Becoming the Dark Lord

Luke clicked the level 95 skill notification for [Demonic Predator]. He still hadn’t made up his mind.

[Demonic Predator Tail (Legendary)]: Demonic Predators were forged in the hostile worlds of infernal universes, where every part of the body had to serve as a weapon. This skill grants the Demonic Predator the ability to grow a tail as fierce as its own fangs. While active, your perception of the ground and everything moving beneath it becomes nearly absolute. More than that, the tail functions as an extra limb, usable like an arm, capable of grabbing, restraining enemies, and executing even more powerful maneuvers. A sharp stinger forms at its end, shaped from the [Demonic Predator Throwing Knife], turning the tail into a lethal short- and mid-range weapon. The stinger can also be fired as an attack and regenerated afterward. The effectiveness of this skill increases with Lethality, Perception, and Willpower.

[Acid Fang Armament (Epic)]: A Demonic Predator’s weapons are also its fangs. When [Demonic Predator Hands] is activated, wielded weapons receive an even greater increase in damage, along with a temporary critical bonus focused on mutilation. In this state, any acid effects applied to the blade become more intense, allowing it to corrode with far greater efficiency. Enemies killed by you under this effect have their bodies dissolved, turning into pools of acid. The skill receives a small effectiveness bonus from Lethality.

[Predator’s Feast (Legendary)]: The hunt is not only how a predator kills, but how it feeds its hunger. Upon slaughtering a target marked with [Predator’s Mark], the Demonic Predator can consume its flesh and devour the life energy still lingering in its corpse. The fresher the prey, the greater the amount of energy absorbed, restoring your health points and strengthening your body through the massacre itself. A primitive and cruel form of healing, in which the predator turns its prey into food, blood, and survival. The skill’s effectiveness scales with Perception and Toughness.

[Ravenous Claws (Epic)]: Attacking with [Demonic Predator Hands] has become even more efficient. The bones absorb mana and stamina, becoming tougher and more violent, while the claws grow sharp enough to cut through metal with ease. In addition, attacks now drain mana and stamina from targets, and the more energy accumulates, the deadlier the predator’s strikes become. The skill receives a small effectiveness bonus from Dexterity and Lethality.

[Horns of the Darkness Demon (Legendary)]: Horns are a demon’s true weapons, born with them like the fangs of a predator. This skill allows a pair of horns similar to those of the Darkness Demon to grow from your forehead, awakening a symbol of power, dominion, and terror. While active, the horns increase the power of all offensive spells you cast by 25%, while reducing the cost of all other skills by 25%. Like a demon’s crown, they force your enemies to recognize the creature standing before them: any target that looks at the horns and meets your gaze will feel the weight of Fear invading their mind. The horns also wrap the user in an invisible mantle of mana, reducing the effectiveness of incoming magical attacks. In addition, the power of the horns removes the need for channeling artifacts, allowing the demon to cast magic without relying on wands or similar instruments. As an additional effect, compatible offensive spells can be fired directly through the horns, turning them into natural conduits of destruction. When necessary, they can also be used as brutal physical weapons in direct combat. By absorbing the power of [Dark Blood], the horns further increase the effectiveness of wound regeneration, strengthening the demon’s monstrous nature. May your ascension as a demon elevate the grandeur of your tyranny.

These are excellent skills. And they’re the last ones for this class.

Luke stared at the list for a few seconds, irritated by his own indecision. If the system had offered these options at level 90 and saved the old rejected skills for level 95, maybe he could have gotten two out of the five. But no. Of course not. The system had to be a son of a bitch even when it was handing out gifts.

He had already chewed on it long enough. In the end, the real choice came down to two options: [Demonic Predator Tail] or [Horns of the Darkness Demon].

It’s kind of weird knowing my class was based on an actual creature. Or something that used to exist. A Demonic Predator.

Luke started breaking down the uses of each skill. The tail would be an extra limb, almost like an arm, but probably stronger. Maybe he could infuse mana and stamina into it without the same risk of destroying his own bones, something he couldn’t do with his arms unless he wanted to pay a nasty price. On top of that, the tip would have a stinger based on the skill that conjured the demonic knife, which turned the tail into a weapon, a tool, and a sensory extension all at once.

On the other hand, there were the horns. And that was a lot more than demonic aesthetics.

Twenty-five percent cost reduction on every other skill. That’s ridiculous.

With the horns active, an [Acid Blood Arrow] that cost a thousand mana would drop to seven hundred and fifty. The same would apply to teleportation and nearly anything else that consumed mana or stamina. In a long fight, the savings would be absurd. And then there was the [Eye of Sariel], which made his mana recover twenty-five percent faster. The synergy was disgusting.

The problem was that both the tail and the horns had an upkeep cost that remained a complete mystery. The system never bothered explaining those little details before screwing someone over.

The twenty-five percent boost to offensive spell power was excellent too, though Luke still fought mainly with his pair of kukris. But he couldn’t ignore the future. He had a witch class. Sooner or later, offensive magic would stop being support and become a central part of his arsenal. And there was an even bigger point.

If someone rips the ring off my finger, I lose access to ninety percent of my witch skills. The horns fix that.

Not needing channeling artifacts was far too big an advantage to treat like a footnote. Added to the Fear effect, the resistance against magic, and the fact that the horns imitated something close to Azazel’s, the skill seemed made to turn Luke into a more complete threat. But the tail wasn’t far behind. With it, he would have more mobility, more reach, more body control, an extra limb to grab with or brace himself, a stinger for direct combat, and the ability to fire it. It was practical, brutal, and useful in almost any situation.

Shit. If I could, I’d take both.

Luke held his finger over one of the options, but didn’t click. I need more time to think.

Night had fallen, and the rain came down so hard it seemed to swallow the world. The ship groaned under the impact of the waves, rising and plunging between dark walls of water. With every crack of thunder, the sea flashed for an instant, revealing foam, soaked ropes, and shadows moving where they shouldn’t.

“There’s a damn lizard bastard over here!” Hugo shouted.

Luke was on deck when the Stalkers began climbing the hull. The creatures emerged drenched, clinging to the wood with curved claws before launching themselves at the crew. Eleanor fired arrows from above whenever she saw a head appear. Angie drove a spear straight through one’s chest, impaling the creature before beating her wings and hurling it back into the sea.

Jack kept healing magic flowing among the wounded, trying to make up for the cuts, bites, and scratches the Stalkers left behind before they died. At night, those things got more active. Bolder. More annoying. At the bow, lightning tore across the horizon, and for one brief second Luke saw a massive shape moving beyond the waves.

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He narrowed his eyes. Was that a whale?

He tried to get another look, but the darkness and rain swallowed everything. Nothing remained but the sea, the wind, and the ship fighting not to be crushed.

“Those things know the Pennants give the ship speed,” Eleanor said, dropping from the crow’s nest and landing near him. “That’s the third one that tried to rip one off.”

Luke didn’t answer right away. He kept staring at the ocean. That was just some random giant whale, right? It can’t be the same one from last time.

“What is it?” Eleanor asked.

“Nothing.” He finally pulled his gaze from the horizon. “First watch is mine.”

After an hour, the Stalker attacks began to thin out. A few still tried to climb aboard, but they were scarce and died quickly. Even so, Luke stayed on deck, watching the water.

How the hell would that whale even follow me?

He hadn’t been marked by any skill that bound something to his soul, at least not one he knew about. But tracking skills were a problem precisely because of that. If something was following his trail over land, maybe he would notice. At sea, it was different. Water erased signs, distorted paths, and turned any pursuit into something far harder to confirm.

Was it the same whale, or just another random giant creature?

He had no answer. So he did the only sensible thing. He kept watch. A monstrous whale attacking the ship would be far too big a problem to ignore.

By morning, the sea had calmed. The rain had passed, leaving the deck damp and the air heavy with salt. Luke went down to the laboratory, where he tended the plants alongside Katarina. Layla and Charlie were there too.

“I thought it’d be hard to take care of the ship with this many people,” Layla said, watching the bustle around them. “But it’s actually been pretty easy. Everyone’s been helping.”

“Technically, the handymen are handling the cleaning,” Luke said, examining the liquid inside a vial. “And Charlie and Anne are handling the food.”

“Erza’s maids said I don’t need to worry about the food,” Charlie commented.

“Then why am I still getting chores?” Layla asked.

“Because our first mate Katarina doesn’t want to see you slacking off.”

Katarina continued eating peacefully. Layla was feeding her scraps from the giant plant they had killed in the past, mixed with fish meat. The creature looked far too satisfied to care about labor injustice aboard the ship.

Luke lifted the vial toward the light and watched the liquid’s reaction. “Besides, how’s your father, Layla? I haven’t seen him today.”

“He’s fine. I think he’s playing cards with that Stephen guy.”

“Brave of him to come out to sea with us instead of staying on the island. But he’s following his daughter, so I get it. The real question is, why did you come when you have zero interest in the Beacons?”

Layla crossed her arms. “Erza’s coming too, and she’s not doing Beacons.”

“But Erza is Erza.”

“And there are the extras too.”

“The extras are the extras. I’m asking about you.”

Layla looked away for a moment, and some of the edge slipped out of her voice.

“You really think I was going to stay on that island? It’s safer near you guys. I already got abandoned once in a dimensional rift. I don’t want to be alone again.” She drew a breath, trying to sound casual again. “But it would’ve been better if we’d waited for Triss. Traveling with her would be nice too.”

“I couldn’t sit around waiting for Triss to come back from her challenge, Layla.”

“Why not?”

“Because the last time I heard about her, she was with the heroine. And the heroine had Vampire Hunters with her.”

Layla opened her mouth to answer with some jab, then froze halfway through.

“Let me guess, you did something stupid that ended up...” She blinked. “Wait. Did you say Vampire Hunters? Like actual ones?”

“Actual ones.”

“You didn’t hear about the vampires we had to deal with?” Artemis asked.

Layla shivered. “I just got chills.”

Charlie tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“I’m scared of vampires, ghosts, and demons. Just knowing those things are actually out there is horrible.”

“They are,” Luke said, still watching the vial. “We even rescued a guy who’d been enslaved by vampires. They kept him alive as a blood supply.”

“What?!”

“Relax, Layla,” Artemis said. “You’re too skinny for a vampire. You wouldn’t even fill a mug.”

“Don’t joke about that. This is serious, you know?”

Luke paused for a moment and looked at her.

“Oh, right. You don’t know.” He went back to stirring the vial. “Well, I’ll tell you. Charlie is a vampire.”

Layla went still. “Nice try, scumbag. You’re not scaring me.”

“I’m not trying to.”

Charlie placed a hand over her chest, looking a little embarrassed. “Master Luke is telling the truth. I am a vampire, Layla. Look at my teeth.”

She opened her mouth. Her canines lengthened, growing sharper, while her eyes turned a deep red.

“V-v-vampire!?”

“Yeah,” Luke said. “She is.”

Layla took a step back, pale. “How did that happen? Was she attacked by a vampire? Did she get bitten on your last adventure?”

“No. Charlie has always been a vampire.”

Layla swallowed.

Charlie closed her mouth, and her eyes softened a little. “Are you afraid of me?”

“No.” Layla answered too fast, then breathed in and tried to sound steadier. “Not of you. I know you. But knowing vampires really exist is weird.”

“You’re her emergency meal, Layla,” Luke said. “Charlie needs blood.”

“Master Luke is joking,” Charlie rushed to say. “Please don’t believe him.”

“R-right.” Layla still didn’t look completely convinced. “But the human slave thing is true? You really saved someone?”

“Completely true.”

“And if a bunch of vampires attack the ship? Can we handle that?”

“There’s a low chance we’ll run into a ship full of vampires,” Luke replied. “Actually, it’ll be rare to cross paths with vampires near the Beacon.”

“Why?”

Even Charlie seemed interested in the answer.

“It’s simple. A vampire needs fresh human blood to live. For that, they need to capture humans and keep blood slaves. So the odds of vampires being interested in the Beacons aren’t that high. After the mess they probably went through in stage one, most of them won’t want to enter a Beacon where they might be trapped for two weeks without easy access to blood.”

Luke set the vial on the workbench and continued. “Even if a vampire brings a blood slave along, there’s no guarantee the slave will cooperate inside after they get separated. No guarantee they’ll survive either. In other words, weak vampires have more reasons to run from the Beacons than toward them.”

Layla stayed quiet for a few seconds, digesting that. Charlie looked thoughtful too. A little later, both of them left the laboratory, leaving Luke alone.

Silence returned.

Luke stared at the notification still open in front of him.

“Enough stalling.”

The five options appeared once more.

[Demonic Predator Tail (Legendary)]

[Acid Fang Armament (Epic)]

[Predator’s Feast (Legendary)]

[Ravenous Claws (Epic)]

[Horns of the Darkness Demon (Legendary)]

One of these skills can help me win the event.

His finger stopped over his choice.

[You have acquired the Class Skill...]

And Luke decided.