'If I reveal I'm a Demon Lord… they'll either fear me or crush me where I stand,' Leo thought, his eyes drifting to the students below.
Jealous stares met him from every corner. Even though they assumed he was a low Rank, the looks they gave said it all, 'you don't deserve it.' The same bitter gaze was cast on the other two who had awakened from the slums.
Murmurs swelled, and whispers spreading.
"Why him? Why do the rats from the slums awaken before us?"
"It's wasted on him… what can trash even do with power?"
"They shouldn't be allowed here at all. Slum-borns only bring trouble."
"Tch … the world hands blessings to the wrong people."
Leo heard every word. He didn't need to look around, he already knew. This was how society saw people from the slums. And in truth, they weren't entirely wrong. Most criminals, awakened or not, came from there. The rejects of the city.
'So what if I'm called a Demon Lord? A villain? It's no different from being slum trash. The label doesn't matter. It suits me just fine,' he thought, a low laugh slipping from his throat.
He stepped down from the stage, ignoring the eyes, and whispers.
Let them talk. He had already chosen what he would become.
…..
In the waiting room where contracts were offered, Leo sat quietly, watching the scene unfold. Men and women in neat suits circled the students who had awakened with high ranks, showering them with smiles, handshakes, and promises.
Leo, however, was approached by only one man. His face was rough, his eyes tired, and he didn't even bother to force a smile.
'Not even pretending to be friendly, huh,' Leo thought as he met the man's gaze. It wasn't a surprise. Since Leo hadn't revealed his rank, they must have assumed he was just another E or F rank awakener.
The contract was slid in front of him. Leo glanced over the terms.
A twenty-year binding agreement. If breached, Party A must repay triple the investment spent by the guild.
Party A must respond immediately whenever summoned, even on rest days.
Party A must fulfill weekly hunting quotas, or face penalties.
Party A must follow all guild rules without question.
The list dragged on and on.
On the other hand, the benefits looked decent enough on the surface. A license to hunt and sell monsters. The guild's name as a shield against trouble. Tax cuts and discounts. And a steady monthly allowance.
But Leo's brows tightened. This wasn't a contract, it was a leash.
'Sign this and I'd just become their dog,' he thought bitterly.
"Thank you for your offer, Mr. Cruz," Leo said with a polite bow of his head. "I'll think it over and send my response in a few days."
The man let out a sharp "Tch," rising from his seat with a grunt. His expression was clear disappointment, as if he'd just lost a chance to make money off him.
Leo leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath as the man walked away.
The offers didn't stop. Two more came, guilds still tossed contracts his way. Leo read each one carefully, flipping through the pages. Different words but the same trap.
From the three contracts he received, the shortest one demanded fifteen years of his life. Fifteen years chained to a guild, forced to work under their rules.
Leo closed the folder and pushed it away. 'No way. Who knows how far I'll climb in that time? Tying myself down now would only kill my future.'
In the end, he revealed nothing. Every person he'd spoken to felt untrustworthy.
'If I ever reveal myself, then it'll be to someone worth betting my life on.' He thought.
With nothing else keeping him in the association, Leo stepped out and began the long walk home.
"It's really hard to survive without a backer," he muttered, hands stuffed in his pockets. The thought weighed on him. He had awakened something special … but for now, it was useless.
His stomach growled loud. The only thing he'd had was that bitter cup of coffee in the morning.
"Should I just have signed one of those contracts? Fuuuuck…" He kicked a small rock on the road. The instant money had tempted him, just a little more and he might have caved.
But he shook his head hard. "No regrets now, Leo. I already rejected them." He forced a nod, as if trying to convince himself.
"Right… let's see my status again."
He called it out in his mind, and at once, a glowing screen only he could see flickered into view.
Name: Leo Vale
Level: 1 (0/100 exp)
Rank: Exclusive (Demon Lord)
Skill: SSS Rank Shadow Awaken
Shadows: 0/5
His lips curled into a smile. "That's what I'm saying… this, this is what I'll rely on. My ticket out." Just like that, the regret from earlier faded. That skill was hope itself.
But his smile faded almost as quick. "Shadow Awaken, huh? Why the hell doesn't it have any description?" He tapped the glowing screen, swiped, even tried commanding it in his head.
Still, nothing.
"Whatever, let's just try it out."
He raised his hand, and begun to focus.
"Activate."
Nothing.
"Shadow Awaken!"
Still, nothing.
"Open! Start! Rise!" He jabbed a finger at the ground like scolding a dog
"Seriously?!" Leo dragged his hands down his face. "You're SSS rank, right? At least sparkle or something…"
Leo let out a harsh breath and scratched his head. "What the hell? Why won't you work?!"
He grimaced. "This is the problem without a guild. No manuals, no mentors… I gotta figure everything out myself."
Right then, his stomach growled again.
"Urghh…" He clutched his stomach, wincing. His body reminded him of something more urgent than testing skills, he hadn't eaten all day.
"Forget it. The skill can wait, food can't." He stood up, brushing off his pants. No money in his pocket, not even a single coin. That left only one option.
Leo turned toward the mountains in the distance. "Guess I'll have to hunt fruit… or anything edible. Damn, what a life."