Demon King: Chapter 2
Estimated read time: 10 min
[This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.]
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Alex's eyes fluttered open. Pain shot through his body as he tried to move, but the memory of falling from the sky, landing in the forest, and surviving with only the ring on his left hand felt hazy. His body was burned and bruised, but the couple who had found him had healed him quickly. He had no recollection of his past life—his family, his friends, his betrayal—everything was gone.
All that remained was the strange, towering structure piercing the sky above him.
The "Tower of Gluttony" loomed over the thick forest, its black spires twisting unnaturally through the clouds. It was unlike any tower Alex had ever seen—or remembered. Even if he wanted to comprehend where he was, the world around him was already telling him he was no longer on Earth.
"Where… am I?" Alex whispered to himself. His voice trembled, not just from pain, but from the cold, eerie aura emanating from the tower.
The ring on his left hand pulsed with a faint glow. It had survived the fall, and somehow, it now felt alive. A sudden 3D projection flickered before his eyes.
"Welcome, Master," the voice echoed, smooth yet mechanical. It was coming from the ring. Alex froze.
A holographic projection appeared above the ring, an image almost like an emoji, shifting and morphing as it "spoke" to him.
"Congratulations, Master. You have unlocked 1% of the Ring of Beelzebub. Ability 'Gluttony' is now available. You may now use this skill."
Before Alex could even process the information, the ring's power surged, and a black, viscous liquid began seeping from his body, spreading across the forest floor. The remains of monsters and magical energy around him dissolved into it, and as it flowed back into him, Alex felt strength returning to his body. His burns healed, his muscles regained tension, and a strange, overwhelming power filled him.
Though he was stronger, Alex realized he was still vulnerable. The Tower of Gluttony was no ordinary dungeon. Its traps had reactivated, and thousands of Skeleton Army monsters were already beginning to close in around him. Any careless movement could end his life.
"Master, you cannot use any items in this tower except God-level items," the ring's projection warned. "All other items will drain into me and make you appear weak. Even touching a B-class item could kill you instantly at this stage."
Alex clenched his fists. Weakness. Betrayal. Survival. All these memories—or fragments of what might have been his memories—flooded back. He had survived falling from the sky, losing his identity, and waking up in an alien world. He would survive this too.
"Then show me the path," Alex commanded. The projection seemed to smile—or at least mimic a smile.
"Since I am not native to this tower, I can teleport you out. But your destination is uncertain. You could end up anywhere—even on the moon of your world."
Alex's lips curved into a faint grin. Anywhere is better than death.
Before he could respond, a shadow shifted across the forest. The Skeleton Army had already begun to swarm, hundreds of animated corpses surrounding him. The ring pulsed, feeding its energy into him, preparing him for his first true test in this strange, new world.
Alex's adventure had officially begun.
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To Be Continued…
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