Now that I was here, the true beginning of the story was just a week away—the royal banquet.
It would be a grand occasion, one that even other kingdoms would attend. Among the guests was none other than the infamous Empress of the Ashen Kingdom, known to the world only by her chilling title: The Blazing Demon. Her real name? Saminah. But few dared utter it. Not out of reverence—but fear. The name alone was like a curse.
They said she was half-demon, born from a forbidden union between a high-ranking cultivator and a demoness. That, combined with her overwhelming strength, placed her high above the rest. At this point in the timeline, she wasn't just one of the strongest—she was arguably the strongest being in the world.
Her cultivation had already reached the early Divinity Spirit stage, a realm only a handful ever touched. She seized the throne after her father's death, back when she was barely sixteen. Some claimed she was chosen by fate. Others believed she clawed her way to the top with nothing but raw power and unshakable will. Either way, she ruled—fiercely.
In this world, cultivation was everything. Its hierarchy was clear:
Qi Gathering (9 stages)
Foundation Establishment (6 stages)
Core Building (5 stages)
Nascent Soul (4 stages)
Broken Void (3 stages)
Divinity Spirit (3 stages)
Void Stage (2 stages)
Immortal Ascension
Saminah was only one step away from the Void Stage—two from Immortal Ascension. Many feared that if she ever made it that far, she'd become unstoppable. But fate had other plans. Her death loomed in the future, and though I pitied her, I couldn't change everything… yet.
Of course, cultivation wasn't the only path to power. Knights and Mages had their own system—ranging from 1-Star to 8-Star. The lifespan boost was similar, but breakthroughs were much harder for cultivators. That made the Empress an anomaly. Most talents peaked at Core Building or Nascent Soul. Yet she soared to Divinity Spirit before reaching her twenties.
Then there was Gab—the so-called protagonist.
A commoner. A nobody. Destined to rise to hero status with a system and an inner demon—literally. His companion, Azoth, was a sealed, world-ending entity. He also had a system granting overpowered abilities and plot armor thick enough to choke a dragon.
He was currently about to break through to 1-Star Knight, but unlike most, he chose to dabble in both knightly arts and cultivation. Normally, one could only excel at one path, since talent is fixed at birth. But Gab had used the system's shop to buy low-tier cultivation talent—barely enough to reach Foundation Establishment. Fortunately, the author decided to nerf him.
Eventually, he'd become an 8-Star Knight by the story's end. But for now, he was no threat—yet.
The upcoming banquet would change everything.
At the event, Saminah would be provoked—deliberately. Her aura would explode, and everyone in the hall would be forced to kneel. Fear would ripple through the kingdoms. Her half-demon nature would be spotlighted. And her strength would mark her as a threat.
Soon, coalitions would form. She would be hunted—not her kingdom. Just her. And when she was finally gone, demons would seize the moment and attack. Greed would drive the invasion. Her kingdom, rich in spirit mines and rare beast lands, would become a battleground.
But all of that was still to come. For now, I had to play my part.
This body I now inhabited had some cultivation potential, but I was skinny and weak—clearly no warrior. Still, the knowledge I carried from the future gave me an edge, and I planned to use it.
The next morning, I awoke without pain. After washing up and eating a humble breakfast of hard bread and cold water, I put on the servant's uniform and entered the main hall.
There she was.
Saminah sat on an ornate throne-like chair, her legs crossed gracefully, exuding authority and power. Her long, silver hair draped over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes scanned the room like a predator. Maids served her quietly, careful not to meet her gaze.
I stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Good morning, my Lady."
She glanced at me coldly and nodded.
"My Lady," I continued, my tone respectful, "did you receive a letter from the Kingdom of Solitude?"
Her eyes narrowed. "How did you know that?"
I offered a gentlemanly smile. "Yesterday, when I delivered the tea, I noticed the wax seal on the envelope bore their insignia."
Her expression stiffened. "What of it?" Her voice was like ice against my skin.
I lowered my gaze slightly. "I advise caution, my Lady. Their invitation may be more trap than gesture."
She gave a small, amused huff. "There is no enmity between our kingdoms. If they provoke me, I will simply kill whoever dares."
Internally, I winced. That's the problem, your Majesty. You can't just go around killing everyone who offends you. That's how your downfall begins. Still, I kept my expression calm.
Her gaze lingered on me. I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Her thoughts were guarded, but I could feel it—doubt.
Should I kill him? she wondered. Every servant in her past had tried to poison, stab, or manipulate her. Trust was a foreign concept.
The killing intent she released was subtle. Barely perceptible. If I hadn't been trained—or reincarnated with knowledge—I would've missed it.
Dammit, I thought. She's already thinking about eliminating me?
I smiled as if nothing happened. "I only want to serve faithfully, my Lady."
The pressure receded. Her eyes softened—barely. Perhaps she was testing me. Perhaps she didn't care. Either way, I'd passed—for now.
She turned away. "You may go."
I bowed once again. "As you command."
As I exited, I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Surviving one minute around her felt like dancing on the edge of a blade. But I couldn't afford to fail. If I didn't gain her trust, she'd die. And with her, this world might crumble.
Because she wasn't just a tyrant.
She was the last shield holding back something far worse.
And I intended to save her—whether she liked it or not.