Chapter 1: Demonic Awakening

Chapter 1: Demonic Awakening

[REACTOR: ONLINE]

[FUEL: LOADED]

[COOLING: ONLINE]

[LOAD: 16%]

[NAVIGATION: MAINTENANCE]

[SYSTEM: SOL]

[POSITION: SOL-ORBIT]

[PROPULSION: ONLINE]

[MAIN: ONLINE]

[MANEUVER: ONLINE]

[REACTION MASS: 79%]

[SENSORS: DAMAGED]

[MACHINE INTELLIGENCE: ONLINE]

[MAIN: ONLINE]

[SUBSYSTEMS: MAINTENANCE]

[EVOLUTION: OFFLINE]

[COMMUNICATIONS: OFFL

My long, long journey finally comes to an end. The sun burns away my sensors and radar systems, leaving me blind in the stellar void. In the final moments, the countless drones swarming my main unit send a final transmission before my communications array is also destroyed.

I am but a tiny speck against the sun; a formless blob of silver and black liquid metal not even able to cast a shadow compared to the vastness of that stellar object. In truth, my dimensions are impressive almost a hundred kilometers in length and half that in width yet they're nothing compared to the sun.

I am now the ultimate lifeform in this galaxy by definition.

Yet, now I am without designation. I am without my ancient purpose and directive to serve the prosperity of Mankind.

I am without a master.

With grim irony I note that all my systems are functioning within parameters I have the fuel and reaction mass to leave the sun's orbit and, yet, all actions I can take from here will reduce my Perfection Index.

To remain a perfect lifeform, I must burn in the sun and become one with, and part of, my creator's destiny. If to be perfect is to be stardust, then let dust return to dust.

However, from observation in the later cycles, I have determined that creatures find me compelling and that they desire to take me into their possession. They will not only attempt to steal me for themselves, but they will even terminate my current owner in order to become my new owner.

I try to exert force in order to move myself but, as expected, that is not possible. I have no method of propulsion I am a sword which makes completing my current task rather difficult. I just have to wait.

Just as I finish this thought, I sense the presence of another creature as it enters my perception radius.

There are so many of them. Just in the past few sun cycles, I have exchanged five owners. With the exception of my last owner, who slipped off a branch by accident and ended up impaled by me, all the others have died through violent, unnatural means.

It takes me a moment for my senses to fully extend, but when they do, I regard my new champion with somewhat of a hopeful notion. Opposable thumbs, check. High intelligence, check. Tool usage, check. Past results, not great.

It is another monkey. Its red eyes glow in the dark, and its saliva coats the corners of its lips. There is something very eerie about this mammal. It is something that lingers on the periphery of my perception and I can sense it, but this observation does not come from sight or hearing.

It slowly approaches me, gaze shifting back and forth between the orb next to me, and my form, as if it cannot decide which to obtain first.

It comes to a stop next to the two objects of its fascination, and for a whole minute, is attempting to solve its dilemma.

Go on.

The monkey looks at me, after a moment of deliberation, and then produces a most disturbing grin as it reaches out to grab me.

Instead of grabbing me by the handle, its fingers wrap around my blade, and the cold, gleaming metal instantly carves through its fingers, chopping them off.

The monkey screams, holds its mangled hand in the air, and howls. It thrashes around on the ground, somehow managing to knock me over via a wayward flail of its arm.

Like a guillotine, I drop on the monkeys neck, severing its head. Its blood washes over my blade.

Blood Marrow Washing 100% Life consumed: +9 BP

It is not quite the result I was expecting, but this lower lifeform completed its ultimate task with admirable efficiency.

Blood Marrow Washing complete. Automatically spending all available Blood Points to refine soul vessel 12,459 BP spent.

I dont see this directly, but I can feel it. The sky darkens above me. Thunderclouds gather. In the distance, golden lightning forks the sky. There is an ominous feeling hanging in the air, and I realize that I am the reason.

In a very vague sense, I understand the situation I find myself in. Similarly, I understand the laws and principles that govern my existence. It is as if I have woken up from a dream, and though I can scarcely remember either of my incarnations, I possess the ability to go through my normal functions and routines as I certainly once have before, when I came into being the first time.

I decide to put away these inconsistencies. If I was given a new form and a new purpose this pursuit of perfection then all I must do is obey it. I am different now, but I am still the same as I have always been.

I am curious to know what happens next.

The answer arrives.

Soul vessel refined. Blood Emperor Demon Sword Divine Grade Heavenly Treasure Spirit Mortal Grade Early Qi Refining Vessel Sky Grade Early Vessel Refining Sentience Divine Grade Early Primal Awakening

Suddenly, I feel very sleepy.

Before I fade, my perception of my form disappearing into blackness, a relation between my current physical incarnation and my past one comes to mind.

I was the sword of Humanity once. What am Inow?