Chapter 2 – Thy Name, My Name


    “I hate people.”


    Why didn’t “they” feel even the slightest amount of guilt or shame when they did crimes and atrocities? Who is “they” you might ask?


    “People”


    Were those things actual people though, as in real human beings with thoughts and emotions?


    When I said I didn’t remember how I died, that was a lie, a lie that I wanted to believe.


    A reality I wanted to forget.


    That was why I was sure that this wasn’t a dream or questioned if this was reality. The reality is that a bunch of teenage punks had killed me. I no longer knew what they looked like; they look like faceless humanoids in my memories now. But I remember their drunken muttering that they needed money for cigarettes and alcohol and that I looked at them funny, needless to say they didn’t and I didn’t. I was killed over something so unsubstantial.


    I still have a vague memory of my mother, I don’t remember who she is anymore or what she looked like, but I could remember that she held food drives for the poor every so often. I remember many of those people.


    I remember the ungrateful ones the most. I heard a few cursing at my mother for giving away money and what they would do it if they had it themselves. Of course they would have gambled it away, on alcohol and cigarettes, women and even drugs. They wouldn’t even think of giving a bit of money to their families. I know what they would do with the money because they would do those things whenever they do get money.


    Some of them were ungrateful bastards that did what they wanted because they were “poor”. Some steal and rob like it was okay because they needed the money. Murderers and rapist act like they are oppressed and unfortunate people. People kept having children even though they couldn’t afford to even feed them and cursed that they were dirt poor.


    The rich only ever cared if they were involved and how to make even more money regardless of anyone else. What do they even need that much money for? Most of the government is in the pockets of the rich. The economy is just an inflated bubble on the brink of bursting.


    Society is rotting because of those “people”.


    I vividly remember the only woman I ever loved. Not what she looked like or who she was, but what we had together. She would always call me a block o f wood when I failed to respond to people socially, playfully and teasing. She was killed by a spoiled rich girl that was too busy with their phone while driving A FUCKING CAR! I was going to propose a few months later. I just…


    Anything and everyone that I ever cared about was destroyed by that flawed society, a society rotting to the very core. The actual people who try hard to help just end up prolonging the life of that rotting society, it can’t be cured with the way they are trying to, but they can’t see that or they refuse to. They didn’t have a choice. They never had a choice. None of us had.


    This is also why I am so calm about this situation. I realized that I am finally removed from that society. And I don’t want to go back. My thoughts couldn’t help but go to the darker recesses of my mind.


    As I lived in that society, the days went by as everything started getting worse. I slowly started to just want to kill those people myself, but cursing at my own cowardice and incapability. I am a good person. The person I was that the love of my life fell in love with. I can’t do something like that. But at my lowest point I just had the urge to kill every single one of them. She would care about it, but she was dead.


    But that was not going to happen, I wasn’t like that. That wasn’t what I wanted. Committing suicide felt like they had won over me, so I tried. I tried my best to be a good person and be good to others, well look at where it got me. Dead on a side walk with a BULLET IN MY SKULL!


    CALM DOWN!


    Calm down…


    “If I couldn’t read your mind I would have thought lightly of those words.”


    Miss Victoria spoke to me as I finally calmed myself down.


    “Like a raging vortex beneath still water.”


    She added with a frown.


    “You are the first one that I summoned that wasn’t a psychotic murderer, a psychopath, a raving lunatic or an emotionless doll, your hate of humanity is directed more on the fact that you were powerless to help it. I’m starting to wonder if you are suited for this role.”


    “I am Miss Victoria” I spoke, slowly and steadily as I controlled my breathing.


    “Yes?” She responded with curiosity.


    “If you are worried that I might help humanity, then you are absolutely right.” I openly admitted that one detail that just might get me killed here.


    “Hmn?” Her irises became slits like that of a cat as she hummed coldly. I remembered that I’ve always been a cat person, so I thought she looked really cute with those eyes.


    “If it were up to me I would slowly teach humanity on how to be good and virtuous to one another. By making them suffer and agonize until they learn, pain makes people remember incredibly well.”


    I spoke of the things I wanted to do but couldn’t. Things I would be able to do now that I had been given the chance. Even in another world, they are greedy and selfish. People don’t change. People won’t change. Until you make them.


    “Then I will continue doing that to keep them in line so they won’t forget. Humans tend to forget the as time passes after all.”


    It’s my turn to be greedy and selfish. And they will understand how much suffering and pain it will cause them.


    “What?” Miss Victoria tilted her head from those words, that gesture made the tingling sensations I had been feeling act up again but I forcibly ignore it.


    I am given this chance to be able to help society and even if it means becoming a monster that brings suffering and pain to others, I would gladly do it.


    I spoke in a slow menacing tone.


    “I quite like the way you said the dungeon worked, doing two objectives at the same time while complementing each other in their respective roles”


    She didn’t answer back as she stared at me, either because of my words or the fact that I just spoke in such a tone.


    “Make them suffer and cut out the rotting flesh of their society. Keeping them locked in that state to prevent the rot from worsening while keeping the supply of suffering high. To rule over the ignorant masses as I guide them down the proper path, even if I have to drag society kicking and screaming. I want to see if it would work, even in just a single place. Doesn’t that sound like a good plan to you Miss Victoria?”


    I looked at her as I spoke those words as the coldness in my mind gradually faded.


    “Admittedly, I just came up with that plan just now and it needs some serious thought to be put into it.”


    “Pfft! Hahaha!”


    She started laughing all of a sudden which derailed my train of thought. She looked beautiful even while laughing so loudly. The sensations returned and became increasingly more pronounced, I should ask her about this later.


    “I take back what I said! You’re crazier than anyone I’ve ever summoned!”


    What I said made sense though? And it furthers my goals without going against yours or anyone on this side.


    “To be honest, you are probably the most sensible out of the three souls that passed today’s ritual” Miss Victoria wiped a tear in her eye as she said that.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I still think what I said makes sense.


    “You think so? What you are saying sounds rather twisted” she responded with some glee.


    I’ve seen that soft measures didn’t work. And what I plan to do would have definite positive results. So only two others had passed huh. How many did you summon in this ritual Miss Victoria?


    “Hmmn… over ten I guess in this year’s ritual, I didn’t actually count. The other Demon Lords probably summoned about the same number.” She spoke very nonchalantly then stopped for a moment and looked directly at me.


    “And stop using my mind reading to communicate!” she complained whilst grinning. “You have passed the exam with full marks!”


    I already passed?!


    I thought we were just starting, when did we begin?


    “Well, someone just started to openly rave on about their personal thoughts and ideals all of a sudden that the tests seemed unnecessary.” She laughed.


    So you were checking whether or not I would be of use to you Demon Lords?


    “Mostly” She answered.


    Wait!


    But letting me know about the mind reading be a good idea? And did you believed my words so easily?!


    “You think mind reading is the only thing I can do to verify your standing?”


    Miss Victoria made a mischievous smile.


    “Those words of yours were from the deepest parts of your soul.”


    I was just concerned about it though? And what would have happened if I didn’t pass?


    “There are many uses for souls” She answered with a smile. “Especially souls from other worlds”


    So I would still get employed, just in an incredibly lower position. So I’m still hung up on this being a job interview huh.


    “Most of the souls I summoned were either psychopaths or murderers in their past lives. Many were completely fixated on the chance to obtain power over the lives of others, some even reveling at the thought of fulfilling their darkest desires, while you on the other hand are still thinking of inconsequential things.” She giggled.


    Didn’t the Demon Lords’ criteria for souls kind of ensure that though?


    “Haha” She laughed happily. ”That is true!”


    So I’m a candidate Demon Lord now?


    “Why yes!” Miss Victoria laughed as she said that and continued. “But that’s as far as you go.”


    What?!


    “What do you mean by that?!” I couldn’t help but raise my voice as I spoke.


    “Haha! I knew I could get a reaction from you!”


    Miss Victoria clapped her hands in happiness at my expense.


    “Was that a joke?” I asked. I felt a little tingly looking at her actions.


    “No, being reincarnated as a Demon Lord would take too long.”


    Her facial expression became serious.


    “The natural way to become a Demon Lord would take hundreds of years. Unlike the regular demons we Demon Lords are born from the accumulation of power and sustenance over a very long period of time and what we don’t have is exactly that - time”


    Urgh…


    And I was talking about my ideals so passionately. This is so embarrassing.


    Miss Victoria giggled. “It is a sensible plan, incredibly twisted though. Just the way I like it!”


    “Then what do I have to do to become a Demon Lord?” I asked with some annoyance.


    “Firstly, you will be reincarnated as a child of Krad. Your body would be formed from mana and a bit of negative energy, so you would be born as the weaker forms of monsters.”


    She looked like she remembered something and added.


    “Oh right, you said you liked how the dungeons worked. So you would be happy to know that you will be reincarnated with a Dungeon Core. You will slowly get stronger with the help of the Dungeon Core. That is also how you can become a Demon Lord. Create a dungeon and collect enough of the strong negative emotions from the beings of Ralos and mana from the surrounding to emulate the conditions to transform into a Demon Lord.”


    So I get the protection of a dungeon from the very beginning, which is somewhat reassuring.


    She made a stern expression as she spoke her next words.


    “But that is where the hard part lies. A newly formed dungeon can be easily conquered by even average adventures because of the advancements of the reincarnated individuals. So you must use any and all knowledge you possess to survive.”


    She then added.


    “And when you survive the beginning and establish your dungeon, it will still take a substantial amount of time to collect that much sustenance to transform into a Demon Lord.”


    So the races of light are well prepared to take on the dungeons. What about helping us by using your own dungeons?


    “It doesn’t work that way. A dungeon is part of a Demon Lord’s body so no other Demon Lord can use it. And even if we could do so you wouldn’t be able to handle it with such weak a body. You must grow with your own dungeon and amass the sustenance yourself for you to become a Demon Lord.”


    Miss Victoria took deep breathes and regained her elegant bearing before she spoke with a smile.


    “I’ve taken quite a liking to you so don’t die and become a Demon Lord, I’ll will gladly take you under my faction.”


    Of course there are factions, especially for a Demon Lord of the tenth rank.


    She leaned forward and spoke those words. Her cleavage was exposed and I could help but feel a strange tingling at the sight. I have been feeling it since a while ago but I don’t know what it is. A lot of things had already happened today, so such a thing is negligible.


    “New blood is hard to come by, especially capable ones. You are the only one in this batch who actually listened to all of my words and you seem to have a bit of foresight.” She said.


    Thank you? And how many others are in your faction if I might ask?


    “I am the second in command of the faction, The Black Hand” she then added. “There arefive Origin Demon Lords no lower than the twentieth rank and ten reincarnated Demon Lords in this faction.”


    Origin Demon Lords are ones originally here right? And the other group is made up of reincarnated ones? So reincarnated Demon Lords don’t have a rank?


    “Many are in the lower rankings so it is negligible to state them. Don’t worry about that right now, worry about yourself. Out of the three hundred candidates that were reincarnated in the past ritual ten years ago, only thirty survived to become Demon Lords.”


    So one out of ten survived? That’s a pretty reassuring number, no pressure right?


    “You need to stop doing that!” She had a light smile. “No matter how patient I am, I am still the Demon Lord of the tenth rank.”


    What am I doing? Oh-


    “Pardon me. It is easy to forget when I don’t have a mouth to speak with.”


    I apologized immediately after realizing what I did. I don’t have a mouth to talk with and I don’t understand how I can talk exactly.


    “You are pardoned.” She said with such a pleasant smile.


    “Better work on that. Although I find it quite amusing coming from you, you better not do it with other high ranking Demon Lords if you ever encounter one”


    “Duly noted Miss Victoria” I responded, properly this time.


    “Good!” She grinned then frowned as she spoke. “It seems like we don’t have a lot of time left as I thought. If I had known the last one would be this promising I wouldn’t have spent so much time on the psychotic ones.”


    “Well there is still a bit of time, so let me give you some advice.” Miss Victoria straightened herself on her throne as she spoke her next words. “This isn’t some kind of game. You will die if you don’t take this seriously.”


    “I understand. “ I responded.


    She sighed and continued.


    “As I have said, the majority of human kingdoms view dungeons as a profitable exploit as long as they are controllable and are managed. Dungeons must be designed to enforce this notion. They must have reasonable survivability and give enough profit for those that delve into them. The floors closer to the surface have to be made to be easy to accommodate low ranked adventurers and get progressively harder as they go deeper into the dungeon. Do you understand?”


    “Yes, Miss Victoria.”


    I replied. So the dungeon would have to be designed like in a computer game then, getting harder as the floors get lower.


    “We had a hand in the creation of the so called adventurers’ guild of the races a thousand years ago. This establishment further enforced the belief in the profitability of dungeons and the new generations of reincarnators easily bit into it. This had led to the increase in the strength of the races, but it was a tradeoff we were willing to make. ”


    I just heard something definitely important. And of course many of the reincarnators would be supportive of the adventurer guilds; they are a staple of the fantasy genre and were probably accustomed to such from games and novels.


    She spoke with some seriousness.


    “Although some humans will try and take the core to make a quick profit so prepare all you have to defend your dungeon at any time. Demon and Undead dungeons that are found are prioritized to be destroyed the moment they are found, so avoid using those types of monsters if you can.” She said then added.


    “There is also a chance you might be spawned at a place where there are high populations of races other than humans so listen carefully.”


    “You have to be wary about are the elves. Having long life spans, they still remember the wars and what the dungeons signify. They would send large expeditions to destroy even newly created dungeons if they are found.”


    Miss Victoria smiled as she spoke her next words.


    “This has strained the relationship between the elves and many human kingdoms. Elves are often called an alarmist race for their fanatic desire to destroy the dungeons. They should be.”


    “The Dwarves think we have already lost the war and that dungeons are a good source for materials, but be warned that they would destroy any dungeons they think are a threat. And the Beast men live in clans and the history of the war against the demons has become tales passed down to their descendants. They are too unorganized and often seen by the other races as primitive to be an immediate threat.”


    Miss Victoria smiled as she waved her hands and the magic screen disappeared.


    “We cannot choose what you reincarnate into, but it is known that it would tend to be what suits your soul the most. I do wonder what you will become. After reincarnating, the Dungeon Core has been designed to assist you and try to answer any questions you might ask.”


    “I will remember that Miss Victoria.” I answered. So the Dungeon Core is like some sort of artificial intelligence?


    “You would also be reincarnated in a random location and it might be a place close to the cities and settlements so be prepared.”


    She made a gesture as she looked at me.


    “The other reincarnated candidates are your competition. Two dungeons close to each other would slow the time it would take for you to become a Demon Lord. You could also take their cores to strengthen your own even quicker. Be wary of any you find near you and get rid of them if you can, even if they are individuals that I had summoned myself.”


    She said a few other things afterwards. She kept exposing her chest and thighs as she talked to me and the tingling sensation got stronger. It that sensation sexual arousal perhaps, it is likely the case from what causes it. I don’t know how souls work and Miss Victoria just laughed off my questions about it.


    After conversing with a bit more Miss Victoria looked satisfied and said.


    “It is time. We shall start the ceremony.”


    Miss Victoria summoned a magic circle where I was placed and started chanting. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, it sounded like a soft hymn yet like a large choir at the same time. The magic circle became brighter and brighter as her voice got louder.


    “Say thy name!” She shouted at me.


    Although I couldn’t understand what she meant by that I was compelled by an unseen will to give myself a name. A name I shall be called as I become a child of Krad and join the legions of the darkness.


    I looked at her, it is unknown whether we would meet again or how long it would take. She winked at me as she smiled.


    The intense light enveloped me as I spoke my name.


    .


    .


    .


    “Vorxes”