Darkness.
I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw was a dilapidated wooden ceiling full of holes. Through the gaps in the planks, the morning sunlight started to stream in, exactly like a drop of wine from a cracked jug. The air around me was stuffy, mixed with the smell of mold, sweat, and... ah, of course, the smell of wine that even a rat would be reluctant to touch.
I tried to lift my hand.
Thin. Small. The veins were visible.
'What the hell is this? Since when did my formidable hand turn into a dry twig like this?'
I forced myself to sit up, and this body felt light yet fragile. My spine cracked with every slight movement of my shoulder. Cold sweat ran down my back, not because of pain, but because of shock. I immediately turned my head, looking at a cracked piece of mirror placed on a wooden chair.
What I saw wasn't the face of the middle-aged man with the mad gaze that the world once feared. Not the scarred, unshaven face known as the Shadow Demon.
What I saw was just the face of a skinny, pale boy with hollow cheeks, his hair tangled like a floor mop used to clean cow dung.
I moved closer to the mirror, then gave a crooked smile.
'You're kidding me, right? Gods, don't tell me you really brought me back... in the body of this scrawny kid?'
Suddenly, the air in front of me vibrated.
Click!
A transparent, bluish screen appeared, floating right in front of my face. A message was clearly displayed, as if slapping my consciousness.
[System Message]
Welcome to a child's body. Hopefully this time you can live longer than a chicken.
I was silent for a moment.
Then, I laughed.
I raised my hand and tried to poke the screen, but my finger just went right through it. There was no sensation, just a passing through.
[System Message]
Are you stupid? This is a screen, not a woman's breast.
I froze.
'Oh... this system not only talks, but also rambles nonsensically? Interesting.'
I grinned widely, then slapped my thigh. "Then, we're going to have some fun, you and I."
I stood up with this small body. My legs were shaky, my knees trembling, but my old consciousness and experience remained intact. I took a deep breath.
'This body might be weak. But me... I am the Shadow Demon. I am the one who once made three great sects burn their own temples out of fear. I am the one who once wiped out a mercenary hunting troop with just a bottle of wine and two rusty needles. And now, I'm back at square one... in a scrawny kid's body.'
I squeezed my fingers. A cracking sound was heard, even though these bones felt brittle.
But I knew one thing: my techniques wouldn't disappear just because my body changed. Battle experience wouldn't vanish just because my age regressed.
'Heh, this might even be an advantage. With a body like this, I can double my speed. If I train it correctly... I can crush anyone, even those two levels above me.'
I raised my right hand, then began to circulate my breath according to the basic pattern of the "Flowing River Steps" technique.
Swoosh!
My body moved. My knees slightly bent, my heels lifted, my breath flowing to my chest and then down to my abdomen.
I took one step.
Ktak!
The flimsy floor in this room cracked from my slight step.
I smiled.
'I still remember every detail. Even this boy's body can be trained in an instant.'
Suddenly, the screen appeared again.
[System Message]
How impressive. You successfully showed off a high-level technique in a rundown inn room.
Coolness Score: 0.
I stared at the screen, mouth agape, then chuckled.
"You annoying system. But... I like your sarcasm. You remind me of my third ex-wife who always called me an idiot. The difference is, you can't hit me with a frying pan."
I walked toward the window. From there, I could see a small, dingy town. The dirt road was filled with vegetable vendors, skinny children running barefoot, and a few local thugs sitting at the corner, drinking cheap wine.
I sighed.
'So, this is where I start. Again, the lowest point. Again, I'm just a small person who is looked down upon.'
But my smile widened, my canines visible.
'That's good. Because the lower I start... the higher I will step on their heads later.'
Knock knock knock!
The flimsy door to my room was hammered loudly. A high-pitched voice came from outside.
"Hey, kid! It's time to pay the room rent! If you don't have the money, get out before I throw your things onto the street!"
I paused for a moment, then laughed softly.
'Hahaha... so even in this second life, I still have debts? This world is truly consistent in torturing me.'
The flimsy door was pounded again. Bam! Bam! Bam!
"I know you're in there, kid! If you don't have the money, come out right now!" The shrill voice of the inn owner got louder.
I opened the door slowly.
Creak!
And just as I suspected, standing there was a plump old woman, hands on her hips, her face full of wrinkles, and eyebrows as thick as a paintbrush. She looked at me like I was a flea that had just crawled out of the sewer.
"Hey, you! Skinny brat! You've delayed the room rent for three days. If you don't pay today, I'll drag you out onto the street, understand?"
I looked at her with a deadpan face. "Auntie, where do you think a body this skinny can get money? I'm not even fat enough to be sold as a slave."
The old woman glared at me. Guests in the inn's common room began to turn toward us. Some chuckled, others whispered.
Suddenly, the screen appeared again.
[System Message]
You have just refused to pay a debt.
Level of Bad Luck +5.
[System Message]
Take it easy. If you die, I'll laugh at you from here.
The atmosphere grew louder. At one of the tables, a group of raggedly dressed men were drinking wine. They were already drunk, faces red, eyes glazed over. One of them stood up, staggering.
"Heh... heh... look at this, guys. The skinny kid dares to defy the inn lady."
"That kid is even skinnier than the fried chicken bones from yesterday. If I blow on him, he'll fly right away," his friend replied with a chuckle.
Another man added, "If I hit him once, he'll explode like a rotten watermelon."
Loud laughter filled the room.
I stared at them expressionlessly, then took a small chair and sat down casually. "I don't know if you're truly drunk or just stupid. But if you want to joke with me, make sure you've already written your will."
The room immediately fell silent for a moment.
Then, BWHAHAHA! they laughed even harder.
"Hahaha! Listen to that! This skinny kid talks like a hero!"
"Hey, kid, would you like to be our pet? If you can bark well, maybe we'll give you a bone."
I snorted, then looked at the blue screen that was still floating.
'Hey, system, what do you think if I break their arms one by one?'
[System Message]
Hmm... good idea. Oh yeah, if you win, I'll give you a small prize.
I grinned. "Perfect."
The drunk thug kicked my chair. Bang! My chair was sent flying, and my body fell to the floor.
The spectators immediately cheered.
"Woahh! The kid flew!"
I got up slowly, brushing the dust off my tattered clothes. My gaze changed, my smile widened, and my eyes lit up with a hint of madness.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The thug raised an eyebrow, slightly swaying from the alcohol. "Uh... why are you looking at me like that, kid?"
I took one step closer.
Tap.
The sound of my step was clearly audible in the room.
'Interesting. With this small body, I can move faster. Let's test how far I can beat an adult.'
The thug chuckled nervously. "Hey... don't get too close."
I smiled. "I promise... it will only hurt a little."
Swoosh!
In an instant, I moved to his side. My hand gripped his wrist, and then...
Crack!
His bone broke like a dry twig.
"AAAARRRGHHHHHH!!!" he screamed, his body falling to its knees, his face red with pain.
Everyone in the inn stared wide-eyed.
Kraaak!
I looked at my own hand.
'Hahaha, still smooth. Even with a body this small, I can execute a basic joint lock perfectly.'
Another man stood up, his face angry. "You damn brat! You dare hurt my friend!"
I turned slowly, then gave a faint smile. "If you want to be next, stand closer."
He advanced with a raised fist. The large fist swung toward my face.
Whoosh!
I ducked slightly, then elbowed his solar plexus with precision.
BAM!
His body stumbled backward, his mouth opened, and from it came stomach contents mixed with wine. Blergh!
"Uueeeekkk!"
People shrieked in disgust and laughed simultaneously. The atmosphere turned chaotic, but all eyes were fixed on me.
I looked at the blue screen again.
[System Message]
Congratulations! You successfully beat up two drunk people. Reward: 1 copper coin. Don't spend it all in one place, idiot.
I snorted. "At least you have the decency to give me a prize."
I grabbed the wine jug from the table, then drank it straight. The bitter, stale, and foul liquid flowed down my throat.
"Hahaha! It still tastes disgusting... but this is a perfect beginning!"
The faces of the patrons were still pale, while the inn owner was hiding behind the counter.
I looked at the crowd with wild eyes. "Starting today, remember this well... this skinny brat is not your toy. I am...."
I took another swig of wine, spilling a little onto the floor.
"...the Shadow Demon."
The room was suddenly silent. Only the heavy breathing of the thugs could be heard.
Only the sound of creaking wood and heavy breathing filled the room. Two thugs were sprawled out, one moaning while clutching his broken hand, the other slumped on the floor with vomit still clinging to his chin. The smell of wine mixed with the stench of vomit made the room even fouler.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, then sat back down on the chair that had been kicked over.
Drap!
The sound of the chair echoed, snapping people out of their shock.
I looked at them one by one. Looks of fear, looks of astonishment, and looks of disgust.
I grinned. "Why? I only beat up two skinny drunk people, and you're already trembling like that? What will you do when I'm actually serious, huh?"
A man in the corner whispered, loud enough for me to hear. "That... that kid is dangerous."
"Not just dangerous... he's... he's crazy."
I took another drink of the wine. It tasted like dishwater, but the heat flowing into my stomach calmed me.
'Look at them. These faces of fear... ah, I missed it. It feels like coming home after a long journey.'
I chuckled softly.
The inn owner finally dared to speak, her voice trembling. "I-if you want to stay... I... I won won't charge you rent anymore. Consider it free. J-just as long as you don't destroy this place any further."
I turned with an raised eyebrow.
'Wow, just by beating up two drunk thugs, I get a free room? If I had known, I would have thrown a table at their heads from the start.'
The blue screen appeared in front of me.
[System Message]
Congratulations! You gained an unexpected benefit: free rent. Truly embarrassing, even a dog could do this.
I snorted. "Hey, don't underestimate this achievement. You think it's easy to get a free room just by beating people up? This is a high-level technique called how to save on living expenses."
People started whispering again.
"He called himself the Shadow Demon..."
"That name sounds scary, but... he's just a kid, right?"
"If a kid can break your bones, it's better not to underestimate him."
I listened with a satisfied smile.
'Good. Small rumors like this will spread. Reputation must start from the lowest point. Let them laugh at me first. Later, that laughter will turn into screams.'
I got up from the chair. All eyes immediately stared at me, their bodies stiff like mice spotting a hungry cat.
I walked toward the door, then stopped for a moment.
"Hey," I called, turning halfway. "Whoever still thinks I'm a weak kid... feel free to try your luck. I don't mind adding to the body count today."
There was no answer. Only silence.
I burst into laughter, then walked out of the inn.
The outside air was fresher, although still filled with the smell of garbage and the market. I walked casually, hands behind my head, as if I were just a small child heading out to play.
On the street, a few people glanced at me. Small children stared in wonder, then whispered to each other. I overheard an old man faintly saying, "That's the kid from the Ramshackle Inn... they say he beat up two adults all by himself."
I gave a crooked smile.
'Reputation spreads faster than stomach flu. This world truly missed me.'
Suddenly, the blue screen appeared again in front of me.
[System Message]
Pay attention, idiot. Because you caused the first chaos after regression, the opening mission has been activated.
New text appeared below it, larger, like a bulletin board.
[Main Quest: Opening Brawl]
Show that the Shadow Demon is not just a common nickname. Defeat 10 opponents within 3 days.
Reward: Skill Selection (Rare Grade). Penalty for Failure: Loss of 50% of your body's vitality.
I stopped walking. My eyes widened, then I bowed my head and laughed hard.
"Hahaha! So you finally give me a mission? Excellent!"
I pointed at the screen with my index finger.
"A tempting reward. A deadly penalty. You really know how to make this game feel alive."
[System Message]
Oh, so you think I'm fun? Too bad, I'm actually hoping you fail.
I grinned, my canines showing. "In that case... let's see who gets the last laugh."
I started walking again, lighter than before. This boy's body might be fragile, but I knew the techniques I could use. I knew the secrets. I knew how to crush people who were even two levels above me.
And now, I had three days to find 10 opponents.
I raised my head, looking at the blue sky filled with white clouds.
"Alright, world. The Shadow Demon is back... and this time, even heaven can't hold me."
Fwoooosh! (A strong wind blew, carrying the dust from the street).