Nathan – POV
The years slipped by faster than I could grasp. One moment I was toddling about, and before I knew it, I had reached the age of five. Serena had grown into a lively eight-year-old, and Jack was on the cusp of turning ten. Childhood seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye; each of us pulled along by the current of time.
During those years, Jack remained at the baron’s estate, returning home only once. That single visit was unforgettable. The expression on his face when he first encountered my demons, disguised in their human forms, was absolutely priceless. His disbelief only deepened when our parents revealed that I possessed not one, but two classes. It took him a long while to accept the truth, to realize that I had been blessed with gifts far beyond what most could ever hope for.
Life at home was, for the most part, peaceful. No great calamities struck, and our family lived in relative harmony. Yet there was one incident that nearly shattered that calm. A contingent of holy knights and priests passed through our remote corner of the world, stopping briefly on their mission. Their sudden presence was enough to set my nerves on edge. What if they sensed the demons hidden at my side? What if their holy magic pierced through the veils of deception?
Thankfully, their scrutiny never uncovered the truth. Leshner, ever confident in his masking spell and the enchanted brooch he wore, even had the audacity to flirt with one of the priestesses. The holy knights scolded him for his “disrespect,” utterly unaware that they were chastising an incubus whose very nature was to tempt and seduce. I could hardly contain my laughter at their naivety. To think that the so-called paragons of the Church were so easily fooled, it was almost too rich.
Meanwhile, my companions had managed to secure the necessary licenses to operate as adventurers. I never asked how they accomplished it, and frankly, I didn’t care. Results mattered more than explanations. With their papers in hand, my familiars spread across the region, delving into dungeons, escorting caravans, and taking on missions of every sort.
Their reputation grew swiftly. Before long, their party; aptly named the Hellblazers; rose to prominence, becoming one of the most respected adventuring groups in our small town. They had begun at level 23, the same as me, but in just two short years they had climbed to level 49. And because of our bond, their growth was my own. I too now stood at level 49, stronger, sharper, and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
Status:
Name: Nathan
Class: Shadow Mage, Warlock Demonologist, Affliction, Destruction
Title: Otherworldly Knowledge
Name: Nathan
Class: Shadow Mage, Warlock Demonologist, Affliction, Destruction
Title: Otherworldly Knowledge
Level: 49
HP: 500
MP: 6450
Strength: 50
Stamina: 50
Agility: 50
Dexterity: 50
Intelligence: 645
Constitution: 50
Affinity: Shadow SSS+, Fel Energy SSS+
Active Skills: Shadow Bolt 7, Immolate 5, Summon Imp, Shadow Tendrils 10, Corruption 5, Curse of Weakness 5, Life Tap 5, Curse of Agony 5, Fear 2, Summon Voidwalker, Drain Soul 3, Create Healthstone , Health Funnel 5, Drain Life 5, Curse of Recklessness 3, Unending Breath, Searing Pain 4, Create SoulstoneI (Greater) , Ritual of Summoning, Summon Succubus, Summon Incubus, Rain of Fire 3, Demon Armored Skin 3, Eye of Kilrogg, Shadowmeld 10, Drain Mana 3, Sense Demons, Banish 2, Summon Fellhunter, Subjugate Demon 2, Hellfire 2, Curse of the Elements 2, Shadow Ward 2, Detect Invisibility, Summon Felsteed, Howl of Terror 1, Death Coil 1, Curse of Shadow 1, Soul Fire 1
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Passive Skills: Mana Sense 2
My stats were becoming more and more impressive, and the strangest part was that I was only five years old. It was absurd, really, a living testament to just how broken the warlock class truly was. Every time I leveled up, new abilities unlocked themselves as though I were still playing a game. And the bonus rewards remained intact as well: each time I cast a spell for the very first time, I was showered with additional perks. Honestly, I was beginning to fear that my mana pool would grow so vast that I’d end up drowning in it.
As if that weren’t enough, I had recently acquired two new demons to command: the Felhunter and the Felsteed. Yes, you heard that right; a hound from the depths of hell itself, armed with a terrifying ability called mana burn, and a literal horse from hell, its body wreathed in flames that licked the air with every step.
When I first summoned them, Serena and Mother nearly fainted. The sight of those creatures, their bodies engulfed in fire, was enough to make anyone recoil in terror. But when they reached out to touch them, they discovered the flames did not burn. Somehow, my family was immune to the infernal fire. That revelation eased their fears, though only slightly. The Felhunter behaved like an obedient dog, wagging its tail and nuzzling Serena’s hand, while the Felsteed carried itself with the dignity of a well-trained warhorse. They were loyal, subservient, and utterly harmless to us. To our enemies, however, they would be merciless. That knowledge gave me a strange sense of comfort.
Not all my summons were so serious. One day, I conjured the Eye of Kilrogg and decided to chase Serena around the house with it. She shrieked and ran in circles like a headless chicken, her squeals echoing through the hut. I laughed so hard that I nearly fell over. Of course, my amusement was short-lived; mother promptly spanked me for tormenting my sister. Such was the price of mischief.
Serena, for her part, remained at level one, but her intelligence had skyrocketed. Her casting speed had improved so dramatically that she could now release spells almost instantaneously. I wasn’t far behind. My own casting speed had increased as well. Shadow Bolts and other basic spells were now instantaneous, though the more destructive ones; like Soulfire; still required a few seconds of preparation. Three seconds might not sound like much, but in the chaos of battle, it was an eternity. There was nothing to do but continue grinding… or rather, let my demons continue grinding for me.
The loot they brought back was staggering. My pocket dimension, which served as a treasure vault, was already three-fourths full. Gold, weapons, armor, rare materials; it was all piling up. Not that it mattered much for now. We had no intention of flaunting our wealth. Aside from modestly improving our hut into a proper home, we kept our heads down. Drawing attention would only invite suspicion, and suspicion was the last thing we needed.
I also learned something fascinating about my demonic companions: they had no need for food or water. They sustained themselves on the ambient mana that saturated the world around us. In dungeons, where mana was especially dense, they thrived. Occasionally, though, they indulged in darker appetites...feeding on the flesh and blood of monsters, and sometimes even humans or demi-humans foolish enough to cross the Hellblazers. By now, I wasn’t even shocked. Conflict among adventurers was inevitable, and envy was usually the spark. Those unlucky enough to provoke my demons paid the ultimate price.
Being demons, they also had no need for sleep. At night, they simply melted into the shadows, only to reappear at dawn as if nothing had happened. When they first arrived in town, people were wary of them, suspicious of their foreign origins. But after introducing themselves as countrymen of my parents; and with the help of a few bribes and veiled threats; they secured their adventurer licenses without issue. My parents obtained theirs as well due to the...efforts of my demonic friends. Drop a few gold coins here and a few threats there and any prejudices they had against my parents instantly vanish.
Later, my father joined the Hellblazers. Only Jakob accompanied my demonic friends on expeditions; Mother chose to wait until Jack awakened his class before adventuring again.
That was just like her; always thinking of her children first. She wanted to be Jack’s support, his healer, his shield. A mother’s devotion, unwavering and absolute.
The coming week would mark Jack’s advancement ceremony. Father had already left to fetch him from the baron’s estate. The entire family was on edge. Even I felt nervous. What if Jack received a poor class? What if he didn’t become a warrior, as everyone hoped? The odds were slim, but the possibility lingered like a shadow. Whatever the outcome, I resolved to stand by him. He was my brother, and I would support him no matter what.
As for Shive, her presence was explained away easily enough. We claimed she was Leshner’s niece, and the townsfolk accepted it without question. She followed us everywhere, helping with chores and blending seamlessly into our household. Mother treated her like another daughter, and Serena quickly grew attached to her as though she were a sister.
I, however, wasn’t sure how to act around her. Leshner, ever the incorrigible incubus, encouraged me to treat her as a lover; an idea Shive herself seemed to approve of with far too much enthusiasm. But come on, we were still five years old! The very thought was ridiculous. Typical Leshner, always pushing boundaries. Still, as the days passed, I found myself warming to her. She was no longer just a familiar bound to me by magic. Slowly, steadily, I began to see her as a friend.
And perhaps, in time, something more.
