Rebirth: I Am The Devil

[Lucifer's POV]

'I just have to bid my time, and find the cracks in this system's design. If it truly seeks to manipulate me, I'll use its own tools against it. Every trial, every skill—I'll turn them into stepping stones for my freedom, not chains to bind me.'

"Y"

The system prompt dissolved into a faint shimmer as I made my choice. The letter "Y" felt heavy on my tongue, though I hadn't spoken it aloud. It was as if my will alone was enough to seal the agreement.

[Ding! Mission Accepted.]

[Objective: Locate and defeat the Dungeon Boss.]

[Warning: The Dungeon Boss's strength is significantly higher than that of previous adversaries. Prepare accordingly.]

"Well, of course. It's called boss for a reason," I muttered to myself, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. The system had given me a fair warning, but it seemed like it always did. It tried to play the part of a guide, pushing me along with the promise of power, yet I knew better than to rely on its "warnings."

I scanned the eerie surroundings, my eyes narrowing as I took in the scorched remnants of battle. The twisted, charred trees loomed like grotesque sentinels, their crimson-and-black leaves casting unsettling shadows under the blood-red sky. The oppressive atmosphere gnawed at my senses, urging me to move, yet offering no clear direction.

"Logically speaking, a dungeon boss should be located in the deepest section of a dungeon," I muttered to myself, my voice low. "But which direction is it?"

The system had provided no map, no marker—only the task. Typical. It was as if it enjoyed watching me stumble through its trials like a rat in a labyrinth. I clenched my fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn't afford to waste time.

Drawing on my instincts, I closed my eyes and extended my senses, searching for any trace of the dungeon boss. The faint crackle of Hellfire lingered around me, its energy sharp and volatile, but it was my only tool to cut through the oppressive haze.

"Come on," I whispered, concentrating harder.

And then I felt it—a faint pulse, barely perceptible, but unmistakable. It was like a heartbeat, distant yet heavy, resonating from somewhere deep within the dungeon. It wasn't just power; it was a presence, ancient and malicious, that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

"That must be it," I said, opening my eyes.

The pulse came from the west—or what I assumed was west, given the distorted, otherworldly nature of this place. The air seemed thicker in that direction, the shadows darker, and the oppressive weight even more suffocating. It was as if the dungeon itself was warning me away.

"Too bad," I muttered, a smirk tugging at my lips despite the tension. "I don't take warnings lightly."

I took a step forward, the scorched earth crunching beneath my boots as I made my way toward the pulse of energy. The dungeon seemed to respond to my movement, the air growing heavier with every step. The shadows stretched and writhed like living things, their edges sharp and jagged, as though they sought to ensnare me.

Hellfire simmered beneath my skin, a comforting reminder of the power I wielded. My muscles ached, my energy drained, but I would not falter. I couldn't afford to. The system's ultimatum left no room for hesitation, and my own determination left no space for doubt.

As I pressed on, the landscape around me began to shift. The charred remains of trees gave way to jagged obsidian spires that jutted from the ground like the teeth of some massive, long-dead beast. The air was colder here, biting at my exposed skin despite the ever-present heat of Hellfire coursing through me.

The pulse of the dungeon boss grew stronger, each beat resonating in my chest like a drum. It was close now, its presence oppressive and overwhelming, yet it stirred something within me—an unyielding resolve, a fierce defiance. Whatever awaited me ahead, I would face it with everything I had.

The path narrowed, leading into a cavern carved from black stone. Crimson veins pulsed within the walls, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the darkness. The sound of dripping liquid echoed faintly, each drop a harbinger of the confrontation to come. I stepped inside, my senses heightened, every nerve on edge.

But just as I reached the cavern—

Swish~

My instinct screamed for me to move aside, and I obeyed without hesitation, throwing myself to the ground as something sharp and fast sliced through the air where my head had just been.

An air slash?!

As I saw a crescent-shaped blade of compressed air carve into the obsidian wall, leaving a deep, jagged gash. The sheer force of the attack sent shards of rock clattering to the ground, and the weight of its power confirmed one thing: I wasn't alone.

Swish~ Swish~ Swish~

But before I could think further my instinct again flared as multiple blades of compressed air tore through the cavern, each one aimed with deadly precision. I twisted and rolled, narrowly avoiding the onslaught, though the sheer speed and ferocity of the attacks left me breathless. The cavern echoed with the violent slashes, the walls trembling under the relentless barrage.

Hastily, I threw myself behind a jagged obsidian pillar, using it as a temporary cover. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins as I tried to catch my breath. The onslaught of air slashes stopped momentarily, leaving a tense silence that was almost deafening.

From a small hole, I tried to get a glimpse of the source of the attacks. Shadows shifted, and I could barely make out the figure of my assailant—

Gasp!

I saw more than a dozen like twentyish or something, they stood on two legs but I could only see their wolf-like jaws.

Swish~

The realization hit me like a thunderclap. These were no mere beasts. The creatures I was facing were wind-elemental predators, using the air as their weapon. Their sharp claws had been generating the air slashes, the energy coiling around them with deadly precision.

I quickly analyzed the situation. The cavern was too tight for me to use my usual techniques to their full potential, and these creatures seemed to be adapted for this confined environment. But I wasn't helpless—I had learned to adapt before, and this time would be no different.

I clenched my fist, feeling the pulsating heat of Hellfire stir within me. There was power at my disposal, but I couldn't let it consume me recklessly, not in a space like this. I needed precision, not chaos.

A flicker of movement from the shadows caught my eye. I saw the silhouette of one of the creatures approaching, its razor-sharp claws glinting in the dim crimson light. It moved with unnerving grace, its predatory instincts guiding it as it homed in on my location.

Time to test a theory.

I smirked, lifting a hand and conjuring extra thin arrows from hellfire, as I condensed the arrow to be as small as possible without losing control of it.

Air around me shimmered with the pressure I had generated, as the thin hellfire arrow began to form between my fingers. I condensed the flame to its most compact form, making it sharp and concentrated enough to pierce through the dense, swirling air of the cavern. The power within it pulsed, but I kept it contained, and focused.

As the creature neared, its claws gleaming with razor-like precision, I let the arrow fly. It whizzed through the air with a silent hiss, faster than the creature could react.

The arrow struck true, embedding itself directly in the creature's throat. Piercing the throat like a drill and exiting from the other side, the creature let out a strangled gurgle, its body jerking violently before collapsing into the shadows. Its death was swift, the hellfire arrow burning through its essence as it evaporated into ashes.

[+5 Exp]

I exhaled, the tension in my muscles easing slightly. That had been too close. The remaining creatures seemed to hesitate, perhaps sensing the shift in the battle's momentum, but it was too late. They had seen the lethal precision of my attack.

I quickly recalibrated, conjuring more arrows as the next few creatures darted toward me, their eyes glowing with primal hunger. They moved like shadows, their bodies sleek and fast, but they couldn't outrun the flame.

I loosed another pair of arrows, their forms cutting through the air with a deadly hum. The creatures had no time to react before the arrows struck, each one finding its mark in the neck or heart of their intended target. The hellfire arrows, concentrated and potent, reduced their bodies to ash in seconds.

[+5 Exp]

[+5 Exp]

The others paused, their growls low and guttural, the shadows of doubt creeping into their movements. They could sense the shift, the realization that their pack was no longer as invincible as they thought.

Still hiding behind the pillar I saw their confusion, a small smirk made its way

across my lips. They were starting to understand that I wasn't just another prey for them to toy with. These creatures—wind-elementals, fast and precise—had met their match. But they wouldn't be the last to challenge me in this dungeon.

One of the remaining beasts, larger than the rest, growled low and loud, stepping forward with an eerie confidence. Its fur rippled with the energy of the wind, and its eyes gleamed with a predatory intelligence. The others seemed to fall in line behind it, their movements synchronizing, the air around them humming with energy.

It wasn't just their strength I had to worry about now. The air in the cavern grew heavier, crackling with the tension of a coordinated attack. They were about to launch another barrage, but this time, it felt different—more precise, more calculated. This wasn't a simple mindless assault; they were adapting.

I could feel the pressure in the air shift, the temperature rising as the creatures readied themselves. The cavern walls vibrated from the intensity of the wind they were conjuring, their claws sparking with energy as they prepared to unleash another series of air slashes.

I wasn't going to wait for them to strike first.

I surged forward, using my own speed and Hellfire to augment my movement. With a burst of flame propelling me, I dashed from behind the pillar, making myself a moving target. The wind-beasts reacted instantly, their claws slicing the air with lethal intent. But they weren't fast enough.

I had already conjured more Hellfire arrows, but this time, I didn't wait for them to come close. I loosed a volley of arrows, five in total, each aimed with deadly precision at the creatures charging toward me.

The first two arrows struck the lead beast in its chest, igniting it in flames as it let out a guttural howl, collapsing mid-step. The remaining arrows flew true, catching the others in the necks and heads, leaving no time for them to react.

[+5 Exp]

[+5 Exp]

[+5 Exp]

[+5 Exp]

[+5Exp]

Swish~ Swish~ Swish~ Swish~

'Shit!'

[Shit indeed~]

.

..

...

[To Be Continue]

***

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