"I have to calm down. I have to calm down. I have to keep my act together," Levi repeated to himself, taking shaky breaths.
He remembered the System's warning. If anyone found out about his tasks, it would mean instant death.
I have to keep cool, he told himself as he slowly opened the door.
A few doctors were standing at the threshold, concern written on their faces.
"We heard there was an emergency," one of them said, stepping forward as they saw Levi.
Panic was etched across his mom's face. "Levi, what happened?"
Levi forced a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine, thank you," he said, bowing slightly in apology to the doctors.
His mom's eyes searched his face, worried but still relieved that he was conscious.
Evan placed a hand on Levi's shoulder, giving him a light squeeze.
"You're acting weird, gee. What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing," Levi muttered, avoiding eye contact.
"Alright," Evan said, shrugging.
Levi paused, looking around the hospital room. "How long have I been unconscious?" he asked, a hint of panic creeping into his voice.
His mom sighed, her eyes softening with concern. "A week"
"A week?!" Levi exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "A whole week?!"
"What actually happened?" Isaac asked, frowning, but Levi remembered the System's warning and kept quiet.
"I… I don't know!" Levi said, his voice trembling. "I remember walking with a girl, and then… suddenly, I went unconscious."
His mom stepped forward, placing her hands gently on his body, checking for any injuries. "How come there was blood all over you?" she asked softly.
"I… I don't know," Levi replied, shrugging helplessly.
He was about to sit down when a sudden shimmer appeared in his vision. The words hovered in front of him, glowing faintly:
Task: Retrieve a soul at the verge of death
Warning: Failure to complete this task will result in instant death
Time limit: 24 hours
Levi groaned under his breath, his panic giving way to disbelief. How do I retrieve a soul? I don't even know how to do my own dishes, and now this?
"Mom! Let's go home!" he shouted, scrambling to stand despite the weight of the System pressing in on his mind.
Levi waved goodbye to Isaac and Evan as he sank into the passenger seat. The car purred to life, and he exhaled shakily.
He placed a hand on his chest, the thought of going to Hell still gnawing at him.
His eyes flicked to a lady walking along the walkway. The breeze swayed her mini skirt, revealing her panties for just a moment, and Levi's mouth watered instinctively.
He immediately slapped himself across the face.
"No! Not again!" he muttered, his heart racing. "This almost led me to Hell!"
Levi leaned back in the car seat, gripping his chest as his mind raced. Focus. Focus! The System… I have to survive.
A small, faint shimmer appeared in his vision again. Task: Locate a soul at the verge of death.
He groaned. How am I supposed to do that? I can barely figure out my own life, let alone… souls.
The car rolled past more pedestrians, and Levi's eyes betrayed him, darting at every attractive figure that crossed his path. No! Not now! Not now! he scolded himself. Almost got me killed once, won't happen again.
He closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing. The orb's energy in his chest throbbed faintly, a constant reminder that survival wasn't optional anymore. Every instinct, every thought, had to be controlled. Every careless impulse could cost him his life.
Levi finally made it home and slammed his bedroom door shut behind him, breathing heavily. The house was quiet, the faint hum of the city outside barely reaching him. He sank onto his bed, his chest still aching from the memories of the beach.
Then, without warning, a dark portal appeared before him—the same one he had seen before he almost died. Its red glow pulsed ominously, casting eerie shadows across the room.
Levi's instincts screamed at him to run, to scream, but he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
His heart pounded as the portal shimmered, and a mix of dread and anticipation tightened in his chest.
The man stepped out of the portal again, materializing in Levi's room as if he owned the space. He didn't move immediately, instead taking his time to look Levi over carefully.
He was tall, muscular, and imposing. A red cloak hung from his shoulders, contrasting sharply with the black suit underneath. His eyes glowed red, piercing through the dim light of the room.
Levi's voice trembled as he tried to speak. "W-who… who are you?"
The room seemed to hold its breath as the figure regarded him silently, the faint pulse of power radiating off him making Levi's chest tighten.
The man chuckled, a low, devlish sound that sent a shiver down Levi's spine.
"To you, I am your master," he said, his red eyes glinting. "To everyone else… I am Lucifer."
"W-what? Lucifer?" Levi stammered, fear gripping him like ice around his chest.
"You are to take over my duties on Earth," Lucifer continued, his voice calm but commanding, leaving no room for argument.
Levi's mind raced. Take over… his duties? On Earth? What does that even mean?
The weight of the words pressed down on him, and for the first time, Levi realized his life—and death—would never be the same.
"Your life isn't yours anymore," Lucifer said, his voice low and commanding. "It's mine."
Levi's chest tightened as he swallowed hard.
"Do whatever the System says," Lucifer continued, his red eyes boring into him. "I'll always come back to inspect, sinner."
"What… sinner?" Levi stammered, his heart thudding violently. That's… my name now to Lucifer?
The overwhelming figure loomed before him, red cloak flowing, aura radiating power, and Levi felt smaller than he had ever felt in his life. The fear, the awe, the weight of his new reality pressed down on him like a physical force.
Lucifer stepped forward, his presence crushing. He reached out and gripped Levi's jaw firmly, forcing him to look up.
"Make me proud," he said, his voice cold and deadly. "Or you'll be thrown to the deepest part of Hell."
Levi's heart pounded violently. The sheer weight of Lucifer's words, the heat of his red eyes, and the impossible authority radiating from him made Levi feel utterly powerless.
He swallowed hard, nodding weakly, the fear of failure already tightening like chains around his chest.