Chap1: Achievements and start
If you asked me, I'd say it all began with my parents—or rather, their absence. Orphaned, abandoned, alone: the perfect cliché for a dark lord's origin story. A boy eager to rise above the crowd, to be feared, to be known. And so my tale unfolded, twisting me into the scariest of them all: Lord Voldemort.
No one dared whisper my name. I relished the way my followers trembled, their eyes darting as I lounged on my stone throne, Nagini coiled around my neck like a grotesque scarf. My red eyes and serpentine nose only sharpened the terror. I'd murmur to her in Parseltongue, stroking her head, just to watch them squirm. It was delicious—until that Potter boy ruined everything. Conquered most of Britain, only to lose it all to a toddler. My Horcruxes, my power, gone. I'm over it, though.
Nah … Dwelling on the past is a fool's game.
Horcruxes were a mixed bag anyway—immortality at the cost of sanity. If I'd survived, I might've penned a paper on it: "Soul-Splitting: A Cautionary Tale of Madness and Impotence." Yes, impotence. Dark rituals did a number on me. I raped a few women in my time, but it was joyless—couldn't even muster the "enthusiasm" to finish before I killed them. Pathetic, really. Still, death brought clarity. Reconnecting my soul in the afterlife changed me, softened me, maybe. I would say I'm not the same man.
Now I'm stuck here, in this endless white void. No walls, no sky—just a bench with my ass print worn into it. I've been here years, I think, though time's a slippery thing without a clock. I tried counting once, got to a million, then stopped. I'm a sucker for numbers—seven's my favorite—but there's no magic in it here. No escape, no matter how far I walk. I always end up back at this damned bench.
What am I waiting for? A taxi? A bus? An airplane? I can't talk, can't eat, can't even take a piss—which, honestly, is a relief. I've spent my time theorizing spells instead. Picture this: a ritual tapping earth's power to teleport your waste underground. Revolutionary plumbing magic. If I ever get back, I'll make it happen.
I don't know which religion's right, either. Is it the Christian's god? Or Islamic one? Or Hindus? But I don't think it's the Hindus, they have many gods, and at least one of them would be free to give me the fucking introduction to the hell if it was them. No gods have shown up to greet me—no flames of Hell, no pearly gates. Maybe this is my Hell: boredom and a bench. I was an atheist back then—cool, classy, and lazy. Magic mattered more than philosophy. And now? I'm just a soul taking deep breaths I don't need, trying to relax.
A flicker interrupts my thoughts. Words materialize on a blue screen hovering before me:
[Do you want to start a new game? The Game of the Dark Lord]
[Yes/No]
A joke? I can't even die in peace, and now they want me to play? Another screen pops up:
[Yes. We (gods) are bored. You don't have a choice, so be a good boy and play along. You might enjoy it. Want to play?]
[Yes/No]
Charming. Before I can think too hard, a third screen appears:
[Say no, and it's eternal damnation—half-burnt logs up your ass, Justin Bieber on loop, burned alive and resurrected daily. Your move.]
I jab the "Yes" button. Subtlety's not their strong suit. The screen shifts:
[Welcome to the Game of the Dark Lord]
[Scoring your previous life's achievements…]
I never chased much beyond absolute power over Britain—and failed spectacularly. Let's see how they rate me. The list scrolls:
[Achievements:]
Lived 72 years = +72 points, +7 WIS
Graduated Hogwarts = +20 points, +1 INT
Head Boy = +10 points
Adult Baby (Never got laid (properly)) = -50 points
Family Killer = -10 points
Master of Dark Arts = +100 points, +2 INT
Master of Mind Arts = +100 points, +3 INT
Master of Ritual Magick = +70 points, +1 INT
Master of Charms = +60 points, +1 INT
Master of Blood Magick = +70 points, +1 INT, +1 VIT
Archmage (Master 5 Branches of Magic) (Very Rare) = +100 points, +5 INT, + Master of Magick Perk
Adept in Soul Magick = +80 points
Adept in Transfiguration = +30 points
Dodging Cupid's Arrows (Never fallen in love) = -150 points
Reborn (Rare) = +60 points, +2 VIT, + Title: Phoenix Lord
Horcruxes (x7) (Epic) = +20 (x7) = +140 points, + Inner Control Perk
Antagonist = +50 points
True Dark Lord (Legendary) = +500 points, +2 All Stats, + Dark Master Perk
Killed by a 1-Year-Old Baby (Seriously?!) = -500 points
Killed by a 17-Year-Old Boy = -400 points
Leader of Dark (1346 followers) (Rare) = +448 points
Couldn't Defeat Albus = -50 points
Lost the Nose (LOL) = -100 points
Holder of Death's Artifacts (1/3) (Uncommon) = +30 points, + Touched by Death Trait
Genius (Uncommon) = +50 points, +1 WIS, +1 INT, + Genius Trait
Alias: You-Know-Who = +20
Alias: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named = +20
Total Score = +700 (Pathetic. You'll need more than that to impress us.)]
My blood boils. "Pathetic"? I conquered nations!
The screen flickers again:
[Use your points to prepare before the game starts.]
[1 Perk = 4 Traits = 200 Attributes = 200 Achievement Points]
A shop screen opens, listing perks and traits. Most perks start at 10 points—far beyond my reach—but I've got 700 points to burn. I could boost my stats, but raw power won't outsmart my enemies. Maybe I'll be forced to kill potter again and I needed an edge. I upgrade [Master of Magick (Lvl 1)] to [Master of Magick (Lvl 2)] for 400 points, netting me +3 INT and WIS every 5 levels. Then I convert [Trait: Genius (Lvl Max)] into [Perk: Genius (Lvl Max)] for 200 points, adding +1 INT per level. With 100 points left, I grab two traits at 50 each: [Trait: MetaMorph (Lvl Max)] and [Trait: ParselMouth (Lvl Max)]. Shape-shifting and snake-talking— a tool that I'll wield better this time.
[Choose your world:]
Naruto (Blocked)
Percy Jackson (Blocked)
Bleach (Blocked)
Harry Potter (Score 1000+ to unlock others)]
Harry Potter it is. No surprise there—my old stomping ground. I smirk. Then the truth hit me in the face. 'To think that I went after someone who the whole world is named after!! That's why I couldn't kill the fucking cockroach!! I was destined to lose.'
I felt a sense of anger building up inside my chest, but it was different from what I experienced in my previous life on earth. My anger was washed away quickly instead of latching onto my thoughts like a persistent tick. It turned into mild annoyance and that also was directed towards fate. I no longer held "beef" with potter boy.
[Status]
(Think "Status" to open)
Name: Tom Riddle
Titles: The Phoenix Lord
Race: Human
Level: 1 (0%)
HP: 100/100
MP: -/-
STR: 12
VIT: 15
DEX: 12
INT: 27
WIS: 20
AP: 0
Money: 0 G 0 S 0 K / 0$
Perks: Master of Magick, Inner Control, Dark Master / PP: 0
Traits: Genius, Touched by Death / TP: 0]
[Tom Riddle, AKA Lord Voldemort, was a Dark Lord in his world. Tough childhood, brilliant magician, pathetic death by a teenager. Reborn with a taste for Leonard Cohen, vodka, and pasta. Soul restored; he sees his past in a new light.]
'What kind of world I'm going to be sent to? My old one? Am I going to be an orphan again?'
[Yes and no. you are going to your orphanage but not the same year. In the world you are being sent to there is no Lord Voldemort. There are many active Dark Lords with many local feudal lords.]
[You as a dark lord were a lawful one, or a neutral. You had a reason and didn't hurt magicians for fun(You wanted to be a ruler, and he killed who opposed you and didn't kill those who bent the knee), even though your reasons were bullshit. These dark lords are mostly chaotic evil. Too many bad bloods.]
[Even though the parallel world you are going to has some differences from your original world, the main change started as Albus didn't defeat Grindelwald. So it made wizards to become more and more arrogant and they started to change the world. First they made a universal magic with the help of Tome of Zeus, they overcame the power of electricity and with no electricity powered technology, normal humans couldn't compete with magicians. Magicians and Muggles don't co-exist but muggles are aware of magician's presence.]
[Albus is trying his best to keep Europe safe. The grand magicians of Queen are trying their best. But still, too many evil men and wizards.]
[You have a mission.]
A new page appeared.
[You have a new mission!
Kill them all!
Main quest:
Kill 10 dark lords (0/10)
Bonus quest:
Plunder their base and rob their library and secret tomes (0/10)
Rewards:
500 Achievement points
One of their skills (After killing each Darklord)
Bonus Reward:
50 AP (after each library)
New Title (after gaining all)]
[And I will give you other missions to complete during the time you have.
By the way. You need to find harry potter. He might be a help to you. You'll be same age when you go to Hogwarts. ]
I barely process it before another screen appears:
[Break a leg?]
The white void fades to black.
__________________________________
I had 700 Achievement Points (AP), which means 3 Perk Points (PP) and 2 Trait Points (TP).
[Perks:]
[Master of Magick (LvL 1) (2 PP to LVL up)
Mysteries of magic was always a curios matter. You have reached a point in understanding the rules of magic that you can take a look beyond what normal man can and have a grasp on the way magic works that puts you in a different light than others.
+1 WIS, +1 INT each 5 LvLs
+50% learning speed in learning normal magic
+100% learning speed in learning obscure magic
+100% effect of magic
-80% mana cost]
[Inner Control (Lvl 1) (2PP to LvL up)
By controlling, molding and shaping your soul in a way it usually wouldn't, you increased your power over your own soul and the way you control it.
+1 INT each 5 LvLs
+50% Learning Soul Magick.
+ 100% learning speed of Energy Control]
[Dark Master (Lvl Max)
You are a true dark lord, wherever you are, in any world, anywhere in the multiverse.
+ 50% learning and effect of Yin/Dark powers.
+ As each of your followers receive your dark mark, you'll permanently gain 1% of their powers. (updates as they grow stronger. This includes stats, mastery over spells or understanding of concepts)
+ Dark Lord Aura Skill]
[Dark Lord Aura (Passive/Active) (Lvl 1) Exp: 0%
The power of dark lord shows itself to others. Like the stare of a snake with bare fangs, the laughter of Death when it finds a pray.
Passive:
+50% chance of intelligent beings with lower level running away
+50% chance of intelligent beings with higher level not attacking
Active:
+70% chance of putting any being with lower level on [Scared] state.
It loses its effect by 10% for each level the enemy is on a higher level than gamer.]
[Traits:]
[Genius (Lvl Max) (200 Achievement points to turn it into a perk)
You have a talent in the mental faculty and it seems that people recognized it.
Learning speed in any skills +50%]
[Touched by death (Lvl 1) (Find deathly hollows to level up)
You've been showered with the power of death by holding unto the the Resurrection Stone and having it as a Horcrux. The Elder Wand doesn't count as it never accepted you as its master and never bestowed you it's deathly powers.
+50% Death, Necromancy and Soul Magick Learning
+50% Death, Necromancy and Soul Magick Effect]
[Titles:]
[Phoenix Lord: By resurrecting you defied death and that indeed takes steel balls.
+500% Health Regeneration
+10 VIT per 10 levels.]
'Looks good!'
Instead of buying anything new, I chose to upgrade my existing ones. I upgraded [Master of Magick (LvL 1)] to [Master of Magick (LvL 2)] which now gives me 3 INT and WIS every 5 levels.
Also the [Trait: Genius (Lvl Max)] turned into [Perk: Genius (Lvl Max)] which gave me 1 INT per level.
[Trait: MetaMorph (Lvl Max)]
[Trait: ParselMouth (Lvl Max)]