When Liora regained her consciousness, she found herself in a dark void. Around her, countless shining stars revolved, as if she had beco the center of the universe.
Despite the strange spectacle unfolding around her, Liora remained calm.
She had inherited knowledge of Devils and the Demon World upon her awakening, so she imdiately recognized this place.
After their birth in the River of Oblivion, the Little Devils fought until only a hundred remained. These survivors were then teleported here to receive the Demon World’s reward, helping them evolve into Young Devils.
Above the Little Devils were Young Devils, followed by Lesser Devils and True Devils.
To truly awaken a Race bloodline, a Devil had to advance to the Lesser Devil stage.
However, by accepting the Demon World’s blessing, Young Devils could awaken a prototype of the bloodline—catching a glimpse of the power that awaited them.
The surrounding little stars were precisely that—a Bloodline Prototype granted by the Demon World to the Devils.
Each Devil had the chance to choose only one among them, relying solely on their instincts, feelings, and luck.
Recalling this information, Liora gazed at the stars surrounding her, hesitating over which one to choose. She knew she had to consider carefully, as her choice would determine her future.
A poor reward would leave her weaker than the Devils of the sa stage, while a good one could help her take off.
Just when Liora was hesitating, a familiar translucent window flashed before her.
--
[Advancent to the rank of Young Devil detected.]
[Override function available.]
[Would you like to analyze available bloodlines?]
--
Liora blinked.
"Can the System interfere with the Demon World’s blessing?!"
Her heart quickened. Being a Devil, she understood the power of the Demon World better than most.
This was not a low-level plane, but an apex world, infamous throughout the Heavens.
If the System could really intervene with its Will, it ant that it was at least comparable in nature, even if slightly weaker.
With the idea of giving her a try, she whispered "Yes", and imdiately the dark void trembled.
The countless stars around her rippled, their surfaces no longer vague and mysterious.
One by one, they revealed their true nature in front of Liora’s eyes.
At the sa ti, more System ssages appeared.
--
[Analysis Complete.]
[Available Reward Options:]
1. Abyssal Shadow Bloodline (Prototype) – Improved affinity with shadows and void. Enhances concealnt and grants the ability to blend into darkness. Compatibility: 81%.
2. Crimson Fang Bloodline (Prototype)– A predatory bloodline. Improves physical strength and regeneration. Can devour vitality. Compatibility: 78%.
3. Soulfla Bloodline (Prototype) – Fla of the soul. Increases soul power and resistance to illusions. Compatibility: 51%.
4. Ironclad Bloodline (Prototype) – Hardened flesh and bones. Improves defense and resistance to the elents. Compatibility: 67%.
5. ??? Bloodline (Prototype) – Unidentified Anomaly. No records detected. Compatibility: 98%.
6...
7...
--
A long list of bloodlines materialized, each bloodline accompanied by a short description and compatibility rating.
Liora’s eyes scanned the list briefly before returning to the surrounding stars. Each star pulsed faintly, exuding an aura that resonated deeply with her soul.
As she focused, the world seed to shift.
Her gaze fell first on the star representing the Abyssal Shadow Bloodline.
A gentle darkness flowed from it, wrapping around her like liquid. She felt as if she had returned to her mother’s embrace.
The darkness was neither cold nor nacing, but gentle and soothing. Liora felt her body dissolve into it, becoming one with the shadows.
It took a lot of effort to resist the urge to do so and step back. Still, the sensation lingered, like a quiet whisper tempting her to choose it.
Liora shook her head, steeling her resolve, and looked at the Crimson Fang Bloodline.
A thunderous roar echoed in her ears, and the blood in her veins boiled. Fangs grew out of her mouth, and vitality surged through her body.
Red flashes danced at the edges of her vision, while intense, primal hunger swept over her.
Liora had the urge to give in to that hunger, to destroy and consu.
However, she quickly suppressed that impulse, and her eyes regained their clarity.
Such experience made Liora imdiately dismiss this bloodline.
She understood that it could make her strong, but would also affect her character, effectively turning her into another person.
Next, Liora’s gaze drifted across the remaining stars.
Soufla Bloodline, Ironclad Bloodline...
Each of these bloodlines gave her a distinct feeling, unique and intense, but none of them was what she sought.
Finally, she turned to the fifth star, the one that intrigued her the most.
This was not only because of its high compatibility rating, but also because it represented sothing interesting — the unknown.
The star was dim, unassuming among the countless bright stars around it. It possessed no special aura. No description. Nothing.
And yet, Liora’s soul trembled as soon as her eyes landed on it.
In an instant, everything else vanished. The void, stars, and even the System’s interface all dissolved into nothingness.
Within that nothingness, only the pulling from the dim star remained, as if it were calling to her.
Sothing began to stir deep within her body, and Liora found that she seed to have established a strange connection with the unassuming star.
When she blinked again, though, she was back in the starry void.
Yet, the previous experience was still fresh and vivid in her mind.
Her choice had been made.
She didn’t take another look at the remaining stars and imdiately confird her decision.
"I choose the Unknown Bloodline...", she whispered.
The next mont, the stars around her vanished, leaving only the star representing the unknown, which shook before rushing into her body.
The mont it entered, a tremor of energy surged through Liora.
The void darkened even further, and gray rays radiated outward, weaving intricate patterns.
The patterns combined around Liora, forming a large cocoon of light and shadow. It pulsed with life, stretching and contracting as if it were breathing.
Liora floated inside, suspended.
The gray energy wrapped around her like liquid, cold yet invigorating, pressing against her skin and sinking into her bones.
Her nerves, muscles, and even her soul strengthened as raw energy flowed through her body.
Her heartbeat started echoing the rhythm of the pulsing cocoon.
Ti lost all aning.
Liora felt her very essence being reforged, her form reshaped, her senses sharpening, and her soul expanding.
Suddenly, the cocoon shivered violently. Cracks of silvery light appeared along its form.
A sharp, resonant crack rang through the void.
From within, a slender palm burst through the cocoon, scattering fragnts of gray energy which soon dissolved into nothingness.
Liora was left standing alone in the void.
Her new form was truly breathtaking.
What had once been a small, ugly Little Devil was now a beautiful, young woman with long, silky red hair.
Her fra was slender, and a black armor draped over her, outlining her beautiful, proud figure.
Two small, curved horns extended from her temples, seemingly made of obsidian. Her eyes glowed crimson, matching the color of her hair and giving her an eerie beauty.
Every movent of hers radiated grace and hidden power, the air trembling around her as if in response.
Liora felt her own strength and couldn’t help but curve her lips upward, revealing a captivating smile.
The warmth of the Unknown Bloodline pulsed through her veins, and although it was rely a Prototype, she could sense that it had granted her several new abilities.
"Is this the transformation from Little Devil to Young Devil?", she muttered.
"In this state, I can kill hundreds of my forr self.", she added, feeling the imnse power hidden in her unassuming body.
Just as she was about to experint with her new abilities, the void suddenly shuddered.
The space in front of her shattered like glass, and a door-like passage appeared, inviting her to go in.
Although unwilling, Liora knew that she could not defy the Will of the Demon World at the mont and could not remain here any longer.
After all, this space didn’t exist for the Devils to live here, but as a middle ground where they could evolve and receive blessings.
Having beco a Young Devil, she was now obligated to enter the next stage of her "training": the Crucible.
Taking a last look behind her, Liora stepped forward and entered the passage. The mont she did, the dark void crumbled into nothingness.
Before long, no trace of the void nor Liora remained.
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