Alec froze. His eyes widened as he watched the hulking creatures draw closer.
"W-what the hell are those?!"
"They're golems," the village chief answered calmly, his beard swaying as he turned to Alec. "And you, big guy, are going to fight them."
Alec pointed at himself.
"Me?!"
The chief nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. You."
Alec's lips twitched nervously. He instinctively crouched behind the chief.
"Uh… you sure about that? Maybe they'll… I don't know… go away on their own?"
The chief crossed his tiny arms. "They won't. And you're our savior, aren't you?"
Alec groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Why does everyone keep saying that?" He glanced at the golems again. His heart thumped. "This is my first time seeing things like that. They look like mountains with legs!"
"Then climb them," the chief said dryly.
Alec stared at him, stunned. "…You're kidding, right?"
The ground shook again. The first golem raised its arm, a slab of rock the size of Alec himself. Alec flinched and jumped back, fumbling for his sword—
"Oh, right. Not here."
Instead, he pulled out his dagger. Compared to the stone monsters, it looked like a toothpick. Alec bit his lip.
"This is suicide…"
But when the golem swung, Alec's instincts kicked in. He dodged to the side and stabbed its leg. To his shock, the dagger sank in like butter. The golem cracked apart, crumbling into a pile of harmless rocks.
"…Huh?" Alec blinked. He turned to the chief. "Did you see that? That was—uh… skill. Pure skill."
Another golem swung down. Alec spun, slashing across its arm. The stone arm shattered instantly. The whole body followed, collapsing in pieces.
Alec stood there, panting lightly. "No way. They're… they're too easy."
One by one, the rest of the golems fell under his blade. When the last one crumbled, Alec lowered his dagger and stared at it.
"…Why do they look scarier than they are?"
The dwarves cheered. "Savior! Savior!"
Alec grinned, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulders. "Well, I guess that wasn't too hard. You're welcome."
The chief tugged at his sleeve.
"Come with me. There's something you must see."
---
They brought Alec to a stone temple hidden behind the village. The doors were huge, carved with runes that glowed faintly. When they pushed them open, Alec's eyes widened.
Inside were swords. Dozens of them, each resting on a pedestal, each shining with a faint aura. Every blade was different—curved, straight, jagged, slender. Their names glowed in the air above them.
Alec stepped inside slowly, almost reverently.
"…This is heaven."
The chief pointed at one blade in particular. Its name glimmered above it: Bu Jin.
Alec tilted his head. "Bu Jin, huh?" He approached it, admiring its sleek form and sharp edge. His hand hovered over the hilt. "It looks… perfect."
He hesitated, biting his lip. "But… if I take this back, what am I supposed to tell the others? 'Oh hey guys, I just happened to find the rarest sword ever in my sleep.' Yeah, no."
The chief raised an eyebrow. "You don't want them to know you have it?"
Alec crossed his arms. "Of course not. If they see it, they'll either want to use it or they'll get stronger than me. No thanks."
The chief stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm. You are greedy."
Alec pointed at him. "Hypocrite. I just… don't like competition."
The dwarves gathered, whispering among themselves. Finally, the chief snapped his fingers. "We can make something for you. A way to carry the sword without showing it."
Alec leaned in, curious. "Go on."
The dwarves worked for hours, forging in their small smithy. Sparks flew, metal clanged, and strange chants filled the temple. At last, they returned with a small, silver ring.
The chief presented it to Alec. "This ring is linked to Bu Jin. As long as you wear it, the sword will answer your call. Speak its name, and it will come to your hand."
Alec's eyes widened. He slipped the ring on eagerly. "Seriously? That's… amazing."
The chief nodded. "But remember—once bound, it cannot be undone. The sword and the ring will be yours alone."
Alec grinned, holding up his hand. "Good. Then let's bind it."
The temple glowed faintly as the bond was sealed. Alec whispered the name.
"…Bu Jin."
In an instant, the sword appeared in his hand, gleaming with power. Alec's grin widened.
"Oh, I could get used to this."
********
The waves battered the jagged shore, the night thick with salt and mist. In the shadows of broken piers, the lizard man knelt, clutching a rolled parchment in his claws.
"Lord Olto," he rasped, bowing low. "I… I found this. A map."
From the gloom stepped Olto, his cloak dragging across wet stone. His pale lips twisted into a scowl as he ripped the parchment from the lizard's grip.
"A map?" His voice lashed out, sharp and cold. "You fool. I told you to bring me the ring—not some filthy scrap of paper!"
The lizard trembled. "P-please, my lord, it's no ordinary map. It—"
Olto's eyes darted across the parchment. His anger melted into something darker. A smile.
"…Interesting."
He snapped his fingers. The air warped, and from the darkness crawled creatures—limb-thin, eyeless things with claws that shrieked against stone. They bowed their heads, hissing, awaiting command.
"Find the ring," Olto said, his voice booming like thunder. "Do not fail."
The creatures scattered, vanishing into the night.
Olto turned back, and with a lazy flick of his hand, a chest appeared with a heavy thud. Its lid cracked open, jewels and coins glittering inside.
"You've done well enough," he said smoothly. "Take it. You deserve it."
The lizard's eyes gleamed. He stumbled forward eagerly, reaching for the chest.
But then—
A crackle. Frost spread across the stone beneath him, seeping from Olto's boots. The lizard froze, looking down in horror as ice climbed his legs.
"My… my lord?! W-wait—"
The frost crawled higher, hardening over his body until he was encased in a crystalline prison. His final breath fogged inside before silence took him.
Olto chuckled, low and cruel. "You deserve… nothing."
He raised his hand, and with a crushing gesture, the frozen lizard shattered into shards that clattered across the rocks. Olto laughed, the sound carrying out to the endless sea.
**********
Far away, outside Alfred Cheng's cave, the air shimmered with power. The night bent, and from the distortion stepped two figures.
Twins. One male, one female. Their horns were broken halves—the sister bore only her left, the brother only his right. Asymmetrical, incomplete, yet together they radiated the strength of old blood.
Inside the cave, Alec's body stirred. His eyes opened, glowing gold. Look momentarily confused. Then he shook his head.
He rose to his feet, stretching his frame like a predator testing its skin. The golden eyes narrowed as he stepped into the night.
Upon his arrival, the twins fell to one knee.
"My lord," they said in unison.
The brother raised his hand. With a sweep, an invisible barrier enveloped the area. "No one will see us now."
The sister pressed her palm to the ground, her single horn gleaming. "Nor hear us."
Then Alec smiled faintly. "Good. I called, and you came."
The sister lowered her gaze. "We traced your energy after the mana burst. Only then did we find you."
"Yes," Alec gave them a nod, his voice smooth, layered with menace. "That explosion? I see. Although I truly intended to use all my powers, his body limit didn't allow it." Alec flexed his hand, admiring it with disdain. "…he might be weak but his will is stronger. A perfect body for me to reincarnate into."
The brother smirked. "So Alec lives, but trapped."
"For now," the Demonic Alec murmured. His smile widened. "He doesn't even know. He believes the whispers in his head are his own doubts. He has no idea I'm guiding him… to the rings."
The sister's eyes glowed softly. "If I have the permission, can I ask why do you desire the rings?"
"Why, exactly." the Demon Lord reples."you see, this body...it may be my reincarnation but it has a soul of it's own."
He stretched out his fingers and then into a fist.
"Once he obtains the rings, I shall be reborn in this world in a new body."
The twins glanced at each other as Alec continued.
"With the power of those rings, I can be immortal, undefeatable, more powerful and not even heaven could kill me."
The brother stepped forward. His uncertainty was visible in his eyes.
"My lord, just say the word. We'll find these rings no matter what it costs."
The sister placed her hand on her heart.
"Yes, my lord. Why are you letting these humans do the work? We can find the rings no matter where they are."
Alec's lips curved into a cold smirk.
"Ah, of course you can. But you see, the rings of fate aren't easy to obtain. These worthless humans are trying to get the rings."
He paused, as if to let them feel the pressure of his words.
"Let them be. Let them die. When they find the rings, we get them on a silver platter. Why work so hard when others are willing to do it for you?"
The twins understood his words. The human life is worthless and easily replaceable. They can clear the way for the mortals and when the time is right, their lord would take over Alec's body and make the wish.
The twins bowed lower, their voices a whisper. "We follow your command. As we should."
The golden eyes of Alec's stolen body glinted in the night. The Demon Lord chuckled quietly. "Yes… as you should."