Chapter 1: Prologue
It was 9 PM at night, and I found myself in my room, engrossed in playing video games. However, lately, I've been growing increasingly bored with this pastime. It's not surprising, considering I'm already in my mid-twenties; gaming just doesn't excite me like it used to. Yet, it remained my go-to activity for passing time and relieving some stress.
Around midnight, a yawn escaped me, signaling my growing tiredness. Nevertheless, I was determined to complete this one last quest and advance my warrior character to level 15 before calling it a night.
The quest itself was fairly straightforward: raid the dungeon, defeat the boss, and claim the rewards. These rewards typically included a random item and a substantial amount of experience points.
Currently, I’m at level 14, I knew that completing this quest would push me to level 15. However, midway raiding through the dungeon, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep with my head resting on my keyboard.
Unaware of how much time had passed, I found myself awakening amidst the tranquil embrace of a lush forest, far removed from any recognizable surroundings. Before I could fully comprehend my surroundings, a hologram screen suddenly materialized in front of me, accompanied by a loud voice:
[Hello, Player! Welcome to the Chronicles of the Demon Kings!]
“C-Chronicles of the Demon Kings?!”
[The Chronicles of the Demon Kings] was a novel I read a few years ago, and it was so popular that it even spawned a video game adaptation. What's more, the game I had been playing before I nodded off on my keyboard was the "Chronicles of the Demon Kings Online." It's intriguing—I never imagined I'd find myself transported into the very world of the novel.
“Status Window!” I yelled.
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Name: Zealot Dragonite
Title: Beginner Player
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 5
Magic Power: 5
[Skills:]
- None
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Zealot Dragonite? Wasn’t that the warrior character I created when I was playing the game "Chronicles of the Demon Kings Online" yesterday? Interesting, it seems I've become a video game character inside a novel.
Ding!
[You have received a beginner gift box! Would you like to open it now?]
Oh, what’s this? A gift from the system? Well, let’s open and see what it is.
[Congratulations! You have acquired a random legendary skill!]
Legendary skill? Sounds like I've hit a jackpot. Heh, not bad for a start.
[Name: Eyes Of Truth]
[Skill Type: Mind-Reading]
[Eyes Of Truth: No one can deceive you. You possess the ability to delve into their thoughts, almost as though you're within their mind.]
Mind-Reading, huh? What a reliable skill. As expected from a skill of Legendary Tier.
[Beginner Guide! To officially begin your adventure, you must first complete a few Tutorials.]
[Current Location: Beginner Forest]
[Tutorial: Kill 10 Goblins.]
[Reward: Beginner Village]
Haha. Goblins, huh? Of course, the classic early-game monsters. What a cliche. However, nevermind that, what’s this? Beginner Forest? I don't recall any forest like that in the novel. Heck, it’s not even in the game. Hmm, I suppose the only explanation is that the system must be the one adding new content.
RAAARRRR!
KRAARRRR!
GRAARRRR!
Well, speak of the devil—looks like the Goblins are here for me.
In a blink of an eye, a sword and shield materialized before me, landing with a heavy thud amid the rustling of grass.
THUD!
[For newcomers! You've been provided with a starter sword and shield for combat! Best of luck with your first Tutorial!]
Without hesitation, I swiftly grabbed the sword and shield from the ground. I gulped, feeling extremely nervous, as this was my first time facing a real-life battle against ten Goblins at once.
With a fierce determination to survive at any cost, adrenaline surged through me as I charged toward the Goblins, initiating the battle.
“Raaargh!!! Bring it on, you foolish Goblins!!! Die!!!"
Desperation consumes me. As a full-time manga artist who has never experienced much freedom, I can’t afford to meet my end here just yet. This new life represents my sole escape from the brutal overwork of the manga industry, so I must not squander this opportunity bestowed upon me.
***
Chapter 1.5: Transmigrated as a Demon King
VERTICAL SLASH! HORIZONTAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The clash of metal against metal and the guttural cries of the goblins filled the air as Zealot, now finding himself within the novel world, faced his first real challenge. With the legendary skill "Eyes Of Truth" bestowed upon him, he felt a surge of confidence despite his initial nervousness.
EYES OF TRUTH!
“Die! Die! Die!"
RAAARRRR!
KRAARRRR!
GRAARRRR!
Three minutes passed, and finally, Zealot succeeded in getting his first kill.
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[Leveled up!]
[Level: 1 >> 2]
‘Phew! I thought fighting these goblins without any combat experience would be challenging, but surprisingly, it's much easier than I anticipated. Being able to read their minds makes predicting their movements a lot simpler; it's almost as if I can see a few seconds into the future.’
Thanks to his mind-reading skill "Eyes of Truth," even with zero fighting experience, he only encountered minor difficulty when facing these goblins.
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
…
…
…
As time passed, he not only gained battle experience, but with each level-up, it became progressively easier as he immediately added his newly acquired stat points to his strength. Eventually, roughly fifteen minutes later, he successfully slew all the goblins and completed his first Tutorial.
[Tutorial Completed!]
"Finally! Ugh, I'm exhausted..." he muttered, collapsing onto the ground to catch his breath. Despite the fatigue, a smile crept across his face as he reflected, ‘It's been ages since I've exercised this much... Despite the danger, I must admit, it was rather enjoyable.’
[Reward! You will now be transported to the next area, "The Beginner Village."]
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
In an instant, the environment transformed from a beautiful forest into a picturesque, small medieval village. The surrounding area was adorned with lush green grasses, vibrant rainbow flowers, and a scattering of sparse trees.
‘Whoa... what's this, a fantasy village? It's so beautiful.’
[Welcome to Beginner Village!]
[Tutorial: Within this village reside 50 villagers. Your mission is to fight alongside the villagers against the Goblin invasion.]
[Main Goal: Complete all the Tutorials and reach level 10]
‘Reach level 10, huh? I assume I can leave and start my adventure after that, right? Well, hopefully.’
“Status Window!”
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Name: Zealot Dragonite
Title: Beginner Player
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 2 >> 4
HP: 250/250
MP: 125/125
Strength: 10 >> 25
Agility: 5
Magic Power: 5
[Skills:]
- Eyes Of Truth (No one can deceive you. You possess the ability to delve into their thoughts, almost as though you're within their mind.)
----------------------------------------
***
[The 2nd Tutorial will now begin.]
[Wave one: A total of 250 Goblins, with 50 Goblins spawning at a time.]
Without wasting any time, the villagers swiftly grabbed their swords and shields, preparing themselves for battle.
Meanwhile, Zealot looked rather confused as he questioned why he had to go through these Tutorials. After all, the game he played didn't have such Tutorials; the moment you created your character, you could begin your adventure right away.
‘Hmm… I know I'm inside a novel, but why on earth does it function as if I'm inside a video game world? Is this world perhaps a fusion of novel and video game elements? Well, no matter how I see it, it does appear to be the case.’
RAAARRRR!
KRAARRRR!
GRAARRRR!
As the battle cries of the Goblins echoed through the village, Zealot found himself standing alongside the villagers, ready to defend their home. Despite his confusion about the tutorials, he knew he had to focus on the task at hand.
EYES OF TRUTH!
The clash began, swords and shields meeting with resounding clangs as the villagers and Zealot fought back against the invading Goblins. With his newly acquired legendary skill, Eyes Of Truth, Zealot found himself able to anticipate the movements of the goblins, giving him an edge in combat.
VERTICAL SLASH! HORIZONTAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
DODGE! DODGE! DODGE!
"Stay focused!" Zealot shouted to the villagers as they fought side by side. Despite being overwhelmed by the sheer number of Goblins, they held their ground, their determination matching Zealot's own.
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[You have slain a Goblin!]
[You have slain a Goblin!]
…
…
…
Wave after wave of goblins descended upon the village, but with each passing moment, Zealot grew stronger and more skilled in combat. His level steadily increased, his stats improving with each victory.
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
[Congratulations! You have reached level 7!]
Without delay, Zealot added the newly stat points to his Strength and some to Agility.
[Strength: 25 >> 35]
[Agility: 5 >> 10]
‘I initially planned to concentrate solely on adding points to my strength. However, I realized it's wiser to strike a balance between speed and power, ensuring I don't leave any weaknesses exposed.’
Finally, after what felt like hours of intense combat, the last of the goblins fell, defeated by the combined efforts of Zealot and the villagers.
[Wave one completed!]
Exhausted but victorious, Zealot took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through his veins. Despite the challenges he faced, he couldn't deny the thrill of battle, the sense of accomplishment that came with each victory.
‘Phew! That was a close one! These goblins may not be individually strong, but their advantage lies in their sheer numbers, which makes it difficult to fight.’ Zealot thought. ‘Looks like as my level gets higher, it’s also getting harder to level up by killing these goblins. I guess I need to start hunting much higher-level monsters in the future to gain more experience points.’
After approximately 10 minutes of rest, wave two began.
[Wave two will now begin!]
[Wave two: A total of 250 Skeleton Warriors, with 50 spawning at a time.]
‘Ha! Finally, a different type of monster. This is great. I think I'll reach level 10 after this.’
With the commencement of wave two, Zealot braced himself for a new challenge. The village atmosphere was tense, yet the determination in Zealot's eyes remained unwavering. As the first batch of Skeleton Warriors emerged from the ground, their bones clattering ominously, Zealot tightened his grip on his sword and shield, ready for battle.
“Raaargh! Alright, let's do this!" Zealot exclaimed, rallying the villagers around him.
“Haaahh!!! Let’s go!!!” exclaimed a few villagers in response.
Another villager, caught up in the adrenaline rush, yelled out, "For our village!! Charge!! Kill the monsters!!”
The clash ensued, with swords clashing against skeletal bones and shields deflecting deadly strikes. Zealot's combat prowess continued to shine as he utilized his legendary skill, Eyes Of Truth, to anticipate the movements of the Skeleton Warriors. With each swing of his sword, he struck with precision, aiming for the weak points in their skeletal forms.
VERTICAL SLASH! HORIZONTAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
The battle was fierce, but Zealot and the villagers fought valiantly, pushing back against the relentless onslaught of Skeleton Warriors.
‘Tch! These Skeleton Warriors are much stronger than I anticipated, at least twice as formidable as the Goblins. Well, that also means more experience points for me, so that’s a good thing I guess.’
As the battle raged on, Zealot's level steadily climbed higher, his stats improving with each victory.
EYES OF TRUTH!
[You have slain a Skeleton Warrior!]
…
…
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
[Congratulations! You have reached level 10!]
With a triumphant shout, Zealot felt a surge of exhilaration as he reached his goal. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders, he couldn't help but grin with satisfaction.
"Finally! Level 10!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing amidst the chaos of battle.
As the last of the Skeleton Warriors fell, defeated by Zealot's unwavering determination, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. Despite the challenges he faced, he emerged victorious, proving himself capable of overcoming any obstacle in his path.
[Tutorial Completed!]
[Main Goal Completed!]
With both the Tutorials and Main Goal completed, Zealot took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving with exertion. Beads of sweat glistened on his body, evidence of the intense effort. Despite the weariness in his limbs, he felt a profound sense of happiness and satisfaction.
‘Hahaha! This is a blast! What a great workout! Far more enjoyable than sitting and working all day in the office. I guess this is what true freedom feels like, huh?’
As Zealot caught his breath amidst the aftermath of the intense battle, he couldn't shake off the exhilarating rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Despite the physical exhaustion, his spirit soared with the thrill of victory and the sense of accomplishment from reaching level 10.
Surveying the village, Zealot noted the grateful expressions on the faces of the villagers. Their cheers and applause echoed through the streets, a testament to their newfound hero and protector. For the first time in his life, Zealot felt a sense of belonging and purpose, far removed from the confines of his previous mundane existence.
"Thank you, brave warrior!" exclaimed one of the villagers, clasping Zealot's hand with gratitude.
Another villager stepped forward, expressing, "We owe you our lives. Without your aid, our village would have surely fallen to the Goblin and Skeleton invasions."
A third villager joined in, saying, "Your valor has inspired us all and instilled hope in our hearts."
"It was nothing," Zealot replied modestly, though a spark of pride flickered in his eyes. "I'm just glad I could help."
As the villagers dispersed to tend to their wounded and rebuild what was damaged in the battle, Zealot found himself approached by an elderly man, his demeanor grave yet wise.
"Young warrior," the elder addressed Zealot, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "Your bravery and skill have saved our village today, but I fear this is only the beginning of the trials that lie ahead. Be cautious of the outside world. Well, soon you will grasp the depth of my warning."
As the Elder's warning echoed in Zealot's ears, a sense of unease settled over him like a heavy cloak. Before he could even process the gravity of the elder's words, the world around him began to dissolve into a blinding light, engulfing the village and its inhabitants in its radiant embrace.
BLINK!
Zealot's heart raced as he found himself standing amidst the vast expanse of the universe, the remnants of the village fading away like distant memories. Panic threatened to consume him as he searched frantically for any sign of familiarity, but all he found was an endless expanse of stars scattered across the dark void. Occasionally, distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters would appear as faint, indistinct shapes in the darkness, adding to the overwhelming sense of isolation in his surroundings.
"Where... where am I? What in the world is happening?" His voice trembled as he uttered the words, his confusion echoing into the vast emptiness of the universe.
Ding!
[Congratulations on completing the Tutorials! You've leveled up from a beginner to an official player. Now, brace yourself for the real adventure ahead!]
Suddenly, a mesmerizingly mysterious blue portal materialized before Zealot, drawing him in with the irresistible force of a black hole.
"W-Wait, what the—!"
As the swirling vortex of the portal enveloped him, Zealot felt like a leaf caught in a tempestuous wind. The sensation of being pulled and twisted was disorienting, and for a moment, he feared he might be torn apart by the sheer force of the portal's energy. However, as quickly as it had begun, the chaos subsided, leaving him standing on solid ground once more, within the confines of a grand castle hall.
[Welcome to the world of Ixion!]
Ixion, the world within the novel, is a celestial body consisting of numerous continents, kingdoms, empires, Demon Kings, Heroes, and diverse races. It sprawls as a colossal planet, surpassing Earth's size by at least tenfold.
[Congratulations! You have successfully transmigrated as one of the Demon Kings in this world!]
[The original Demon King’s name "Azazel Darkbane" has been changed to Zealot Dragonite. From now on, everyone will recognize you as Zealot Dragonite instead of Azazel Darkbane.]
[Zealot Dragonite, you are ranked 9,999 among the 9,999 Demon Kings in this world. What a disgrace! You’re considered the weakest Demon King in the entire history of demonkind!]
‘Huh? Did I just get insulted?’
A few seconds later, upon hearing and realizing that he had been transmigrated as one of the Demon Kings in this world, panic and fear overtook him. He realized that this meant he was destined to endure unimaginable challenges and hardships from this moment. In simpler terms, hell was now his destination.
"Noooooooooooo! Are you kidding me?! How is this possible?! I transmigrated as a Demon King?! Is this a joke?! How am I supposed to live a peaceful life now?! Aaaaaahhhhh!"
The reason for this was that being a Demon King meant he was destined to confront the protagonist one day in the future. Having read the novel "The Chronicles of the Demon Kings" beforehand, he knew full well the immense power the protagonist possessed. The protagonist's strength was no laughing matter, and for the story to conclude, all Demon Kings had to be slain by the protagonist.
In other words, for him to survive in this world, he has two options: either he kills the protagonist or befriends the protagonist. However, having read the novel, he knew the immense hatred the protagonist harbored for the Demon race. After all, the protagonist lost his entire family to the Demons and made a solemn vow to avenge their deaths by eradicating every last Demon.
"I thought I could finally live a peaceful, free life, but now this shit has to happen! Aaaaaaaahhh! Nooooooooooo! I don’t want to fight the protagonist! That guy is way too overpowered, he’s practically a joke character! There's no way I can beat him! Ugh, what am I supposed to do now?!"