In a grand room carved entirely from polished stone, the walls were adorned with intricate sculptures, each etching laced with motifs of regal lineage. Gilded lines traced the surface like veins of gold, forming ancient symbols and flowing patterns reminiscent of aristocratic emblems.
The craftsmanship was flawless, exuding the silent authority of royalty. Every corner of the chamber breathed nobility, from the coiling pillars sculpted with dragons and laurels to the ceiling dome painted with constellations.
A large, canopied bed rested at the center of the room, its frame carved from deep mahogany and etched with golden filigree. Silken sheets the color of midnight were neatly folded, tucked beneath a comforter stitched with the crest of a forgotten house, two lions circling a crown.
A Figure was also seen sleeping there peacefully.
Velvet drapes, half-drawn, hung from each bedpost, dyed in dark wine-red and lined with satin.
To one side, a stone desk had been seamlessly carved from the wall itself, its surface smooth and cold, littered with old parchments, ink pots, and an ornate quill resting atop an open journal.
A single glowing orb hovered above, casting a soft, steady light over the workspace.
Bookshelves, carved directly into the stone wall, held tomes of history, magic, and philosophy. Some books were stacked carelessly, a sign of a mind both curious and restless.
A plush chair, upholstered in royal blue, sat beside a small side table where an untouched glass of water reflected the chandelier's dim glow.
Near the far wall, a wardrobe of darkwood stood tall, its golden handles shaped like serpent heads. Beside it, a full-length mirror framed in silver revealed glimpses of the chamber's grandeur, reflecting back the glow of the faint moonlight that slipped through the window.
Though richly adorned, the room retained the quiet intimacy of a teenager's sanctuary, elegant yet lived-in, majestic but bearing the subtle chaos of youth.
Then, the body lying motionless upon the grand royal bed stirred faintly, two fingers curling slightly against the velvet sheets, as if testing their own existence. A twitch followed at the corner of the closed eyes, subtle yet undeniable, like a flicker of consciousness rising from deep slumber.
The chest rose with a shallow breath, and the stillness of the chamber seemed to hold its own, awaiting the moment the silence would break.
He was a male teenager, no older than eighteen, with medium-length black hair that fell in soft, tousled layers around his face. His frame was slim yet defined, the kind that spoke of latent strength rather than bulk.
As he slowly began to open his eyes, the dim light of the chamber caught the faint crimson glow within his pupils, a subtle, eerie radiance that shimmered just beneath the surface.
But then, suddenly the eyes which was opening slowly and the body which was relaxing suddenly tense up as he rose up from the bed to the floor.
But then, without warning, the calm unravelled. The slowly parting eyes snapped open in full, the gentle rise and fall of his breath halted for a split second, and like a spring uncoiling, his body tensed with instinctive alertness.
In one swift, fluid motion, he threw off the velvet covers and rose from the bed, landing barefoot on the cold stone floor with a muted thud.
His crimson gaze sharpened, scanning the unfamiliar chamber with the wariness of someone dropped into enemy territory.
He turned around and check his sorroundings for some seconds before relaxing his body a bit naturally
He turned slowly, his sharp crimson eyes sweeping over every inch of the grand room. Ornate stone carvings, the lingering scent of polished marble, and the unnerving quiet, all of it felt alien, yet strikingly vivid.
His muscles, still tense from the sudden awakening, finally eased a little as his breath steadied.
"Haa…" he let out an exasperated sigh, raking a hand through his tousled black hair.
"So I've been transmigrated, huh?" he muttered, his tone more irritated than surprised.
"But that shitty entity, void-like bastard, said my soul would transmigrate slowly... And wasn't I supposed to take over a newborn's body?"
He glanced down at himself, clearly not a baby, not even a child.
"But what's this?" he said with narrowed eyes. "A teenager's body? Tch. Typical shady deals. Always full of loopholes."
"!!"
His expression froze.
A jolt of realization flashed through his eyes as he recalled the conversation in the borderland.
"But wait…" he muttered, his gaze darkening. "What about the deal…?"
His heartbeat quickened.
Fragments of the bargain he struck with that faceless creature flooded his mind, the condition, the limited-time clause, the powers he demanded access to even if restricted.
"I told him to give me access to some of the things… even if it's limited."
He clenched his fists.
"Shit… I was trying to oversmart him."
A bitter laugh escaped him, dry and humorless.
"But did I, am I the one who got played instead?"
His jaw tightened, eyes darting around the unfamiliar room, as if expecting answers to appear carved in stone. "Damn it…" he whispered.
"Just what the hell did I agree to?"
"Tch, that bastard… if he was going to transmigrate me, then at least he could've granted me access to the system or someth—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his frustration crackling in the air.
His crimson eyes narrowed as he stared at his own hands, then glanced around the regal room once more, searching for even a flicker of the promised interface, any sign of a system screen, a notification, a prompt… but nothing.
"Don't tell me he actually dumped me here empty-handed?" he growled under his breath.
"That void-faced scam artist… I should've known he'd twist the deal somehow."
But Just then,
Tring—!
A sudden, crisp chime echoed softly in the silence.
[System Synchronization Complete — 100%]
[The System has granted a reward. Host, please select one:]
"!!"
"Whoah… so that bastard doesn't forget our deal, huh?" Damien smirked, a spark of amusement flickering in his eyes.
"I was half-expecting some lame trick or empty promise, but looks like I'm not completely screwed after all."
He stretched his fingers, feeling a surge of anticipation as the options glowed before him. "Now, let's see what kind of game he really wants to play… I'm no fool. If he thinks he can trap me, he's about to learn just how slippery I can be."
A low chuckle escaped him as he leaned closer to the shimmering list, his mind already calculating, scheming.
"Time to pick my poison."
[Available Rewards: Choose One]
— — —
1. Phantom Reflex
Your body instinctively reacts faster than thought, allowing you to anticipate and dodge even the quickest attacks effortlessly, as if time slows down around you.
2. Soulforge Technique
Harness the latent energy within your soul to enhance any weapon you wield, temporarily imbuing it with elemental force or unbreakable durability.
3. Void Step
Manipulate shadows and darkness to teleport silently over short distances, appearing as a blur or fading from sight entirely for a few seconds.
4. Memory Echo
Instantly replicate any martial art, combat move, or strategy you witness, even from a single glance, down to perfect precision.
5. Iron Will
A mental shield so strong that no manipulation, fear, or intimidation can penetrate your resolve, keeping your focus unbreakable under pressure.
6. Silent Wounds
Strike precise points on your opponent's body to cause debilitating effects silently, paralysis, numbness, or exhaustion, without making a sound.
7. Life Thread Manipulation
Sense the vitality flow of living beings around you, detecting weakness, fatigue, or even the exact moment they can no longer fight.
8. Adaptive Combat Mastery
Your fighting style evolves mid-battle, automatically adapting to counter your opponent's moves and weaknesses in real-time.]
— — —
Damien narrowed his eyes, fingers tapping lightly against his chin as he scanned the list of rewards.
"Phantom Reflex,"
"Soulforge Technique,"
"Void Step"… all tempting, but none gave me the full edge I want. I'm no rookie. Ten-time world champ in Kali Arnis and Sojutsu means I've faced every kind of opponent.
What I need isn't just raw power or flashy moves.
It's control, control over the fight, the flow, even the unseen.
"Memory Echo" could be useful, but I already mastered countless styles in my past life. It'd be wasted on me.
"Iron Will" sounds boring, discipline, sure, but it's a given for a champ. "Silent Wounds" and "Life Thread Manipulation" both look promising, but too situational for what I want.
Then there's "Adaptive Combat Mastery." That one's sneaky, it means my style evolves mid-battle, automatically adjusting to counter my opponent's every move.
Like having a sixth sense built into my muscles and bones. That's the kind of edge a true master needs: to be unpredictable and always one step ahead.
Yeah… That's the one. The perfect trick up my sleeve.
With a faint smirk, Damien selected
"Adaptive Combat Mastery. Let's see how the game plays now."
— — —
With a final confirmation, the system sealed the skill into his essence. A rush of energy surged through his limbs, sharpening his senses and awakening muscles long dormant.
Damien flexed his fingers, feeling an uncanny fluidity in his movements, as if every strike and stance from his past lives were instantly accessible.
A soft chime echoed, and a new message appeared:
[System Notice: Adaptive Combat Mastery skill unlocked and fully integrated.]
Damien smirked, eyes narrowing with a mix of amusement and anticipation. "Not bad at all. This place just got a lot more interesting."
He stood up from the bed, the heavy stone floor cool beneath his bare feet. Every inch of the grand chamber seemed suddenly less intimidating, as if the room itself awaited his next move.
"Alright, you faceless bastard entity," he muttered under his breath, "let's see what other tricks you have… but just know, I'm not the one who's going to be played."
Then, suddenly, the grand door burst open with a deafening crash, echoing through the vast chamber. A young woman stepped inside, about Damien's age, her long silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight, and her faintly glowing blue eyes sparkling with mischief and warmth.
Without hesitation, she broke into a carefree run, laughter spilling from her lips as she closed the distance between them with ease. Her smile was radiant, almost infectious, and her light giggles filled the air like a melody.
"Kaiser!!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms wide open as if to embrace him, her joy unmistakable.
Damien or Now, Kaiser watched her approach with a mix of surprise and unease. He took slow, cautious steps backward, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the sudden energy in the room overwhelmed him.
"Ahh… Umm, ahh, hi," he stammered, his voice betraying his nervousness despite the calm exterior he usually carried.
"Wai—" Kaiser began to say, but his words were abruptly cut off as she suddenly threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Before he could react, his head was buried in her chest, and he found himself gasping for air, muffled and choking unintentionally.
"Aughh mhhh haaa," he struggled, flailing slightly as she held on tightly, completely unaware of his discomfort.
She squeezed him tighter, completely carefree of his muffled protests, her eyes gently closed as a warm smile spread across her face.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment," she began, her voice soft but filled with years of longing.
"Thirteen years, can you believe it? It's been that long since we last saw each other. Ever since we were kids, do you remember?, at that party so long ago. So many years have passed, yet here you are, finally in front of me again. I've thought about this day more times than I can count."
"Ughh… I can't breathe," he gasped through the choke, reaching up awkwardly to brush a few strands of her hair away with his fingers, his voice a mix of amusement and mild panic.
As she finally caught his attention, her grip tightened slightly, a warm breath escaping as she whispered, "Hmm, haa!! Kaiser!!"
Then, with a reluctant sigh, she finally released him from her embrace.
"Kaiser, Kaiser, are you okay? Tell me, tell me!" she pressed, her hands moving rapidly, pushing and pulling his shoulders in frantic concern, repeating her questions with an urgency that filled the room.
Meanwhile, Kaiser's mind raced in silence, thoughts swirling like a storm.
Fuck… I don't even know if I'm here to conquer this world, or if I'm the one about to get conquered by it. Shit.