Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

DING

[Talent's daily use available. Use: Yes/No]

With the beginning of another busy day, another notification echoed with the rising sun.

Unlike last week, its buzzing forced his eyes open and his heart to race.

Expectation propelling his finger on the fiery window, he smashed yes, leapt to his feet, and scrutinised the sudden burst of light condensing into the familiar red wheel as its silver needle rattled against today's potential prizes.

His eyes narrowed into fiery slits as if he could intimidate it into giving him something useful.

"I'll use you like a frying pan if it's another useless staff. You hear me? Instead, give me an item on the bow's level!"

His brows twitched at the cruel memory, yet a subtle smile crept over his lips as his eyes darted to his item list's new entries.

Items: Beginner legionnaire's short sword +15, name change ticket, Parchment of Absolution, city relocation ticket, Crystalline magic staff (fused weapon), Soul binding stone, Storm bow, intermediate potions x10, return scroll.

After his dogshit luck, every day brought a new surprise, and those four were the best he had gotten after his Ozymandias imitation strategy. Even if he had no idea if it helped, he chuckled each time and felt his crumbling affection for the wheel recover.

Simultaneously, the needle's slowing rattle drew his attention back.

Expectation coloring his cheeks, he followed the passing prizes with a sigh of relief or a dissatisfied huff. But when he saw one he could still get, he almost fainted as his stomach churned in anger.

"I dare you to give a damn stone twice! I'm serious! I'll end our collaboration if you do it!"

A red glint flashed in his twitched eyes, and vapor swirled through his sharp teeth in a threatening show. One that intensified as the needle drew closer to the stone.

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As if to defy him after enduring his offensive behavior for a week, it passed by a shining spear, a leather pouch distorted by gold coins, and a bundle of parchments covered in delicate writings. And now, it hovered above the stone, moving at a snail's pace towards the next item.

A silence—oppressive and heavy—wrapped around his tense shoulders before the needle stopped... on the stone.

"Gah!"

He slapped the wheel in frustration, causing it to dissipate in a spectacle of raining light particles as he rolled his eyes.

Despite the letdown, he exhaled his frustration and patted his throbbing chest, trying to see the glass half full instead of half empty.

"It's ok. Luck is probably turning around after the recent streak of helpful items."

Dragging his feet to the door, he smacked his lips and opened the notification. But instead of sighing in regret, his pupils constricted. Blood drained from his face next. In fact, he even felt his soul leave him for a split second as he read the ominous words.

[Congratulations on obtaining the c grade rarest reward, the forbidden and cursed material: fragment of the hell's ruler throne.]

The world lost its light and spun as memories of the stone flashed in his swirling mind.

In short, he had looted it with his guildmates after vanquishing the most powerful and horrible raid boss in a certain MMORPG. When he won the dice roll, he had first jumped in delight before the terrible consequences hit him like a truck... and even if it was a metaphor, this truck didn't isekai his character.

Instead, it sent him straight into the shadow realm after he cursed his luck, lost months of progress, and restated anew.

Consequences he would suffer from once more—this time, in the real world.

The idea rumbling in his mind, he raised his trembling fingers through his hair and held his forehead. Horror waltzed in his heart, mercilessly stomping everything he had built, his hopes and dreams.

He clenched his jaw, a sliver of hope piercing through his distress as he summoned the throne fragment.

A jagged stone, its once meticulous engravings and flourishes faded, immediately weighed on his palm. Dense miasmas darker than the lightless back hole emanated and danced above it, suggesting how powerful the individual who used to press his back on it was.

And it was this miasma that caused sweat to stream down his face as he scrutinised it to pop its detail screen.

Fragment of the hell's ruler throne

Introduction:

A unique material awarded to the first team that defeated the impossible final raid boss.

Nourished by this existence's eternal hate and malice, this item is as much of a boon as it is a curse. Of course, it depends on your perspective and the price you're ready to pay to use it.

Rarity: Infernal

Properties:

Infernal empowerment: When you hold the fragment, your demonic essence's purity rises by a tier, granting your flames increased destructiveness and lowered consumption.

Infernal resistance: The fragment provides moderate resistance against divine abilities, dark energies, and curses. In exchange, you're unable to receive beneficial effects or blessings.

Underworld Connection: This fragment's link to its place of origin is deep. Through it, you can locate the underworld and shatter the realm barrier to walk through it.

Cursed material: Each time you use it, its previous owner's malice will subject you to uncontrollable anger, making you make irrational decisions as it slowly corrupts your mind. It doesn't affect demon dukes, princes, and kings. Every divine being will hate you except for the long-forgotten and darkest ones who might take an interest in you.

Note: This material is untradable, indestructible, and soul-bound. Only a legendary smith as skilled as Hephaestus can craft it into armor or weapon.

After reading the description with trembling eyes and noticing that it was word for word the same as in the game except for the second property, he dropped to his knees.

His back arched, his arms dangling on his sides as the fragment slipped from his fingers and rolled on the floor.

Then, his lips twisted, and his eyes closed as he inhaled sharply before he... exploded into laughter.

"Hahaha! It's like what happened to my staff! The system balanced it to make it a real item." His dull eyes sharpened, and a vicious smirk split his face. "After I become a demon duke, I won't have to worry about its cursed nature. Instead, I'll make those higher fools tremble after Muramasa forges it!"