Prologue

Deep in a vast forest filled with enormous grey trees, beneath one of the largest trees, lies a gruesome sight. Upon closer inspection, the object is revealed to be a slender, short man named Zatiel. 

Zatiel was an apprentice from the Zanabi Tower who other apprentices brought in due to his exceptional magical talent. As a young apprentice, Zatiel dreamed of casting powerful spells and battling fierce monsters, but as he learned more about the world of Magi, he realized the true horrors that surrounded him. Magi are pragmatic beings who value power above all else, and apprentice magi are willing to do whatever it takes to become stronger. 

Concepts like morality and friendship were meaningless to those that called themselves Magi. Due to his innocence, Zatiel found himself on the brink of death with nothing to show for his efforts.

"So this is the end, how pathetic."

Despite his body getting weaker and weaker, his eyes show an exceptional coldness that should not be present in someone so young and inexperienced.

But even more strange was the chaotic madness hiding behind those eyes, which made his heartbeat stronger even when he was about to die. Zatiel's eyes were closing for the last time when he heard a sound.

[Bip... The minimum threshold of spirit has been reached. Initiating memories upload.]

Zatiel did not have time to wonder about what the weird yet familiar voice was when an immense pain began in his head. The pain was so intense that Zatiel could swear someone had opened his skull and inserted a hot piece of metal in his brain.

"Aaaahh!"

A dry scream came out from his mouth, but he was in so much pain and with injuries so grave that he couldn't even scream properly. After a couple of minutes that felt like years to the young man, the pain finally stopped.

[Bip... Loading of memories from the first level completed. The next level of memories will begin when the next threshold is reached.]

Zatiel stopped moving, and his body remained still like a corpse. Still, after a couple of minutes, he finally opened his eyes with coldness infinitely stronger than before appearing in them.

" I, Zatiel, Abyssal lord, Ruler of death and destruction, Nightmare of Dys, have finally AWAKENED!!!"

"A.I. Chip, scan me!"