Novapolis Slums (7)

"...What the hell is this now."

The notification floating in front of my eyes. It meant I'd met the level-up conditions for my ability, Demonic Body.

This was weird. Abilities didn't have levels.

Superpowers didn't grow. That was common sense here. You could get better at handling your ability, making it seem stronger, but the original power you awakened with never gained new functions or boosted output.

For example, my Super Senses had no level. It just didn't grow.

But Demonic Body was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠different from the start—it had a level attached. So I'd half-expected it might level up someday.

I just hadn't thought it actually would.

And this prompt asking if I wanted to level up? No such thing had popped up in the past year. It threw me for a loop.

The status window only showed my info, and what I'd dubbed the System for convenience never interacted with me except for level-up notices on traits.

'Oh, right, it does tell me about Berserk cooldowns.'

Not completely hands-off, then.

I scrutinized the notification and spotted the note at the bottom.

'You can postpone it?'

Meaning no need to decide right now.

"Hmm..."

I sank into thought.

Demonic Body. The source of my physical prowess and regeneration—or at least, that's what I strongly suspected. Hell, it was basically confirmed.

This power let me perform ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on a level incomparable to before. The tentacles were brutally effective for attacks alone, with insane versatility depending on how I used them. Regeneration handled major injuries without issue. And my physical stats? No need to even mention them.

But if this power leveled up?

If all those abilities got even stronger?

"Whoa..."

A shiver ran through my whole body.

...Just imagining it was thrilling.

My eyes drifted to the Yes option without thinking.

The status said I wasn't human anymore, but not fully demon either. So Demonic Body hadn't harmed me yet, despite the name.

For now, leveling it up was probably the path to getting stronger.

I mulled it over and reached a decision.

"...No."

-Beep.

The notification vanished with my words.

"I'll do this later."

Truth was, I didn't have time right now. With this mess, things would get noisy around here soon.

I quickly grabbed a nearby smuggler's bag strewn on the ground.

Inside were more syringes like the ones the boss had used.

Purple liquids sloshing with every movement.

The boss had turned into a demon beast after injecting that.

So, did this liquid turn people into demon beasts?

If so, this was huge.

Demon beasts weren't negotiable. Details varied by country, but aiding, protecting, or being friendly toward them was a serious crime.

A drug that created them? Using humans as the medium?

The maker would get a punishment that'd make the death penalty seem merciful.

That's when it hit me.

"Kyle!"

A desperate shout from afar. I turned to see Lien running over.

She froze before even stopping, staring at the demon beast's severed head and headless massive corpse on the ground.

"What... what the hell is this...?"

"The boss. He juiced up on some drug and turned into that."

I replied indifferently and handed her the smuggler's bag.

"Congrats. You hit the jackpot. Here, take this."

"What's this?"

"Smuggled goods the boss was hauling. A drug that turns people into demon beasts."

"...What? People into demon beasts?"

Lien's eyes doubled in size as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she opened the bag. She alternated between it and the monster corpse on the ground, speechless.

"Is that even possible? Demon beasts come from rifts. I've never heard of humans turning into them..."

"Same here until just now. But what can you do when it happens right in front of you? Check the body yourself."

Lien cautiously approached the head. The whole body had mutated black and twisted, but the pointed ear shape remained. Clearly human.

She swallowed a small scream and backed away.

"Oh my god... it's real..."

That's when—

—Weeee-ooo-weeee-ooo!

"Took 'em long enough."

A piercing siren wailed from the distance. Not just one—easily ten or more.

That many vehicles were inbound. Even in the deserted slums outskirts, they couldn't ignore this commotion.

'Heroes'll probably show up too. Looks like superhuman work at a glance.'

Full contact with the city now would be trouble. I looked like a criminal—or worse, something tainted by a demon beast. If they caught me and ran tests, my Novapolis life ended today.

"Lien, listen up. This is all your accomplishment."

"Huh? What do you—"

I kicked the demon beast head toward her.

"Grave Neon's boss was smuggling illegal drugs that mutate people into demon beasts. You tracked him solo and took him down. You wiped out the android squad too. Got it?"

Lien blurted urgently.

"But you did all this, Kyle! I didn't do anything..."

"I don't care about this stuff. But you need the record, right? This'll more than catch your dad's eye."

Taking down a crime syndicate was big enough, but stopping a human-to-demon-beast drug? That qualified her for the duel for sure. If the drug's effects went public, she might even get a national commendation.

—Weeee-ooo!

The sirens grew closer, rattling my eardrums. No time.

"Don't sweat it. I'll claim my reward later. And..."

I placed a hand on her head, leaning down to meet her eyes. She flinched.

I stroked her soft hair, locking eyes, and curved my lips slightly.

"Remember that real-combat feel? Never forget it. You're strong enough."

"...!"

-Whoosh.

Lien's face flushed red in an instant. She opened her mouth to speak, but I dove into the building shadows.

"W-wait! Kyle!"

No reply. I extended tentacles and leaped to a nearby rooftop in one bound.

From the darkness, I saw Lien standing alone by the head, hesitant. Colorful ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lights approached not far off—over ten, by my guess.

"All those police cars? Damn, that's a lot."

Rich girl like her would handle the explanation fine.

I dropped behind the roof and bolted into a deep alley.

Sniff sniff.

Demon beast blood on my clothes reeked when I sniffed.

'Gotta burn this later. Not just any blood—demon beast blood.'

With that, I melted into the shadows.

-Squelch.

Back at my hideout, I wrapped the bloodstained clothes in plastic, stashed them, and flopped on the sofa.

Today's haul was huge. Tentacles hit lv.5 and I discovered two new uses.

First:—3D maneuvering. With terrain, I could practically fly. Novapolis overflowed with skyscrapers; these tentacles would be a game-changer.

Second: Extending them through the ground via my feet. Perfect for ambushes. Strike from below while standing still.

Super useful.

Confirmed I could sprout them from anywhere on my body, not just arms.

With mental sorting done, next phase.

'Now for the big one.'

I opened the status window.

I stared at the floating prompt again.

This Demonic Body stemmed from that black mass trying to devour me.

Right now, it boosted my physicals explosively—a boon. But as levels rose, would it turn on me?

What if hitting level up made me lose my mind like the boss I just killed? Or fully erode me into a demon beast?

That'd be a problem. I wanted strength, not to become a brainless beast like that guy.

I'd ditch the level up first.

...But the answer was set.

You already lost once. Come at me again?

If that mass dared erode me, I'd devour it again.

My gaze shifted to Yes.

Of course I'd level up. This was my chance to grow stronger.

I eyed the translucent text, then spoke.

"Yes."

-Squelch.

In that instant, my heart pounded like it would burst.

"Guh?!"

I collapsed without thinking. A groan escaped.

Veins boiled like red-hot lava. Bones disassembled and reassembled joint by joint; muscle fibers tore finely, filling with denser, tougher tissue.

"Urgh... ngh."

No erosion vibe, surprisingly. Just insanely painful. I'd have preferred erosion.

After an eternity of agony—

The storm of pain ebbed like a receding tide.

"Hah... phew... haaa!"

I gasped raggedly. My body was soaked in sweat. The sofa arm I'd gripped unconsciously was shattered.

I caught my breath and stood slowly. Even briefly, something felt different.

Straight to the bathroom mirror.

'Appearance... fine.'

Unlike feared, my reflection was unchanged. No horns, no black skin. Still 25-year-old Han Seongjin.

But the feel was totally different.

"...This is nuts."

Light as a feather, yet power surged like a nuclear reactor inside.

I glanced at my right arm.

-Whoosh.

Tentacles shot from forearm and palm on thought. Faster, longer than before.

The five could multiply several times over if I willed it.

And Demonic Body boosted Super Senses too? Closing my eyes revealed sensations I'd missed: the faint whir of a fan in the opposite building's basement.

"Didn't expect this much. Beyond imagination."

No gauge before, but this was insane.

From now on, prioritize Demonic Body levels.

With that, I hurled myself at the bed.

Finally, some solid sleep.

Or so I thought.

—Crunch!

"Uh."

Too much force—the rickety bed collapsed under my weight.

"...Should've gone easier."

That night, I slept on the floor for the first time in ages.