The air was thick with the scent of blood and dust. Lin Tian's eyelids fluttered open to a world of ruin: crumbling stone pillars, shattered statues of long-forgotten gods, and an altar soaked with dried sacrifice. The cold wind carried the faint moans of the dying—a battlefield aftermath.
His head throbbed with memories he hadn't lived, and his chest burned with a mark that glowed faintly in the darkness.
A sudden chime echoed in his mind, and a transparent golden panel materialized before his eyes:
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[Divine Fortune System Activated]
[Welcome, Host. You have been chosen by the Divine Fortune System.]
[Objective: Amass wealth, forge power, and command loyalty.]
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A thrill ran through Lin Tian's chest. Wealth and power had always been his tools—but now, they were his weapons.
Another chime sounded:
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[System Function Unlocked: Loyalty Contracts]
[Through loyalty, command fate itself.]
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Suddenly, a figure staggered into view—a young woman in tattered armor, her left shoulder bleeding heavily. She collapsed at his feet, eyes wide with desperation.
"P-please…" she gasped, clutching his boots. "I—I heard there was a savior here. A man who could protect those abandoned by their clans. I'll do anything. Just—just help me avenge my brother."
Lin Tian's eyes gleamed coldly. A new panel blinked to life:
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[Target Identified]
Name: Unknown
Loyalty Potential: High
Contract Status: Unbound
─────────────────────────────
He crouched, tilting her chin upward. Her face was streaked with blood and tears, but her eyes still burned with defiance.
"You'll do anything?" he asked, his tone sharp but not unkind.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Anything. My clan betrayed us to the Black Moon Sect. They killed my brother. I—I want revenge."
A new set of options appeared before Lin Tian:
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[Divine Fortune System Options]
> 1️⃣ Aid her freely.
2️⃣ Forge a Loyalty Contract (requires offering of body and soul).
─────────────────────────────
Mercy was a luxury he couldn't afford. This was a world of gods and monsters. To protect those who served him, he needed unwavering loyalty.
He selected the second option. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the panel updated:
─────────────────────────────
[Initiating Loyalty Contract Ritual]
Condition: Willing offering of body and soul
─────────────────────────────
"Then offer yourself," Lin Tian commanded, his voice low and commanding. "Body and soul. Swear yourself to me, and I will grant you the power you seek. Betray me, and your soul itself will burn."
Her eyes widened in shock. Her lips trembled, but then—her resolve hardened. She unfastened the torn straps of her armor, letting the battered breastplate slip to the ground with a dull clang. Her bruised skin caught the moonlight, highlighting every cut and scar.
"Then… bind me," she whispered. "Make me yours."
Lin Tian stepped closer, his fingers brushing her cheek. "Tell me your name."
"Li Xue," she whispered.
He nodded. "Li Xue. By offering your body, you surrender your right to betrayal. I will shield you from your enemies. I will give you power—but your loyalty is the price."
She swallowed, her breath shaky. "I accept."
A golden circle of runes flared beneath their feet. The air trembled with arcane energy. Lin Tian pressed his palm to her chest, directly over her heart.
"Do you consent?" he asked.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Yes."
The System panel flickered:
─────────────────────────────
[Loyalty Contract Initiation: Confirmed]
Ritual Commencing…
─────────────────────────────
Golden energy surged from Lin Tian's hand into her chest, making her gasp and arch against him. Her breath quickened, her lips parted in a soft moan as the warmth spread through her body.
"Ah—" she whimpered, clutching his tunic. "It's—burning…"
"It is the mark of loyalty," Lin Tian said, his voice low and steady. "Let it consume every doubt, every fear. Let it bind you to me."
Her body trembled. Lin Tian leaned down, his lips close to her ear. "Swear it," he whispered. "Say the words."
"I—I swear… my body… my soul… everything—"
The energy flared brighter. Symbols coiled around her like living chains, searing into her skin with an ethereal glow. She let out a cry of mingled pain and ecstasy, her eyes rolling back as the binding completed.
─────────────────────────────
[Loyalty: 10% → 15%]
[Contract Established]
[Her soul is now partially bound. Loyalty will grow through service and reward.]
[At 100% Loyalty: Soul-Binding Threshold engaged. Betrayal becomes impossible.]
─────────────────────────────
Lin Tian's breath was hot on her neck. "You are mine now, Li Xue. And I am yours to follow—so long as your loyalty holds."
She collapsed against him, exhausted, but her eyes—still fierce—found his. "Then give me the strength to take my revenge."
A faint smile crossed his lips. "Rest now. Tomorrow, we begin your retribution."
Li Xue closed her eyes, her head on his chest, her body trembling from the ritual's aftermath. Lin Tian lifted his gaze to the darkened horizon, the Divine Fortune System humming in his mind.
─────────────────────────────
[System Alert]
[Welcome to the game, Lin Tian. Let the world tremble before your wealth and loyalty.]
─────────────────────────────
And with that, the night closed around them—leaving only ambition, power, and the iron chains of loyalty to guide his path.
---
End of Chapter 1