Darkness.
Then pain—a searing, burning sensation that flooded every fiber of his being. As consciousness returned, Jin-ho gasped, drawing in air that felt too rich, too heavy with scents his mind couldn't identify. His eyes snapped open, revealing a stone ceiling illuminated by flickering torchlight, every tiny crack and ancient marking suddenly visible in perfect detail.
Where am I now? Jin-ho thought, his mind still reeling from the transition.
The Demon God had warned him about pain, but nothing could have prepared him for this. He tried to sit up, but his body felt wrong—too large, too powerful, his limbs responding with alarming speed and strength. His hand shot out to steady himself against the cold stone slab beneath him, and he froze at the sight of it.
His hand was massive, the skin a deep crimson with black markings swirling across the surface. Sharp, obsidian claws extended from his fingertips, gleaming in the torchlight. He could see every small detail of his new skin—microscopic scales, the subtle pulse of veins beneath the surface.
So this is the Demon King's body, he thought, recalling the Demon God's words.
A sound escaped his throat—meant to be a startled gasp but emerging as a low, threatening growl that echoed off the chamber walls. He clamped his mouth shut, feeling sharp fangs press against his lips. The sound resembled a lion's growl, but vastly more powerful.
"My King," a deep voice spoke from somewhere in the shadows. "You have returned to us at last."
The voice hit his ears like thunder, though he knew it had been spoken softly. He could hear the being's heartbeat from across the room—a steady, slightly faster than human rhythm. Beneath that, he detected the scrape of armor against stone, the whisper of breath, even the subtle creak of leather boots.
Jin-ho jerked at the sensory overload, his new body moving with such force that he nearly toppled off the stone slab. Something long and powerful whipped out behind him, knocking over a small ceremonial urn that shattered on the floor. Startled by the noise, Jin-ho twisted around and caught a glimpse of a thick, serpentine appendage extending from his lower back, its tip adorned with a sharp barb. The red, snake-like limb with shifting black markings moved with his emotions. Jin-ho had always appreciated snakes, but this one was attached to him. He momentarily panicked as realization struck—it was a tail. His tail.
A tail? No one mentioned a TAIL!
A strange, musky scent hit his nostrils—something complex and layered. It reminded him faintly of wood smoke mixed with metal and something organic. The scent emanated from the shadowed figure, intensifying as the being stepped closer.
A tall figure emerged and dropped to one knee. The being wore ornate black armor adorned with spikes and symbols Jin-ho didn't recognize. The markings resembled the black patterns on his own skin, but in a different color—a strange off-white that lacked the brightness typical of the color. His face was ashen gray with glowing amber eyes, small horns protruding from his forehead. He possessed a sharp jawline with a clean-shaven appearance, though Jin-ho could tell this demon didn't actually grow facial hair. Even his eyebrows were merely markings that shifted slightly with his expressions, their ends curling upward like handlebar mustaches toward his temples.
Despite being nearly ten feet away, Jin-ho could perceive every detail of the demon—including a small scar running from the tip of his chin upward to the right, crossing his lip and ending just below one nostril. Somehow, Jin-ho instinctively knew the scar was approximately two hundred years old, a realization that shocked him.
Jin-ho wanted to respond, to ask questions, but the words caught in his throat. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
Say something! Anything!
"I... um... hello?" he finally managed. Though he aimed for a whisper, his voice emerged as a deep, commanding rumble despite his hesitation.
The kneeling figure looked up, confusion briefly crossing his features before he lowered his gaze again. The musky scent shifted, acquiring a sharper, more acidic note.
"After five centuries of waiting, the prophecy is fulfilled." The kneeling figure bowed his head deeper. "Kraxis, your General, remains your faithful servant, my King."
Jin-ho tried to stand but misjudged his new body's strength, launching himself up too quickly and staggering forward. His massive foot caught on the stone edge, and he barely prevented himself from crashing into the kneeling general. He fell back onto the stone slab, making it look almost intentional, as if he'd merely sat up on the edge. His tail lashed out behind him in agitation, sweeping several ritual objects off a nearby shelf.
The sound of his tail's movement was deafening to his enhanced hearing, and the scent of ancient dust filled his nostrils as artifacts clattered to the ground.
"Graceful entrance, Your Majesty," the familiar voice of the Demon God suddenly spoke inside his mind. "Perhaps next you'd like to trip and crush your most loyal general? That would certainly make an impression after five centuries."
You didn't tell me I'd have a TAIL! Or that everything would be so LOUD! And what are all these smells? Jin-ho thought back accusingly.
"Did I not? Must have slipped my mind. Consider them bonus features. Your senses are now worthy of your station—you can hear heartbeats, see a gnat's wings from across the room, and smell emotions, though you'll need time to learn what each scent means. And don't worry about the other demons sensing your fear—they can't. Only you have these enhanced senses."
What? Only me?
"A little-known secret of the Demon King's body. Azrael kept his heightened senses hidden from everyone—a tactical advantage. No one knows your smell can detect their emotions or that you can hear their heartbeats. The previous king found it... useful for ruling."
The general—Kraxis—had raised his head at the sound of Jin-ho 'getting up.' Jin-ho could hear the general's heartbeat quicken slightly.
"Forgive me, my King. Your body must still be adjusting after the long sleep."
Jin-ho caught a new scent now—something bright and sharp, like citrus but with an underlying earthiness. It seemed to be emanating from Kraxis.
"Tell him you're fine. Act dignified. You're supposed to be terrifying, not terrified."
I don't know how to be terrifying! I've barely figured out how to sit up! And how do I tune out all these sounds and smells?
"Oh, this is going to be entertaining," the Demon God chuckled. "Just try not to look like you're about to faint. As for the senses, they'll calibrate with time. Think of it like adjusting the volume—focus on what you want to hear or smell."
"I am... fine," Jin-ho managed, attempting to straighten his posture. He tried to look the general in the eyes but found he couldn't maintain eye contact, his gaze dropping to the floor instead. His tail curled around his waist, the tip twitching nervously.
"Well, go ahead and tell everyone you're a nervous wreck, why don't you," the Demon God huffed with disappointment, which only made Jin-ho more anxious.
Well, I'm not good with people. I only like animals and computers... and money, Jin-ho replied mentally.
"Oh me, this is going to be stupid. I thought you were worth that piece of meat, but you weren't." Jin-ho could sense the Demon God's frustration.
I'm sorry, but I really don't want to be here either, Jin-ho thought, anger beginning to build.
Jin-ho had never had good control over his emotions. He always tried to stay calm, which was easier when he simply avoided talking to others. He was quick to anger—it had always been easier to lash out and punch a wall than to process his feelings. That temper had earned him countless bruises and left numerous holes in his apartment walls. Eventually, he'd bought a small punching bag since he couldn't damage his rental property. Over the years, his anger had given way to depression and chronic exhaustion. He hadn't felt this angry in a long time. It was like being trapped in a box with no control, triggering the beginnings of a panic attack.
"Hey, hey now, calm down. Your breathing is doing something weird. Your heart is pumping faster. You can't do this in front of others," the Demon God cautioned.
Jin-ho looked down at Kraxis as his breathing accelerated. He considered two options: calm down and act like a king, or run away. He impulsively chose the second.
Before anyone—even Jin-ho himself—realized what was happening, he bolted from the room, blowing the doors off their hinges. He managed only a few seconds to appreciate the breathtaking mountain view beyond the window, that he broke from running into them, before his stomach lurched into his throat as he began to free-fall. For the second time—or perhaps the hundredth—Jin-ho surprised the Demon God by not screaming as he plummeted.
To Jin-ho, the fall seemed to last hours, though it was only a matter of minutes. The castle was extraordinarily tall.
The last thing Jin-ho remembered before face-planting into the stone ground was the Demon God saying, "I already told you that your body is very strong. Be careful before you start to run."
The impact wasn't as bad as Jin-ho had feared. The initial collision hurt worst, followed by the discomfort of his nose and jaw popping back into place. Strangely, it felt more like someone pinching him than bones realigning.
"Now, that seemed to calm you down a bit. Well, more like your heart is beating so fast that you are calm. That's weird," the Demon God remarked, clearly amused.
"Fuck you," Jin-ho mumbled. The words emerged much louder than intended, prompting seven distinct gasps that his enhanced hearing easily distinguished.
"Easy now, it's not my fault that you wanted to travel the world without knowing your own castle and feet," the Demon God chuckled.
Jin-ho took a deep breath, inadvertently inhaling dirt that triggered a coughing fit, which in turn kicked up more dust.
I hate you, this body, this castle, and this DIRT! Jin-ho thought as his coughing subsided. His mood had turned thoroughly hateful.
The Demon God simply laughed as if this were the most entertaining spectacle he'd ever witnessed.
Why are you so mean to me? Jin-ho thought, but the Demon God continued laughing.
Jin-ho sighed. How far do you think this body can run before it dies? he thought threateningly.
The Demon God audibly gasped at the threat. "You wouldn't, and I'm sure you won't because I know humans don't want to die."
Wanna bet? Jin-ho challenged. He was intimately familiar with his suicidal thoughts—unwelcome companions that visited whenever he lacked distraction. He wouldn't mind meeting them face-to-face rather than thought-to-thought.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop being so mean and actually help you. It's just hard not to. Ya know, Demon God and stuff."
Okay, just calm it down a bit. I'm freaking out. Ya know, new world and stuff, Jin-ho replied, echoing the Demon God's phrasing.
Jin-ho slowly rose to his feet, taking his time to avoid another mishap like launching himself skyward.
He detected approaching heartbeats, along with the sound of fabric moving against fabric and shoes on stone.
Four in total—one female, two male, but one sounds like... water? Jin-ho thought as he turned his head to investigate the unusual presence.
Jin-ho's eyes widened at the sight of a humanoid figure composed entirely of water. It had a face and distinctive features, yet its entire form was liquid. The water being even wore clothes and appeared masculine in shape.
"An elemental demon, an Abyssal. It's male—see how the water is a deeper navy than regular water? You need to learn the different races of demons. Just like humans, demons have diverse lineages," the Demon God explained as Jin-ho tried to compose himself before the water-human creature.
Those eyes are like miniature whirlpools. And... is that a fish? Jin-ho noticed a small white creature peeking out from within the Abyssal's collar.
"Yes, a Snailfish. Surprisingly, it's also from your world. For some reason, those fish often become their hearts. Not all Abyssals have the same fish, either. You should have seen the one I gave a crab for a heart," the Demon God chuckled, reminiscing fondly. "The fish are well-protected inside their water bodies, so don't think they can be easily removed or that they might jump out. You'll need to visit the Void of Chambers to learn more."
Right, then, Jin-ho responded, attempting a smile at the approaching demons.
"Oh me, please don't smile. It's painfully obvious you don't do it often, and the Demon King doesn't smile," the Demon God teased.
Jin-ho immediately abandoned the effort. As he stepped forward, his knee chose that precise moment to pop back into place. With each careful step, small bones and muscles realigned themselves, his supernatural body rapidly healing.
Jin-ho raised his hand in a dismissive wave toward the onlookers who had gathered to investigate the commotion. To his surprise, they immediately dispersed, returning to their duties without question. This startled him more than anything else—people usually either ignored or mocked him.
A complex tapestry of scents assaulted his enhanced senses: sweet citrus mingling with the smell of fresh rain and clean cotton drying in the breeze. These emotional scents layered over the natural aromas of the world would have given anyone a headache—if Jin-ho could get headaches in this seemingly indestructible body.
"Let's see... citrus with honeysuckle notes is joy or happiness, fresh rain on dry earth is relief, and clean cotton with hints of lavender signifies trust. I could catalog all the emotions, but you can study that at the Void of Chambers," the Demon God offered, providing context for the sensory onslaught.
What exactly is this Void of Chambers? Jin-ho asked as he continued toward the forest's edge, eager to distance himself from the castle and its many demon inhabitants.
"It's where the Demon King and Human Queen had their private quarters. No one could enter another's personal chamber. Before their rooms stands a grand hall filled with ancient scrolls. When that treacherous Queen murdered my poor Azrael, I collapsed the mountain cavern. It's nestled in the mountains, by the way."
Show me how to find it, Jin-ho demanded.
His steps grew more purposeful as he ventured deeper into the woods. He had glimpsed mountains before his impromptu descent from the window; surely they lay ahead.
"Wrong direction. Did you honestly think there's only one mountain range in this world?" the Demon God scoffed.
Jin-ho felt his face heat with embarrassment. Though his crimson skin concealed his flush, his tail betrayed him, twitching agitatedly. He nearly stepped on it as he turned to go the other way, but the appendage slipped away just in time. Jin-ho realized then that his tail actually improved his balance considerably.
I'm like a cat, he mused privately.
Jin-ho continued walking until he reached the castle's perimeter, where a towering wall joined the main structure. He would either need to retrace his steps or somehow scale the barrier—a feat well outside his comfort zone.
With a heavy sigh, Jin-ho lowered himself to the ground, examining his massive new hands. The reality of his situation—a new body in an alien world—seemed impossible to fully comprehend.
As the twin suns of this strange realm began their descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the fortress grounds, Jin-ho came to a decision. If he was trapped in this nightmare, he would need knowledge to survive.
"I need to get to the Void of Chambers," he said aloud, his voice carrying an unexpected note of authority that surprised even himself. "If I'm to be your Demon King, I should at least know what I'm ruling."
The Demon God's presence seemed to brighten with approval. "Now that's more like it. Stand up."
Jin-ho rose to his full impressive height, the top of his horns nearly brushing the lower branches of the nearby trees.
"Close your eyes and picture the highest peak in the northern range—the one shaped like a blade cutting into the sky."
As Jin-ho followed the instruction, concentrating on the image forming in his mind, he felt a strange pulling sensation. The ground beneath his feet seemed to shift and dissolve.
"The Demon King doesn't need to walk everywhere like a common subject," the Demon God's voice echoed as darkness enveloped Jin-ho. "Teleportation is just one of the many powers at your disposal. Welcome to your first royal lesson."
Jin-ho's stomach lurched at the sudden shift in his surroundings, but the discomfort was a small price to pay for avoiding the long trek.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a massive cavern carved into the mountain.. Ancient symbols—remarkably similar to the markings on his own crimson skin—adorned the stone archway, pulsing with subtle power. Dozens of unlit torches lined the passageway, mounted between majestic pillars that supported the cavernous ceiling. Between these columns, scrolls filled every available space on the walls—thousands upon thousands of them. Jin-ho estimated there must be at least seven thousand texts preserved here. The hallway seemed to stretch onward indefinitely, though with his enhanced vision, Jin-ho could make out two imposing doors at the far end, even in the darkness.
You could have mentioned earlier that I didn't need to walk, Jin-ho pointed out. I would have used this method much sooner.
"Well, I didn't anticipate you making such a spectacle," the Demon God retorted. "I expected you to comport yourself with dignity befitting a Demon King, not plummet from a window and flee at the first sign of conversation."
The Demon God had a point. He couldn't have predicted Jin-ho's social anxiety would manifest as a full meltdown, complete with a desperate escape attempt to avoid interaction.
Now, let's start reading, Jin-ho thought with unexpected enthusiasm. The prospect of solitude and absorbing knowledge—his natural comfort zone—lifted his spirits considerably.
"Oh me," the Demon God sighed dramatically. "Of all the humans in all the worlds, I had to choose a bookworm."