17 Chapter 15 - Music

"yo" - Speech

'yo' - Thougths

*yo* - Sounds

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Heavy breathing echoed through the body-littered clearing, as if the very air itself struggled to recover from the intensity of the battle. The pungent stench of blood and decay mingled in a symphony of unpleasantness, serving as a potent reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. And there, amidst the gruesome aftermath, perched a lone demon atop a small mound of demon corpses, its victorious gaze surveying the desolation with a mix of pride and a hint of weariness.

The demon, its menacing aura momentarily softened by a touch of exhaustion, sat upon its makeshift throne of fallen brethren.

Its posture spoke volumes: 'Man... This sure is exhausting' As its golden yellow eyes scanned the scene, a flicker of satisfaction danced in their depths, mingling with the faintest traces of fatigue. It was a look that said, 'I may have become a fearsome demon, but even I need a breather. sigh'

Kael's Advanced regeneration ability, a common trope in fantasy and gaming contexts, possessed the extraordinary power to restore and replenish his health or vitality over time. Its focus, however, remained firmly fixed on the mending of physical wounds, injuries, or mortal afflictions.

In contrast, stamina stood as a distinct attribute, representing his endurance, energy, and the relentless tide of fatigue. It determined his capacity to persevere through long stretches of exertion, acting as a wellspring of fortitude to fuel his endeavors.

As Kael contemplated his abilities, a wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "If only there were a level-up system in place," he mused aloud, "I'm certain my stamina would have received a well-deserved boost."

"Anyways, although cool, sitting on a pile of corpses definitely isn't comfortable." Despite the peculiar satisfaction welling up inside him, Kael couldn't deny that sitting on a pile of corpses was far from comfortable.

It was an unconventional throne, to say the least. Yet, as he mused over the strange connection between his newfound demon physiology and this macabre indulgence, he decided to let the thought drift away.

With a deliberate shake of his head, Kael banished the lingering musings. He allowed his instincts to take over as he gracefully leaped down from the mound, his descent accompanied by the subtle movement of his wings. The air whispered softly against his fleshy wings as he touched the ground with a seamless elegance, every motion flowing together in perfect harmony.

"I guess I'll keep this up for a week or so," he pondered, his wings unfurling with a confident sweep. He soared, wanting to immediately go back and shut his eye.

'What a tiring day....'

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'Sigh... It's been four days. I've been doing nothing but eat, fight, and sleep...' Kael found himself engrossed in a routine of relentless battles and scarce moments of rest.

'Initially, I planned to keep this up for at least a week or so — honing my skills, gaining battle experience, and accumulating enough souls to purchase the Horadric Cube. My goal was to acquire at least a skill or two, enhancing my abilities and ensuring a greater measure of safety in my first trip to another world.'

Though he doubts that he can do so now. In the past four days, besides his 'usual' routine. He also has his "Flying time" — where he cherished the precious moments of solitude in this vast expanse of the Upper Abyss.

In those times, all he did was fly and wash his brain with the constant bloodshed and boredom. Listening to music and just enjoying the hot comforting air rushed past him.

How can he listen to music? Well that's for later.

Anyway, besides that, he've also been trying to recall the small details from the story. In which he remembered — the price of the Horadric Cube! Though vague, now, he can remember that in the original story, the Horadric Cube was first obtained in the Might and Magic World which roughly cost... 300? 400? aaa anyway, he was sure it was at least at that price range.

And that cube only transmutes Low Quality souls into High ones! And he had this foolish thought of creating the Horadric Cube to transmute not only Low to High but also to Supreme ones! Which could only be obtained from angels, True Angels! Not artificial ones and from high ranking demons.

Considering that, he can confidently say that it'll surely cost more. Though he has no desire to end up in a similar situation like Roy's first summon, where he had narrowly escaped by the skin of his teeth, relying solely on luck.

He currently doesn't have the time and patience to amass such a vast amount of souls. Although yes, it's possible, it'll surely take time. Whereas, venturing into another world will present much more enticing opportunities.

And It's not like he was exactly lacking in the strength department — 'I mean, if I'm not mistaken, my current strength. Disregarding magic, is even stronger than Roy. Even if he activated bloodlust when he first got it. You know, that first skill he acquired called Bloodlust? Yeah, that one. It enabled him to put up a fight even against Xeron, a high-ranking demon. Though sure, he ultimately lost due to magic, he did 'put up a fight'.' Thinking that, he smiled.

Besides that, it did get monotonous. Who wouldn't grow weary when their days consisted solely of fighting and sleeping? Seeing the same gloomy shit and stuff everyday, who wouldn't?

As a man who had once thrived in the fast-paced world of the 21st century, Kael couldn't help but long for the familiarity of his old life, where technnology and smartphones were a constant companion. However, he acknowledged that despite the challenges and occasional boredom, he would still choose this extraordinary life if given the chance again.

The thrill and exhilaration that permeated every aspect of his current reality far surpassed anything Earth could offer. The boundless growth of his powers, the visceral joy of combat, and the freedom of flight were experiences beyond the realm of possibility in his previous mundane existence.

Though he occasionally yearned for the tranquility and peace he once knew, Kael understood that the price of such serenity would be relinquishing the extraordinary journey he now and will embarked upon. And besides, maybe one day he can find his way back home...

"Though my return won't follow the same old script," he grinned, a hint of mystery in his playful tone.

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♪ "Cause baby~

When you left I lost a part of me,

It's still so hard to believe,

Comeback baby please,

'Cause we belong together~" ♪

A rough *Cough* Heavenly demonic voice resounded through the skies of the upper abyss. The sound emanated from a peculiar sight—a flying black demon gracefully maneuvering through the air, its movements seemingly choreographed to the melodic tune it sang. The juxtaposition of the angelic voice and the demonic entity created a whimsical and humorous scene, leaving all who witnessed it in awe and amusement.

This demon was obviously Kael, as for why he was singing and all? Well, remember what he said about listening to music earlier? This was it. After four days of accumulation and having enough soul to spare.

Having decided his next course of action, he decided to just address his boredom, through which he created a device or more likely an item.

This item comes in the form of iconic earrings, having the same appearance as those of kurapika. These earrings were designed to capture the essence of his look, featuring the same eye-catching design as his own. The main difference lies in the gem color, which perfectly matches the golden-yellow shade of his eyes. This creates a striking and eye-catching effect that beautifully complements his unique appearance.

Though the appearance was not important as it has [Shape-shifting aesthetics] which let him alter its appearance to suit his whims.

This item was named [Harmonix Echo Earrings] by the system, which made him think twice about its naming capabilities. The mods and features were; [Infinite Music Library] , [Thought-Controlled Playback], [Soundproof Bubble], [Thought-Volume Attunement], [Musical Aura Synchronization], and lastly [Supreme Sound Fidelity].

While the cost was only 20 souls! How good was that. After a long time of contemplation, he decided that this was the perfect item to satisfy boredom. Phones, manga's and other stuff simply isn't 'ideal' in his current situation. So he left that for when he acquired his own 'home' when he became a high-ranking demon/demon lord.

With a simple thought, Kael silenced the music and let the soundproof bubble dissipate. He landed gracefully on the edge of a cliff, his movements as fluid as the melodies he had just experienced. It was time to retreat to the sanctuary of his cave and finish his preparations.

As he stepped into the familiar darkness, Kael couldn't help but reflect on the past Four days. Though short, he had tirelessly amassed souls, preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead. The battle experience he had gained was now a formidable arsenal, ensuring that he wouldn't fall prey to mere scrubs. He was even confident to hold his own against seasoned fighters, considering his own strength and vast arsenal of tricks.

Having accumulated a total of [140] souls, Kael now boasted an impressive stash of [224]. While it wasn't an absurdly high number, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

The reason his soul count wasn't through the roof was because he had been engaged in constant battles and mercilessly slaughtered demons near the sacred altar. His relentless fighting had caused the already low 'visitors' to the altar to dwindle significantly. Though there were still a few demons who succumbed to their instincts and greed, approaching the altar, their numbers were minuscule compared to before.

Some of the souls were even gained when he was flying and roaming through the vast abyss.

He've also encountered other Top-low-rank demons, but most of them were territorial. Only hunting in the proximity of their territory. Cases like Seven were rare, as it's not everyday that a high quality soul pops up. He hasn't even encountered such an event in the past week! That's just how rare High quality souls were.

As Kael landed atop the cliff, he swiftly accessed his system. With a purposeful gesture, he proceeded to incorporate two new definitions into his wings: [Soundless] and [Retractable]. The upgrade came at a cost of 30 souls, diminishing his total count to [194].

Though not really needed, he still proceeded to add another modification to his wings.

High-Speed Flight, maximum speed Mach 1! costing him forty-six souls, leaving him with [148] souls.

Yeah, just like Roy in his time in the Might and Magic world, he decided to add that little gem to his own bag of tricks. It wasn't really a must-have currently, but hey, better be safe than sorry, right?

After all that was done, he got up and walked to the edge of the cliff.

As for the soul collecting flag? He has plans for that, and will address it in his stay in his first world. Yeah, definitely that. Not that the author forgot the price or anything.

Shaking those thoughts away, he leaped, letting himself fall forward off the cliff, feeling the hot but refreshing wind rush past him. His wings silently flapped, not producing any sound.

His destination— The altar.

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Hey, what's up, everyone? I gotta be honest, my energy levels are at an all-time low right now, and I'm sure you can totally relate. School has been an absolute rollercoaster of exhaustion lately. I mean, seriously, imagine having to drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn, scrambling to get ready by some ungodly hour... It's been absolutely brutal. And let me tell you, on the very first day, I barely had time to catch some Z's. I'm talking a measly two hours of sleep. Ugh, the struggle is real, my friends.

But hey, enough about my sleep-deprived adventures. I know you've all been eagerly waiting for today's chapter, and I want to apologize right off the bat because, well, it's fashionably late. Blame it on the wonky Wi-Fi and my cellular data being absolute garbage. You know how it goes, right? Being poor can be a real pain sometimes.

So, without further ado, here it is, folks. I have to warn you, though—it might not be my usual A-game. Time has been playing tricks on me, slipping through my fingers like sand, and I haven't had the chance to polish it up as much as I'd like. But fret not, my friends! I've poured my heart and soul into this chapter, even amidst the chaos. So please bear with me, keep an open mind, and let's make the most of it together.

Now, get cozy, grab your favorite snack, and get ready to be whisked away into a world of adventure and imagination. It's time to put the stress of the day aside and lose ourselves in the story. And remember, even though my energy might not be at its peak, I'm here right by your side, sharing this journey with you. So buckle up, and ready those stones my friends, because we're about to embark on another wild ride. Let's dive in and enjoy every moment!

Oh, and please get me that ratings 😭🙏. Will really appreciate it if you leave a review! It will be truly motivating...