I've evolved, yet this feeling of incompleteness continues to nag at me. A quick analysis of the Demon Lord Seed within me confirms my suspicions, it's flawed. I have the seed, but it's an imperfect replica. As a being driven by logic, I cannot allow this problem to go unsolved. I need answers, and I will get them.
I immerse myself in my own consciousness. I create a blank space, a mental laboratory, where I can remap all the data on the seed. I replay the evolution simulation thousands of times, breaking down every molecule of energy, searching for the faulty pattern, for a clue as to where the imperfection began. Months, then years, pass without any significant results. Every path I've tried has been a dead end, an exhausting failure.
Umbra, my subordinate whom I named, is the only other entity with me in this space. Through the corridors of our souls, I can feel the disappointment and exhaustion he feels. I observe these emotions. I conclude that exhaustion is a natural response to a lack of results, but disappointment is an inefficient emotion. I don't feel the same. To me, failure is just data.
"Master... should we stop?" A thought paints itself in my mind, not in words, but in a wave of energy that feels like a question.
"Not yet," I reply, projecting an image of data analysis. "We have infinite resources. Failure just means we haven't found the right variable yet."
To fill the void of time and gather data, I begin conducting evolutionary experiments on the Siroco I've subjugated. I see them as test subjects, not as subordinates. I experiment with various combinations of skills and conditions. Years pass, and I have successfully created dozens of variants. Each of them is valuable data, a step forward, not backward.
Years went by without results, and I was on the verge of losing interest. But there was one data path that kept catching my attention. An energy trace that couldn't be explained. This trace didn't have the same pattern as the energy around me. I traced it back to the ruins where I first found it before I was sucked into it and became what I am today.
A new, in-depth analysis reveals that this trace is the remnants of a lost civilization. There's a high probability the data I need is there. It's the only lead I have.
"Huh... after years of searching, all I got was an address to the place I almost died," I mumble to myself, feeling a little frustrated. "What the hell? Is this some kind of ironic twist of fate?"
But then, my logical mind takes over. Data is data. And this is the strongest lead I've gotten so far.
"I guess... a small adventure won't hurt," I whisper to myself. "But this time, I'll be more careful. I'm no longer a mindless ghost who can blunder around. I'm an evolved being with a purpose."
I tracked this unusual energy trace for days, leaving my base in the middle of the ocean. The trail led me deep into a sea trench I never would have thought of exploring. In the dark and cold depths, a giant magic formation was hidden. Its shape was so complex, with patterns that would be impossible for any current civilization to create. It was a remnant of technology far beyond my understanding.
"A magic formation for dimensional teleportation," I murmur to myself, my analysis running. "Could this ancient civilization do such a thing?"
My logic takes over. Data is data. I can't gain anything by just observing. I decide to activate the formation. I channel my magic energy into the complex matrix, following the pattern I've deduced. A bright light envelops the room, and a strong pulling sensation yanks me from this world.
When I awaken, I'm no longer underground. I'm in a strange place, a shattered world. The sky is red, and dust flies everywhere. I immediately let Libertas analyze my surroundings. The magicule currents are cut off from the main world. This space is isolated, self-contained, and dead.
"Report. This dimension is a fragment of the world, a dead dimension. Probability of existence 99%."
I fly across the ruined landscape. Then, my Magicule Sense reacts. There is something incredibly powerful ahead. Much stronger than me.
"Analysis: The enemy's magicule count is many times that of the host. Its spiritual core is perfectly manifested. Chance of victory: 1%."
I feel a shiver. It's a feeling I haven't had in a long time, but now I understand it. Not fear, but a sense of respect and a strong desire to test it. I feel a strange resonance from the seed within me.
The figure emerges from the dust. A man with white hair and eyes that look empty.
"You..." he says, his voice calm. "I can feel it. You're artificial, too."
I wait for him to speak. He has the data I need.
"Caelus"
"I was just a regular adventurer," he begins to recount, "but I was too weak. So I joined this civilization's research, and they made me a test subject. They conducted forced evolution, turning me into a weak artificial demon." He continues, expressionlessly, "I went through various tortures and evolutions, until they succeeded in creating a fake demon lord seed. They put it inside me, hoping to control me."
"But I refused." His voice rises slightly. "I was sick of everything. That hatred and anger kept festering. Due to that strong desire, the world granted my wish and I obtained the unique skill The Madman."
A unique skill that responds to very strong emotions. Such an interesting skill.
"I couldn't control my anger. I went berserk, destroying the researchers and everything related to that civilization. As a result, the fake seed within me evolved into a true demon lord seed. They were happy, because their research succeeded, but angry because they failed to control me."
"They sent their strongest people, as strong as a Demon Lord, to kill me. But I didn't die. They confined me here with dimensional magic, hoping to control me one day. But they failed."
Suddenly, the aura around him changes. The resonance between our seeds increases, and I can feel his suppressed past anger. He can't control that anger. The Madman is active.
"Damn it," I mumble, surprised.
Caelus lunges towards me. I don't have time to react. The first punch doesn't touch my body, but it shakes my soul to its foundation. It's a direct attack on my essence. For the first time, I feel pain not physically, but spiritually. It's a pain that is much deeper and indescribable.
The fight is hell. Every punch is a blow to my soul. I use all my abilities to defend myself, analyzing attack after attack, but it's all in vain. I'm at a disadvantage, only able to try to stay alive.
After a while, I feel my soul energy dwindling. I'm on the verge of death. I feel anxious and scared. Death is something I can't analyze. Death is the end of everything.
"I have to run," I mumble. "I can't die here. This isn't the place."
I gather my last remaining energy. Nothing is more important than my survival right now. I use Libertas to analyze the magic formation that locks this dimension. An incredibly complex and solid matrix.
"Analysis: Impossible to unravel. Reconstruction is needed."
Impossible to unravel, but not impossible to recreate. I activate my skill Manipulator. I begin to manipulate the remnants of the magicule energy from the destroyed ancient formation. Slowly, I recreate the pattern needed to open a rift.
Just as Caelus prepares to launch his ultimate attack, I complete the reconstruction. A small dimensional rift opens before me. I lunge inside, not caring about the pain all over my body. I only care about getting out of this cursed place.
I succeed. I make it back to my base, but at a great cost. Every cell in my body feels like it's unraveling, and my soul is in pain, as if it's been hammered. It's the first and worst experience I've had since I was reborn.
I isolate myself. No one is allowed to disturb me. I let Libertas analyze the combat data. The analysis lasts for days. The result is not surprising: I was completely defeated. I had underestimated what perfection means. The Demon Lord Seed I have is a flawed replica, and its power, though great, cannot fight a perfect entity. I relied too much on my intelligence, on the logic I built, and on limited data.
This is the first time my logic has led to arrogance. I thought I could conquer everything with just analysis. I was too hasty. I forgot one important thing: power that comes quickly can be a boomerang. A painful lesson.
"What should I do?" I ask myself.
I can't let this defeat be in vain. The data I got from Caelus is very valuable. It's the blueprint for achieving perfect evolution. If I can't match him in raw power, I'll match him in strategy and numbers.
My mind shifts from seeking knowledge to consolidating power.
"I need an army," I mumble, coldly. "A tough and loyal army."
My main goal is to accelerate energy collection. I have the passive skill from Piercer, which gives me 0.0005% of the energy from every monster I kill. It's a very small number, but if I can kill thousands, millions of monsters, it will become a very large amount. Hunting monsters in the ocean or on the coast is the most efficient way to gain power.
"The Siroco experiments that I've been doing just to pass the time will now become my main focus," I mumble, my determination hardening.
I will continue the research, but with much greater resolve. I will make them stronger, faster, and more efficient. Every soul I will collect, every monster I will transform, will become part of my long-term plan. I will no longer make the same mistake.
Since that humiliating defeat, I've changed my priorities. If I can't achieve perfection quickly, I'll do it with a slow but sure method. To be honest, it feels like going from a Ph.D. program to elementary school. Yeah, that's it. But the goal remains the same: hunt monsters non-stop.
My underwater base has now become an operations center. I am not only consolidating energy, but also my soul. It feels like setting up a company underwater, with hundreds of new employees who never complain, don't ask for a raise, and only need magicules to work. This is an ideal situation for every CEO in another world. I don't even have to pay them with money, just evolution. This is the most profitable business that has ever existed.
The Siroco evolution process begins. I no longer experiment, it's too risky and inefficient. I apply the results of my years of research. A combination of proven skills, the right amount of magicule addition, and tight control at every stage of evolution. This is no longer a guessing game, it's a precise manufacturing process.
I see the first group of Siroco. Originally, they were Murloc-like monsters—a combination of a human body, a fish head, with coral rock on their backs. They were just weak creatures with basic survival instincts.
However, as the magicules began to flow and the evolution began, their bodies shone brightly.
When the light fades, what remains is not an ugly Murloc. Standing before me are creatures that are much tougher. Their forms are human-like, but with strong fish characteristics like sharp teeth, sturdy finned claws, fins on their backs, and finned ears. They emit a much denser magicule aura.
"Woah, this... is beyond my expectations," I murmur to myself. "From Murloc to Aquaman. This is more drastic than I imagined. The power I've given them even exceeds the initial evolution plan. So, this is what it feels like to be a 'creator' of monsters."
This takes time, but I'm not in a hurry. I let time just pass, a concept I haven't cared about in a long time. Given that I have no expiration date, 150 years is not a problem. Rimuru and his friends will only appear then. I have plenty of time to become the strongest.
After the entire process is complete, hundreds of Siroco have been transformed. They are perfect hunting machines, with no desire other than to carry out my commands. They don't need a name to function, but as a leader, I know this is a necessary step to optimize my control. A name will give them a clear identity for command purposes and increase their operational efficiency.
"I need a name that symbolizes our purpose," I murmur to myself. "Something simple and brutal. Something that will strike fear into our enemies, but most importantly, something that will remind me of our purpose."
The most logical name is the simplest name.
"From today on, you are Soul Devourer," I declare.
I feel a strong resonance. My control strengthens. A completely obedient and loyal army has been born. They are not just an army; they are the embodiment of my new ambition.
"Confirming: A spiritual corridor between the host and the new race, the Soul Devourers, has been formed. Capable of harvesting energy from killed targets. Energy will be absorbed by the passive skill Piercer with a 0.0005% conversion."
I smirk in the darkness. I have evolved into the True Hunter. I now control my destiny. The next mission is clear.
"Go. Hunt. Bring me more energy."
The hunt begins.