Chapter 21: Turn Back to the Village!

*Jasper Shaw*

Since when did kingdoms start causing wars... It seems like the peaceful times Asmodeus and I built are coming to an end. What could be the reason? Neither humans nor other races weren't supposed to pursue more power...

Anyway, I can investigate that later. Now that I've got my blood, what should I do?

****

Jasper decided to return to the television. The TV had turned off for some reason, and when he picked up the remote and pressed the buttons, it didn't turn on.

'What's going on? Why is it not working?' he thought.

At that moment, he sensed someone sneaking around the castle and thought,

'Better than nothing,' and then put on his cloak and headed downstairs.

He felt a similar kind of divine power that he felt from Aric but he just kept watching.

The intruder was stealing things from random rooms. Seeing this, Jasper decided to set up the same timestop trap.

Once the intruder was caught, Jasper injected his blood cells into his brain, enabling him to see the intruder's system. The system's mission read:

[Steal from the Demon King]

[Reward: 200 Ninja Points]

[Penalty: -50 Ninja Points and Extra Training]

Jasper thought, 'Demon King? Me? Why do they keep calling me that?' Despite his confusion, he felt a surge of excitement.

Jasper began preparing one of his castle's rooms. He expanded this room's size internally, but externally it remained the same because it extended into another dimension. Jasper's blood rushed into the room, and every inch it touched transformed into a jungle.

Satisfied with his work, Jasper teleported himself and the intruder into the newly transformed jungle room.

The intruder blinked in surprise, looking around the jungle that had sprung up inside the castle room. "Where are we? And who are you?" he demanded.

Jasper crossed his arms, taking a deep breath, and shouted, "Turn back to the village! Everyone is waiting for you!"

The intruder looked even more confused. "I don't know who you are, but I'm Hiroshi, the Silent Shadow. I'm here on a mission."

Suddenly, Hiroshi's system pinged with a new message:

[Early Encounter with the Demon King][Objective: Survive]

[Penalty for Failure: Death]

Hiroshi's eyes widened in fear, but he quickly steeled himself, getting ready to fight. Jasper smirked...

Hiroshi charged, and the battle began. Jasper moved with deliberate slowness, allowing Hiroshi to land several hits. When Hiroshi used a flurry of shurikens, Jasper dodged most of them but let a few graze him.

"I won't let you take anything from my castle!" Jasper yelled and cloned himself. He gathered energy in his hand, forming a swirling orb of blood. "Crimson Vortex Rasengaaaan!" he screamed, slamming it into Hiroshi. The attack was flashy but did little damage, causing Hiroshi to laugh in triumph.

"I'm actually beating the Demon King!" Hiroshi exclaimed, excitement in his voice.

Hiroshi continued his attacks, Jasper bracing every shuriken and spell, staggering back with each blow. Hiroshi empowered his sword, swinging it with a shout "Take this!".

A massive mana attack erupted from his blade, striking Jasper and causing a tremendous explosion.

As the smoke slowly cleared, Jasper appeared. He was on his knees, hands resting on the ground in front of him.

At that moment, Jasper sneaked a smile. 'Finally, I might be able to do my ultimate jutsu,' he thought. Out of nowhere, his chubby golem appeared, playing a sad melody on its flute. Hiroshi looked around, bewildered. "What's going on?"

The room darkened, and visuals of a sad backstory began to play, showing Jasper using a system. Visual started with a scene that Jasper is sitting on a swing as a kid and villagers ignoring him... Jasper's voice took on a melancholic tone. "We are the same. I used to be like you, controlled by a system. Every move, every decision dictated. I was just a pawn..."

Hiroshi scoffed, "Don't try to trick me, Demon King. I don't need your pity story."

Jasper continued, ignoring the remark, "I know what it feels like to be trapped, to be a tool for someone else's plans. Every day, I woke up with my actions controlled by a system. I didn't even know who I was anymore."

Hiroshi hesitated, his attacks slowing. "You... you had a system too?"

"Yes," Jasper replied, his eyes distant as he recalled his past. "It pushed me to conquer, to destroy, to follow its commands without question. But inside, I was dying. I lost friends, loved ones... I lost myself."

Hiroshi's eyes widened slightly, his resolve wavering. "Why should I believe you?"

"Look at me," Jasper said, spreading his arms. "Do I look like someone who hasn't suffered? I broke free, Hiroshi. I found a way to live my own life, to make my own choices and I achieved my dream, to become a Demon King tatte...datte...boyo?"

Hiroshi shook his head, tears forming. "But... but what can I do? The system controls me. It has my life in its hands."

"You can fight it," Jasper urged. "You can find your own path. It's not easy, but it's possible. I did it, and so can you."

Hiroshi's tears started to flow freely. "But... I'm scared. What if I fail? What if the system punishes me?"

"Fear is natural," Jasper said, his voice gentle but firm. "But you have to face it. You have to decide whether you want to be a slave or a free man. The choice is yours, Hiroshi."

Hiroshi fell to his knees, sobbing. "I... I don't want to be controlled anymore. I want to be free."

Jasper approached Hiroshi and placed a hand on His shoulder. "You can do it. Just believe in yourself and your new path."

Hiroshi looked up at Jasper, his eyes full of determination. "I'll do it. I'll find my own way. Here, take everything I stole." He handed back the items he had taken. "I'll become a farmer, find a beautiful woman and live a happy life with my family, away from all this."

Jasper nodded, helping Hiroshi to his feet. "You have the strength to make it. Remember, the real power comes from within."

After everything was over, the surroundings brightened and the fake images of Jasper's previous life disappeared.

The system started to buzz in red,

[Warning, Warning...]

[Positive Relationship Detected with Demon King. Penalty Applied...]

After the system's message, Hiroshi began to feel intense pain, his bones starting to break from within, and he screamed and cried for help as he was crushed under immense gravity until nothing remained of him but his blood.

Jasper, watching the scene... said in surprise, "Oh shiii... Ehm... Whatever"

Jasper left the room happily, intending to return to drinking his blood, but for the first time in a long while, he decided to rectify what he had caused.

He recreated Hiroshi's body from the pool of blood on the floor and restored his soul in his palm and put it back into it.

Hiroshi returned to life with an expression of pain and fear, screaming as he realized he was alive. He looked down at his body in disbelief.

"I'm not dead?!" he exclaimed.

"No one can leave my castle without my will, not even their souls"

Jasper put his hand on Hiroshi's shoulder and said, "You're free now, Sasgae. You can return to the village."

"Um... My name is Hiroshi? And the system, is it gone now?" Hiroshi asked.

Jasper pointed upwards, "I gave you a new one," he said.

Hiroshi looked up and saw the system messages in crimson red,

[Mission: Live Your Fucking Life Sasgae!]

Just as Hiroshi was about to curse in frustration, "Who the hell is Sasgae?! Fi-", Jasper snapped his fingers and Hiroshi found himself in a village...

Jasper had a satisfied expression on his face and happily went to drink his blood...