Part I – Invitation to the Damned
In the deepest tunnels beneath my citadel—beyond the reach of light or holy magic—stood a colossal hall carved from obsidian and cursed bones.
The table was long.The chairs mismatched.And around it sat the most dangerous creatures and criminals the continent had tried to forget:
The Crimson Guild – assassins who killed kings for sport.
The Howling Band – a rogue knight order exiled for mass slaughter.
The Iron Maw – a beastkin tribe that once devoured a city.
The Masked Librarian – an ancient sorcerer who sold memories like coin.
They all came for one reason:I summoned them.
And none of them dared leave.
Part II – The Pact of Shadows
I stood at the head of the table, dressed not in armor but in royal black, runes swirling across my shoulders like shadows in motion.
"I'm not here to threaten you," I said."I'm here to offer you something none of your past masters ever could: freedom through power."
The Crimson Guild leader leaned forward, smirking. "What makes you different from every king who tried to control us?"
"I don't want to control you," I said, eyes glowing violet. "I want you to do what you already do best—but under my flag."
Gorhax slammed a warhammer beside me for emphasis.Yurein's undead magic whispered death in the air.And a shadow behind me materialized into Vaenira, just returned from her mission.
They were now face-to-face with the core of my strength.
"You will be paid in gold, blood, or magic," I continued. "You will be protected from all laws. You will never kneel to a human king again."
"You will kneel to me… or you will not leave this room."
Part III – The Crown of No Nation
[You have formed the Pact of Shadows.]Unlocked: Black Market Access / Forbidden Contracts / Secret Route MapYour influence in the Undernet has risen.New Title: The Crown of No Nation – A ruler in the dark.
The Crimson Guild accepted first. They were assassins, not fools.
The rest followed soon after—tempted by profit, fear, or the certainty that opposing me meant immediate annihilation.
With that, I no longer needed armies.I now had ghosts.Killers who answered to no one—except me.
Part IV – The Hero's First Kill
Meanwhile, across the continent, Kael stood in a dark alley behind the barracks.
His hands trembled, soaked in red.The man before him—a traitor knight—gurgled his last breath.
Sir Bram had said it was self-defense.But Kael knew. He could've spared him.But he didn't.
He remembered Vaenira's words:
"You want to protect people? Learn how to kill."
Kael didn't cry.He didn't speak.He just stared at his hands for a long, long time.
Part V – The String Between Them
Back in the Citadel, Vaenira sat alone in her quarters, polishing her sword.
Yurein knocked once before entering.
"He's begun, hasn't he?" the lich asked.
Vaenira didn't look up. "Yes."
Yurein paused. "Do you regret planting that seed?"
She smiled bitterly.
"I don't regret planting it," she said."I'm afraid of how fast it's growing."