Suddenly, a deep, resonant chime echoed across the capital—a bell tolling from the grand tower at the city's heart. Its sound was heavy, final, sending a ripple of unease through the gathered crowds. All eyes turned toward the central plaza as a lone figure stepped forward, dressed in flowing gold-trimmed robes, a long, regal cape trailing behind him. A crown adorned his head, gleaming under the lantern lights that had yet to be extinguished.
His voice carried effortlessly across the stunned silence.
"I bring word to all of Velmara," he declared, his tone grave. "Due to events that have transpired this night, the Festival of a Thousand Lanterns shall be canceled. That is all."
He turned without another word, his cape billowing as he strode back toward the palace, his golden presence soon swallowed by the night. Murmurs spread through the crowd, hushed and uncertain, but none dared protest.
Rosaline exhaled sharply before glancing at Tio and Celestia. Without speaking, they continued moving through the capital, their footsteps heavy against the cobblestone roads. The city's usual vibrancy had been snuffed out; the streets, once adorned for celebration, now felt desolate under the lingering unease of what had transpired.
After some searching, they found a small, vacant hotel near the outskirts of the capital. The owner was absent—perhaps watching the sky like the rest of the capital had been—allowing them to secure a few rooms with little effort. The doors locked behind them, shutting out the world.
But sleep did not come.
None of them could close their eyes without seeing it—the clashing of blades, the storm of golden light against abyssal darkness.
Only the medic slept, breathing slow and steady, untouched by the torment of recollection.
For the rest, the night stretched on, silent and endless.
Celestia leaned against the wooden frame of the chair, her golden eyes locked onto the vast expanse of the night sky beyond the window. Stars shimmered like distant embers, scattered across the darkness, yet they felt farther away than ever. The weight of the recent battle still lingered in her chest—a storm of power far beyond anything she had ever imagined.
She exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening against the armrest before she looked down at her hands. Pale, calloused, strong—but not strong enough. A smirk ghosted across her lips, though it held no humor.
'Those two… they weren't just powerful. They were beyond anything I can think of in terms of strength. And yet, they bled. If they can bleed, they can be killed, and be surpassed,' A spark of hunger flickered in her chest.
'But how?'
Before the thought could fully form, the air in the room shifted. The temperature dropped. A static hum prickled at her skin.
The system appeared again.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Second Major Quest
Title: Trial of The First
Task: Complete the Trial and Contract Serakaris
The user seeks power...
The age of starless rule draws near.
Shall thou accept the Trial?
REWARDS:
???
[Accept / Decline]
Celestia stared at the glowing screen for what felt like an eternity, her emerald eyes tracing each word over and over again. Starless rule. Serakaris. The phrases gnawed at her thoughts, riddles wrapped in mystery. Who was Serakaris?
The words pulsed faintly, waiting.
With a deep breath, she finally lifted her hand.
[Accept]
The moment her fingertip met the screen, everything vanished.
A sensation like falling through endless void gripped her—then impact. Her feet hit solid ground, the scent of damp earth filling her lungs as the world reassembled around her.
A dense forest stretched in all directions, mist curling around ancient trees. Campfires flickered in the dim light, casting long shadows across figures seated in a loose circle. They were strangers, yet an unexplainable feeling of familiarity crept into Celestia's mind.
Something felt off.
She glanced down at her hands. Her breath hitched.
Her skin looked different. The fingers she flexed were not entirely her own. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached for her hair, pulling a lock into view before standing up abruptly.
Light crimson. Not her usual color.
Not hers at all.
"Astra?"
A man's voice cut through the night, rough but steady. She turned, forcing herself to stay composed as her gaze met his. He sat beside a grindstone, sharpening a blade, his expression unreadable.
Celestia—Astra?—swallowed thickly.
"N-nothing at all," she forced out. "Just... needed to stretch my legs."
The man studied her for a moment before returning to his task, the rhythmic scrape of metal against stone filling the air.
Then, before she could even process the situation, the system materialized again.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Trial of the First Contractor
Objective: Defeat the First Dawn and eliminate all of your party members. Claim the fame for yourself. Take all the credit.
Details:
The first Pillar before the term 'Pillars' existed. Astra Venari.
[Sealed History...] She escaped one fateful night, aided by a fairy and a group of human outcasts she came to call friends. Together, they ventured into the domain of the First Dawn, a beast that had terrorized the world for centuries.
Astra saved them. She wielded an unknown amount of elements at a grandmaster's level, a feat so impossible that many believed she was a goddess in human flesh. She led them to victory.
And in return, they had betrayed her as she protected all of them from death.
Everything relating to Astra was erased from history. Her deeds stolen, and the survivors basked in false glory that they claimed were rightfully theirs.
The First Dawn.
A tiger-like beast, yet twisted beyond nature's design—serpent scales coiling beneath its fur, dragon-like wings blotting the sky. A katana, forged from the tooth of its mother, gleamed at its side. Some claimed it was not a creature, but destruction itself, given form.
------------------------------------------
Celestia's heart pounded, as her breath hitched. She turned her head to everyone, watching them slowly. She opened the system to check something, out of being curious.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Name: Astra Venari
Age: 27
Elements: Flames, ??? Flames, Ice, Summoning, Earth, Life, Flame-Arts, Spirit-Lightning, Soul manipulation, Blessings, Vow of Eternal Suffering, Curses, Sword's Will, Dream Manipulation. (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed), (Sealed)
Level: ???
Skills:
[Divine Barrier] - Level 400
[Flames of Yugoth] - Level 210
[Soul Bind] - Level 80
[Sword's Will] - Level 610
[Curse of Relentless Pain] - Level 244
[Curse of False Hope] - Level 600
[Blessing of Eternal Regeneration] - Level 230
[Blessing of Eternal Health] - Level 120
[Blessing of Self Protection x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Eternal Winter x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Tempest Blade x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Blessing from Heaven] - Level ???
[Soul Obliteration] - level 12(Sealed)
[Divinity Reversal] - Level 710
[Blessing of Flame Arts x4] - Level 780
[Martial Arts of Yugoth x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Flame Infuse x2] - Level 232
[Life Drain] - Level 55
[Spirit-Lightning Infuse x5] - Level 330
[Blade of Summoning x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Curse Reversal x2] - Level 40
[Curse of Poisoned Blood] - Level 120 (Sealed)
[Blessing of Divine Order] - Level 770
[Blessing of Protection] - Level 340
[Summoning x7] - Level 500 - MAXED
[Blade Control] - Level 287
[White Lightning Strike] - Level 140
[Curse of Nightmares] - Level 400
[Curse of Despair] - Level 444
[Cursed Blade] - Level ???????
[Blessing of Regeneration] - Level 909
[Dream's Equinox Slash] - Level 450
[Ice Infuse x2] - Level 232
Passives:
Fear Immunity | Active
Poison Immunity | Active
Toxic Immunity | Active
Ice Immunity | Active
Flame Immunity | Active
Electricity Immunity | Active
Insanity Immunity | Active
Strength of Yugoth | Active
Heart of Steel | Active
Weather Immunity | Active
Lightning Immunity | Active
Soul Tampering Immunity | Active
Death Denial | Active on Death
Time Immunity | Active
Mental Manipulation Immunity | Active
Goddess of Luck | Active
Bad Luck Immunity | Active
Fearless | Active
Limitless Mana | Active
Favorite Child | Active
Yugoth's Poison Body | Active
Soul Strength | Active
Death Denial Layer 3 | Active upon Soul Destruction
Soul Obliteration Immunity | Active
Curses Immunity | Active
Aging Resistance | Active
Element Immunity | Active
Goddess of War | Active
God of Eternal Winds | Active
Death Denial Layer 4 | Active upon Attempted Death
Blessing from Serakaris | Active
Dream Protection | Active
Dream Manipulation Immunity | Active
[Time Negation] | Active
Weapon Mastery | Active
Holy Resistance | Active
Shadow Immunity | Active
First Contractor | Active
Death Immunity | [65,218/90,500] | Incomplete
[Slayer] | Active
[Damage Negation] | [3/10 Uses Left] | Use On Command
[Anti-Life Drain] | Active
[Soul Steal Immunity] | Active
[Damage Reduction] | Active
[Contractor of Serakaris] | Active
[Blessings of Earth: Strength] | Active
[Blessing of Earth: Defense] | Active
[Blessing of Earth: Agility] | Active
[Life Transfer Immunity] | Active
[Regeneration Suppression] | Active
[Blessing of Winds] | Active
[Blessing of Life] | Active
[Blessing of Earth] | Active
[Blessing of Divinity] | Active
[Blessing of Flames] | Active
[Demon Slayer] | Active
[Increased Strength] | Active
[Blessing of Lightning: Strength] | Active
[Blessing of Lightning: Agility] | Active
[Divinity: Perfect] | Use On Command
[Calmness] | Active
[Time Manipulation Negation] | Active