The graveyard sprawled under a moonless sky, tombstones jutting like broken teeth from the earth. Beelzebub stood at its edge, Steel Sword in hand, aura a dark shroud stretching ten meters—amplified by the Forgotten Amulet. Level 9, 925 EXP, and stats towering over any beginner—Strength at 155, Speed at 117, Luck and Charisma at 48. Gluttony thrummed in his veins, a hunger that wouldn't rest. The quest from Elara glowed on his HUD: "Cleanse the Graveyard. Slay 10 Ghouls. Reward: 100 EXP, 40 Copper, Favor."
"More fodder," he muttered, voice calm yet edged with disdain. He stepped forward, aura flaring—cracking headstones, scattering loose dirt. Shadows stirred among the graves, ghouls rising—Level 5, gaunt and rotting, claws dripping with decay. Ten of them, eyes hollow and ravenous.
"Bow or break," he growled, unleashing King's Roar (Mastery to 6/10). The ghouls flinched, their charge faltering. He surged with Razor Rush, Speed at 117 slicing through the first—Steel Sword parting flesh like paper. It crumbled to dust. "Ding! Strength +5, Speed +4, Defense +3, Mana +2, Luck +1, Charisma +1."
The rest swarmed, claws slashing. He danced through them—Horned Frenzy spiking Speed to 175 for ten seconds, Basic Slash carving arcs of ruin (Mastery to 6/10). Nine more fell in a whirlwind of steel and blood, each kill feeding Gluttony: Strength to 175, Speed to 137, Defense to 106, Mana to 61, Luck to 58, Charisma to 58. His aura thickened, a storm crushing the graveyard into silence.
A rumble shook the earth. The Ghoul Lord emerged—Level 10, twice the size, flesh peeling to reveal bone, wielding a rusted scythe. Beelzebub's smirk widened, cold and predatory. "Finally, something worth devouring."
The Lord swung, scythe arcing with necrotic energy. He dodged—Speed at 137—then countered with Razor Rush, blade biting its arm. Bone cracked, but it retaliated, a claw gashing his side—HP dropped 12%, Minor Life ticking it back slowly. "Pathetic," he snarled, activating Bone Ward. A skeletal shield rose, blocking the next strike. Mastery: 2/10.
Horned Frenzy flared again, Speed at 205 briefly. He darted behind, Basic Slash shattering its spine (Mastery to 7/10). The Ghoul Lord roared, scythe glowing—dark energy lashed out, grazing his arm. HP dipped another 5%. Beelzebub laughed, aura surging. "Die." A final Razor Rush cleaved its head clean off. It collapsed, dust and loot scattering.
"Ding! Ghoul Lord defeated. Absorbed: Strength +35, Speed +30, Defense +25, Mana +20, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Necrotic Pulse (Skill). Loot: Ghoul Claw x2, Copper x250."
Strength: 210 Speed: 167 Defense: 131 Mana: 81 Luck: 63 Charisma: 63 Skills: Necrotic Pulse (Unleash decay burst, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 100 EXP, 40 Copper, Favor (Elara's Trust +15%)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 10. EXP: 1025/1000. Profession Selection Unlocked."
The HUD blazed: "Choose your profession: Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Priest, or seek a hidden path." Beelzebub paused, aura simmering. Warrior was brute force—tempting. Mage offered mana he could twist with Gluttony. Rogue fit his solo style. But hidden… that screamed power. "Show me the shadows," he muttered, rejecting the defaults. A new prompt flickered: "Hidden Trial: Slay the Crypt Wraith in the Graveyard Depths. Reward: Unique Profession."
"Done," he said, heading deeper. The Depths yawned—a crypt beneath a shattered mausoleum, air thick with rot. The Crypt Wraith materialized—Level 12, ethereal, wielding twin daggers. Its wail chilled the air.
POV Shift: Elara, the Priestess
Elara knelt in the temple, sensing the graveyard's purge. Beelzebub's aura pulsed through the night—dark, unyielding. "He's no ordinary man," she whispered, hands trembling. Her trust in him grew—15% now—but fear gnawed at her. The Goddess of Life's light felt dim against his shadow. "What are you becoming?"
Beelzebub faced the Wraith, aura a wall of dominance. It darted, daggers flashing. He parried with Basic Slash, then unleashed Necrotic Pulse—decay rippling out, Mastery to 2/10. The Wraith shrieked, form flickering. Razor Rush followed, Speed at 167 tearing through its chest. It countered—daggers piercing his shoulder, HP dropping 10%. He grinned, unshaken.
Bone Ward blocked its next strike (Mastery to 3/10), and Horned Frenzy sent Speed to 250 briefly. He struck—Basic Slash (Mastery to 8/10) and a raw punch at Strength 210. The Wraith dissolved, a wisp of loot falling.
"Ding! Crypt Wraith defeated. Absorbed: Strength +40, Speed +35, Defense +30, Mana +25, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Phantom Step (Skill). Loot: Wraith Shard x1, Copper x300."
Strength: 250 Speed: 202 Defense: 161 Mana: 106 Luck: 68 Charisma: 68 Skills: Phantom Step (Short-range teleport, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Hidden Trial Complete. Profession Unlocked: Devourer – Enhance Gluttony's absorption rate by 50%. Gain Devourer's Mark (Aura doubles in potency)."
His aura exploded—twenty meters now, a crushing force. "Devourer," he mused, voice flirty yet cold. "Fitting."
POV Shift: Kael, the Elf
Kael stood at the village square, Level 7, bear loot traded. Beelzebub's aura hit like a tidal wave—Level 10, profession claimed. "Impossible," he spat, gripping his sword. His party shrank back. "He's a glitch. We'll end him in the cities." Doubt gnawed at him—those stats, that presence. Fear crept in.
Beelzebub returned, aura a storm. Elara met him, eyes wide. "You've… changed."
He leaned close, Charisma at 68 softening his edge. "Upgraded, priestess. Worship me yet?" She blushed, trust ticking higher. The twins approached—Lia awed, Mira wary. "Level 10?" Mira asked.
"First of many," he replied, winking. "Stick around, ladies. The world's next."
Tracker
Level: 10 (EXP: 1025/1000)
Stats: Strength: 250 | Speed: 202 | Defense: 161 | Mana: 106 | Luck: 68 | Charisma: 68
Talents: Gluttony (Error) – No stat gains from leveling; absorbs all attributes, skills, bloodlines, blessings from defeated beings; duplicates enhance mastery
Powers/Skills: Horned Dash (5/10), King's Roar (6/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (8/10), Razor Rush (1/10), Shadow Cloak (2/10), Bone Ward (3/10), Necrotic Pulse (2/10), Phantom Step (1/10)
Profession: Devourer – Gluttony absorption +50%, Devourer's Mark (Aura potency x2)
Bloodlines: Human
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara deepening)
Recent Gains: Strength +75, Speed +69, Defense +55, Mana +45, Luck +10, Charisma +10, 2 Skills
Loot Drops: Ghoul Claw x2, Wraith Shard x1, Copper x590 (total: 1560), Health Potion x1