In the twilight, the sky bled a fiery red, showering down crimson specks that painted the world in an eerie glow. Lily, enchanted by the spectacle, ventured outside, her curiosity piqued by the unusual phenomenon.
"Lily, wait..." Light cautioned, but she was already lost in the hypnotic beauty of the red rain.
Warmth tingled through her, invigorating her senses. Her joy was infectious, her laughter dancing through the air like the red specks swirling around them. "See, Light, it's okay," she beckoned, pulling him into the magical rain. "It feels enchanting, doesn't it?"
With their hands interlaced, time seemed to stretch. The world around them froze in this singular moment where red particles swirled around them like a shower of fiery petals. The connection was unspoken yet intense, an invisible thread weaving them closer together.
"Light... I... I know I already thanked you, but..." Lily began, her cheeks flushed with unspoken emotions. Her grip on his hand tightened, her heart thumping in her chest. "I'm really grateful for you."
"I, uh..." Light stammered, lost in her gaze. Before he could articulate his feelings, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, a silent token of her gratitude. The moment, however, was short-lived. A thundering sound resonated in the air, a cruel interruption to their tender moment.
"Lily? What..." Light tried to speak, but the words choked in his throat. His vision blurred, and a thick, sticky substance smeared across his face. His heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled upon Lily's limp body. Her decapitated head was a horrifying sight, Lily's lips remained attached to his face, but her head had exploded, her brains splattered in every direction, some even sticking to his head. A distant, unfamiliar voice echoed in his ears, and footsteps drew closer.
Goon 1: "Aw, did we ruin your little girlfriend moment?" (a mocking voice rang out).
Goon 2: "Wow! Her head popped like a balloon," (another taunted, a cruel smirk playing on his lips). "Hey, kid, you have something on your cheek."
Their laughter echoed in Light's ears, their words a cruel reminder of the sudden loss. His world darkened, the reality too harsh to bear.
Goon 4: "Hey, hello?... Shit, I think he's in shock. Makes things harder," (the fourth man said, his voice laced with malicious glee). "Then again, we can just beat you and ask you after."
The fourth man, an Earth Mage Elemental, flexed his arms, the concrete from the ground merging with his flesh.
Goon 4(P.L 500): "I call this skill The Jawbreaker," (he boasted, a sinister grin on his face). "With these gauntlets, you're gonna wish you were this girl on the floor."
Inside Light's mind, he was confronted by a shadowy figure. It was a grotesque reflection of his own self, a demon lurking in the depths of his psyche. The figure grinned, its words echoing in his mind.
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"Look around you, Light,"* it sneered. *"This is humanity. A species delighting in cruelty, relishing pain. They will never change. No matter how much you wish for it, they will always disappoint."
The figure moved closer, its words becoming a haunting refrain. Outside, the fourth man demanded Light's name,
Goon 2 (P.L 200, Assassin): I wouldn't want to be you. Hahaha. (He tightened his grip on Light's left arm.)
Goon 1 (P.L 200, Tanker): Don't hurt him too much. I want to join in too. (He licked his lips while restraining Light's other arm.)
Goon 3 (Normal): Hurry up already! I don't want to get wet when it starts raining.
Goon 4 (P.L 500): Hey, what’s your name, kid? (Light remained silent.) I asked you a question! (He punched Light in the stomach, but Light made no sound.)
Striking him with each unanswered question, Light remained silent.His mind lost in the words of his shadowy counterpart. Unfazed by his lack of response, the man intensified his onslaught, morphing his gauntlets into spiked weapons that pierced Light's flesh.
Inside Light's mind, he encountered his shadow self, a demonic figure with a devilish grin, inching closer with each step.
As the physical pain escalated, the figure in Light's mind reached out, its hand sinking into his chest to cradle his heart.
Show me the darkness you revealed when you killed Chuck. Let it consume you entirely. (The shadowy tendrils wrapped around Light’s heart, corrupting it further.)
"Welcome, Demon Lord Eidolon," the AI system greeted, its voice devoid of emotion.
Goon 3 (frustrated and approaching): Screw this!
A gunshot sounded, a bullet piercing Light's temple. He collapsed next to Lily's lifeless body, his world fading into darkness. The men celebrated their victory, their laughter echoing in the ominous silence.
Goon 1 (angry): Why did you do that? I didn’t get a turn! (He stomped on Light’s right arm, crushing his forearm bone.)
Goon 4 (out of breath): That bastard didn’t even give me his name or scream. This wasn’t fun at all.
Goon 2 (rummaging through Light’s pockets): Who cares about his name? He didn’t have anything on him!
But their celebration was cut short by a crunching noise, the sound of bones mending and flesh knitting back together.
They spun around, their eyes falling upon Light's body. The darkness around him seemed to grow denser, his lifeless red eyes piercing through the shadows.
"Devil's Grin Unlocked," the system announced. "Devil's Grin is a dark mask that glimmers with glass reflecting its master's inner darkness. Once worn, it cannot be removed."
Attributes of the Devil's Grin mask:
- Passive skill "Real Nightmare": The mask infuses the user's killing intent and mana, causing their mana to become visibly tainted with evil. This manifestation of evil intent consumes enemies with power levels weaker or equal to the Demon Lord, inflicting severe mental trauma upon them.
- Passive skill "Don't Kill Me": When the Demon Lord feigns weakness, it grants them increased physical strength and reduces the damage they receive. Smiling or laughing further augments their strength and mana. This skill also allows the Demon Lord to temporarily conceal their true power level. When the user reveals their full strength, all additional strength and mana gained through this skill become permanent additions to their power level.
- Unique passive skill "I Am You": When facing one or multiple enemies, the Demon Lord can temporarily copy their magical abilities, including their ultimate attacks. However, this ability remains in effect only until the Demon Lord's enemies are defeated or are no longer a threat.
Ultimate skill "Mirror of The Damned":
This skill enables the Demon Lord to create and control a world filled with mirrors. They can choose to trap their enemies' bodies or souls within these mirrors, subjecting them to eternal torture and suffering. The mirrors are impervious to destruction by any means, ensuring that the Demon Lord's victims are trapped indefinitely.
"You wanted to know my name?" he asked, his voice a haunting whisper. The men were too stunned to respond, their jeers and laughter replaced by terror.
"I am Eidolon, the Soulweaver," Light declared, his voice resonating with newfound power.
A thump on the ground caught their attention, and they turned to see Goon 3's decapitated body.
He dropped the decapitated head of the goon 3, crushing it beneath his foot. The sound of the skull cracking sent a chilling message to the remaining men: their turn was next.
His laughter echoed in the silence, a chilling prelude to the storm that was about to descend. The red rain continued to fall, the world bathed in its unholy glow. Light, now Eidolon, stood in the middle of it all, his eyes gleaming with a dark promise.
Eidolon, the Demon Lord, had risen. The world would never be the same again.