From Failure to SS-Rank: The Demon Lords Rebirth

Chapter 1: The Demon Lord Awakens



The battlefield was full of death and fear. Morrath stood tall in the middle of the chaos, his black armor covered in the blood of his enemies. His glowing red eyes scanned the field, seeing broken bodies and shattered weapons all around him. The soldiers who still stood trembled, their swords shaking in their hands.

A knight stepped forward, trying to look brave, but his voice wavered. "Morrath! You will die here! For the Kingdom of Elvaris!"

Morrath laughed, low and cruel. "Die? I do not die. But you… you will kneel before me." His voice was dark and cold, sending shivers down the knight's spine.

Morrath raised his hand, and shadows curled around his fingers like snakes. They shot forward, wrapping around the knight's legs. He screamed as the shadows ripped his legs from his body, sending the Knight to the ground. His body writhed and shook until his cries stopped, and his body went limp.

The other soldiers froze, fear spreading among them like fire. "Hold your ground!" shouted their captain, his golden glaive shining in the smoky air. "He's just a monster! Monsters can bleed! Fight!"

Morrath smiled, showing sharp teeth. "Bleed? Let me show you what true fear looks like." He lifted his massive sword, which began to glow with a deep red light, pulsing like a heartbeat.

He ran toward the soldiers, his heavy blade cutting through the air. The first man in his path raised his shield, but Morrath's sword smashed through it and split the man in two. Blood sprayed across the ground as Morrath kept moving, each swing of his blade cutting down another soldier.

A fireball shot toward him, the heat burning the air around it. Morrath didn't flinch. He waved his hand, and a wall of shadows rose in front of him, swallowing the fire. When the flames disappeared, Morrath chuckled. "Is that all your magic can do? Pathetic."

The captain roared and charged at Morrath, his glaive aimed for the Demon Lord's chest. Morrath dodged easily, stepping aside and twisting his sword. The blade sank into the captain's side. The man gasped, blood pouring from his wound as Morrath leaned closer.

"Do you see now?" Morrath whispered, his voice dripping with hate. "Your gods have abandoned you. Your kingdom is already lost."

With a sharp pull, Morrath yanked the blade free. The captain collapsed, coughing blood as life left his eyes. The remaining soldiers panicked, dropping their weapons and trying to run. Morrath raised his hand again, and the shadows obeyed. They formed spikes that shot forward, piercing the fleeing soldiers one by one. Their screams filled the air before fading into silence.

When the battle ended, Morrath stood alone. The ground around him was soaked with blood. Broken banners and swords were scattered everywhere. He lowered his blade, its glow fading as he caught his breath.

[Threat defeated. Progress: 25%. Level up available.]

The system's calm message appeared in his vision, clear and cold. Morrath closed his eyes for a moment. A question echoed in his mind: How did I get here?

 

…Memories of his old life came rushing back. He wasn't always Morrath, the powerful Demon Lord. He was Frank—a man beaten down by life, his 51 years on Earth feeling like a lifetime of failures stacked one on top of the other.

He was tired, not just physically but in his very soul, the kind of exhaustion that came from carrying regret and disappointment for far too long. He had failed at love, failed at being a father, and failed at finding even a shred of happiness.

Flashes of his small, messy apartment filled his mind. The air had always smelled stale, a mix of old food and loneliness. Piles of takeout containers had become fixtures, cluttering the corners of the room, reminders of meals eaten alone in front of a muted TV.

The photos on the walls were buried in dust, faces smiling brightly in a time that felt like someone else's life. His ex-wife. His daughter as a baby. A version of himself who still believed in hope.

Frank's chest tightened as he heard his sister's voice in his head, her words kind but tinged with worry.

"Frank, come to dinner. It's been too long. Just the family. You don't have to be alone."

But he had ignored the call. He remembered staring at the phone as it buzzed, watching her name light up the screen. His finger had hovered over the answer button before he'd let it ring out.

The thought of sitting at a table with her and her family had filled him with dread. What would they talk about? Her life, so full of meaning, so opposite to his? He couldn't face her pity—the way she always looked at him like she wanted to fix him but knew she couldn't.

The weight of that thought had crushed him, so he had turned back to his computer. To Underworld Online. 

 

…The memory shifted to the game's final night. The servers were shutting down, and Frank had typed his last message to his online friends: "Take care. It's been great." He didn't think they cared much. They didn't even know his real name. But that was fine. He didn't want them to.

He guided Morrath to the throne for the last time. The notification popped up:

"The Demon Lord takes his seat, awaiting his destiny."

Frank had laughed bitterly. Destiny? That wasn't for people like him. Then the screen flickered. A bright light filled the room, and the world as he knew it disappeared.

 

…Morrath opened his eyes, the battlefield snapping back into view. Blood pooled at his feet. The air smelled of fire and death. His enemies were gone, their bodies lying still in the dirt.

This wasn't a game anymore. The system wasn't just code—it was his life now. He stared at his hands, feeling the dark power flowing through them.

In the distance, horns blew, announcing the arrival of more soldiers. Morrath tightened his grip on his sword. The glow of his demonic aura returned, burning brighter.

"Morrath," he muttered to himself, his deep voice steady. "You're not Frank anymore. This world gave you a second chance. Don't waste it."

As the reinforcements marched closer, Morrath stepped forward, his shadowy power swirling around him. He would rise. And this time, nothing would stop him.


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