A young man in his dark attic sat in front of the computer, he shook out his frizzy hair and stretched his fingers. With a few deft taps on the keyboard, a familiar interface appeared on the screen, casting a warm glow over his face.

“What character should I create?”

After entering his login credentials, the words “Demon Realm ver. 3.0” appeared after a briefly rotating animation before giving way to the image of two characters. As this young man, above twenty-five years of age with crimson-bloodshot eyes perhaps from the lack of sleep, gazed at the monitor, he saw a fairly tall demoness sitting elegantly on the branches of an enormous tree—the World Tree, and a holy knight holding a bright-blue-illuminating greatsword. A slightly faded sinister-looking translucent glove lay near the demoness, while an ancient sophisticated circle slowly surged off mana from the Holy Knight's sword.

“Ah…” Letting out a deep breath, he slowly pinched his eyelids as he leaned back in his chair, contemplating the characters before him. These two figures were the avatars of a game he had created and nurtured. The game, called "DEMON REALM," was renowned for its ever-changing worldview and timeline, and its goal of being an open-world single-player experience.

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in his creation as he let go of the mouse and continued to ponder. As he sat in front of the computer, he both played the game and developed new characters with each update. He had gently enjoyed the game in its previous versions, and now in version 3.0, he was eager to create a new character. He let go of his tightened eyelids and shot open his eyes, leaning forward in his chair, deep in thought. He had already decided on the type of character he wanted to create and what clan or lineage it would originate from.

“Vikling Minivan De Vrancea…” That was the name he wanted the character should be named. And, “the [Vrancea Lineage] of the [Northwestern region] of the [Autumn Continent].” In other words, the allure of the colorful, sophisticated magic circles, powerful - super high number [Stats], [Job-related traits], and… versatility that couldn’t be found in any other profession in the “Demon realm” was too great to resist.

“[Cataclysm],” the young man thought aloud about the sole job he wanted to create in the character. Unlike the [Magician] or [Swordmaster] or [Holy Knight], previous characters he had become so enamored with were all because he invested too much in “Energy” capabilities and “Sword” Techniques, which resulted in a bored and “ruined character” after a while.

Through these countless experiences, he learned the difference between being all-powerful and being incompetent, and this time he was determined to create a [Cataclysm] with a singular focus. With this in mind, he quickly grabbed the mouse and pressed the “Create Character” button. With determination, he opened the character creation window and carefully selected the initial talent for his new [Cataclysm] character. He knew that by putting the main emphasis on [Cataclysm] Skill, he could avoid creating an ambiguous character.

"Then, let’s begin," he murmured to himself as he quickly set the character’s appearance, gender, age, name that he had in mind, origins, parents, lineage, behaviors, continent, and region. He then moved on to the [Talent Distribution Window], pouring all the given stats into this mysterious Cataclysm stat and its associated skills.

“[Glass Hour], [Weapon Enhancement], [Demonic energy], [Limitation Gauge]… I can’t neglect [Demonic energy sensitivity],” he thought as he allocated the points. The finished character was truly unique. On a [70-point scale], the Cataclysm Stat hovered around [50-60], while the physical body-related stats barely reached [10], resulting in a character that looked like a super fragile walking corpse. The ten-year-old character on the screen, dressed in clothes resembling ancient patient’s robes, had snow-white skin and long white hair with dark circles under his eyes.

However, he gazed at the monitor for a long time with a dissatisfied expression and then moved the mouse again, ready to make adjustments and fine-tune his creation. As he scrolled through the stats window, he focused on the attribute column and clicked to reveal the available options. These attributes, which could be given to a character’s [innate constitution], [talent], or [special ability], required a significant amount of skill to add.

Normally, players simply choose one or two useful traits and move on, but he disregarded this approach and continued to scroll through the list. As he did, useful traits such as [Preemptive Bloodlust Delay] and [Resistance] disappeared, replaced by traits written in a sinister deep red. These traits, such as [Chronic Headaches], [Depletion of Demonic Energy], and [Sexual Dysfunction], seemed to penalize the character, but he, having played the game countless times and in previous editions twice, understood their purpose.

Wiping his bloodshot eyes, clearing blurs, with a serious expression, he selected a few of the less beneficial traits and added them to his characters.

"Add [Demonic energy addiction], [Cold hands and feet], [Lifespan reduction], and [Extreme Weak body], it doesn’t matter," he said. It was an unusual choice to add negative traits to a character that would be played directly, but surprisingly, each time he added one of the bright red characteristics, the remaining [Distribution points], which he thought had been exhausted, began to increase slightly. The ‘Abnormal Kit’ in “Demon Realm” allows players to add ‘burdens’ or ‘penalties’ to their characters in exchange for an increase in talent or abilities.

This system opened up new possibilities for character creation, allowing players to break away from traditional limitations. He had never used the ‘Abnormal kit’ before, but this time he was determined to push the boundaries of his character’s concept as far as possible. As he strolled through the list of available penalties and burdens, he carefully selected those that would enhance his character’s [Cataclysm] stat and [associated skills] like [Demonic energy addiction], and [Cold hands and feet].

He knew that these penalties would come with negative effects, such as [Extremely weak bdy] and [Lifespan reduction], but it was a small price to pay for the increased power his character would wield. With a satisfied smile, he pressed the button to complete his character’s creation. The thought of exploring the vast world of chaos, different lineages, and strong, overpowered, and smart characters with this uniquely talented character was thrilling. Even the loading screen as the character was created was exciting. After setting the character’s dressing code, hairstyle, and calm, indifferent, and clever dispositions, he eagerly awaited the journey ahead.

“…”

As he tapped his finger on the desk, waiting for the loading to finish, his eyes drifted to the very top of the screen where the game’s fading advertisement phrase appeared. The phrase was particularly bothersome to him. It read:

[The First is Knowledge. The second is Power. The third is ???]

[Find ‘The Last’ with the ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Power’.]

[No need to hesitate, accept your destiny.]

“What the heck is this…” he muttered to himself in confusion.

Before he could comprehend the despair that loomed over him, a gust of dark fog engulfed the entire dark attic, devouring every one of the young men, leaving behind not even a trace of existence.

* * *

"Damn it... Why? Why did you become a Demoness, Elizabeth Minivan De Vrancea? Why, after defeating the Demon Lord who filled the world with absolute fear, agony, and terror? Why did you betray us?" 

The sickly scent of blood mingled with the clash of cold weapons on the bloody frontline of the battlefield. There, amidst the groans of dying knights, swordsmasters, demons, and humans, a raven-haired lady, blood-stained and clutching a sword, spoke with a shaky voice. 

"Answer me. What the hell was that, Loli Demoness?"

WHOOSH! SHAAAAH! 

The terror-inducing sound of the wind fluttered through, unsettling everything in its path, and whispering into the ears of the ten-year-old girl. The stars, filling the crimson night sky, spilled over the horizon like a sticky painting of pomegranate with sparkles of tiny gravel sprinkled on it. Across from her, the lady with a bloody face, and deep blue eyes fixed on the little girl, waited for a justified reason for the calamity she had caused…

The little dazzling blood-stained girl had bleached white hair and pale skin that reflected the crimson sky.

Elizabeth Minivan De Vrancea 

Dressed in a blood-soaked lack platinum robe with crimson lining, emblazoned with a torn family emblem of "a sinister sword of Death", her mysterious eyes slowly gazed up at the owner of the sword that pierced her frail heart. Her plump cherry-red lips stained red, and blood dripped from her opened chest as she spoke—

“Betrayal, treason, or despair... you can call it whatever you want.”

Her words had a hint of mockery as the pigment in her eyes slowly faded. She was clearly on her last breath. Yet, there was no sadness, regret, or wistfulness in her lisping voice. Just pure emptiness and evil. In truth, given her many misdeeds, and how she inflicted fear, terror, death, and agony upon the world, her treatment now was well-deserved.

She was the villainess who met her end. A Demoness. She had slain the “Demon Lord” as a Hero, yet she betrayed her lineage, friends, and the world by drinking the “Demon Lord’s blood” and eating his heart raw. Why? Why would she do such a thing? As though that wasn’t enough, she sought to taint the world with evil. All she did was tarnish her good deeds, and her hero status, becoming the worst corruption ever committed—something no one could tolerate.

And yet, even in her dying moments, Elizabeth was indifferent, calm, and nonchalant. She spoke as she always did, an unwavering cold pillar regardless of the relentless storm.

“I didn’t betray you, I was... meant to be this—a cataclysm, nothing more... nothing less…”

“Cut the bullshit! Say it! Fucking say it! Since when did you become so broken... young maiden Eli?”

Elizabeth's eyes widened for the first time in a long time as she recalled a particular phrase only someone very close would call her. So... it was someone she knew that ended her life... At this realization, she smiled brightly at the sound of the lady’s exasperated, sober, and regretful voice—so beyond the Milky Way, so distant. Recalling some very distant past in her tangled and diluted memories, she let out for the last time.

“It began... when I came... to this world…”

It was the final, meaningful line that carried enough weight to flutter away as her life ended.

[You have successfully created a character]

[The Initial Character has been changed.] 

[The Initial datasheet had been overwritten by another piece of Data. The system interface’s information is newly updated.]

[Warning! The Difference between the two Soul and body is astronomically Insurmountable. The Character’s soul will be extinguished.]

[The character’s name has been forcibly changed!]

'The name was forcibly changed?' Alongside the fleeting thought, the emptiness and confusion that plagued her drifting mind in the void a moment ago suddenly subsided. Her eyes glazed over as her darkened vision returned to normal. A warm glow followed by a gentle breeze blew against her closed eyelids and skin, different from the air conditioner she was used to in her dark attic.

“Huh…” When she opened her eyes, she couldn’t help but panic once again.

“Where am I…?”

Dark, fluttering curtains hung from cathedral windows surrounded her, and a dark rug lay beneath them. And the fluffy futon. It was such a magnificently antique room except for the too-sophisticated decor. Yet, it was unfamiliar and very familiar to her. A game she’d played in her dark attic over the past few years. And the one she created a “character” in before her vision faded.

“Demon Realm?” she thought aloud to herself. She had just woken up inside the game. Inside the fortress of one of the game’s biggest villainesses of the [Vrancea] lineage. At least that is what was supposed to happen in the future. Of course, she knew the character she made was a “Male” but looking at the large rectangular mirror in front of her white bed, yet, she woke up as a “female”, every other aspect seemed to be the same. However, only gender and having a girly appearance.

“Ah!” She let out a deep breath as her mind deepened in thoughts. Her mind seems foggy; she couldn’t remember or figure out what happened within her last moment in front of the computer waiting for her unique character to be created. Like a snap of a finger, she had been transmigrated into the game, and one of the dark Monarchs of the “Demon Realm '', with deep ties to the world’s worst criminal organization, The Loli Demoness.

“…?”

Soon, she realized the awkward gap in her mentality, ‘Why the heck am I so calm?’ She hadn’t entered the game via the character she created. Wasn’t this a situation where, if she instantly doubled down and vomited, it wouldn’t be strange to panic and tremble? Usually, that should be the case. Yet, she was quickly pondering a way out of this immediate crisis. Only a moment lasted during the agitation. Right now, she felt no fear or worry, only slight confusion and doubt. Her rational side had overshadowed her mind. Could she imagine that she could one day ever remain calm in the absurd circumstance of transmigrating to a female? Of course, she knows the answer to that question.

‘It seems all the settings I added in the character’s setting are active.’ She briefly thought as she quickly scanned her surroundings, then double-checked her reflection again. Sure enough, it was the same ten-year-old girl's face.

Shiny, cascading bleached white hair, clear crimson eyes like pools of blood, and pale skin like a corpse with dark circles underneath her eyes. A silk robe with the lineage’s emblem of a “sinister sword of Death,” surrounded by sinister flowers and abundant gifts. And an indifferent and calm face that’s unwavering…

She. No, Elizabeth wiped her forehead, convinced that it was ‘actually’ possessed by Elizabeth Minivan De Vrancea, the youngest daughter of the [Vrancea] Lineage, the greatest and worst Villainess in the “Demon realm”. At that moment, she didn’t know why a certain phrase came to mind.

Fuck, I’m truly a loli demoness.

 Indeed, this is her new reality...