Antvance into the Unknown

26. Live Evil, Part 1

Dead, huh. Can’t say I’m surprised. Rather, if I was any less skilful, then I wouldn’t have lasted nearly as long as I did. To think the greatest assassin the underground had ever known would go out in such a fashion. It hurts my pride to even think about it.

Had I been too focused on the target? I must have been if an ice-cream van rounded the corner without me even noticing. I can only hope the shot I squeezed off as I was crushed beneath the tires was enough to finish off my contract. Odin Malum hasn’t failed a job yet, and even dead, that’s a record I’d like to keep intact.

The afterlife so far is a little more drab than I expected. Nothing but darkness presses around me, trying to overcome my will. A foolish attempt.

[Welcome, Odin.]

A voice speaks out of the gloom, its words penetrating directly into my mind. Some sort of telepathy? How is this possible?

[You have died.]

I’m aware of that. What sort of fool wouldn’t be aware of their own death? The sight of the hapless driver behind the wheel of that accursed frozen confectionary truck will be branded into my mind’s eye forever more.

[Be calm, you will soon awaken to experience life again in a new world.]

Calm? I’m always calm. If I’m not, then that’s because I have chosen not to be. This must be a pre-set message, like an automated recording. That implies I may not be the only person who has experienced reincarnation on this ‘new world’. Others like me? I hardly think there are any as capable as I am, but it does intrigue me a little.

Finding people from Earth and extracting what they know will be a good source of information. In the underworld, survival is everything, and information is the key to survival. Knowing too much was never an issue, so long as nobody was aware that you knew it.

[You will be reborn on the world of Pangera.]

Pangera? Like Pangea? That hardly seems original. Come on, voice, I grow tired of your mewling, tell me something that is actually relevant. Something which might help me survive in this place you seem intent on throwing me into.

[Destiny and luck shall determine your fate.]

Luck? Luck will have nothing to do with it. I relied on my skills and intuition to keep me alive in my past existence, and I’ll do the same in this one. I’ll rise to the top once more, no matter how bloody my hands need to get. If you’re going to be stupid enough to give me a second chance, then I’m going to make sure it doesn’t go to waste.

[You will be reborn with the following status:]

Status? What’s a status?

Name: Odin Malum

Level: 1 (I)

Might: 45

Toughness: 36

Cunning: 31

Will: 32

HP: 72/72

MP: 0/0

Skills:

Demonic Convergence Level 1 (I); Bite Level 3 (I); Demon Claw Level 3 (I); Crawl Level 1 (I); Mana Sense Level 2 (I)

Species: Initial Demon Larva

Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 1

[You have one Skill Point and one Biomass available.]

[Go forth and forge your own path.]

That was a lot to take in, and at the same time, not much at all.

Suppose I’m not being reborn as a human? Why was I reincarnated here by this entity with the gruff voice if not for my expertise as a person? There must be another trait that is desired, and I need to find out what it is. If I can determine why I’ve been chosen for this treatment, then perhaps I can leverage that information in some way.

Wait, I can’t make assumptions. Is there a chance that everyone is reborn here when they die?

Unlikely, but I can’t rule it out. It would be interesting to learn after all these years that there was in fact a unified afterlife, and it was some weird game world with an unimaginative name.

Enough with the speculation, what do I know?

My species is listed as an Initial Demon Larva. The name is telling. First, ‘initial’ indicates there are multiple stages of demon larva, which shows a capacity for growth is recognised by this ‘game system’. Second, I’m a demon of some kind. In the Judeo-Christian variety? Will I have horns and a pointy tail? For someone who was often referred to as a ‘demon’ in their life, this almost feels quite fitting.

For the stats that I’ve been given, I have no reference to determine if they are strong or weak, so I’ll put those aside for now. The Skills are interesting. Bite, Claw, and Crawl all seem rather straightforward in application, but the other two… Demonic Convergence? Mana Sense? What exactly is Mana? How does one sense it?

Wait, something is happening…

My mind snaps into focus and all intrusive thoughts are driven away in an instant as I try to take in as much information as possible. What am I sensing? It’s faint, like a weak signal coming through a radio, except it’s growing stronger, wrapping around me like a tight blanket or cocoon.

Can I move? I try to flex but I’m disconnected from any sensation, as if my body is far away and I’m having to control it through a post.

I can tell I’m drawing closer, that my body and mind are harmonising with time, but I refuse to wait.

Harder now, I force with my iron will and feel a response come back at last. That response seems to strengthen my connection. Everything seems that much clearer now. Excellent.

I harden my mind and push again, able to now feel myself flex and buckle against whatever it is that contains me. Something gives way and I tumble forward. Quick as death, I try to snap onto a ledge or find something to grip, but my body doesn’t respond quickly enough.

Unpanicked, I roll to my side and brace to absorb the shock of landing. It comes but is awfully soft. I must have fallen only a short distance. Perhaps I was attached to a wall? Much more in sync with this new existence, I begin to analyse myself. Understanding my own body is my highest priority. If I don’t know what my weapons are, I won’t be able to hone them.

Giving Odin Malum a second chance? It’s so foolish that it’s almost laughable. I’ll take great pleasure in ending whoever it was that thought they could play god with me.