At the bottom of the long staircase stretched a vast underground chamber. The moment I stepped inside, the room came to life—crystals embedded in the walls flared to life one by one, bathing the space in a pale, ethereal glow.
The whole chamber sprawled an enormous magic array etched into the stone floor, its runes pulsing faintly as if still active. In the middle of that intricate circle stood an ancient altar, weathered by time yet eerily intact.
And on that altar… was a person.
She was bound in heavy chains inscribed with complex runes, each link radiating a faint, oppressive light. Her body was nothing more than skin and bones, shriveled and lifeless-looking, yet something in the faint rise and fall of her chest told me she was still alive.
Alive—even after a thousand year.
Slowly, the figure on the altar stirred. Her chains rattled weakly as she lifted her head, the motion stiff and brittle, like someone who hadn't moved in centuries.
Her gaze shifted toward me, and despite her frail, corpse-like body, her crimson eyes gleamed with an undimmed sharpness.
"Who are you?" she asked. "What is a human doing here?"
Even bound, even broken, there was a fierce dignity in her tone—like a fallen queen glaring down at the world that betrayed her.
And that's not far from the truth.
I took a step forward and bowed slightly, keeping my tone respectful. "I am Liam. It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty Sofia Bloodbane—the former 'Throne of Blood'."
In the demonic continent, there are nine ruling demons known as Thrones, each backed by one of the Malevolent Aspects. They are beings of immense power and authority, feared even among their own kind.
And this woman before me—Sofia Bloodbane—was once one of them. A ruler who was betrayed by her most trusted subordinate, her reign brought to an end twelve hundred years ago, sealed within this hidden tomb and rot for eternity.
Now, the real question is—what is someone like her doing in the human continent?
Well, the answer lies buried in history. A long time ago, the Demon Continent wasn't confined to the far reaches of the world as it is now. In fact, the land that's currently known as the Dawn Kingdom once belonged to the demons.
That is, until the "Man-Demon War" broke out roughly a thousand years ago—a catastrophic conflict that reshaped the entire world. The war ended with the demons' crushing defeat, their lands seized and their kind driven back to the farthest corner of existence.
Sofia's presence here is one of the remnants of that era—a scar of history sealed away beneath the very soil of her enemies.
"Kukuku…" She let out a dry, bitter laugh that echoed faintly across the chamber. "So… they finally decided to put an end to my suffering?"
Her voice carried a flicker of hope, but it vanished just as quickly as it appeared. She shook her head weakly, a mirthless smile curling on her cracked lips. "No… there's no way those bastards have grown that kind."
Her crimson eyes, dulled by centuries of lonliness yet still sharp enough to pierce through one's soul, slowly shifted back to me.
"It doesn't matter," she whispered, her voice trembling between despair and resignation. "Human, since you've already come this far… please, put an end to my suffering. I beg you."
Her plea wasn't desperate—it was hollow. The kind of voice that had long forgotten what it meant to live.
In the original story, this place was discovered by a spy of the Neighboring empire —they were the ones who put Sofia to rest, earning her original magic in return. If I do the same now, I'll probably obtain it as well.
However, I couldn't help but smirk faintly as I looked at her. "What's this? Are you running away now?" I said, my tone laced with challenge rather than mockery.
Her crimson eyes widened, a faint tremor of anger flickering in their depths. "Human… what did you just say?" she asked, her tone sharp enough to cut through the air.
"I asked if you've already given up," I replied calmly, stepping closer. "Don't you crave vengeance against those who betrayed you? Even the Aspect of Blood that abandoned you? Tell me, has twelve hundred years really been enough to smother that fire burning inside you?"
The Malevolent Aspects draw their power from the fear and chaos of their elements. Sofia Bloodbane, despite being a royal vampire sustained by blood, despised needless bloodshed. That gentleness became her weakness—and the very reason her contractor, the Aspect of Blood, cast her aside at the most crucial moment.
I didn't know much about Sofia Bloodbane — she never appears in the game; she was already dead before the player ever got to know about her. Still, one thing i know for certain: someone of her stature would never forgive betrayal. There's no way a queen like her would not harbor a lingering thirst for revenge. Sure, I could kill her now and claim her original magic to spike my combat power overnight, but one can only achieve a little alone. In a world where treachery is the norm, what I need more than raw power are trustworthy allies — and I must choose them with ruthless care.
Her head bowed to the floor. "What could you possibly know about me to spout such insults?" she hissed. "I crave vengeance as well — but no one can break this seal except the one who casted it."
I closed the distance, voice low and steady. "I don't claim to know your life. Only this much I'm sure of: our goals overlap."
I stopped before her and offered my hand, a wide, unapologetic grin on my face. "That's why, won't you join me? I'll help you reclaim what was stolen—restore your strength, and repay those who betrayed you. Even an Aspect isn't immortal if you strike with purpose."
Sofia stared at my face, disbelief etched in every line of her face. My promise sounded insane—slaying an Aspect, a being akin to god of this world was unheard of, the sort of boast only a madman would make—yet I meant every word.
Her eyes dropped to my outstretched hand, and a bitter laugh escaped her.
"Hahaha, Those words…so sweet, so tempting, together with that smile" she murmured, amusement and scorn tangled together. "i wonder which of us is the actual demon?"
She met my gaze. "Fine. I'll accept your offer — but can you actually break this seal?"
I gave a firm nod. "I have a plan," I said evenly, "but before that, there's a condition. You must swear upon your family name that you will never harm me—directly or indirectly—without my permission."
Among noble vampires, such an oath wasn't taken lightly. A vow made in the name of one's lineage was absolute; breaking it invited a curse so deadly it could erase even their soul. It was less a promise and more a binding law woven into their very blood.
"You came prepared, didn't you?" she said, amused at my knowledge despite being a human.
Of course, she wasn't wrong—I wasn't foolish enough to trust just anyone without securing some form of assurance.
"In that case," she continued, her tone turning sharp, "I have a condition of my own. One year... Within one year from today, you must kill or help me kill at least one person involved in my betrayal. Fail to do so, and our contract will become void."
I paused, considering her words carefully, then gave a firm nod. "That works just fine with me."
Satisfied with my answer, she raised her voice with solemn authority.
"I, Sofia Bloodbane, swear upon my royal lineage, Bloodbane. If you free me from this seal, I shall never harm you—directly or indirectly—without your permission, unless you are the one to betray my trust first. Furthermore, should you fail to fulfill the condition I have declared within one year, this oath shall be rendered void."
As her voice echoed through the chamber, I couldn't help but smirk to myself.
'She chose her words very carefully… how cautious. I guess betrayal does make people smart.'
"Now, how do you plan to free me?" she demanded, her sharp gaze fixed on me.
Without answering immediately, I reached into my storage ring—an artifact every adventurer prioritizes purchasing first. It's practically essential, allowing one to store and carry supplies with ease. The original Liam was no exception.
My useless system doesn't even come with an inventory function, but at least this ring makes up for it—though its storage capacity is disappointingly small.
From within, I pulled out a small straw doll.
Sofia's eyes narrowed. "What is that thing?" she asked, genuine curiosity flickering across her face, guess she had never seen one before.
"This," I said, holding it up between my fingers, "is called a 'Voodoo Doll'. It's an artifact used by shamans to bind or capture evil spirits within it."
I had left the inn early in dawn not to admire the sunrise, but to scour the entire town for this very item—and it had cost me quite a sum.
'Liam, I'll be using your savings for a good cause,' I thought dryly, suppressing a chuckle.
Her crimson eyes widened in sudden realization. "W-Wait… you're not thinking of—"
I grinned faintly, lowering the doll so the flickering light from the magic circle danced across its surface. Even without me explaining, she'd already pieced it together.
"That's right," I said calmly. "Someone of your status surely know how to use Soul Ejection, right?"