Chapter 32

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The moment my eyes fluttered open, a glaring light from the system’s holographic display illuminated my face.

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Rewards will be given in a few minutes.

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Due to your victorious battle against the otherworldly beast, your power has surged. A new ability, Evoke, has been unlocked.

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Evoke grants you the power to summon any object, weapon, or creature bound to your will, no matter where it resides. The stronger your connection, the faster it answers your call.

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I blinked, trying to make sense of the words floating in front of me, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at my limbs. Defeated the monster? My mind raced, fragments of the battle flashing in my memory—the blood, the chaos, and then... darkness. I had fainted, hadn’t I?

Another notification appeared, shimmering with cold authority.

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Updating character details…

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Character Profile

Eiliyah Arthemice Loughsin

Title: The Ruthless Villainess Current Life: 55% Reputation: 20% Power Level: Ascendant Ability: Beast Tamer, Evoke

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Upgrading your two daggers.

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Success. The rewards have been given successfully to the player. Congratulations! ╚═════════ ◈ ═════════╝

I stared blankly into the void, my mind too preoccupied to even glance at the holograms that kept flashing before me. The notifications blurred into the background, their persistent glow meaningless compared to the thoughts swirling in my head. Rewards? They hardly mattered now.

I had more urgent things to worry about.

I needed to find that book. The desperation in the real Arthemice’s eyes, the way she pleaded with me—it stirred something within. Her thirst for revenge had become my own, a shared purpose I couldn’t ignore. Besides, I had no world to return to. And Kyro… A wicked smile threatened to curl my lips at the mere thought of him. Suffering in hell. The image of his torment was enough to strengthen my resolve. I would help her.

My gaze swept across the room, taking in my surroundings. I was back in my quarters. The book had to be here.

I spotted the table, its golden ornaments gleaming under the soft light. Without wasting a second, I rushed over, my heartbeat quickening with anticipation. My fingers trembled as I grabbed the book, its cover cool against my skin. I flipped it open, scanning the pages urgently, knowing that this was the key to everything.

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“Sick,” I muttered, snapping the book shut in frustration. My eyes drifted toward the window, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, fading glow across the room. I had finished reading it, but the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was far from what I expected, and certainly not what I wanted.

I flipped through the pages again, aimlessly at first, until something caught my attention. A small, hidden pocket at the back of the book. My fingers carefully slipped inside, pulling out a fragile, old piece of paper folded into four. I unfolded it gently, revealing a handwritten letter.

To the soul who has entered my body, I want you to know that I have foreseen the future. I will die. And I know you will re-enter my body. Be wary of everyone around you. Those who hate you are not the true enemy—they will help you. Oh precious soul, please help us. I can’t give you the information I know, as my abilities will fail if I do. However, this book may provide a clue to carry out your plan. Please help me. Love, Arthemice.

I refolded the letter, my mind spinning. She already told me about this; perhaps our meetup is too soon.

I heaved a distant sigh.

Arthemice had the ability to see the future, to tame beasts, even to create spells—powers that made her one of the strongest in the kingdom. And yet, she lost. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. How could someone with such power fail? As I read through her story, her struggle for justice was clear. She wanted it so badly, but despite everything she had, she still failed.

Because of him.

My jaw clenched at the thought of that manipulative monster. He was the reason she lost. The memory of what he did to this body sent a surge of anger through me, my fists tightening at the injustice. His madness from being betrayed might have been understandable, but what he did afterward—dragging innocents into his revenge, destroying an entire kingdom to satisfy his twisted sense of justice—was unforgivable.

The sharp sting of pain brought me back to the present. I winced and looked down at my hand, realizing I had clenched my fist so hard that it reopened my wound.

“Right,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I noticed the blood seeping through the bandage. “My hand was pierced by that monster.” The dried blood stained the fabric, reminding me of the battle I had barely survived.

“Seraphim,” I called, and in an instant, she materialized before me.

“Yes, master,” she replied, bowing deeply, her posture unwavering.

“What happened in the fight? I remember Kyle arriving,” I asked, noticing how she floated slightly as she stood firm.

“He and the Crown Prince defeated the monster. The Grand Duke arrived shortly after and brought you back here. He gave strict orders not to allow anyone into your room,” she explained.

“Ha, now that bastard plans to drag me to that place,” I muttered, rubbing my temple in frustration. Even though the book wasn’t very detailed, I knew what awaited me—how they’d imprison me, what they intended to do to this body.

“Seraphim, take me to the craftsman. I need to claim that amulet,” I ordered softly.

“As you wish, my lady,” she replied, her tone as calm as ever. I still found it strange how Seraphim could teleport us to places she wasn’t even familiar with, yet she never failed.

“Let’s go,” she said, and in an instant, I felt the nauseating pull of her magic, distorting my surroundings. It felt as if I was being stretched and compressed at the same time. My stomach churned as the sensation intensified, a cold breeze wrapping around me before everything suddenly stilled. When my vision cleared, we stood before the craftsman’s store.

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and decay, remnants of the battle that had ravaged the capital. The once proud city lay in ruins, its towering buildings reduced to crumbling structures. The streets were deserted, littered with debris and signs of destruction. The horizon was jagged with broken rooftops, and faint shadows of monsters still loomed in the distance, their eerie presence haunting the devastated landscape. The craftsman’s store stood in contrast, its walls intact but weathered, the only sign of normalcy in this wrecked city.

I stepped inside, and the tension was palpable. The craftsman’s face twisted in a mix of fear and relief as his eyes met mine.

“My lady!” he stammered, rushing to retrieve the amulet. His hands trembled as he held it out to me. “Here’s the—”

Before he could finish, I snatched the ring from his grasp.

“Thank you,” I said curtly. “I’ll take my leave now.” Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and exited the store.

“Seraphim, take me to that tree,” I ordered, my tone firm. I caught the brief flicker of hesitation in her eyes, but she nodded.

“As you wish, master.”

The air around us began to shimmer as Seraphim chanted softly, a faint glow surrounding us. In an instant, the ground beneath my feet disappeared, and we were lifted into the void of transportation once more. This time, the magic was harsher, more raw, as we were pulled through the invisible threads of space. My body tingled as we were swept through currents of darkened energy, the sensation of weightlessness both exhilarating and unnerving. The world whirled past in a blur, colors and shapes swirling around us like a chaotic storm.

Then, with a sudden jolt, we arrived. My feet touched solid ground as the palace loomed before me.

The once grand and majestic structure now stood in shadows, the towering walls cracked, and the gates barely hanging on their hinges. Faint whispers of magic still lingered in the air, giving the entire area an unsettling aura. It was as if the palace itself had been drained of life, a haunting reminder of the battles fought and the kingdom’s slow descent into ruin.

Seraphim bowed once more. “I cannot follow you into the tree, master,” she said softly. “But that’s the new entrance. Call for me if you’re in danger. Please be careful, master.”

I nodded in response, turning my gaze to the ominous tree that served as the entrance. My heart raced as I steeled myself for what lay ahead.

As I entered the door, a chilling sensation crawled down my spine. The air was thick, carrying a sense of dread as a cold breeze swept across my face. Each step down the worn stone stairs felt heavier, the railings icy beneath my fingers, as if the place itself was warning me to turn back. There was something unsettling here—something ancient and sinister. Though the books never truly captured the horrors lurking in this place, I knew. This tree was a crucial piece of the twisted puzzle I was determined to solve. Perhaps, with this, I could finally bring about the revenge that the real Arthemice craved.

I reached the second door and paused, a rancid stench slapping me in the face as soon as I cracked it open. It was so vile I almost gagged. My eyes widened in shock as I pushed the door fully open.

“What the hell…” I whispered, covering my mouth to stifle the rising bile. Inside the colossal chamber stood an ancient, grotesque tree, its bark slick with slime. Clusters of pulsating eggs hung from its gnarled branches, while below, decaying bodies—bodies I recognized—were slowly being absorbed by the slimy roots. The corpses… were citizens of the Capital. These were the people of this kingdom, fed to this monstrosity like cattle.

“What are you doing here, my lady?” a voice hissed behind me, cold steel grazing my neck. I stiffened but remained calm. “You shouldn’t be here,” he warned, pressing the blade harder against my skin.

I reached up, wrapping my fingers around the blade with chilling composure, feeling its sharpness bite into my hand. Slowly, I turned to face him, meeting Zacharias’s hard gaze with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“So… this is why you were so insistent on keeping me out of here, Sir Zacharias,” I sneered, my voice dripping with venom. His eyes blazed with fury at my accusation. Traitor. The Crown Prince’s once-loyal knight had thrown his lot in with that despicable Emperor.

“You’ll die if you don’t leave now,” he growled, ignoring my taunts as his sword pressed deeper into my skin.

I laughed softly, darkly, the sound echoing through the foul chamber. “No, Zacharias. You and that pitiful Emperor of yours will die by my hand.” My eyes narrowed as the system notification flashed before me.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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My hands tingled as a pair of daggers materialized in my palms. In one swift motion, I slashed upward, knocking his sword away from my throat. Zacharias winced, clutching his stomach where my blade had grazed him.

I smirked, watching him struggle. “Oh, how I would love a rematch with you. But given your current… condition, that hardly seems fair, does it?”

He scowled but managed to steady himself, despite the pain. “You’re injured too, my lady. A fair fight, indeed,” he said, twirling his sword and adopting a battle stance.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, really?” With a flick of my wrist, I hurled one of my daggers at him, knocking his sword from his hand. It clattered to the ground far behind him. “And yet, here you are, pretending to have strength left, when you clearly don’t.” My lips curled into a wicked grin as I approached him, my footsteps echoing ominously in the vast, decaying chamber.

I stopped inches away from him, tilting his chin up with the tip of my dagger. “Now, Zacharias, care to tell me why the Emperor is so keen on having my body?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. His breath hitched, his body frozen under my gaze.

“H-How did you know?” he stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a cold whisper. “I know everything, Zacharias. Did you really think I was the same naïve fool I used to be?”

His lips twitched into a humorless smile. “No… You’re not her. You’re just a stranger wearing her skin,” he said, leaning in as though sharing a secret. “Now, intruder, let us reclaim what was always meant to be ours.”

His words made me flinch, but I quickly masked my surprise.

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A new predicament has emerged!

The enemy is closing in—escape or face capture!

Reward: Extend your lifespan by 10%, and unlock a new, powerful ability. Failure: Abduction is inevitable, and your fate will be sealed.

Decide your course with great caution!

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fin.