Demon Being System

Kaden sat under the shade of a tree, leaning back and trying to catch his breath. His body ached from the constant fighting, and the humid forest air clung to his skin. As he rested, he mentally summoned his status screen, which materialized in front of him.

Name: Kaden Rossi

Level: 1

Exp: 150/200

Rank: (Reach level ten to unlock rank)

Health Points (HP): 100/102

Strength: 3

Agility: 2

Endurance: 3

Intelligence: 0.1

Demon Blood: 1

Ability: Demon Blood Manipulation

Current Quests: None

The sight of his stats brought a slight smirk to his face. The system had awarded him 50 EXP for each of the three beasts he had killed, bringing his total to 150. Now, it was only 50 EXP away from leveling up. The thought gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

He reached for the bottle of water he had brought, unscrewing the cap and taking a long drink. The water was warm, but it was enough to quench his thirst. As he wiped his mouth, he glanced up at the sky, noting the intensity of the sun.

"This planet's sun is definitely hotter," he muttered.

His gaze shifted to Lira, who was sitting a few feet away, her back resting against a tree. She was focused on cleaning the three beast crystals they had harvested, using blades of grass to wipe off the blood and grime. Her hands moved with precision, her expression calm despite the chaos of their day.

Turning his head, Kaden looked at Jace, who was seated beside him. Jace had his arms crossed and was staring at the ground, his face clouded with disappointment.

"What's wrong with you?" Kaden asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jace hesitated for a moment before sighing. "We've gotten some beast crystals, yeah… but I wish I had been able to get one of these beasts into my cards. I need to kill a beast myself to add it to my collection. Then I could transform into it later."

Kaden blinked, understanding his frustration. "Well, maybe we can fix that," he said. He turned toward Lira. "What do you think? Should we hunt more beasts?"

Lira looked up from the crystals she was cleaning, giving him a small nod. "Sure. These are enough for now, but if more come our way, I won't complain." She placed the crystals into her backpack and stood, brushing off her hands. "Let's keep moving."

The group packed up and ventured deeper into the forest. The dense trees loomed around them, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and rotting leaves. It wasn't long before another beast appeared—a fourth Ratogore.

"Same plan," Kaden said, his voice steady.

Jace transformed into his bull form again, his massive figure drawing the beast's attention. The Ratogore growled hungrily and charged at him, unable to resist the lure of such a large target.

Lira unleashed her fire attack, flames swirling from her hands and scorching the beast's side. The Ratogore yelped in pain, stumbling backward.

Kaden leaped into action, his fist surging with dark energy as he punched the beast, holding back enough so as not to kill it. The blow sent the creature sprawling, knocking it off its feet.

He stepped forward and delivered another punch, this time shattering its limbs. The beast lay on the ground, alive but writhing in agony. Its growls grew weaker as it struggled to move, unable to fight back.

Kaden grabbed the creature by its scruff, lifting it effortlessly. He carried it over to Jace, who had just transformed back into human form. Jace's face was pale, and he staggered slightly, catching his breath.

"Here," Kaden said, passing the beast to him.

Jace took the beast and gently placed it on the ground, crouching beside it. He seemed hesitant, his hands hovering over its body as if searching for the right spot.

"What are you doing?" Kaden asked, narrowing his eyes. "Do you need to perform some kind of ritual or something?"

Jace shook his head. "No. I'm just trying to figure out the quickest way to kill it… painlessly."

Kaden scoffed. "Why? It's just a beast. Even if you're softhearted, it shouldn't be for these things."

"I'm not softhearted," Jace replied firmly. "But when I transform into something, I feel the pain it experienced when it died. The more pain it felt, the worse it is for me. That's why I try to kill them as quickly and painlessly as possible."

Kaden's eyes widened slightly. "So that's why you look like death every time you transform," he muttered under his breath.

Lira stepped forward, pulling a knife from her belt and handing it to Jace. "This will help," she said simply. "It's sharp enough to end it in one strike."

Jace accepted the knife with a nod. "Thanks."

As Jace prepared to kill the beast, his movements slow and deliberate, Kaden's attention was drawn to a faint sound in the distance. It was soft but persistent—a rhythmic trickling, like water flowing over rocks.

Curious, Kaden walked toward the source of the sound, stepping deeper into the forest. The trees thinned out, revealing a small stream cutting through the landscape. Clear water flowed gently, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the canopy.

But what caught Kaden's attention wasn't just the stream—it was what was gathered around it.

Dozens of Ratogores lined the banks, drinking from the water. Their grotesque forms moved lazily, oblivious to his presence.

Kaden's heart skipped a beat as he took a step back. "Shit," he whispered.

Author's Note:

Hey, amazing readers! 🌟

Thank you so much for reading this chapter! Your support means the world to me, and it's what keeps me motivated to keep writing and improving this story for you all. If you're enjoying Demon Being System, please take a moment to drop a review—your feedback helps me grow and reach more readers.

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—Your Shameless Author, Thesage196 🙌