Episode 25
The underground temple's echoes still vibrated in Ethan's bones as he stepped out into the moonlight, his breath sharp, eyes burning with crimson intensity. Behind him, the ghostly remnants of the Blood Oath ritual shimmered like vapor before vanishing into the night. His palm was still marked with the crimson sigil that pulsed faintly with every heartbeat.
He was no longer the same man who had entered.
Ethan Cross was now bound by blood to an ancient system far more powerful than he had imagined. The SinBound system had evolved—adapted. Lust was no longer its only fuel.
Now, it craved something deeper: Desire intertwined with dominance.
---
As he returned to the Academy grounds, the air was thick with tension. Whispers chased him through the hallways.
"Did you see his eyes?"
"He's changed... something's wrong."
Wrong to them.
But to Ethan? Everything had finally begun to feel right.
The system interface flickered to life as he stepped into his private suite.
> [System Update: New Sin Arc Unlocked – "The Crimson Covenant"]
[Mission: Claim the Headmistress's Secret – Rewards: ??? | Risk: System Breach Possible]
His brows furrowed.
The Headmistress? Eleanor Blackthorn?
She was a mystery even to the oldest staff. Cold. Commanding. Untouchable.
Which meant—irresistible.
A knock at the door.
He turned slowly. The air shifted.
"Enter," he said, voice like velvet over steel.
The door creaked open.
To his surprise, it wasn't a lover or enemy.
It was Lana, the youngest professor—barely older than the senior students. Her cheeks were flushed, lips parted nervously.
"You need to come with me," she whispered. "It's about the Headmistress. Something's... wrong."
---
Scene: The Forbidden Library
They crept through the shadows of the East Wing, avoiding patrols and magical wards. Lana was unusually quiet until they reached the forbidden staircase leading to the hidden library basement—sealed decades ago after a fatal incident.
"There are books down here... old volumes that the Headmistress doesn't want anyone to see," Lana said, breathing heavily.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You've been here before?"
She looked away. "Once. When I was a student. I saw things I wasn't supposed to."
The air thickened.
As they stepped inside, torches lit on their own, revealing towering shelves filled with ancient grimoires. Ethan's system hummed like a tuning fork.
> [Sin Energy Detected: Suppressed Arcane Lust Magic in Area]
He reached for a crimson tome bound in skin-like leather. The instant he touched it, the system pulsed:
> [Item Acquired: The Codex of Binding – Contains Forbidden Rituals of Lust and Subjugation]
Lana gasped. "That's it. That book... it was in the Headmistress's chamber. She took it from here years ago. But why is it back now?"
Before Ethan could answer, the air turned icy. A shadow emerged from the far end of the chamber.
Eleanor Blackthorn.
Regal. Elegant. Dangerous.
Her eyes locked with Ethan's. Not with rage.
But with intrigue.
"You've been busy, Mr. Cross."
---
Scene: The Headmistress's Game
Instead of lashing out, she invited them both to her quarters. Her suite was nothing like expected—dark velvet, arcane symbols, and a lingering scent of roses and something unnameable.
"I know what you've done," she said, pouring a dark crimson liquid into glasses. "You've entered the Covenant. You carry the mark."
Ethan said nothing.
She stepped closer. "You think you're in control? The system obeys you?"
He met her gaze. "I'm not the one hiding forbidden tomes in the basement."
She laughed softly—a sound both alluring and terrifying.
"You've awakened the Crimson Covenant. Now it's my turn."
Eleanor whispered a phrase in an ancient tongue. Ethan's mark flared.
> [System Interference Detected – Headmistress attempting Ritual Override]
> [WARNING: Consent Protocol breached]
> [Countermeasure Enabled – Dominant Protocol Activation]
Ethan stepped forward, aura surging. He pressed his hand to hers—forcing the ritual's energy into reversal. Her lips parted in shock.
"You... you're overriding it?"
> [Achievement Unlocked: "Dominance Reclaimed"]
> [New Power Gained: Sin Infusion – Drain Lust Energy to Strengthen Physical Stats]
Eleanor's breath hitched as the ritual circle reversed its glow—from her, into him.
She fell to her knees.
Eyes filled not with fear.
But submission.
"You're not just a student anymore... you're something else."
He leaned down. "Say it."
"You're... my Master."
> [Headmistress Bonded – High-Value Target Claimed]
> [+ 1200 Collections | +220 Power Stones | Popularity Boost +12%]
---
Final Scene: Return to the Shadows
Ethan exited the chamber alone.
The moonlight bathed him like a spotlight.
Behind him, the system interface glowed:
> [Next Mission Unlocked: The Succubus in the Mirror Hall]
> [New Skill: Crimson Command – Enforce obedience with a glance (Cooldown: 12h)]
He smirked.
The Academy was his hunting ground now.
And every secret, every locked door, every forbidden figure would kneel.
In time.