Luis looked at her, observing her body calmly. Although she was malnourished, covered in bruises, and showed clear signs of abuse, traces of beauty still remained beneath it all.
Her skin, soft despite the neglect. Her long, curly hair cascading in waves over her shoulders. Even with the damage, her well-developed figure showed that, under different circumstances, she would have been a stunning woman.
Luis took a breath and, without looking away, continued.
—I'll explain it clearly. With you, obtaining the kingdom would be easy. Otherwise, I would have to destroy and kill eighty percent of this land so that no one opposes me.
He took a brief pause and drank a sip from his beer jug.
—Moreover, in the future, other kings will have to kneel before you. No one will be able to defy you. **You will be one of the women of the ruler of the entire continent.
He settled into the couch.
—And I say "one of my women" because I will not have just one wife. So think about it carefully and tell me your answer.
Lily was speechless.
Queen above kings.
Luis, absolute ruler of the entire continent.
His ambitions were immeasurable. What disturbed her most was that he seemed to want to form a harem. He hadn't said it explicitly, but he had made it clear.
Even so... the proposal was tempting.
What did she have to lose? Her life?
Since childhood, she had never truly lived.
Would they kill her? She had already felt dead since the day she became a slave.
Even though she had never lost her purity, she had always been beaten, mistreated, humiliated. Her existence had been worse than death.
—I accept.
Her voice was firm, though inside she still trembled.
If what he said was true, at the very least, she wouldn't suffer as much anymore.
If they failed, she would only lose a life she never truly had.
Luis smiled, satisfied.
—Great, hehehe. From today, you are my woman and the future queen of this kingdom.
As he spoke, he set the beer jug aside. He moved closer to her, touching her cheek gently, leaning in until their bodies nearly brushed.
Lily's body tensed. She couldn't help but blush.
Luis didn't seem to notice—or care.
—You have no cultivation. We'll fix that. I'll give you power so you can defend yourself. You won't be able to cultivate it further, but with what I'll give you, that won't matter.
The words seemed to freeze the room.
Aron, who was devouring his food carelessly, stopped instantly. This was something he had never heard of before. He had no idea such a thing was possible.
Luci was also taken aback. She tried to hide it, but her expression betrayed her.
Luis lifted his head, and his eyes shone with a deep red light.
Lily felt her body tremble.
A searing heat surged through her, burning her from the inside like liquid fire.
Aron and Luci watched her, confused, unable to understand what was happening.
Then, her body was enveloped in brilliant white flames.
The light consumed her entirely. Then, it began to shrink, transforming into a sphere of the same color and intensity.
The sphere floated for a moment. Then, it plunged into her chest and disappeared within her.
Luis closed his eyes. Blood-red tears slid down his face.
The sharp pain in his head was intense. It had been a long time since he used that technique.
It was a method he had never deemed valuable. Giving power while locking someone into a fixed limit.
He would never use it to strengthen his sect.
But for someone who had never had power, it was enough.
Luci stepped forward, her voice carrying an unusual mix of shock and disbelief.
—That glow and color… was that a Unique-level cultivation sphere...?
Luis didn't answer.
It was obvious.
She knew from ancient books that there were eleven cultivation states, each with its own levels: low, medium, and high.
Except for the first one, the corporal stage, which was divided into nine levels.
Cultivation ranks were clearly defined by color:
- Corporal: No color.
- Base: Black
.
- Medium: Shiny black.
- High: Black with white.
- Rare: White.
- Unique: Bright white.
- Legendary: Light blue.
- Angel: Bright light blue.
- Semi-God: Light blue with red.
- God: Red.
- Mystic: Shiny red.
Following that logic...
Had Lily just reached Unique cultivation so easily...?
At present, that was an exceptionally powerful cultivation level.
Luis wiped the blood-red tears from his face with ease, as if the pain meant nothing.
—Yes. Her cultivation has the power of a Unique, but her level is low. It will never grow further; that will be her limit.
Aron let out a laugh.
—Hehehe, still, for someone who had no power at all, that's quite a lot.
He resumed eating, biting into his food without pause. But in the back of his mind, envy lingered.
Luis tilted his head toward Lily.
—Also, take this.
He extended a finger and pressed it against her forehead.
Lily, still dazed by what had happened, felt a flood of information pour into her mind.
Combat techniques. Defense strategies. Ways to survive against any enemy.
The knowledge embedded itself into her brain all at once, as if it had always been there.
Luis looked at her indifferently.
—Learn it. With these techniques, you will be able to defend yourself against almost anyone.
He leaned against the table casually.
—Few have the chance to receive power and techniques so easily. If you fail or die even with this… then it was simply your fate.
The words echoed throughout the room.
Luis spoke so naturally that, for a moment, everyone wondered if anything was truly impossible for him.
Then, the door opened.
Marin entered, scanning the silent room and noticing the presence of an unfamiliar young woman. The tension in the air told her that something had happened.
—Did something happen? Is everything alright?
Luis didn't bother answering her question.
—You arrived just in time.
He turned toward Lily.
—She is Marin. I need her to take care of you for the next few days, dress you properly, and prepare you for the second phase of our plan.
Then, his gaze sharpened.
—Lily, in the future, you will work with her. Her word is mine. Get to know each other.
Without saying anything else, Luis walked toward the window. Outside, the chaos continued to grow.
There was no doubt that the king already knew about his son's death and the disappearance of his illegitimate daughter.
It was only a matter of time before he understood what was truly happening.
But what could he do?
Hunt down the culprits before something worse unfolded.
What he didn't know… was that soon, he himself would be under attack.
He should make the most of the little time he had left.
Because his fate had been sealed the moment he attempted to destroy the Creation Sect with his allies.
Luis closed his eyes briefly.
In the near future, he would visit the Shadow Sect.
The king's dogs. They would pay for their betrayal.
The thought brought a smile that no one saw.
Even if it didn't seem like it, eliminating his enemies brought him closer to his true purpose.
Vengeance.
Eradicating those who had betrayed him.
Wiping out the ones who had tried to kill him while he sought refuge to heal his wounds.
Luis narrowed his eyes.
—I will find them.
His voice carried unwavering resolve.
—I will kill them all in the cruelest way.
He leaned slightly forward, as if envisioning their faces in the distance.
—Just wait…
And watch.
His laughter filled the room.
—Hehehehehe.