The Archfiend System

Chapter 3: Devour!

Klein stood there, feeling the strength coursing through him. He took a moment to breathe, fully aware that his life had changed forever. 

“I can’t believe it,” he murmured to himself, a grin spreading across his face. The ordinary days he once knew were behind him, and he prepared to embrace his new identity as a System Bearer. 

The dragonic aura flowing within him felt like a gift, and he was determined to use it to its fullest potential. 

With a renewed sense of purpose, he spread his wings again, ready to take flight. “Time to show everyone I’m not just a Blank anymore!”

Just as he gathered himself to test his Archfiend Shout ability, a deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind. 

“Playing with the grace you received? You humans are tactless.” 

The voice dripped with raw power, making everything around him feel insignificant. 

Klein's heart raced, and he recognized the voice immediately. “Mr. Divine Archfiend!” he exclaimed, struggling to keep his voice steady. His fear amplified the words, causing them to bounce off the mountains.

“My name is Storm!” the voice thundered, sharper and more aggressive now, cutting through the air like a whip. 

Klein winced, feeling the pressure of the Archfiend's words deep in his bones. The intensity made him reconsider his casual attitude toward his newfound power. 

He imagined the colossal form of Storm looming over him, eyes blazing with ancient wisdom and simmering anger. 

A wave of guilt washed over him; he had been reckless, embracing his transformation without understanding its true significance.

“I’m sorry,” he began, but Storm interrupted him, the dismissal evident in his tone. 

“Save your apologies. I didn’t give you my blessing to make you a servant.” 

The ground shook beneath Klein’s feet as the Archfiend’s voice rumbled like a storm. 

Confused, Klein tilted his head, trying to understand what Storm meant. 

The Divine Archfiend System was not just a power boost, it was a rare and ancient blessing, bestowed upon few humans.

“You have my power not because I expect servitude, but because I see potential in you,” Storm continued. 

The Archfiend’s tone combined authority with wisdom, and Klein felt the weight of expectation in his words. 

“Don’t waste this opportunity on trivial pursuits.” A chill ran down Klein's spine as he realized the responsibility that came with this blessing, a unique power that demanded more than enjoyment.

Storm explained that only talentless humans, those whose Mana had no affinity with an attribute, could receive this blessing. 

“Consider yourself lucky,” he proclaimed. 

Klein understood the weight of those words; he was the first to become a System Bearer without a latent Mana attribute, which filled him with a mix of privilege and burden. 

Bowing his head in gratitude, he humbly thanked Storm for sparing his life and granting him this power. 

“I just wish I could express my gratitude to you in person,” he added earnestly.

There was silence. Klein looked around, confused. 

“Hello? Storm?” he called out, but the only answer he received was a booming laugh that echoed through the cavern, drowning him in its intensity.

“Do you think I’m a fool!?” Storm’s wrath became evident, and Klein clutched his head, pain surging through him. 

He wondered what he had said to provoke such a response. 

“I gave you a small fraction of my powers, and you are already craving for more?” The words hit him like a storm, leaving him reeling. 

He had crossed a line, and the gravity of his situation sank in.

Klein realized he needed to tread carefully in this new reality. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he stammered, his voice shaking.

Klein felt a rush of confusion as he tried to grasp what Storm was saying. The Archfiend’s voice echoed in his mind, leaving him bewildered. 

“What does he mean?” Klein thought, feeling the weight of the words press down on him. Then it struck him like a lightning bolt. 

“Dragonic Devour…”

He remembered the explanation: to truly harness the powers of his system, he would need to devour the soul and essence of any Archfiend or Archfiend-like creature. 

But why would Storm assume he would attempt such a reckless thing? Klein frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“That doesn’t make any sense,” he murmured, feeling a mix of irritation and bewilderment.

“Dragonic Devour is a single-use skill!” he exclaimed, his voice rising. “I can only use it once, and it has a chance of failing depending on how strong the target is.” 

He paused, thinking about how even if Storm’s assumptions were correct, there was no way he would try to devour the Divine Archfiend. The probability of success was practically nonexistent at 0.01%. 

“You must know that, right?” he added, hoping to clarify his thoughts.

Before he could finish, laughter erupted in his mind again, booming and echoing like thunder. 

“What in the world is going on?” Klein thought, feeling a mix of disbelief and frustration. 

“Is Storm… mad?” The idea struck him as absurd. A Divine Archfiend with such a noble presence shouldn’t be capable of such madness. 

But the erratic mood swings were becoming harder to ignore. 

“Maybe he’s the Divine Archfiend of madness?” Klein pondered, suppressing a nervous chuckle at the thought.

“I’m kidding! There’s no way a wimp like you would do something daring like that,” Storm said, and Klein let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. 

He plopped down onto the floor, his legs feeling weak beneath him. He had always imagined that True Dragons were terrifying beings who brought chaos and destruction. 

Yet, here was Storm, displaying a sense of humor. “Haha,” he laughed, trying to mask his nervousness.

“You said you wanted to thank me, did you not?” Storm’s voice shifted, taking on a more serious tone. Suddenly, the space in front of Klein began to distort, and in an instant, the gigantic golden Archfiend appeared before him, shimmering with an otherworldly light. 

Klein’s jaw dropped in shock. 

“He can manipulate space? Or is it a form of camouflage?” He wondered, both theories swirling in his mind. It amazed him how the Archfiend could vanish without a sound.

“Use it,” Storm commanded, his voice booming with authority.

“Use what?” Klein asked, bewildered.

“Dragonic Devour,” Storm replied, a hint of excitement in his tone.

“You’re funny,” Klein said, genuinely laughing this time, though a part of him felt the weight of the request.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Storm, one of the 10 True Dragons, The King of Chaos.” 

The Archfiend’s voice filled the air, powerful and commanding. 

“I, the master of chaos, have chosen you, Klein S’roar, as my successor. Take my knowledge and power. Cultivate it, raise it from scratch to my level, and go beyond! Become the true king of chaos.”

Klein’s heart raced at Storm's declaration. The weight of those words hung in the air, and he felt a mix of exhilaration and dread. 

“Is this really happening?” he thought, staring wide-eyed at the golden Archfiend. 

The world felt both thrilling and terrifying, and he knew he stood on the brink of something monumental.