me bleed. He didn’t—”
The Oni’s laughter was low and rumbling, as if he found her naivety amusing. “Thor? Do you truly believe the god of thunder gave you his all? You are but a child playing with fire. His mercy allowed you to leave unscathed, nothing more.”
The weight of his words hit her harder than any blade. She stared at him, wide-eyed, her earlier bravado replaced with doubt.
“Why?” she whispered. “Why do you even care? You’re supposed to be a killer—a merciless villain. But your Evil Tendencies…” Her voice faltered as she glanced at her interface. “They’re so low. How is that even possible? You’ve taken so many lives.”
The Oni tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. “You measure evil by numbers. By the lives taken or spared. How shallow.”
“Then what should I measure it by?” she demanded, her voice cracking.
“By purpose,” he replied, his tone firm but not unkind. “Every life I take is weighed against the balance it disrupts or restores. I am not a killer for pleasure, nor a destroyer for chaos. I am a blade, wielded to protect what must endure. To you, that may seem like evil. But the system you wield sees through your ignorance to the truth.”
Valerie’s hands trembled. The weight of his words pressed down on her chest like an immovable stone. “If you’re so noble,” she said, her voice barely audible, “then why fight me? Why not just walk away?”
The Oni unsheathed his katana again, its glow illuminating the room. “Because you are blinded by arrogance, child. You think yourself invincible. You flaunt your strength, yet you have no understanding of what it means to wield it. That is dangerous. To yourself and to others.”
“Then kill me,” Valerie said, tears streaking her face. “If I’m so dangerous, just end it.”
The Oni stepped closer, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. But instead of striking, he lowered his blade. “Death is a mercy you have not yet earned,” he said softly. “Live, and learn from this pain. Learn humility. Learn control. Only then will you be worthy of the strength you carry.”
He turned and began to walk away, his steps echoing in the silent room. “Remember this, child,” he said without looking back. “The strongest warriors are not those who wield the heaviest swords, but those who wield their own hearts with wisdom and grace. Until you understand this, your strength will remain a curse, not a blessing.”
Valerie watched him disappear into the shadows, her body broken but her mind racing.
She lay motionless in a crimson pool, the metallic scent of her own blood filling her nostrils. The faint glow of her system’s HUD blinked erratically, its cold numbers and readouts offering no comfort. Her body ached in ways she hadn’t thought possible, but the physical pain was a whisper compared to the storm raging in her mind.
Her breath hitched as she tried to move, her muscles stiff and unresponsive. Each shallow inhale brought a wave of agony, but she welcomed it—it was real, tangible, unlike the chaos of her thoughts.
"Purpose," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible. "What is my purpose? I know what I want... but is that the same thing?"
Her fingers twitched, then her arm, as she forced her body to obey her will. Slowly, agonizingly, she pushed herself up, her bloodied hands slipping on the floor. Her sword lay a few feet away, its hilt gleaming faintly in the dim light. She reached for it, her movements shaky but determined.
“If this is truly the Yggdrasil System,” she muttered, her voice growing steadier as her strength began to return, “then how did I manage to use it? Mom said there was something special in my blood. Maybe that’s how.”
She clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her blade as she finally stood upright. Her legs wobbled, but she didn’t fall. Not this time.
"Am I a god?" The question lingered in the air, heavy with doubt. She shook her head violently, as if trying to dispel the thought. "No. That’s ridiculous. I’m just a daughter of a human and an alien."
But even as she said it, her mother’s face flashed in her mind—her gentle smile, her enigmatic words, the stories she told late at night. Valerie’s eyes narrowed, her chest tightening. "Alien? That’s just a convenient label. Someone or something that’s not from here. But what if... what if Mom was more than that?"
Her thoughts spiraled as she stumbled toward the stairs leading to the final floor. The pain in her body dulled as her system worked overtime to heal her, but her mind remained sharp, questioning. "Mom died. Mortals die. She couldn’t have been a god. Could she?"
When she reached the seventh floor, the scene before her was almost laughable. The remaining villains—those filthy sinners–were cowering in the corners. Their faces were pale with terror, their weapons discarded at their feet.
Her gaze swept the room, catching sight of the gaping holes in the floor, remnants of her battle with the Azure Oni below. The memory of his words, his effortless skill, still stung. Her fingers twitched around the hilt of her sword.
"You’re pathetic!" she spat, her voice cold and detached, unclear if it was directed to herself or the villains. She took a deep breath, her chest glowing with an intense, fiery heat. Her power surged to the surface, raw and untamed.
The villains whimpered, some begging for mercy, but she silenced them with a single glare.
Her mouth opened, and a torrent of fire erupted from her lips. The flames were blinding, scorching hot, consuming everything in their path. Walls melted, floors buckled, and the air filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh and metal. Their screams were brief, swallowed by the inferno she unleashed.
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When the blaze subsided, she stood amidst the smoldering ruins, her chest heaving. The once-formidable structure was reduced to ash and molten debris. Slowly, she turned and staggered out of the burning building.
Valerie stood still, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion as she gazed at the inferno consuming the collapsed building. The fire roared like a beast, devouring everything in its path. She wiped rain from her face as the skies opened up, the downpour washing away the grime, soot, and blood from her battered body.
“I hope this fire is enough to burn any evidence that I was here,” she muttered, her voice barely audible over the hiss of raindrops meeting flames.
A familiar chime echoed in her mind, and the faint glow of her system interface appeared before her eyes.
—
Dungeon Cleared
Rewards Received:
5000 exp
Common Sword
—
Ongoing Quest: Conquer Dungeons 1/10
—
Level up
Level up
Level up
—
Lvl 10 Reached.
Rewards: New Skill: Divine Inquisition (Passive: Able to detect Lies)
—
Her eyes scanned the text, her brow furrowing at the new skill. "Divine Inquisition..." she murmured. “Passive lie detection? That’s… oddly convinient.”
As realization set in, her breath caught. “The Oni wasn’t lying. It really is the Yggdrasil System. No other system can grant abilities like this.”
A sharp sound snapped her out of her thoughts: the distant wail of sirens. Panic surged through her.
“I need to get outta here,” she hissed, clutching her sword tightly as she darted into one of the dark, twisting alleys of the slum. Her boots splashed in puddles, the water masking her hurried footsteps.
Her thoughts swirled, chaotic and relentless. “What did Mom mean by something special in my blood? If Only a God could wield the Yggdrasil System…” She paused, pressing herself against a damp brick wall to catch her breath. Her fingers tightened around the sword as the realization hit her. “Then that means Mom… Mom must’ve been connected to one. A daughter? A granddaughter? A descendant?”
She laughed bitterly, her voice echoing through the alley. “A God, huh? That’s rich. Which God, though? Mom’s from another planet, so—” She cut herself off, shaking her head. “Ugh, I don’t know!”
She paused, her grip tightening on the sword’s hilt. "Does that make me a descendant of a god, too?"
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she emerged into a slightly broader alley. "What the hell, Mom? Could’ve mentioned this before dying." Her sarcasm rang hollow, swallowed by the patter of rain.
The absurdity of it all clawed at her sanity. She stepped out into the rain, her sword gleaming under the faint glow of a streetlamp. Spreading her arms wide, she shouted mockingly into the night.
“Listen up, mortals! I am a fucking God!”
As if in response, her system interface lit up again, brighter this time, with a pulse of energy that made her heart race.
—
Hidden Quest:
Valerie’s Codex (Discover the truth about the host’s true nature)
Progress: Codex found: 1 of 66 (Realizing host’s Godhood potential)
Rewards: Cursed Body of a Death God.
Do you want to receive the rewards now?
Yes/No
—
She froze, staring at the words with wide eyes. “What the fuck is this?” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I’m a God? Wait… a Death God? God of Death? What?!”
Before she could process, the interface blinked again.
—
Host’s Godhood: 5%
Current Level: Demigod
---
Her breath hitched. “So… Now you’re answering questions?”
The interface glitched momentarily, and a new message scrawled across her vision.
—
System is evolving… please wait.
—
Valerie sat in the alley, drenched and shivering, her back resting against the damp wall. The rain had softened to a drizzle, and faint sirens in the distance signaled the arrival of the fire department at the burned ruins she'd left behind. Her fingers tapped impatiently on her knees, her eyes locked on the glowing interface hovering before her.
“Come on,” she muttered. “Evolve already.”
Finally, the interface lit up again, its familiar glow pulsating softly.
— System has evolved:
But instead of the usual lines of text, a voice echoed in her mind—smooth, calm, and eerily alive.
—Hello, Valerie. Please give me a name.
She froze, her eyes widening. “Whoa, you speak now? And… you sound alive?” Her shock turned into a smirk. “Alright, since you’re all odd, strange, jarring, weird, and just a little scary... I’ll name you Oddy Jerry. Oddy for short.”
The voice responded with a deadpan tone.
—Right. The ‘I’m-really-bad-at-naming-things’ cliché. Figures. As you wish, Val. I accept the name.
Valerie raised a brow, a faint grin tugging at her lips. “Well, aren’t you full of personality, Oddy? Alright then.” She paused, her expression turning serious. “So, the Yggdrasil System, huh? Am I the only one that has… you?”
Oddy hesitated for a moment, then answered.
—Checking database: On this planet, there are currently seven demigods on the path to Godhood, including you, Val.
Her jaw tightened. “Seven? Great. Just when I thought I was special. How many demigods are there in total?”
—In the universe: millions. On your planet: seven.
She blinked, her breath catching. “Wait, you’re telling me there are millions of Gods in the universe?”
Oddy’s tone turned instructional, almost condescending.
—In the previous era, there were 230 million participants all across the universe on the path to Godhood. Only twelve managed to complete the journey.
Her eyes widened. “Twelve out of 230 million? That hard, huh?” She exhaled slowly. “So—”
Before she could finish, Oddy interrupted.
—You still have an unreclaimed reward: Cursed Body of a Death God. Would you like to receive it now?
Without a second thought, Valerie shrugged. “Yeah, why not?”
Oddy’s tone turned clinical.
—Initializing transformation. Transformation may cause slight discomfort.
Her eyes shot open. “Wait, what? Tell me what—” Her words died in her throat as her body locked in place. A sudden, searing pain coursed through her, starting deep in her bones. She tried to scream, but her jaw wouldn’t move, her voice trapped inside her head.
Her muscles clenched involuntarily, and her vision blurred.
—Transformation: 20%... 30%... 40%.
Oddy’s voice droned on, detached and clinical.
—The host is experiencing slight discomfort. Slowing the process to prevent overload.
Valerie’s fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms. Her mind screamed in protest. 'Slight discomfort, my ass!' she wanted to yell, but no sound escaped her lips.
The pain intensified, spreading like wildfire through her entire body. She felt her skeleton shifting, cracking, and restructuring itself. Her fingers spasmed, and the sword she’d been holding shattered in her grip, the metal groaning under the pressure.
—Transformation: 86%.
Finally, her voice returned, and she let out a guttural scream that echoed through the empty alley. “Fuck you, Oddy. I should’ve named you a lying bastard instead!”
—Transformation completed. Congratulations, Valerie. You’ve reached the next stage. Please go home, clean up, and enjoy the rest of your night. Good night.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. The rain fell in earnest now, washing away the sweat and blood that clung to her skin. She glared at the void where the interface had hovered.
“Hey! Don’t just leave like that!” she shouted, her voice raw. “What the hell just happened to me?”
Silence.
----------------------------------------
Valerie stood in her dorm bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around her as steam from the shower swirled around her. She wiped a circle on the fogged-up mirror and leaned in close, her fingers tracing her features.
“So… what’s this ‘transformation’ all about?” she muttered, her reflection staring back at her. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still me.”
Her gaze lingered on her damp hair and tired eyes, searching for anything out of
the ordinary. She grabbed the towel, drying off her arms, and froze when her fingers brushed the back of her left ear.
“Wait… what the—” Valerie turned her head, craning to get a better look. Her eyes widened. “Where’s the coin thingy? The system? It’s gone!”
She frantically patted the spot, her heart racing. In its place was an emerald-green rune, glowing faintly as if etched into her skin.
“What the hell?” she breathed, leaning closer to the mirror. She pressed the rune experimentally, and it immediately lit up.
Suddenly, shimmering runes began to cascade across her skin. Lines of emerald light raced down her arms, around her back, and across her right arm.
“Whoa! What is this?!” she gasped, watching the glowing patterns shift and settle.
On her left arm, the runes formed into an intricate design, depicting a warrior standing tall on the edge of a mythical city.
“That’s Asgard…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The warrior clutched a massive sword, their stance proud and resolute.
She turned her attention to her right arm, where the runes began to weave together, forming the image of a colossal serpent winding through her skin, its body coiling and twisting as though alive.
“A giant serpent?” she said, her voice tinged with awe. “Am I… a Norse demigod?”
Finally, she twisted to get a look at her back in the mirror. The runes there converged into a single, intricate symbol—a Valknut enclosed within a serpent biting its own tail.
Her breath hitched. “The Valknut… and the Ouroboros?” She stared, her fingers brushing lightly over the design. “What does it mean?”
“Oddy,” she said through gritted teeth. “You better start explaining. Now.”
But the system remained silent, leaving Valerie alone with her thoughts, her reflection, and the haunting beauty of the runes etched into her skin.