Kael staggered out of the forest at dawn, his body still trembling with the echoes of what had happened. The world looked the same, yet everything had changed. Birds chirped, villagers hauled water, and the local blacksmith cursed his forge—but to Kael, it all felt distant.
The System still hovered in his vision like a phantom:
Quest Active: Establish Your First Domain
Time Remaining: 47 hours
Reward: Demon Seed Core (Rank F)
He dismissed the glowing runes with a thought. The last thing he needed was some god-cursed screen floating around when people could see him.
He slipped back into the village quietly, hoping no one had noticed his absence.
They had.
"Kael!" a voice barked, sharp as a whip crack. He turned to see Old Man Darven, the town steward, stomping toward him with his crooked staff. "Where were you last night? The baron's taxman came early. Everyone was accounted for but you."
Kael forced a casual shrug. "Went hunting. Didn't find anything."
Darven narrowed his eyes. "Funny. The forest smelled of sulfur this morning."
Before Kael could answer, the sound of hooves shattered the air. A rider approached—tall, cloaked in white, a sunburst insignia glowing on his shoulder plate. The villagers stepped back, bowing their heads, whispering.
An Inquisitor.
Kael's blood ran cold.
The man dismounted with fluid grace. "I seek the one called Kael."
Every eye turned to him.
"Here," Kael said, fighting to keep his voice level.
The Inquisitor's eyes were a pale, piercing blue—like frost that had learned how to hate. "There was a surge of infernal energy in this region. Minor… but significant. You were near the forest when it happened."
Kael swallowed. "I don't know what you mean."
[Warning: Presence of Holy Aura Detected]
Stealth Protocol Engaged…
Demon Signature Suppressed.
He didn't know how it worked, but the System's response was immediate. He felt a cooling wave sweep over him, like shadows coiling inward.
The Inquisitor stepped closer. "You carry something unnatural. I can sense it… barely."
Kael forced himself to meet the man's eyes. "Then maybe your senses need work."
The Inquisitor stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment, then… turned away. "I'll be in the chapel. Until dusk. If the taint is here, I will find it."
And then he was gone.
Kael exhaled, chest tight. He had no time. No power. And something much worse than a monster now hunted him—a holy man with reason to kill.
New Quest Unlocked: [Survive the Inquisitor]
Time Limit: 12 Hours
Reward: Shadow Cloak (Uncommon), +1 to Demon Influence
Failure: Exposure – Holy Execution
Kael's hands clenched into fists.
He didn't want to be a Demon Lord.
But now, he had no choice.