Something is on me… It's heavy, kind of… What is it?
Her eyes opened as Andy's sister, Rosalia, slowly came to. She stared at the ceiling. It seemed different.
She turned to the side and saw a table lamp. In front of her was a computer with a chair—though she didn't know what it was. She looked down and noticed something dark resting on her stomach. The room was dim, with the only light coming from the computer screen.
She tried to sit up. The thing on her stomach rolled off and fell beside her.
Rosalia rubbed her eyes and grabbed it.
It's… hairy?
She lifted it closer to her face.
"Hey… stop holding me by my hair. It hurts."
Tres's head was in her hands.
The moment she realized the head was talking, she screamed and almost fainted.
…
"Sister!!! You're safe!!"
Andy hugged her tightly as Luke stood nearby, smiling and holding Tres. The lights were on now, letting her see clearly, but she was too busy crying and hugging Andy.
Finally, she looked up and asked, "Andy… where are we? Where is our home? I remember some people taking me away…"
Andy smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. These guys saved you. I introduced you to them, remember?"
Rosalia looked at Luke and Tres. She remembered throwing the head around and stomping on Tres until Luke and Andy had rushed in.
She quickly stood up and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry… sir. I didn't know you were the one who saved us."
"It's alright," Tres said with a smile. "I'm just glad you didn't break my head."
Rosalia looked at Tres. For some reason, the head itself looked almost like a pet. She smiled and absentmindedly patted his head.
"Uh…" Tres said as he noticed it. "Anyways, you won't be able to go back to your world for a while. Is that alright?"
Rosalia froze, pulling her hand back. "Go back to our world? What do you mean?"
Andy grinned excitedly. "Sister! Mister Tres brought us to another world! That's sooo coool!"
Rosalia looked concerned as Luke spoke up. "Why not see it for yourself?"
Luke led the way, holding Tres, as Rosalia and Andy followed him to the balcony.
The moment she stepped outside, her eyes widened in amazement.
Huge buildings stretched into the distance, towering as if they touched the sky. She stared down at the people below, unable to believe what she was seeing. Cars moved like carriages, but faster. An airplane passed overhead, like some kind of magical beast.
Tres watched her reaction. "You can go with Luke and Andy, if you want."
Luke looked down at him. "Me? What about you?"
"You think a head should be carried around in public?"
Luke thought for a moment, then sighed. "Yeah… that would cause a lot of issues. When do you even get your body back?"
"I don't know," Tres replied. "It's stuck in that world. I can control it and see what's going on there, so don't worry. I'll manage for a while. For now, stay low and teach them the basics of this place."
Luke nodded. Andy stood beside his sister, still staring at the city.
"So," Luke said enthusiastically, "you two wanna explore?"
Rosalia glanced at Tres and Luke. "Will we not be able to go back?"
Tres looked at them. "Most likely not…"
Rosalia smiled, her voice vulnerable, but there was gratitude in her expression.
After a while, Luke took them downstairs, leaving Tres alone in front of the TV.
"I didn't think about it… but having no body is a pain."
He sighed.
"Anyways… I need to check on my other body for a while. It seems like it's still being hunted."
…
"IN THE NAME OF AXALIA, SUMMON THE DIVINE BLADES!"
Simon shouted as multiple magicians in his squad pointed glowing blades toward the rooftops. The Dullahan sprinted across them, barely dodging the attacks.
Runa screamed as he moved recklessly. "STOP! WAIT! WAIT! MOVE TO THE NORTH! NORTH! THERE IS A WAY WE CAN GOOO!"
She glanced at the headless body. He can't hear me, can he?
Fear twisted her face as more arrows and blades flew past them.
The Dullahan reached the northern gate.
"There! That wall! It's inside that! We'll have to go through the gate on the si—"
He smashed the wall with his chain, blasting a hole through it, then leapt inside. It opened into an underground passageway, and he began running.
Runa looked back. The distance they had covered in such a short time was unbelievable. She could still hear Simon shouting orders, but his voice was already far away.
She looked down, silently, as the Dullahan carried her deeper.
…
"That's better. Now that I'm in a safer spot, I can rest a little… Still, it's amazing how the body does exactly what I would do without me even commanding it."
He paused.
"I should upgrade my system. I do have a lot of points."
---
Rift Emporium:
Enhance Replication System: 400,000
You currently have 836,003 points.
---
"Upgrade," Tres said.
A message appeared before him.
---
Your system grows in power. You have unlocked several functions of the Replication System.
– Quests
– Rift Emporium (Monthly Shop)
---
"Quests? I guess it's about time I started getting those. That should help me grow faster."
He paused.
"For now, since I only have a Demonic System… a quest for that is… available?"
Tres stared at the notification. "Open message."
---
[Demonic System Quest Unlocked]
The Headless Path Begins
You have awakened as a Dullahan,
but what you wield now is only a fragment of what you are meant to be.
The curse recognizes you…
yet the legend does not.
To walk the true path of the Headless, you must reclaim the relics of execution.
[Dullahan Legacy Requirements]
— The Chain of Binding — Acquired
The chain that links soul to severed flesh.
— The Executioner's Weapon — Unclaimed
A blade meant only for beheading.
— The Headless Mantle — Unclaimed
Armor woven from curse and fear.
— The Abyssal Steed — Unclaimed
---
Tres's eyes widened. "You mean I still have more left? That wasn't even full power?"
He frowned. "And… the shop. Monthly shop? What the hell? Does that mean it refreshes every month?"
---
[Monthly Shop Refresh]
1. Temporary Domain Claim — 18,000 pts
2. Frostbound Trail Boots — 9,500 pts
3. Incomplete Apprentice Alchemy Kit — 6,200 pts
---
"Frostbound boots… really?" Tres said in a deadpan tone. "Why the hell would I need boots when I'm just a head…?"
He sighed.
"Well, whatever. The first and the third are interesting. I'll buy them both."
---
Purchase Complete:
Temporary Domain Claim:
Activating this grants basic control over the place you are staying, as long as you are the strongest within the domain.
If someone stronger exists, they will feel the urge to challenge you and reclaim the domain.
The claim remains temporary until the strongest is defeated.
Incomplete Apprentice Alchemy Kit:
Incomplete, but includes a basic pot for alchemy.
---
Tres stared at the alchemy kit and sighed. "The Domain Claim has its risks… but at least I should mark this apartment as my domain. I doubt anyone other than Luke has a system."
"Activate skill."
---
[Temporary Domain Claim Activated]
Location: Residential Building (5 Floors)
Status: Minor Domain
Registered Tenants:
• Total Living Occupants: 47 (Human)
• Average Presence per Floor: 8–10
Environmental Notes:
• High Resident Turnover
• Poor Structural Maintenance
• Low Civic Oversight
[Scanning…]
[Scan Update — Anomaly Detected]
Registered Tenants:
Living Occupants: 47 (Human)
Vampires: 12
Dead (Unburied): 52
└ Location: Basement Level
Cause of death: Blood loss
Territorial Status:
Current Owner: Vampire Elder (Unidentified)
[Warning]
A Vampire Elder has detected the domain disturbance.
Your action has been interpreted as a territorial challenge.
Objective Issued:
Defeat the Vampire Elder charging upward to your room.
Reward: Full Domain Control (Apartment)
---
"Huh?! What the hell do you mean by 52 dead bodies and 12 vampires?!"