Chapter 32
This is a fictional story by realTensai
When Alvis opened his eyes, only darkness surrounded him. His gaze wandered left and right, yet nothingness was all he could perceive. He tried moving and, to his surprise, he could, even though there was no solid ground beneath him. By raising his arms, Alvis wanted to test if he could see himself, though instead of his arms, Alvis was met with blurry black smoke. He immediately looked at his body, trying to confirm his thought, and in the end, it was true. Alvis was just a mass of black smoke.
What normally would be enough to make him panic now somehow didn't bother him. Strangely, Alvis felt at peace. Within this dark nothingness, Alvis was calm. However, only then did he ask himself what had happened.
The last thing he could remember was how Lia embraced him after he had saved her. His condition was severe, so he lost consciousness right after. And now he was here.
Am I dead?
This possibility was the next thing that crossed his mind. Alvis couldn't remember a time when he was unconscious and floating in a dark space. This had never happened to him before. So if he wasn't unconscious, death wasn't unlikely. It wouldn't be the first time he died, anyway.
"Don't worry. You aren't dead."
Those words entered Alvis' nonexisting ears and made his incorporeal body tremble. At first, Alvis didn't see who had spoken, but then a figure emerged out of the darkness, clear for Alvis to see. His pale white skin stood out within this darkness, and his red eyes seemed demonic. Unlike Alvis, he had a normal body, and his physique reminded him of his own. The shape of his face, his height, and even his gaze were identical to Alvis'. Only his red eyes were different. But overall, he looked like an older version of Alvis.
However, what made Alvis' heart race, if he even had one, and got his smoky body into turmoil was not his ominous presence, which threatened Alvis' very existence. No, it was his hair. Never before had Alvis seen someone with this hair. He had thought he was the only one who had it.
It was white hair!
A diabolic smile formed on the guy's face and it was at this moment Alvis realized who stood before him.
"Y-You… are the Devil!"
Alvis somehow spoke, even though he was just black smoke.
"Yes," he said with a grin that showcased his insanity. "I am."
Alvis was at a loss for words. He who had been so calm before, now literally steamed because of anger. Memories of every time he had been called the son of the Devil crossed his mind, fueling his flaming rage even more. Seeing him now, Alvis couldn't suppress his hatred. If he wouldn't have had black smoke as a body, he would have punched him in the face.
"I hate you."
"Ohh, is this a way to address your lifesaver?"
Alvis furrowed his nonexistent eyebrows, deciphering what the Devil meant. Though Alvis was fast to catch on, yet he didn't like the answer he had arrived at. It was a thought he had long left behind, hoping it wasn't true.
"Are you the one who gave me the system?"
"So you seem to understand."
Alvis didn't like his answer. It confirmed his worst suspicions.
"What do you think about me now?"
"I still hate you, don't worry."
"Ha, you are an interesting guy."
His smile did not waver, which made Alvis click his nonexistent tongue. Alvis didn't mince his words, even though he was confronted with the single most dangerous individual who had ever existed. He had just found out that this guy gifted him the system, which made Alvis feel more than a bit uneasy. Not knowing what he was up to was dangerous. Yet he didn't want to let it show and wring out as much information as possible.
"Why can you talk to me? You are sealed, so this conversation shouldn't even be possible."
"We aren't in your world right now, so this isn't a problem. Even sealed, I still have enough influence to create a space where we could talk. After all, I am the one who gave you your powers."
"Why did you give me the system? What are you planning?"
"Why so hostile?" the Devil said, putting both his arms up as if he wanted to show he was innocent. "Without me, you would long be dead."
"Cut the bullshit! You are the Devil. There is no way you gave me the system, just out of goodwill!"
Silence awaited Alvis after he had said this. The Devil's blood-red eyes widened as a creepy smile unveiled his demonic nature. The surrounding air changed, preparing Alvis for what was about to come.
"You are right," he said, his voice suddenly way more threatening. "You are the key to my resurrection!"
Alvis' heart dropped as soon as he heard the Devil's true intention. His smoky body flickered like cloth exposed to a windstorm and he couldn't hide his irritation. He tried his best to make sense of the Devil's words, yet no matter what, the outcome was a disaster.
"What do you mean by that?" Alvis said, trying to hide his fear.
"It is simple. The moment you fail to complete a level," the Devil said, pointing a finger straight at Alvis' soul, "is the moment I take over!"
"So that was why you granted me these powers. Now everything makes sense."
"Yes! I will take over your body and free myself from this seal!"
Alvis didn't answer right away, because he still had to process everything he had just heard. However, in the end, he noticed something crucial.
"Aren't you too optimistic, Devil?" Alvis said and if he would have had a face, he would have had the same diabolic smile on his face as the Devil. "As long as I complete every level you throw at me, you can't take over! I won't let you have your way!"
"Ohh, some impressive words you spout there. I bet you gained some confidence after clearing level two. Still, don't get full of yourself! The real game only starts now!"
These were the last words Alvis heard before he left the black space and regained consciousness.
"…Alvis?"
As soon as Alvis regained his senses and physical body, a familiar voice greeted him. After having to listen to the Devil for so long, her voice felt balm for his soul. He turned his head to the side to see the girl he liked so much.
"Lia."
"Thank god!" Lia said, her relieved smile telling Alvis how much she had worried.
Alvis lay in a bed, and when he tried to move an abrupt pain stopped him. His entire body was bandaged, so he figured Lia had cared for him. Looking around this place, Alvis could only guess where he was. The pleasant rose-like smell paired with the rather girlish room decoration made it kinda obvious.
"I guess we are at your place."
"Yes. You just lost consciousness, so I had to heal you."
"S…So I am lying on your bed right now?"
"Yes," Lia said, blushing. "You are my man now, so this shouldn't be a problem."
Alvis' heart pounded as he heard Lia whispering those words. His head had to be as red as a tomato after realizing what she meant. Back then, he was carried by adrenaline, but now he had to face reality. He had proposed to her, and she accepted, which meant…
Alvis' brain overheated. This wasn't a thought he could handle yet.
"I-I am going to make you something to eat. You must be hungry right now. We can talk about the rest later."
Lia stood up, trying to hide her blushing face before she then left the room. Alvis just let her do it, grateful for her consideration. Having an empath as a wife sure made a few things easier. He needed some time to get a clear head.
His conversation with the Devil was still fresh in his mind.
Alvis just found out why he got the system and was still alive. The Devil wanted to use him as a vessel for his reincarnation. These weren't news Alvis could easily digest. After all, the fate of all the races lay on his shoulders now. If he were to fail and the Devil were to take over his body, it would mean the end of the world. Alvis could only gulp, thinking about that.
However, his confident words back then were not just for show, either. Alvis was set on completing every single level he may get. No matter how hard they may be. After having completed this level, Alvis felt like he could handle everything. He even wondered how he could possibly not complete a level. He would respawn until he would make it, so as long as he would not give up, everything would be fine. Right? Also, the Devil just gave him one more reason he could not fail.
There was no way Alvis would let this bastard take over his body! His hatred for him did not allow it.
With his resolve set, Alvis tried to open up the blue box to see what his next level was. However, what he saw surprised him.
SYSTEM UPDATE LOADING
Upon seeing those words on the screen, Alvis tried again, yet nothing changed. It took him a few more minutes before he realized he had to wait until his update was finished. And every gamer knew how long this could take.