Reborn to Devour: A Demonic LitRPG

I waited outside the cabin and watched the rim of the basin while Bonnie observed the opposite side. I could see Capitaine’s creatures sprint around the landscape like dogs on crack as they scoured for any signs of enemy presence. Fortunately, nothing had revealed itself on the horizon. But, if Kowal was to be believed, it was less a matter of if and more a matter of when.

Shortly after the trio departed with the blacksmith, a low rumble shook the ground and rattled my bones as the forge began to spur to life. Flames belched from the earth in large plumes of smoke and steam as though a volcano was about to erupt beneath my feet.

Like a clock tower that rang out the hour of the end, the hillside loudly boomed over the surrounding land. In the same way as a diamond encrusted watch or a foreign car in a bad neighborhood, the basin turned into the loudest advertisement in Hell for any would-be bandit group that wanted to come running.

“How are you all doing topside?” Capitaine’s irritating voice rang out from the doorway. “Any strange activity on the horizon?”

“You’d have known already,” I replied gruffly as I was disinterested in keeping up appearances when it was just the three of us.

I peered over to see the upgrades to the rifle. Outside of a few new runes scrawled into the barrel, a metal ammo drum was haphazardly slapped to the bottom of the weapon. The gun freaks of the world would rip their eyes out if they saw this hideous combination of Revolutionary War and Prohibition Era Chicago.

“So much for small talk,” Capitaine said with a shrug as they leaned against the wall of the cabin.

More watching and more waiting. However, nothing appeared over the ridge. I imagined that, even if they did know the exact location of the forge, the mists that surround the basin would go a long way to slow down their advance. But, an unsavory feeling in my bones like the premonition of a veteran with a fake leg told me that they would appear at the worst time. Like watching a corner in a videogame only to turn away right when they enter the room, I knew that they wouldn’t invade until it was most inconvenient.

Culuur emerged from the depths and moved to stand by my post.

“You can go down now,” he informed, freeing me of my watch.

With a nod, I entered the cabin and made my way down the stairs into the basement. Wooden steps turned to stone as the staircase began to win its way down into the earth. Loud slamming sounds of metal shaping metal pierced the air. Heat rising from the molten bottom invited welcome heat back into my body.

At the bottom of the stairs sat a large stone room. Kowal, eyes glowing from numerous menus behind his eyes, stuck a blade into a pool of water. I was no expert, but it appeared that his skills allowed him to skip several steps in the process. Otherwise, I have doubts he could have progressed through all these orders so quickly.

Off to the side, Yoshitsune watched eagerly to see the results. She paced back and forth along the floor with a gait that tried not to appear overly excited.

“You look like a kid on Christmas, Yoshitsune,” I said, causing the demon to jump slightly from surprise.

“Oh, Ishmael-san,” Yoshitsune quickly replied, composed as she could manage. “I’m not sure what you are trying to say.”

“You look excited about your sword,” I answered with a raised eyebrow. I wouldn’t press further why she didn’t know what Christmas was when she knew what a gun was. World history wasn’t exactly my thing. I wondered if Trevor would be jealous that I knew a samurai. He liked Japanese stuff like that.

“In that case, I am like that,” Yoshitsune agreed with a nod. “Having custom equipment like this is the first real sign of our progress.”

I looked to the side to see Kowal touch the submerged weapon. He closed his eyes with stoic focus as he channeled his powers into the weapon. The weapon was sheathed in a soft glow that obscured the transformations taking place. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the blade disappeared from the water to leave a few stray wisps of steam.

At the same time, Yoshitsune released a small yelp in surprise. She reached out and gingerly touched her forearm.

“It’s done,” Kowal informed, his head finally turning to face us. “Let me know what you think.”

A cracking of fingers revealed the new blade from the sleeve. A bluish blade glistened in the infernal light of the forge. Small glints of gold ran the length of the weapon. Yoshitsune made a face of focus and small sparks of electricity arced from the golden flecks of metal.

“It feels like I’ve owned it since birth,” she complimented with a bow. “Thank you very much for your hard work.”

“Thank you for your compensation,” Kowal replied as he wiped his brow with a rag. “Was there anything else that you needed?”

“No,” Yoshitsune said with another bow. “If you’ll excuse me, I will return to the surface and keep watch. Good luck to you, Ishmael-san.”

I smirked as Yoshitsune’s footsteps echoed from above. Kowal seemed to wait for the footsteps to disappear before addressing me.

“Apologies, it seemed like the two of you were close,” Kowal explained. “This process will not be pleasant. I didn’t want to stress your friend when she needed to pay attention to guarding my home. Now, how much of yourself do you want enhanced?”

“How much of me can you enhance?” I asked out of curiosity. Obviously, my claws and tail would be able to be upgraded. But, I wondered about my teeth. My poison glands were technically metallic. Though, I did not know how adding metal to it would benefit it at all.

“Technically speaking, your entire body counts as a weapon,” Kowal answered. “I could, theoretically, heat you to a near-melting heat and reinforce your body into a better form. Considering how low of a tier your current body is, I presume that you were someone who invested rapidly in levels first to advance.”

“I make sure to reach the limit of my stat increases before leveling up,” I answered. “But, you are correct. I haven’t invested much in the store.”

Kowal nodded knowingly, like a guidance counselor that finally got to the root of the problem-student’s issue. They pointed at their forge and all of the equipment and materials that resided within it.

“That is the folly of the newcomer,” Kowal said matter-of-factly. “Everyone believes that bolstering your levels and your body is the most important thing and is the best way to keep yourself safe. But, when you reach Level 20, do you know what separates a demon who ascends and one who becomes food for the strong? It’s the quality and fit of their items. We are likely close to the same level, but I have millions more XP invested into items. All my weapons have magical effects. Even if you kill me, my body will disappear and reform in an undisclosed location.”

I raised my brow in interest. I knew that this stuff couldn’t be cheap, but millions? Why hadn’t he moved on to the next place yet if he was so wealthy? This place isn’t all that great.

“I don’t know how long ago that you’ve died, it is hard to track time down here,” Kowal continued. “But, I know that I’ve been down here for hundreds of years. In life, I was primarily a farrier. Now, I am getting blueprints for weapons and equipment that press my understanding of the world. Only a measured pace of deliberate investment will get you far in this place. I would guess that you have sprinted through major milestones without much research or consideration.”

“I will keep this lesson in mind,” I replied absentmindedly.

This is why I hated the sort of computer games that Trevor played. I hated the feeling when I unknowingly followed an inefficient path and had to pull my hair out while I lagged behind or bite the bullet and replay tens of hours just to have a better character. I clenched my teeth and suppressed my annoyance. Even with this error, I still had yet to die.

“Well, no matter, it’s better to learn this lesson late instead of when it becomes catastrophic. Since you are new to this, I should ask you a different question,” Kowal said. “Do you have any material that you can use or we will need to pull from my own supply? I must warn you that I am low on Orange-tier Sin-gots because your companions used them without much thought towards you.”

My eyes widened at the mention of the material. I had almost forgotten about my own prized possession that I had squirreled away deep in my inventory. If I was at Blue-tier now, I was dying to know how horrific I’d become if I became Black-tier.

The metal fell from the sky and landed into my hand. Kowal leaned forwards, his eyes glowing with his ability to appraise. He sputtered in surprise and blinked several times to see if his eyes were deceiving him. Seeing that it was not some trick or terrible prank, he looked at me with eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“How did you get a Black Sin-got? How did you get such a large one?” Kowal wondered apprehensively.

“I did some chores for some demons,” I answered noncommittally. “So, how much does this get me?”

Kowal’s eyes glowed again as he rubbed his chin. “My skills tell me that I can upgrade one of your body parts to Black. Or, if I add an Orange Sin-got from my own stock, I can bring your entire body to Red. The sheer amount of mana infused you in a single go will give you unknown magical benefits. But, I can only imagine what you will have to endure to get your entire body forged in one go.”

I grimaced at the options. But, it was not like I had any choice in the first place. To survive, you had to offer something in exchange. Looking at it impassively, it was simple. My body was insufficient, this would improve it. However, I doubted that I would have the same logical view when I am plunged in the equivalent of the Earth’s core.

“Are you confident that you can pull it off?” I asked.

“I have raised things by two tiers before, even three when I had the perfect conditions. Four tiers in a single job is going to be a challenge,” Kowal admitted. Instead of looking concerned, the blacksmith’s eyes glistened with the excitement of a potential challenge. “But, my eyes tell me it is doable and my eyes do not lie.”

“Let’s do the entire body then,” I said with a nod.

“Alright, I will keep a steady supply of potions ready to keep you stable,” Kowal replied. “If you die mid-forge, then the entire process will be a failure. Also, I would recommend stripping down if you want your clothing to survive.”

I unsummoned my clothing and stood like I was on the receiving end of a contraband check. My body began to show signs of stress without my permission. It was like when I tried the jump from the highest diving board at the pool when I was ten. Quick breaths and quivering nerves cloaked my body with unwelcome anxiety.

“Now, lie down atop the coals,” Kowal instructed.

My flesh pressed against the burning embers. Instead of heat, it felt like I was doused in ice water. Shock from the sudden and intense pain seized my heart for a moment, debilitating my body.

Kowal placed the two Sin-gots atop my chest to press me deeper into the coals. Then, he placed heavy shackles on my hands, feet, and neck to prevent me from thrashing about. Breath was squeezed from my lungs from both external and internal pressures. I tried to take deep breaths and regain my composure.

And then, Kowal stepped on the bellows.

Infernal flames shot out from the coals and wreathed me in white hot agony. My muscles involuntarily flexed with a survival instinct to try to escape. But, there was no way to do that any longer. All the feeling in my body ceased as the flesh cooked and died and my health rapidly dropped.

A vial was forced into my mouth and a recovery potion began to counteract the damage done to me. However, I quickly regretted it. My flesh and blood recovered long enough to feel it melt and die again with a bullet of pain straight into my brain. I could feel the Sin-gots melt around me and begin to fuse to my skin. I felt the hammer crash down before it all died again. But, only a few seconds later, another potion would be drained into my mouth to begin the cycle anew.

Tip: Your body is rejecting potential magic boons due to conflicting abilities. If adjustment isn’t made before the end of the crafting, boons will be lost.

Again, more fucking magic was placed on the table. Again, pre-existing decisions locked me out. Was it even something that I needed? An increase in ranking in my body would definitely fill the gap that I had been feeling earlier. If I did more damage, if I had greater durability, then I might not need to branch out onto this unknown path.

But what about afterwards? What about when everyone had equipment as powerful as my body? Were there options that existed that would keep me competitive just through my own hands? I had to accept that this might be my only chance to make this decision.

A fresh health potion brought fresh pain to interfere with my thoughts. Searing pain scrambled my mind and made me focus on maintaining my own body before my nerves boiled again to leave me in nothingness. This was not the proper place to make these kinds of momentous decisions. It was like trying to buy a new car with your palms on a Hibachi grill.

I felt a rumbling from above and rocks and dislodged sediment sprinkled down from the walls and ceiling.

“Shit, they’re finally here,” I could barely hear Kowal say. “Don’t worry, I’ll be done soon.”

Message:

How long are you planning to be indecisive for? Do you think that the right answer will just come to you if you wait long enough?

No matter what I did, I was going to be manipulated. No matter what I did, I was going to be left with regret. If I regretted it, I would just kill the ones that led me into making this decision.

I focused my mind and opened up an old notification that I had put off for too long.

Notice

Congratulations! You are now Level 15

Your stats have increased.

You have unlocked Level 5 Transformation. Please choose one of the following:

Wings, Thick Scales, Locked.

Locked: This evolutionary path is unavailable due to conflicting decisions. Would you like to override abilities?

I blinked my eyes and allowed myself to go along with my instincts. Consequences be damned, I needed to be the one that had the final say in my decisions.

“Fuck it, let’s go all in.”