Hitman with a Badass System

Unknown hours later, Michael slowly opened his eyes. His entire body ached in pain, and the events that transpired flashed across his mind. He found himself in a dark room, lying on a bed. Looking through the window, he could see the ocean raging around him, the sky darker than usual. Without a doubt, Michael knew he was in his castle in the Dark Ocean. However, something felt different; he felt stronger than ever before, and the darkness seemed thicker, devoid of any light. The only source of light was the flickering torches in the room.

"Argh," Michael growled before slowly rising from the bed. His body was covered in bandages, and his gut still ached after being punched by Andohr.

When his feet touched the cold ground, the door opened, and Azazel walked in. The demon butler was dressed as usual in his butler outfit with neatly combed hair. However, unlike always, his face was etched with anger and concern.

"My lord, you are awake," Azazel slightly bowed.

"How long was I out?" Michael asked.

"Four days, my lord," Azazel replied calmly, though his voice hid a storm of rage within. Hearing this, Michael sighed as he stood up. For a few moments, everything that happened flashed across his mind, causing his head to ache. Four days ago, he was about to return to the assassin's guild after killing the orc when he met Dagon and received a warning that Andohr planning something huge, followed by the news of Eve's death, which made Michael spend all his badass points to return to the mortal realm. Everything that happened afterward was engraved in Michael's brain, including Noah's death and Andohr's escape.

"You look worried, Azazel. That bad, huh?" Michael asked, noticing Azazel's unusual expression.

"Bad is an understatement, my lord," Azazel sighed. For a few moments, Michael didn't say anything as silence enveloped them.

"Where is her body?" Michael asked about Eve's body. Since he had the badass system, there was still a possibility of bringing Eve back to life. Of course, the amount of badass points required was staggering, but that had never stopped Michael before.

"Follow me, my lord," Azazel gestured for him to follow.

Azazel led Michael through a dimly lit corridor, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. They arrived at a heavy, dark metal door, its surface etched with intricate runes. Azazel placed his palm on the door, and the runes glowed briefly before the door clicked open.

Inside the room, darkness prevailed, broken only by a singular blue spotlight that illuminated the center. Under this light, a glass tube filled with a thick, clear liquid stood. Suspended within this fluid was Eve's body, her expression serene, almost as if she were merely sleeping. She held her hammer in her hand, positioned across her chest like a warrior laid to rest.

Michael approached the tube slowly, his heart heavy with a mix of sorrow and resolve. He placed his hand against the cool glass, his eyes tracing the peaceful expression on Eve's face.

"She looks peaceful," Michael murmured softly, his voice a whisper in the quiet room. "My lord, can you…can you bring her back?" Azazel's question hung heavy in the air, laden with hope and concern. He had unwavering faith in his Dark Lord's abilities, yet the notion of reversing death was daunting even for him.

"I will, Azazel... I owe her that much. As much as I hate to admit it, Noah was right. My choices, my path... they cost Eve her life. I need to make this right," Michael sighed, his voice heavy with regret.

"What about Andohr, my lord? He is the God of Time and Space, the god of the two most powerful forces in the universe…" Azazel's voice trailed off, his sentence unfinished, the weight of the implications hanging between them.

"He is just a god, Azazel... A God can be killed, and I am the best killer there is," Michael replied coldly, his tone devoid of doubt.

"I have absolute faith in you, my lord, even though the odds seem to be against us," Azazel declared, his loyalty unwavering. To him, the Dark Lord's power was absolute; Michael had risen from a mere cultivator to a god, surviving countless battles against formidable foes.

"Let's go meet the others, my lord. You need to know the state of the world," Azazel suggested, prompting Michael to nod in agreement. Together, they left the room, heading towards the meeting hall.

Upon entering the hall, Michael was greeted by the familiar sight of the round table, his throne, and the somber faces of his subordinates. Gathered around the table were Maxine, Ricky, Daniel, Lenora, Trista, Saber, and Adelia.

"My Lord," they all acknowledged Michael in unison, their voices tinged with a mix of respect and sorrow. Each one was deeply affected by Eve's death, yet the chaos engulfing the world left little room for personal grief.

Nodding solemnly in response, Michael took his seat on the throne, his presence commanding as ever. Azazel stood loyally by his side, ready to assist in any way needed.

"Where are the others?" Michael inquired, scanning the empty chairs around the table.

"Most of them went to the Ozer continent to help, my lord. Corey and Tiberius are in the Southern continent, working with our allies on the relief efforts," Ricky explained.

"What happened to the hydras?" Michael probed, recalling the last images he had of the colossal beasts. The concerned expressions around the table and the absence of many key figures hinted at the extensive devastation brought by Vedora, as Andohr promised him.

"Mugashuku managed to push Vedora back through the realm crack and sealed it, my lord. But the damage had already been done…" Ricky said, his voice heavy with regret. The toll of the catastrophe was evident in his demeanor.

"Bless Eve's soul. She was the one who convinced Mugashuku to fight Vedora, even when we thought she was batshit crazy…" Lenora interjected, trying to mask her grief with a chuckle.

"She was always the brightest one in the room," Saber added softly, his voice tinged with sorrow—a rare display of emotion from the elder vampire.

"I know we all miss her and crave vengeance. But we need to see the big picture here. Nearly all the kingdoms in Ozer continent are destroyed, millions have died, and Kingdom Kethen is in ruins, just like Royal land. Moreover, the one responsible for all of this, Andohr, has escaped to the realm of gods with that bitch Salesi. He has shown us our vulnerabilities and what he is capable of," Adelia, Gaya's mother, said fiercely. Her words underscored the scope of the tragedy that had unfolded.

"And not to mention the darkness outside. People can't even tell day from night anymore. It's all dark and gloomy out there. I never thought I'd see the day when people would fight over torches and glowing orbs," Daniel commented, reflecting on the dire situation.

Michael furrowed his brow, concern etching deeper into his features. "Tell me more about this darkness."

"Noah's death seems to be affecting the world in more ways than we anticipated, my lord. We should have anticipated something like this after the assassination of the God of Rain, Rainar, which resulted in a complete lack of rain everywhere." Adelia inhaled deeply before responding.

"Did you really kill a god, my lord?" Ricky, still grappling with the gravity of their actions, interjected.

"Yes, I did." Michael nodded. "There you go," Adelia continued. "If killing Rainar, the god of rain, results in no rain, then logically, killing Noah, the god of light, would lead to diminished light."

"But we haven't been completely robbed of light; we still have light from fires and spells, and the sun itself is still there—it's just that it's dimmed, and the darkness is thicker and more persistent." Daniel chimed in.

"That must be why I feel so strong," Michael mused, a realization dawning upon him.

"I did sense that, my lord. Your energy radiation is off the charts. You're at the Celestial stage, but your power feels much more potent than that of a typical Celestial stage being," Saber nodded.

For a few moments, the room fell into a deadly silence as they considered the implications of Michael's increased power and the ongoing environmental anomalies.

"But the silver lining is that most of Noah's Guardian Guild is in shambles, and the world is ripe for our taking. With no Salesi and Noah, we face no significant opposition," Trista pointed out.

"Except Nithroel," Lenora interjected, reminding them of the Empress of Awor continent and the Goddess of Hunt.

"Yeah, she's quite upset after what Gaya did. But I don't blame either of them. Gaya did what she had to do to save little Cindy, and Nithroel has every right to be angry, especially after what Zariel pulled off. I hate to say it, but the line between good and bad is blurring by the second," Adelia sighed.

"What's the plan, my lord?" Ricky asked, as everyone's gaze turned to Michael.

For the first time, Michael seemed distracted, his usual sharp focus dulled. His mind was at a breaking point after experiencing everything he had endured. Most significantly, the dream he had nearly two years ago—a world plunged into darkness, a vision he had fought so hard to prevent from becoming reality—had manifested itself by his own actions. He had played right into Andohr's hands by killing Noah, and now the whole world was paying the price.

"I don't know…" Michael admitted, closing his eyes and heaving a heavy sigh.