Demon King
Chapter 84 Jinma [4]

[A breakthrough joins this Evolution.]

[Boundary breakthrough means transcending the lower system of living things and entering the upper system. The existence of a lower system cannot accurately interpret the existence of the upper system. Even if an ability was used with the same power, it would be taken out of battle and unable to produce power.]

[If the boundary is breached, all the elements that make up the soul will be replaced with more qualified energy. These include physical abilities and skills, as well as magic.]

[Do you want to grow?]

Instead of the usual evolutionary options, I was greeted by this notification window. I think evolution is breaking boundaries, but it is not. The talk of becoming a higher being is strange; ordinary evolution is already quite surprising. What's this gonna be like?

However, when I think about it, some of this makes sense. The mana of Jinma, for example, is one that I cannot handle completely. I can use some of it, but its full power is much greater than I can physically use. It makes sense if it was designed to be used by these so-called higher beings. A, L, the monster I just killed. Everyone who handled it or anything like it was technically definitely this superior being.

‘Maybe the Knights of Elakatra are like that too?’ The strength of those knights was truly great, and where they felt similar to Jinma's. That's definitely possible. More thoughts filled my mind about this subsystem and higher levels, but I soon concluded that it was useless. If I want to understand, then I must be an entity that is part of this higher level system. Maybe then I will learn it further and become stronger to boot. That was my goal all along.

However, before that, I still have some work to do. Since my Shadow Walk has reached the highest level, it has become possible for me to synthesize special high-level skills. According to the notice, my skills will change in this evolution, so it would be wise for me to do so first.

[Special advanced skills ‘Reapers’ can be synthesized.]

[Best Surprise, Fairy Tales, Devil's Claws, best combat skills (Self-Defense Arts), top-level or higher special movement skills (Shadow Steps)]

[Having the highest level magic skill (Fire Magic).]

[Having the best combat assistance skills (Detection, Command)]

[Do you want to synthesize the ‘Reaper’ skill? Surprise Skills, Fairy Tales, Demonic Claws, Martial Arts, and Shadow Paths would disappear.]

I closed my eyes and thought about what I was going to lose. Of course, it would not be easy to synthesize new skills. Nothing has happened since I opened my eyes as a goblin. I opened my eyes and looked through the skill again, finally nodding.

[Surprise Skills, Fairy Tales, Devil's Claws, Martial Arts, and Shadow Paths have been synthesized.]

[You have obtained the Reaper skill.]

[Reaper Lv1]

[Death is in everything that exists. All the actions related to the killings increased drastically. With a higher level of expertise, you can face death in a more diverse and powerful way.]

I look at other skills I have, some I have known before. Many of them are still at the beginner level and cannot do much yet. These Reaper Skills, however, felt like the kind of skills I would associate with a higher being. The limits are unclear, and the potential is absurd. I have to make sure my ability supports it so I can use it properly. It had the potential to be a very powerful skill.

There is no point in waiting anymore. I want to finish devouring this giant monster and check out the final reward of this dungeon, as well as find out what this key is for. But first, I need to grow. It shouldn't be much different from what I've been doing, but I'm still nervous. I tried to let go of those emotions and confirmed that I wanted to thrive in the notification window.

Several items emerged from my inventory, circling around me. It was the Pelcadia Gem that I obtained throughout the dungeon, gradually getting closer to me as they orbited around my body.

“No way ..” The gem fused into my body as soon as I said it. It wasn't too painful, but fear overcame me because I felt everything that made up my body was falling apart. I lost consciousness.

“Hah..!” When I woke up again, I was surrounded by darkness. I can't feel or see anything around me.

‘What is this…? Is there something wrong when I choose to evolve? ‘ I feel like floating in space. This doesn't seem like a dungeon, and although my sensing ability should be at the highest level right now, I can't feel anything around me. Am I even in physical condition now? I don't know; all I know is that I exist.

[You betrayed us.]

A voice echoed through the dark room, the voice of a young man.

[You like that word, don't you?]

New voice, kind of familiar, but I can't be sure.

[The promise has been broken. I'm not going to let you be king.]

[Do whatever you want, I've left everything behind.]

[Your ability to escape is amazing but remember this: I am the only king. Since you went down there.]

[You won't be able to do as you please. How about trying once?]

[You.!]

The voices of the two men disappeared without a trace as I tried to concentrate on them.

[Absolutely not!] Immediately cutting through the silence, the sharp voice of a woman appeared. I knew immediately who that person was. L.

[You don't have to sacrifice anything!]

[It's not a sacrifice, I just took a step back so I could keep going.]

[How many steps back?]

[You ... stupid idiot!]

[Stay here. I will come back someday.]

[Someday?!]

The voice opposite L was a man, still sounding familiar. Their voices calmed down after a while, fading once again. I shook my head, unsure of what their conversation was about.

[It was an impossible choice for me to make.]

This time it sounded like Rain. His voice is familiar to me now.

[You can't afford to choose.]

[You know I respect you.]

[That was the first time I heard it.]

[I know you'll be back, don't look sad.]

[You trust me too much. Don't you know too much praising that child is bad?]

[Is that so? The more compliments you give them, the more they grow.].

Silent moment.

[I'll be here waiting for you, Fate.]

The two voices disappeared again, and the light began to shine on the space I was in. I thought of the voice responding to Rain, engraved in my mind for a moment before it disappeared. It was my voice, talking to Rain. This place is inside me, my brain or my soul, or whatever. It was a place that contained all of me. I was promoted to a higher level, by breaking through that boundary, my knowledge and memories that I did not even realize I had forgotten back, little by little.

But this is the end. I just took the first step towards Jinma, and I am still very far away. I knew this place was rejecting me, slowly pushing me away.

[Sorry, little boy.]

[It would be a miracle if they woke up.]

[They seem to be about six years old..who will take care of them?]

My consciousness began to fade once again when I heard the voices of some unknown adult. I thought about these words for a while, chewing on them before my mind went black.

[Belken]

[Belkena is one of the rarest races underground, an incredible fighter who always stands in the middle of the demon bloodline.]

[Belkena, who was born under the favoritism of God and fell for the curse of all other races who hated them. They walk on a nearly dead path, having awakened to face the power of Jinma, which they use as a weapon to kill their opponents.]

[Belkena is an evolutionary race, known for its rapid evolutionary speed and power. However, many Belkena died before they could show their talent. If you have no desire to follow this path, you will also share that destiny.]

[Kill and devour, and the road ahead of you will open.]

[The castle seal has been released by completing all conditions.]

[You can use the key to return to the castle.]

My eyes slowly opened, feeling strange in my new form. I did not experience the evolutionary suffering that usually comes, but I did not take issue.

“Hmm...” Everything feels different; the appearance of the world itself feels new before me. I can feel everything around me, the details are very clear. Where Jinma flows inside me, fills every inch of my body to protect and strengthen me. I know that where I am affects where in the world around me, changes its shape towards my command and spreads. I feel like I can handle Mana Jinma perfectly now.

I created an ice mirror in front of me, looking at my reflection. My face is the same as before as the Crimson Elf, although my ears are shorter. My skin is pitch-black now, instead of that blood-red color, and my body doesn't look as fragile as a fairy. I'm more muscular now, and probably a little taller, though not as big as I've ever been. However, I did not feel dissatisfied, feeling the power flowing within me.

I decided to call my status, barely able to register what appeared before me.

[Destiny]

[Belken Lv1]

[New Magic – 52, Soul Magic-87, Luck – ???]

[Skill-Gluttony Lv1, Reaper Lv1, Lunatic Trickster Lv1, Ubiquitous Lv1, Domination Lv1, Blackmine Lv1, Belkena Spell Lv1]

“Ha... haha..” I laughed weakly, too shocked to speak.