Demos' Transformation and Rise
Demos used all his points, then placed a piece of wood in his mouth, bracing for the pain he knew would come—just like the first time he used the system points.
He waited.
Nothing.
Relief crept across his face, a faint smile forming—until he realized it was only the calm before the storm.
Suddenly, Demos' body froze. His muscles locked in agony. His jaw snapped shut, biting down on the wood, but it wasn't enough. His teeth pierced into his tongue, blood gushing out. He tried not to scream, but the pain overwhelmed him.
Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose. He fought to stay conscious as his body endured three hours of torment, frozen in a tableau of suffering. Not a single scream escaped his lips—only silence and pain.
As the three hours passed, his body trembled uncontrollably. Muscle spasms shook him. The bleeding slowed to a trickle, but the pain only deepened.
Then—nothing.
The agony vanished, and Demos collapsed onto the wooden bed, drained of strength, body limp.
He lay still, a strange sensation coursing through his limbs. It felt as though every cell was shifting, rearranging at its core.
His heart raced.
Something was changing inside him—something permanent.
Then sleepiness overtook him, and Demos closed his eyes, falling into a deep slumber.
Elsewhere in the Void
The void twisted and tore open.
A figure screamed and cursed, emerging from the rip. Her eyes fixed on the white temple ahead. Before it stood a golden statue holding a shield—half gold, half silver. Upon the shield was a face, that of a woman with serpents for hair.
She cursed under her breath.
Her voice: "How the fuck could he tell I had given bir—"
A voice cut her off.
Stranger: "Who's there? These are sacred grounds."
The temple guard had spotted her—her body glowing with white markings.
Recognizing the figure, the woman dropped to her knees in reverence.
Stranger: "I pay my respect to the Goddess of Sparta and the—"
But the goddess cut her off, asking for her adopted mother and demanding to be led the way.
Minutes later, in the temple garden, she sat on a bench. With a smile on her beautiful face, she traced the image of Demos in the air using threads of white energy. As she waited, a woman with hair the color of golden wheat walked into the garden.
The goddess stood up and leapt into the woman's arms.
Her voice: "Mother! It worked. I didn't tell him everything yet, but I will... when he's ready."
Adopted Mother: "Well, that's up to you. He should be grateful... but aren't you going to visit your real mother?"
Her voice sharpened: "She is not my mother. That woman doesn't even know my name. Do you not want to be my mother anymore?"
Her adopted mother turned pale.
Adopted Mother: "I didn't say that. Just forget I mentioned it."
They sat together in silence until a temple priestess delivered a message. Her adopted mother left, returning to the temple. Alone now, the goddess rose from the bench and walked to the temple's edge.
She opened the void again and stepped inside.
Her voice: "I'll get some mana stones to call my baby. But how do I tell him the truth... hmm."
She exited into her personal chambers—white furniture surrounding her. On the wall hung a painting of a man whose body was marked with the same strange symbols glowing on her own skin.
She sat on a massive bed and called for her guard.
Her voice: "Bring me 700,000 mana stones."
The guard blinked. "Do you have a deadline?"
Her voice: "No. Just get them as fast as you can."
The guard bowed and left swiftly.
Demos Awakens
While Demos slept, the transformation continued. His cells reorganized at an impossible rate. His breath slowed, heartbeat steady—but his mind remained active, processing it all.
Hours passed. The sun set, casting a warm orange glow. A cool breeze rustled the leaves outside.
Finally, Demos stirred.
His eyes opened slowly. Blinking away the drowsiness, he sat up, trying to piece together what had happened.
Then he felt it—a strange energy surging through him.
The markings on his skin began to glow with a soft blue light.
He looked down.
They were spreading.
It was as if his very DNA was being rewritten.
He exhaled sharply. Energy rushed out of him like steam from a boiling pot.
Demos felt calm. Focused. Alive.
His muscles felt new. His mind clear. His senses sharp.
He stepped outside and saw children laughing and playing. He smiled, then opened the system interface:
System Interface
Name: Demos S. Sparta Age: 15 Level: 2 Health: 99/100 Strength: 27 Agility: 27 Intelligence: 30 Ability: (Warrior's Heart) (Info) ████ (#_#$#) Sealed (##$$#) Sealed Unique Ability: Five-Colored Lightning (First Color: Blue) Ice Age (Sealed) Language Pack Installed: Azuran Skill: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 1) Mission: Rename the Tribe Reward: Reveal the location of the next race
He noticed his level had increased—and one of the sealed abilities was now labeled Warrior's Heart.
Why?
Why did leveling up hurt so much?
Why did it feel like his body was tearing apart from within every time he used system points?
Demos began to suspect something... or someone.
His so-called mother—was she really his mother?
Or something else entirely?
Demos laughed to himself.
Demos: "Ahahaha... What if nothing she says is true? Maybe I'm just a pawn in some divine game. She did say she's a god... but I'm still grateful. She saved my life. But something's off. What is this 'celestial vane'? Is it why these markings appeared on me? It looks like lightning…"
His thoughts turned darker.
Demos: "What if she's not the first Queen... but the one who destroyed Sparta? Using me for something… then why save me?"
He clenched his fists.
Demos: "If I'm truly her son... she'll tell me the truth. About everything. This system. The pain. The reason she saved me. And what kind of god she really is."
He returned to the system and saw the next mission: Rename the Tribe.
The Birth of Sparta
Demos walked to the center of the village and called everyone. Three minutes later, the tribe gathered. All eyes were on him.
He summoned the healer Akira and the five warriors—Kael, Thane, Ryker, Maverick, and Gorthok.
Demos: "As of today, I—Demos S. Sparta—rename this tribe. I will train all the men to become true warriors. The elders will learn healing from Akira. The women will care for the tribe—cooking, crafting, fetching water, and supporting our growth."
Gorthok: "But Demos… isn't it too soon to train the children as warriors?"
Ryker, Maverick, Thane, Kael, and Akira nodded in agreement.
Demos laughed.
Demos: "Ahahahahahah! Children? These are not mere children. They are the future warriors of this tribe. In my homeland—Sparta—children begin training at their coming of age. That's why Spartans are the only true warriors. We must forge strong, loyal protectors."
Young girls nearby looked alarmed, assuming they'd be forced to train too.
Demos noticed their faces.
Demos: "Why the long faces? No woman will hunt or fight. That is the role of the men. Worry not."
He turned to the warriors and the crowd.
Demos: "The new name of our tribe is Sparta. And its people... are Spartans."
Suddenly, a bright light enveloped the village.
Everyone watched in awe as a white thread of light connected them all together.
Akira: "Demos, what is happening? Why is this white thing running through our bodies?"
Ryker: "I can't touch it... but I can see it."
Gorthok: "Demos! This started right after your speech!"
All eyes turned to Demos. He didn't understand it either—until the system interface flashed.
Two new icons appeared.
He pressed one.
Demos: "It's called Soul Connection... and Soul Encryption."
Everyone froze, stunned by the strange terms.
Akira & Gorthok: "What are Soul Connection and Soul Encryption?!"
Demos: "I'm not sure. But I know someone who has the answers. For now… training begins."