Chapter 2 The Weight of Power
Haruto still held the faintly glowing Goblin Shard in his hand. The light pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, almost begging to be consumed.
Then, the crimson Anti-God screen flickered before his eyes.
[Notification: Level 1 Anti-God Bearer]
[You have obtained: Goblin Shard]
[Choice Detected – How will you use the shard?]
The screen split into two glowing options:
Absorb the crystal directly.
Strength +50%
Speed +30%
Magic +15%
Stamina +20%
Sacrifice the crystal to the Anti-God System.
Upgrade skill: Chains of Imprisonment
Chains become thicker, sharper, and gain extended range.
Haruto's eyes widened. "So… I can either make myself stronger instantly, or make my skill evolve?"
The Demon God's voice rumbled in his head, dark yet strangely amused.
"This is the difference, child. The God's System forces its wielders to grow in only one way—levels and stats, the leash of heaven. But you… you are free. You choose where your power goes."
Haruto tightened his grip on the shard, sweat running down his temple.
"…If I absorb it, my body becomes faster, stronger, tougher. I could fight better in close combat."
His eyes narrowed. "…But if I upgrade Chains of Imprisonment, I'd have a deadly weapon against stronger enemies."
The shard's glow pulsed brighter, almost impatient.
Haruto whispered, "So… do I bet on my body, or my skill?"
The crimson system screen blinked again:
[Decision Pending… Choose wisely. Each path shapes your future.]
Haruto stared at the shard glowing in his palm, his mind racing.
Close combat? I've still got Demon Aura, Demon Presence, even Ruler Authority for that.
His eyes narrowed as he remembered the goblin's body, pierced through the heart in a single strike.
But these chains… one hit, one kill. If I can make them stronger, faster—then no monster will even get close to me.
He tightened his grip and raised the shard to the crimson screen.
"I choose… Chains of Imprisonment."
The shard dissolved into black smoke, sucked into the system. Haruto felt a sudden weight in his right arm, heavy and cold, before it spread through his veins like molten iron.
The crimson system glowed:
[Goblin Shard sacrificed.]
[Chains of Imprisonment – Upgraded!]
Base power increased by 20%.
Chains now move faster and strike with greater force.
Haruto gasped as black chains rattled briefly from his arm before vanishing again. His chest pounded, adrenaline mixing with awe.
"…Stronger. I can feel it. These chains… they're mine now."
The Demon God's voice growled approvingly:
"A wise choice. Weapons of certainty are worth more than fragile flesh. Remember—your body can always be trained. But skills… they can evolve into legends."
Haruto smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Heh. Guess you're not wrong."
Just then, the crimson screen shifted again:
[Anti-God System Notification]
Bearer Level: 1
EXP: 10/100
Haruto blinked. "EXP…? Wait, so I can level up?"
The Demon God's voice rumbled, almost laughing.
"Of course. But unlike the God's leash, your levels are not fixed by their rules. You must kill, grow, and choose where your strength flows. Body, skill, aura—each step is yours to decide."
Haruto clenched his fist, excitement bubbling inside him.
"…Then I want to level up. I'll get stronger—on my own terms."
The forest rustled around him. More pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared in the darkness—wolves, drawn to the smell of blood.
Haruto smirked, raising his hand as chains rattled faintly from his skin.
"Perfect. Guess I'll farm some EXP."
The forest fell silent for only a moment. Then, snarls broke the calm as more goblins crawled out of the shadows, hungry for flesh.
Haruto's lips curved into a grin. "Good. Come at me."
He raised his arm, chains bursting forth like serpents.
CLANG!
The first goblin lunged, but was instantly shackled by four chains. The fifth pierced through its chest, killing it in one strike.
Another goblin shrieked and tried to flee, but Haruto's upgraded chains lashed out with frightening speed, impaling its throat.
The third charged recklessly. Haruto smirked. "Too slow." The chain struck like lightning, wrapping around its neck and snapping it with a sickening crack.
Fourteen minutes passed.
The bodies of three goblins lay scattered across the forest floor, their glowing shards floating above them.
Haruto exhaled, sweat dripping down his brow. "…Three down."
He reached out, collecting the crystals as the crimson system lit up:
[Goblin Shard x3 obtained.]
[EXP +90]
[Level Up!]
The screen shifted, glowing brighter than ever:
[Haruto – Level 2]
Strength: 4
Speed: 3
Stamina: 3
Mana: 14
Unspent Points: 4
Haruto's eyes widened as the shards pulsed in his palm.
The system displayed two choices again:
Absorb for raw stats. Sacrifice to upgrade skills.
Haruto thought carefully. "I've already boosted Chains… better balance the rest."
One by one, the shards dissolved into his body. Heat spread through his muscles, lightning shot through his veins, and his chest tightened before expanding with new energy.
The crimson system updated:
[Goblin Shards absorbed.]
Strength increased by 1. (+50%)
Speed increased by 1. (+30%)
Stamina increased by 1. (+20%)
Magic increased by 1. (+15%)
Haruto grinned, flexing his fingers. "Yeah… I feel it. Faster. Stronger. Lighter."
Finally, the system pulsed again, offering his unspent points.
He smirked. "Mana. Can't fight in this world without it."
The numbers flickered:
[Unspent Points Allocated]
Mana: +4
Current Stats – Haruto (Lv. 2) Strength: 4 Speed: 3 Stamina: 3 Mana: 14
Haruto clenched his fists, the chains rattling faintly from his skin as if eager to fight again.
"…Not bad for my first day in this world. If goblins give me this much power… then I can't wait to see what comes next."
The Demon God's voice rumbled with grim approval:
"Good… you learn quickly. But be warned, child—your power will draw eyes. The Gods will not ignore you for long."
Haruto smirked, looking deeper into the forest where more growls echoed.
"Let them come. I'll be ready."
The forest grew quieter after Haruto's battle. He sat on a rock, panting, while the crimson shards dissolved into his body. The chains rattled faintly as if celebrating their victory.
Haruto exhaled. "Alright… power's good. But I can't stay in this forest forever. Demon God… is there a city nearby? Somewhere humans live?"
The deep voice rumbled inside his mind, amused by the boy's thought.
"So, you already seek civilization. Hmph. Not bad. Yes, there are human cities scattered across this continent. But reaching them… will not be easy."
Haruto frowned. "Because of monsters?"
"Exactly. Roads here are hunting grounds. Even a single wandering beast can slaughter caravans. And if you carry monster parts with you… they will sense it, jealous of their fallen kin."
Haruto grit his teeth. "…Jealous monsters, huh? That sounds like a headache."
The Demon God chuckled darkly.
"Do not fear. Your power, though young, is enough to handle them. And do not forget—you hold Ruler Authority. Even the earth beneath your feet bends to your will. If you command it, the ground itself will rise and carry you… or you may soar as the kings of old once did."
Haruto's eyes widened. "Wait—you mean I can fly? Using Ruler Authority?"
"Not true flight. Not yet. But you can command the land beneath you to rise, carrying you like a floating platform. A crude, yet effective way to travel."
Haruto smirked. "Hah, that's still way better than walking through a forest crawling with goblins."
Then his expression darkened. "…But once I reach a city, I don't even have money. How the hell am I supposed to live?"
The Demon God's voice turned low, almost instructive.
"Foolish child. This is a world ruled by hunters. Monsters are both terror and treasure. Their bodies fetch gold—their hides, their bones, their fangs, their blood, their crystals. Even the corpse of the goblins you slew… can be sold for coin."
Haruto blinked, then looked at the three dead goblins lying in the dirt. "Wait… so these rotting bodies are basically money?"
"Exactly. To a hunter's guild, their corpses are proof of your kill. Sell them, and you'll have gold enough to survive in the city."
A grin spread across Haruto's lips. "…Not bad. So I kill monsters, sell their corpses, and buy what I need."
He looked at his chains. "Guess this world's economy is going to work in my favor."
The Demon God chuckled again.
"Indeed. But be careful, child. Too much power shown too early… will draw eyes you are not ready for. Hide your true strength until the time is right."
Haruto stood, staring toward the distant horizon beyond the trees. "Yeah… makes sense. I'll keep my cards close. For now."
He glanced down at the goblin corpses. "Alright then. Time to cash in some pocket money."
For three hours straight, Haruto pushed through the forest. He commanded the earth beneath him with Ruler Authority, rising into the air on shifting slabs of stone. At first, it felt exhilarating—like standing on his own floating platform, soaring above the trees.
But after the second hour, the excitement faded.
Haruto's face grew pale, his chest heavy. Sweat poured down his neck. His crimson system screen flickered faintly:
[Mana: 14 → 3]
"…Damn it… my mana's burning too fast."
Every time he fought off another goblin ambush, the Chains of Imprisonment lashed out with deadly precision. But he realized something strange each time—the chains didn't just consume mana when he summoned them.
No.
They also drank from him.
A dull ache lingered in his veins after every kill, as if the chains siphoned a little extra mana with each strike.
Haruto gritted his teeth. "So it's not just me using them… they're feeding off me too."
The Demon God's voice rumbled, cold and amused:
"Correct. Did you think power came without hunger? Chains of Imprisonment are forged from my essence. They are alive. Each time you summon them, they drain mana to exist. Each time they pierce a foe, they devour even more."
Haruto frowned. "…Then what happens if I run out of mana completely?"
The voice chuckled darkly.
"Simple. They will turn on their wielder and consume your life force instead. You would die with your own chains tearing your soul apart."
A chill ran down Haruto's spine. He clenched his fists. "…Guess I really don't get anything for free, huh?"
"Exactly, child. The Gods gave their dogs cheap power, but you are no dog. The price of freedom is blood, sweat… and pain."
By the time the third hour ended, Haruto collapsed against a tree trunk, panting. His mana was nearly empty, only a flicker left to sustain him.
The crimson screen blinked faintly:
[Mana: 1/14]
Haruto smirked bitterly. "Hah… almost tapped out. If another monster shows up now, I'm screwed."
Then, through the rustling of leaves, he spotted torchlight in the distance. Stone walls faintly outlined against the dark sky.
His eyes widened. "A city… finally."
But even as relief washed over him, his hand trembled, black chains rattling faintly under his skin, hungry for more mana.
"…Looks like I'll need to figure out how to feed these things before they feed on me."
End of chapter 2