Domain 5 – Crimson Moon Royal Palace, Guest Chambers
Alto sat on the edge of the enormous bed, the crimson silk sheets cool against his palms. The room was silent except for the distant hum of the city and his own unsteady breathing.
"This really happened…" he muttered to the empty air. "I died. God knows how I don't even remember the moment but I died."
The memory came in flashes: darkness, cold, the sensation of drifting away. Then light.
A beautiful, ethereal woman with long flowing blonde hair and glowing golden eyes had appeared in the endless void. She introduced herself as Aurel, Goddess of Reincarnation and Divine Cycles. Her voice had been gentle, almost apologetic, as if she regretted pulling him into this.
"You have been chosen, Alto Kaze," she had said. "A great darkness threatens the Seven Domains. Will you accept the role of hero?"
What else could he have said? He was dead. A second life was being handed to him on a silver platter. Refuse? No chance.
"Yes," he had answered without hesitation.
Aurel had smiled a sad, knowing smile that lingered in his mind and placed a warm hand over his heart.
"Then receive my blessings."
Light exploded through him, warm and overwhelming.
When it faded, two translucent screens hovered in his vision.
[Divine Artifact System Activated]
[Unique Ability Granted: Predator]
No long explanation. No tutorial. Just those words… and then he was here, materializing in a grand summoning hall before a stunning silver-haired princess and hundreds of wide-eyed nobles.
Now, alone in this lavish guest chamber, the screens flickered again.
[Welcome, Hero Alto Kaze]
[Current Level: 1]
[Title: Summoned Hero]
[Ability: Predator – Devour the essence of defeated enemies to grow stronger and adapt their traits.]
Alto let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "A system… and a unique ability. Exactly like the comics and novels I used to read."
He stood and walked to the open balcony window, leaning on the cool stone railing. The night sky stretched endlessly above the capital a deep violet hue with the massive crimson moon hanging low, bathing everything in blood-red light. Floating crimson lanterns drifted through the streets below like earthly stars, illuminating towering spires of black crystal and winding cobblestone roads alive with late-night activity.
"Damn… this world looks cool."
A small grin tugged at his lips despite everything. Fear, confusion, grief for his old life all of it was there, but underneath it burned something else.
Determination.
With the Predator ability a unique power he had a real shot. The system had already mentioned the main quest: aid the Crimson Moon Kingdom against the rising darkness.
"I'll do it," he whispered to the night. "I'll save this world."
Celestial Realm – The Luxurious Suite
Far above, in the pocket of reality Anuver had shaped for himself…
The God-King lounged against the headboard of the massive bed, sheets pooled around his waist, silver hair tousled from earlier activities. Aurel lay curled against his side, head resting on his chest, golden hair spilling across his skin like silk. Her breathing was slow and even not true sleep, perhaps, but a deep, contented rest that goddesses rarely allowed themselves.
Anuver's golden eyes were half-lidded, a lazy smile on his lips as he idly traced circles on her bare shoulder.
With a flicker of thought, a faint ethereal screen materialized before him a window into Domain 5. He watched Alto stand at the balcony, saw the determination harden on the young man's face, heard the whispered vow to the night.
"Oh, he's excited," Anuver murmured, voice low and amused. "As expected from the protagonist. The guy's a hero through and through."
He chuckled softly, the sound rumbling in his chest and stirring Aurel slightly. She nuzzled closer without waking, one arm draping possessively across him.
Anuver glanced down at her serene, breathtaking face flushed still from their earlier passion, lips slightly parted, utterly at peace.
*Huh. Do goddesses even sleep? I don't think so. But look at her… she looks insanely beautiful like this.*
His hand moved from her shoulder to thread gently through her hair.
Anuver's hand lingered on Aurel's bare shoulder, tracing slow, absent patterns across her warm skin. She breathed softly against his chest, lost in that rare, deep rest. The suite was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt earned after everything they'd just shared.
He let his gaze drift for a moment, thoughts wandering.
The main goal, huh…
Domain 5 was grinding along exactly as scripted. Alto was down there getting his hero moment, clenching fists under the crimson moon. Cute. Predictable. But fine he didn't need to micromanage that yet. And Domain 1? His original seat of power. Half heaven, half hell, playground for the truly strong. He could go back anytime.
But sitting here watching everything unfold like a spectator?
Nah. That wasn't fun.
Anuver's lips curved into a faint, mischievous smile.
With a lazy flicker of will, reality folded around him.
The luxurious suite vanished.
He reappeared high in the sky, floating effortlessly above an endless sea of green.
Not a forest. A world of green.
Towering trees stretched as far as the eye could see, their canopies forming an unbroken emerald ocean that shimmered under twin suns. Vines thicker than highways draped between ancient trunks. Flowers the size of houses bloomed in impossible colors. The air itself felt alive thick with mana, sweet with pollen, humming with the songs of unseen creatures.
Anuver descended slowly, silver hair catching the filtered sunlight, blue suit pristine against the wild backdrop.
He landed lightly just outside a massive, translucent barrier that domed an elven city in the distance graceful spires of living wood, bridges of woven vines, waterfalls cascading from tree platforms.
So this is it, he thought. Domain 3. Home of the racist, nature-worshipping, "only pure blood" elves. Classic.
He hovered a finger toward the barrier, curious.
Shit, if I break this…
A voice cut through the air behind him soft, melodic, but edged with lethal calm.
"So. Why are you here?"
Anuver didn't flinch. He turned slowly.
Audrey, Goddess of Verdant Life and ruler of this domain, stood on a floating platform of leaves and vines. Long emerald hair flowed like living ivy, eyes sharp as cut jade, body wrapped in armor of living bark and silken leaves that left little to the imagination yet screamed untouchable authority. Her bow crafted from the world-tree itself was already half-drawn, arrow of pure mana aimed at his heart.
"Don't tell me," she said, voice steady,
"you've finally come to capture this domain."
Anuver met her gaze, face completely neutral.
He smiled slow, mocking.
"Of course not. Why would I need this measly domain?"
The word measly dripped with deliberate disdain.
Audrey's eyes narrowed, but the arrow didn't waver.
"Then why are you in this measly domain?"
Anuver stepped forward one casual step that closed half the distance between them. The air around him rippled faintly with restrained power.
He locked eyes with her.
"Where is his fragment?"
The question was quiet.
But it hit like thunder.
Audrey's composure cracked for the first time. Her eyes widened, bow lowering a fraction. The vines around her platform twitched nervously.
She knew.
One wrong word, one lie, one hesitation too long…
…and she would die.
Not dramatically. Not painfully.
Just gone.
Because the man no, the being standing before her wasn't playing games anymore.
And he already knew the answer.