After fighting both monsters and mutated beasts, Dennis and Diablo went to different places, helping civilians become Ascendants. They had been following this routine since yesterday when the world quest began.
The constant fighting made Diablo reach level 7 Ascendant, while Dennis had stopped leveling up once he reached level 9. He tried fighting more monsters, but no matter how much he pushed himself, his level remained the same. It was as if the monsters and mutated beasts couldn't provide him enough experience anymore.
So, Dennis decided to focus instead on helping those who hadn't completed the world quest. Together, he and Diablo moved from place to place, assisting civilians and Ascendants alike with their struggles, unwittingly building loyal followers along the way. People began calling them by nicknames:
The Fire Sword Man for Dennis.
The Madling for Diablo.
They were satisfied with fulfilling this mission… until Diablo decided to check his status.
«STATUS WINDOW»
NAME: Diablo
LEVEL: 7
ATTRIBUTE: Weakness Conqueror
TITLE: Demon Lord Seedling
SAGA: The Madling
WEAPON: Heavy Club
HP: 1350 / 1350
MP: 900 / 900
STRENGTH: 50
AGILITY: 50
SENSE: 40
HEALTH: 55
INTELLIGENCE: 40
AVAILABLE POINTS: 31
SKILL: —
GOD COINS: 100»
"Huh?!" Diablo blinked, staring at the glowing text.
'I have a Saga now? How cool… Let's check it out.'
«SAGA: THE MADLING – DESCRIPTION»
«When user activates the Saga, it will increase user power by 100% according to user level.
Side Effects:
1. The more user tries to resist the Saga's insanity when activated, the more the user will become insane, even if the Saga is deactivated.
2. The longer the Saga is activated, the more the user will become insane, even if the Saga is deactivated.»
When Diablo read the first part, his face broke into a dazzling grin, he had gained an overwhelmingly powerful ability. But as his eyes continued scanning downwards, his smile faltered. His expression dulled, then twisted into something indescribable.
Diablo froze. (●_●)
"Wha… what… WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT KIND OF SAGA IS THIS?! WHAT THE HELL IS A SAGA ANYWAY?!" he screamed, grabbing his head in disbelief.
Dennis, standing beside him, was stunned by his sudden outburst.
Diablo spun around and clutched Dennis by the shoulders.
"Please, Dennis, what is a Saga?!"
Dennis thought for a moment before replying calmly, "A Saga… is like a story of your accomplishments. Sometimes long, sometimes short."
Diablo's eyes widened. "My Saga, I just gained one!"
Dennis was briefly stunned, then smiled. "That's good for you. It means more strength."
"LIKE HELL IT DOES! THIS IS A CURSE, NOT A SAGA!" Diablo roared, veins bulging on his forehead.
Dennis frowned in confusion. "Calm down. Explain what's going on."
Diablo hurriedly explained everything he had read. At first, Dennis thought the Saga sounded overpowered, maybe even broken. But as Diablo detailed the side effects, Dennis felt his blood run cold.
Overpowered? Maybe. But the drawbacks were terrifying. If Diablo resisted the Saga's madness when activated, he would go insane. If he held the Saga too long, he would still go insane. Either way, it ended in insanity.
"HOW THE HELL DID I END UP WITH THIS CURSED SAGA?!" Diablo screamed again, throwing his hands up in despair.
Dennis stayed quiet, his thoughts trailing. If Sagas reflect our journeys… then Diablo's madness, his way of fighting… it fits him too well. He couldn't help but smirk slightly.
Diablo caught the smirk and narrowed his eyes. "You're laughing at me, aren't you?"
"Who told you to fight like a madman against monsters every time? You reap what you sow," Dennis teased, his smile widening.
"Fuck you. I'm starting to hate you," Diablo muttered, shoulders slumping in despair.
"Take heart," Dennis said, still smiling. "This might not be as bad as you think."
"What good can come from a cursed Saga?!" Diablo shouted, still sulking. "I'll never use it… never!"
Dennis only shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Diablo's eyes narrowed again. "What about you? What's your Saga? Don't tell me yours is cursed too?"
Dennis raised his brows. He had never really thought about it. He always knew he carried a Saga, but he had ignored it, since he couldn't use it yet.
«STATUS WINDOW»
NAME: Dennis Drake
LEVEL: 9
ATTRIBUTE: Immortal Flame
TITLE: King of Flames
SAGA: The Flame Swordsman
WEAPON: Ordinary Sword
HP: 1800 / 1800
MP: 1300 / 1300
STRENGTH: 96
AGILITY: 98
SENSE: 55
HEALTH: 90
INTELLIGENCE: 75
AVAILABLE POINTS: 17
SKILL: Raging Flame Sword»
Dennis had always known his Saga existed, he couldn't explain how, but it had been with him since the apocalypse began. From the start, he carried the title of King of Flames.
At first, he thought the world itself had chosen him for something greater. But after watching Diablo's bizarre evolution, he realized things weren't so simple. Maybe there was a bigger force at work, something beyond their understanding, maybe tied to the gods that damn them to this life.
Instead of overthinking, Dennis decided to do what he did best: keep getting stronger until he could uncover the truth.
Still, Diablo's discovery had sparked his curiosity.
«SAGA: THE FLAME SWORDSMAN – DESCRIPTION»
«The Saga allows the user to wield flame sword techniques according to the user's level.
Side Effects: The stronger the technique, the heavier the burden on the user's veins, potentially destroying them.»
Dennis nodded thoughtfully. It was powerful, but not free from danger. He couldn't even use it yet, but when he could… it might reshape him entirely.
He explained his Saga to Diablo.
The latter's face darkened. Smoke might as well have puffed from his head.
"DAMN YOU GODS! How can you give him such a cool Saga with low risk while I get cursed insanity?!" Diablo howled.
"It's not that simple," Dennis replied calmly. "If I overuse it, my veins might be destroyed. And besides, I can't even activate it yet. Sagas seem to require special conditions."
"Ugh… I need something to vent my anger on," Diablo growled, gripping his heavy club tightly.
As if fate had heard him, the two stumbled across a group of civilians struggling desperately against surrounding monsters.
"Perfect!" Diablo roared, rushing forward with wild eyes.
He smashed his club down with earthshaking force, cracking through a monster's thick hide. He didn't stop there. He kept smashing… again and again… until its head finally burst apart in a spray of gore.
Dennis twitched at the sight. No wonder he got that kind of Saga.
Diablo let out another roar, leaping toward the next beast. His body twisted unnaturally as he swung, dodging claws and teeth while raining down crushing blows. To onlookers, he didn't look human at all. He looked… possessed.
The humans nearby froze in terror. The monsters were frightening, but this "Madling" was worse.
Still, Diablo's ferocity broke the monsters apart. He didn't kill them all, though. He deliberately left some alive but crippled, so the civilians could finish them off and complete their world quest.
Within an hour, the survivors celebrated, they had survived another nightmare, all thanks to Diablo and Dennis.
In a quiet corner, the duo watched the people laugh, cry, and hug.
But before peace could linger, another group arrived, men and women from Eleso faction. They immediately began persuading the rescued civilians to join them.
The survivors' leader shook his head. "No. We're indebted to someone else. We'll follow him instead."
The faction team pressed harder, listing benefits and rewards. When that failed, one of their members grew furious and tried to force compliance with power.
Diablo's eyes snapped open. He strode forward and stopped the man cold.
"Who the hell are you?!" the faction man snarled.
"Your godfather," Diablo said flatly.
The man swung a punch in anger. Diablo caught it effortlessly with one hand.
"Since you attacked first, I guess it won't matter if I beat every single one of you," Diablo grinned.
The entire faction team charged. Within a single minute, they were sprawled across the ground groaning, defeated. Only their leader remained, trembling in fear.
"You…" the leader stammered.
Diablo stepped closer. "Are you the only ones here?"
"N-no, sir," the man said, shaking.
"Then who else is with you? What's this faction thing about?" Diablo pressed.
The man explained quickly, stuttering through details about the elders leading them.
"So your elders are strong, huh?" Diablo asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Go bring them here." Diablo's eyes glinted dangerously.
"What?!" the man gasped.
"I said bring them. Unless you want me to kill your comrades right now," Diablo growled, pointing at the others still lying on the ground, but he never intended to kill them, he was only scaring the man.
The man didn't hesitate any longer. He bolted off to summon the elders.