The Trash Author Cleans his Novel

'Status,' I commanded while walking through Vircadia's busy streets.

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Name: Arcine d'Vyde

Race: Human -> Shadow Demon

Age: 15

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TRAITS

> Author's Authority: F-Rank (0/3)

> Angelic Light (Elemental Affinity): F-Rank (0/3)

> Shadow Demon Body (Physique): F-Rank (0/3)

> True Shadow (Racial Trait): F-Rank (0/3)

PHYSIQUE

> STR: F-Rank (0/3)

> DEX: F-Rank (0/3)

> RES: F-Rank (0/3)

MAGIC

> INT: F-Rank (0/3)

> FLUX: F-Rank (0/3)

> M-RES: F-Rank (0/3)

MISC

> LCK: F-Rank (0/3)

> PER: F-Rank (0/3)

> CHA: F-Rank (0/3)

> WIL: F-Rank (0/3)

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Nodding to myself, I then zeroed in on my changed Race.

'System, give me the description of my Race.'

—Ding.

[ Command registered. Displaying description... ]

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Race: Shadow Demon

Description: A race of lesser demons born from the abyssal wells of the Demon Realm. Highly proficient in Shadow Assassination Arts and Dark Magic, their fragile physiques can only survive in shaded locations and the darkness of the night.

Weakness: Sunlight, Light Magic, Holy Magic

Warnings: Shadow Demons are adaptable and capable of rapid evolution through killing.

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'I hope this works out well...'

Thinking this, I accepted the precarious situation I placed myself in. As a Shadow Demon walking through the streets of Vircadia, death would come for me with one small misstep. 

However, it would be a worthy investment. After all, godhood could only be achieved using two opposing characteristics to form a [Paradox]. Without a [Paradox], one will never succeed in their apotheosis.

This was merely in preparation for such a future.

It was also an excellent gamble on my part. After all, there was another change that occurred to my status.

[ > Author's Authority: F-Rank (0/3) ]

Suddenly, it had a rank. Weird, no? Well...

'System, give me the updated description of the Trait, Author's Authority.'

—Ding.

[ Command registered. Displaying description... ]

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Trait: Author's Authority

Rank: F (NEW!)

Description: A trait wielded only by the creator of all things.

Skill (1): Aura of Depth

***

Skill: Aura of Depth

Description: An aura that changes the settings of things that come within a certain range of you. Deepens your shallow writing. 

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This [Aura of Depth] intrigued me. Changing the setting of my novel? It sounded magical, even in this world of magic. After all, it bordered on altering the laws of the world itself.

Furthermore, it didn't seem like I had control over this aura.

It would make adjustments by itself.

'This means that I can't trust the simple plotlines I had once written...' 

I smacked my lips. A sense of foreboding grew in my gut.

A bad feeling slowly crept through my veins. Suddenly the faces around me bore a lot more detail.

It was as if everything I could see was slowly gaining a life of its own. Lives were being crafted out of thin air.

Contexts were being built out of nowhere.

Perhaps even a simple pebble on the road would have an extensive backstory.

'Damn...'

I had a feeling I was right, causing cold sweat to trickle down my back.

The sense of foreboding was growing.

—Ping!

A notification pulled me out of my dark thoughts. Feeling the vibration in my pocket, I realized that I owned a phone in this world.

Pulling out what I thought was a phone, I quickly realized that it was something else.

It was a card. One that summoned a screen visible only to me, a clear imitation of the System that governed my novel.

[ Congratulations! ]

[ Your application to Vircadia's Hero Academy, Shyveon has been accepted. Please bring your weapons and yourself to the Class Examination venue in three days. That is, August 15, 4016 at 0700 hours at the Shyveon Coliseum. ]

[ Failure to take the examination will result in an immediate expulsion. Please be mindful of your time, Hero. ]

"Oh,"

That was one problem solved.

However...

"A test right after getting accepted? What the hell was I up to back then? Also, when did I send an application?"

Exasperation filled my lungs. I didn't know how this came to be. After all, I should've spawned into this world without any background. 

That's also when I realized...

"Fuck,"

My stats.

If I went to the Class Examination as is, it was certain that I would place dead last. My highest attribute was F-Rank. You can't get any lower than that.

And being dead last meant...

"Years of suffering..."

Furthermore, I had no option other than to go to school. Surviving outside Shyveon was an option, of course, but it would be incredibly difficult.

Without an identity or any government records, getting a job would be nigh impossible in this treacherous world.

No one would trust a blank slate for fear of inviting a demon into their establishments.

My only option was to craft my own background by going to the Hero Academy. Should I fail that...

My plan B would be diving into the darkness of the Vircadia. The Black Market, dark Syndicates, as well as treacherous mercenary guilds, would be my only forward.

Of course, with my stats, this would equate to instant death.

The darkness of Vircadia wasn't something an ant could survive in.

Thus, I had to move. With my Shadow Demon identity cemented, it was time to make use of its pros while avoiding its cons.

—Should I approach or be approached by any sensitive mage...

Then my life would be forfeit.

"That plain and simple,"

I smacked his lips. The solution was similarly simple.

All I needed to do was evolve once. Although I would still be classified as a Shadow Demon, my first kill would define the direction of my life.

If I killed a rat, I would regress and become weaker than I already was.

If I killed an ogre, I could gain a stronger physique.

If I killed an elf, becoming an archmage wouldn't be so farfetched.

If I killed a human, then I could break through any of my limits with enough effort.

So on and so forth.

"As for killing devils, dragons, and gods... Well, that's a bit beyond the scope of the novel."

A chuckle escaped my lips. 

Shadow Demons loved preying on humans because of the prospects of becoming limitless. With humans having a similar frailty to their own, this act came naturally to them. Any Shadow Demon in their right mind would always kill a human first.

Now, being surrounded by thousands upon thousands of humans, I knew that I would have no problem doing so.

All that was left would be worthy prey.

Obviously, the quality of the human I killed mattered too. If I killed some random beggar... Well, you get the point.