A new day

...

Alex stirred in his sleep, his mind reluctantly emerging from the clutches of slumber. His senses gradually returned to him, and as he blinked away the remnants of his dreams that seemed to be another life where he was a demonic existence!

...He realised that he was alone in bed. Emma, his partner, had already left for work.

'Already?! It's only 9am…' he sighed as he thought this

Emma worked as a nurse at the local hospital, a demanding yet deeply rewarding job that kept her occupied throughout the day. Her dedication to helping others had always been a source of pride for Alex.

As he lay there, he couldn't help but think about the events of the previous night, his journey as the lord of hell, and the comical yet fearsome Anubis who he had grown attached to. It all felt like a fantastical escape from the mundane reality of everyday life.

With another resigned sigh, he finally swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His morning routine was a well-practised dance. First, a quick shower to invigorate his senses and wash away the drowsiness. Then, teeth brushed and a simple breakfast consumed in solitude, and finally 100 sit ups.

After his morning rituals, Alex dressed in a plain grey hoodie and black sports joggers. He was a man who appreciated comfort over style, especially when he spent hours engrossed in the virtual realm. 

'Time to become the lord of hell…..'

With his VR headset in hand, he headed back to his bedroom, where the vivid, immersive world of the Lord of Hell awaited him. 

As he lay down on the bed and adjusted the headset over his eyes, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The allure of this fantastical world, with its demons, magic, and mysteries, was irresistible. It was a place where he could be the lord of hell, a powerful figure capable of shaping the destiny of many lives.

'Well…goodbye my bedroom!'

With a deep breath, he dived back into the digital abyss, leaving behind the ordinary world for the extraordinary adventures that awaited him in the Lord of Hell.

Alex returned to his previous location, the punishing grounds where Anubis carried out his relentless torment on batches of twenty souls at a time. Anubis, clad in his terrifying canine visage, continued his ceaseless work, and a wandering, zombie-like demon shuffled nearby.

The moment Alex appeared, both demons instantly prostrated themselves, showering him with praises that filled the cavernous space. "Welcome back, master!" they chimed in unison.

Alex couldn't help but grin at the sight, his character looking wickedly sinister as if he relished the worship that surrounded him.

"[Welcome back, Scythe! While you were away, 170 souls were punished repeatedly. You are rewarded with -145 common demon shards, which can be converted into 45 uncommon demon shards, 10 rare demon shards, or 1 epic demon shard!]" the system's voice informed him.

He pondered his options for a moment, contemplating whether to acquire more labourers or a single, more potent demon. Eventually, he settled on the latter. "I'll take the 10 rare demons," he decided.

[Affirmative]

A horde of demons emerged from the cave, each one distinct and bizarre in appearance. Some had four arms, others sported numerous eyes, and one resembled Anubis but with radiant silver fur. A few even possessed magical abilities, primarily related to the fire element. However, a unique wood demon caught his attention; it had a humanoid figure with a large row of teeth on its head. This demon wielded a peculiar nature-like power, capable of summoning roots from the ground to attack, though it had limited range.

As these diverse creatures appeared before him, thousands of years' worth of memories flowed into Alex's mind, yet he felt strangely unfazed despite the immense knowledge he had just acquired.

He was slightly disturbed by their appearance and once again impressed by the game

'How has no one ever played this hidden gem?!'

The newly summoned demons promptly prostrated themselves before Scythe, their voices rising in a chorus of praise. 

"THE LORD OF HELL'S REIGN SHALL BE ETERNAL!"

  they declared fervently, feeding his growing ego.

Alex couldn't help but revel in the adoration. 'Hahaha, I, Scythe, shall stand above all…well at least within this game,' he thought with a measure of amusement.

With a casual wave of his hand, he singled out three demons from the assembly and assigned them to the punishment zone, which could now accommodate both twenty souls and three demons.

His attention then shifted to Anubis and the silver-furred Anubis. He decided to keep things simple.

  "You, you're Anubis 1," he declared, pointing at the original Anubis. He then moved his finger to the newer silver-furred version. "And you're Anubis 2. Both of you will be in charge of teams consisting of three demons. Your mission is to reap the souls of all the surrounding villages and towns. Be cautious, as there may be unforeseen threats. Work strategically, and aim to instil as much fear as possible before eliminating the natives."

"Yes, my lord!" 

they responded in unison, their resolve unshaken.

Alex contemplated the task ahead, realizing that teleporting his demons constantly might become bothersome. Nevertheless, he resigned himself to the necessity and prepared to initiate the transfer.

He sighed, then reached out, grasping the wrist of one demon. The chain reaction commenced as the demon clasped another's wrist, and so it continued until both Anubises and their respective teams of three demons held each other's wrists. It was an odd and somewhat amusing sight.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the desolate ruins of the previous village. Alex's keen eyes immediately noted the absence of the young girl, replaced by a set of footprints that hinted at her departure.

"Hmm," Alex mused internally.

"Anubis 1," he commanded with authority, "you shall investigate these footprints and follow them to their destination. Do not engage unless you encounter a small group of people."

"Yes, my lord," Anubis replied dutifully, echoed by affirmations from the three demons in tow. With a nod, they set off on their investigative mission.

Alex's lips curled into a sinister grin, stretching almost ear to ear. "And you… shall reap the souls of these insignificant villages and towns!"

"Yes, my lord," the demons responded in unison before embarking on their mission.

'I could get used to this,' Alex mused with dark amusement, his character letting out a hoarse laugh, though no one was there to hear it.

With a thought, he vanished using instant transportation.