The once-vibrant city of Bagania now lived in hushed tones.
Merchants had stopped calling from their stalls. Disciples of minor sects had left in the dark of night. Temple bells no longer rang. Even the beasts sensed it—how something old and primal now breathed within the city.
All paths led back to a single place:
The Golden Bamboo Inn.
And at the center of that silent pressure, Rahul Saini sat cross-legged, eyes shut, heart calm, as a storm brewed inside his soul.
Far above Bagania, on the floating stone platform of Jade Fang Mountain, a monk clothed in tattered white robes stepped forward.
He was ancient—his skin marked by years, but his eyes… ageless. Calm. Deep.
Grand Monk Varun, the last guardian of Balance.
At his back stood a dozen bald-headed disciples, carrying scrolls etched with the oldest scriptures of Murim.
"Master," one whispered, "is it truly time?"
Varun said nothing.
His palm rose. A seal burst open in the air. The sky trembled. Clouds folded into themselves.
Within a breath, they vanished.
In the inn, Rahul opened his eyes.
The air shifted.
The Chaos Domain shuddered.
Something powerful was descending.
He stepped outside and looked up.
A platform of clouds hovered above the city, like a divine throne from another world.
And standing at the edge of it—his robes fluttering without wind—was Varun.
"I felt you, child of Chaos," the monk's voice rang out, reaching every ear in Bagania. "You disturb the order of heaven and earth. I've come to seal you."
Rahul tilted his head.
"Seal me? Sounds serious. But here's a suggestion, old monk—try kneeling first."
Gasps echoed from rooftops and courtyards.
Varun didn't react. He simply stepped off the cloud.
He floated downward like a falling leaf, serene and steady.
By the time he landed at the edge of the inn's courtyard, the entire city watched in silence.
Even the wind forgot how to blow.
"You have chosen the path of Chaos," Varun said softly, "but Chaos unchecked becomes Destruction. You will face your own demon tonight. Whether you survive it or not... shall decide if your existence continues."
Rahul laughed.
"I eat demons for breakfast."
But he felt it.
Something deep in his Chaos Seed began pulsing wildly. Not in hunger—but in warning.
—
[DING! Divine Intervention Detected. Chaos Protocol Engaged.]
[To maintain balance, host must undergo First Inner Demon Trial.]
[Initiating: Shattered Will – Inner Reflection Battle.]
Rahul's world blinked black.
The inn, the city, the people—gone.
When he opened his eyes again, he stood within a mirror world of his Chaos Domain.
Cracked walls. Floating glass shards. A sky of swirling violet clouds. Whispers echoing with every breath.
And standing in front of him…
Was himself.
But not quite.
This version wore black robes torn at the edge, his face paler, eyes darker, lips curled into a cold smirk.
Inner Demon Rahul.
"Finally," it said, voice silk and venom. "You're starting to feel like me."
Rahul cracked his knuckles. "Is this a fight or a therapy session?"
"Oh, it's both," his demon said. "Because you're starting to enjoy the fear. The power. The worship. Aren't you?"
Rahul didn't deny it.
The demon walked slowly, hands behind his back.
"They'll all kneel soon. Not because you saved them… but because they fear you. You don't want loyalty. You want domination."
Rahul flinched.
A flicker of emotion trembled in his chest—was it guilt? Doubt?
[DING! Inner Demon Response: Fragment of Doubt Detected. Defense weakened by -10%]
The demon lunged, faster than light, slamming his palm into Rahul's chest.
Rahul coughed blood, flying backward through a wall of shattering glass.
He stood up, wiping his mouth. "Not bad."
"You can't kill me," the demon whispered. "Because you are me. Every fear. Every lie. Every drop of blood you spilled with a smile—I'm all of it."
Rahul didn't respond.
He just inhaled.
And reached deeper.
Not into his Qi.
But into the emotions flowing into him from the outside world—the chaos in Bagania.
Even here, inside the trial, they reached him. Fear. Worship. Hatred.
[DING! Absorbed: +388 Fear, +250 Worship, +312 Confusion]
[Boosting Spiritual Armor by +30% for 5 seconds]
He struck.
"Fractured Reflection Palm!"
The technique landed squarely into the demon's gut, sending ripples through his frame.
But the demon laughed—wincing but not falling.
"You're strong. But to truly conquer me…"
He pointed to Rahul's heart.
"You must decide: Do you want to rule them… or free them?"
Rahul's expression faltered.
For the first time in this world… he hesitated.
And in that breath of hesitation, the demon launched a blade of sorrow, piercing Rahul's shoulder.
"AAARGHH!"
Outside the domain, Varun sat cross-legged, murmuring prayers as a seal of golden light slowly formed above the inn.
The people watched from their windows, unsure whether to run or pray.
A young boy knelt before the inn, hands trembling, whispering, "Please… protect him…"
A blind old woman lit incense.
A group of beggars placed their last coins at the gate.
Not everyone feared him. Some had begun to… worship.
[DING! Chaos System Update]
[Faith Detected: +3 Devotion Units][Corruption Level: 12%][Major Reward Unlocked: Soul Crown of Discord]
—
Inside the trial, Rahul stood bloodied, breathing heavy.
His hand reached into his chest—into the Chaos Seed—and pulled.
A crown of swirling black flame and silver light emerged.
The Soul Crown of Discord.
He placed it upon his head.
A shockwave burst outward.
The demon was slammed back.
The mirrored realm cracked.
Rahul walked forward slowly.
"I'm not denying you," he said. "You're part of me. But I'll decide when to feed you… and how."
The demon smiled… and bowed.
"Now you understand," it said, fading into black mist.
—
[DING! Trial Complete]
[Inner Demon Integrated][Corruption Level: 15% - Path of Discord Begins][New Skill: Dominion of Dual Will – Your aura now infects others with internal conflict, lowering enemy morale in a 100m radius.]
Back in the real world, Rahul opened his eyes.
The golden seal above the inn cracked and shattered like glass.
Varun's eyes widened.
"You survived the Inner Demon Trial…"
Rahul stood, robes fluttering with a new wind—black flame and silver light wreathed him like a crown.
He smirked.
"No, monk… I devoured it."
Varun rose slowly. "Then… you are beyond my judgment now."
He turned to leave.
Rahul called out.
"Monk."
Varun stopped.
"You think Chaos is destruction. But maybe... it's just another kind of creation. One the heavens never wanted to admit."
Varun didn't reply. He vanished.
—
By nightfall, Bagania split in two.
Some abandoned their homes, fleeing north, believing the city cursed.
Others returned to the Golden Bamboo Inn… kneeling.
They brought incense. Scrolls. Swords. Children.
Not to fight.
But to follow.
Rahul stood at the balcony, looking down at them.
He didn't smile.
He didn't wave.
He simply whispered:
"The real game begins now."