Night descended over the imperial palace like a suffocating veil.
The golden brilliance of the day had long faded, replaced by an eerie stillness that clung to the stone walls and empty corridors. Torches flickered along the palace halls, their dim light casting long, distorted shadows that seemed almost alive.
The wind whispered softly through the open courtyards.
But beneath that calm surface…
Something sinister moved.
Inside the Third Prince's chamber, silence reigned.
Arian sat on his bed, legs folded, eyes closed.
To any observer, he looked fragile.
Weak.
His pale face and thin frame gave the impression of someone barely clinging to life.
But that illusion—
Was intentional.
Because beneath that fragile exterior, something had awakened.
Something dangerous.
"Demonic Insight…"
The words echoed faintly in his mind.
A subtle energy spread from his body—unseen, unfelt by ordinary senses.
It moved like a silent tide, brushing against walls, slipping through cracks, touching everything within its reach.
At first, there was nothing.
Only stillness.
Then—
A ripple.
A disturbance so faint that no ordinary person could have detected it.
But Arian wasn't ordinary anymore.
His eyes snapped open.
Sharp.
Focused.
"There…"
His gaze shifted slowly toward the far side of the room.
The curtains near the window fluttered ever so slightly.
The movement was unnatural.
Controlled.
Arian didn't react outwardly.
Instead, he slowly lay down on the bed.
His breathing softened.
His chest rose and fell gently.
Within seconds—
He appeared asleep.
From the darkest corner of the room, a shadow detached itself.
Kael.
The Demon of the Abyss.
His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he observed the surroundings.
"Three," he whispered silently.
Arian responded just as quietly.
"I know."
"Shall I eliminate them?"
Arian's lips curved slightly.
"Not yet."
He closed his eyes again.
"Let them come closer."
Outside the window, three figures clung to the palace walls like ghosts.
Dressed in black from head to toe, their presence blended seamlessly with the night.
No insignia.
No identity.
Only death.
One of them signaled with his hand.
A moment later—
The window slid open without a sound.
The assassins slipped inside.
One by one.
Silent.
Precise.
Deadly.
Inside, the room remained still.
The prince appeared asleep.
Defenseless.
An easy target.
The assassins exchanged brief glances.
Everything was going according to plan.
One of them stepped forward.
His dagger gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
A thin layer of poison coated its edge.
Lethal.
Even a scratch would be enough.
Arian felt it.
Even with his eyes closed.
Through Demonic Insight, the world had changed.
He couldn't "see" in the normal sense.
But he could feel them.
Their emotions.
Their intent.
Cold.
Sharp.
Focused entirely on one goal—
Kill.
"Professional," Arian thought.
"No hesitation. No fear."
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Good."
The assassin reached the bed.
Raised his dagger.
Aimed directly at Arian's heart.
And struck—
CLANG!
The sound shattered the silence.
The assassin's eyes widened in shock.
His blade—
Had been caught.
Barehanded.
Arian's grip was firm.
Unyielding.
"What—?!"
Before the assassin could react—
Arian opened his eyes.
And in that instant—
The atmosphere changed.
Gone was the weak prince.
In his place stood something far more terrifying.
"You're too slow," Arian said coldly.
CRACK—
He twisted his wrist.
The assassin's bones snapped with a sickening sound.
A muffled scream escaped his throat—
But it was cut short.
Kael appeared behind him like a phantom.
A flash of darkness—
And the assassin's throat was slit.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The other two assassins froze.
Shock surged through them.
"This… this isn't the same person—!"
"Kill him!" one shouted.
They moved instantly.
Their coordination was flawless.
One attacked from the left.
The other from behind.
A perfect pincer strike.
But Arian didn't panic.
Didn't rush.
He stood up slowly.
Almost lazily.
"Kael."
That single word was enough.
The demon moved.
Faster than sight.
A blur of darkness.
CLASH—
Steel met nothing.
One assassin's blade sliced through empty air.
The next moment—
His body split in half.
Cleanly.
As if cut by an invisible force.
Blood spilled across the floor.
The last assassin hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
But that hesitation—
Was fatal.
Arian stepped forward.
His movements were not fast.
Not powerful.
His body was still weak.
But his timing—
Was perfect.
He grabbed the assassin's collar.
And slammed him to the ground.
Hard.
The man gasped as the air was knocked out of him.
Before he could recover—
Arian's foot pressed firmly against his chest.
Pinning him in place.
"Who sent you?" Arian asked calmly.
The assassin glared up at him.
"…Go to hell."
Arian sighed.
"I was hoping you'd cooperate."
He crouched down slowly.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"Demonic Insight."
The world shifted again.
Everything became clearer.
Sharper.
He could feel it—
The assassin's emotions.
Fear.
Hidden beneath layers of training.
But it was there.
Arian smiled.
"Ah…"
"So you are afraid."
The assassin's pupils shrank.
"How—"
Arian leaned closer.
"You don't want to die."
Silence.
The man clenched his jaw.
Arian continued:
"But you will."
"Unless you speak."
A long pause followed.
The assassin's breathing became uneven.
His eyes flickered.
Doubt.
Fear.
Conflict.
Arian saw everything.
Every crack.
Every weakness.
And then—
He spoke.
"Halric sent you."
The assassin's eyes widened.
Just for a moment.
But that moment—
Was enough.
Arian stood up.
"Thank you."
The assassin's face twisted in anger.
"You—!"
A flash of darkness.
Kael ended his life instantly.
Silence returned.
The room was filled with blood.
Bodies lay scattered across the floor.
But Arian—
Remained untouched.
He exhaled slowly.
His heart was beating fast.
But his mind was calm.
Focused.
"This is power…" he murmured.
Not strength.
Not yet.
But control.
Awareness.
Precision.
[Mission Progress Updated]
[Evidence Collected: Assassin Unit linked to Steward Halric]
Arian glanced at the notification.
"Still not enough…"
He looked at the corpses.
"Halric won't fall this easily."
"Dispose of them," Arian said.
Kael nodded.
The shadows moved.
One by one—
The bodies disappeared.
Swallowed completely.
As if they had never existed.
Arian walked toward the window.
The night air brushed against his face.
Cool.
Sharp.
Refreshing.
He looked out at the vast palace grounds.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Normal.
But now—
He could see the truth.
Every shadow.
Every movement.
Every hidden threat.
"Halric…"
A faint smile appeared.
"You've shown your hand."
"Now it's my turn."
[System Notification]
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: First Blood]
[Reward: Intermediate Summon Ticket x1]
Arian's eyes gleamed.
"Another summon…"
Power surged in his chest.
"Use it."
The air trembled.
But this time—
It wasn't dark.
It wasn't violent.
It was…
Heavy.
Ancient.
Golden light filled the room.
Warm.
But overwhelming.
Even Kael stepped back slightly.
For the first time—
The demon looked cautious.
Arian narrowed his eyes.
"This feeling…"
The light condensed.
Formed a figure.
Tall.
Elegant.
Radiating authority.
Not a demon.
Something else.
Something higher.
The figure opened its eyes.
Golden.
Endless.
"Who dares summon a servant of the divine?"
Arian stared at it.
Unfazed.
Then—
He smiled.
"Good."
"So it's not just demons…"
"…but gods as well."
The figure observed him silently.
Then—
Slowly—
It knelt.
"I am Seraphiel… a fallen angel."
Arian's smile deepened.
"Perfect."
Behind him—
Darkness and light stood together.
A demon.
And an angel.
Both bound to his will.
Arian turned his gaze back to the night.
His eyes burned with ambition.
Cold.
Relentless.
"Lucien…"
"Halric…"
"You've already lost."
"You just don't know it yet."
Far away—
Thunder rumbled softly in the distance.
A storm was coming.
And at its center—
Was Arian Valemont.