Evening fell over Pritampur like a velvet curtain of secrets. The cheers from the Heavenly Banquet still echoed faintly across the city, but Priyanshu Yadav was far from the celebration. He stood at the edge of a cliff behind the royal palace, watching the moonlight dance upon the river below.
His fingers drummed against the cold steel of the Plum Blooming Sword, thoughtful.
[System Notification: You are being watched.]
Without flinching, he whispered, "Let them come."
A gust of wind blew past him, and a figure cloaked in shadow emerged from behind a tree, as if torn from the fabric of night itself. The figure bowed respectfully.
"Master Yadav. The Pavilion of Eternal Shadows wishes to extend an invitation."
Priyanshu raised a brow. "A shadow sect? Finally, someone speaking my language."
The messenger didn't laugh. "The Pavilion knows what you are. Or rather, what you are not pretending to be."
"Explain."
"The world sees you as a genius warrior. But we know a manipulator when we see one. Your duel earlier was more than power—it was a performance. Calculated, flawless, and… misleading."
Priyanshu grinned. "Flattery might just get you killed slower."
"Then perhaps this will interest you." The messenger handed him a black jade scroll sealed with demonic qi. "The Pavilion offers you access to its secret archives—cursed arts, forbidden spells, history erased by the righteous sects."
[System Alert: Hidden Faction Invitation Received – Shadow Pavilion]
Accepting will begin a long-term storyline: 'Master of Shadows.' Rewards include Karma Flux Technique, Phantom Cloak, and access to the Pavilion's Inner Circle.]
Priyanshu tapped the scroll once, absorbing its contents. Ancient maps. Assassination targets. Techniques of invisible dominion. The Pavilion wasn't offering friendship.
They were offering control.
He liked that.
But he had one question.
"What do they want in return?"
The messenger smiled beneath his mask. "Just this—make the world fear the light and kneel to the dark. No one knows how to do that better than you."
Later that night, Priyanshu sat in his chambers, replaying the memory of the offer. Behind him, two maids from the harem prepared tea—but neither dared speak, sensing the storm in their master's silence.
[System Dialogue: Choose your path]
1. Accept the Pavilion's invitation publicly. Gain 500 Bad Karma Points and 'Scourge of the Light' title.
2. Accept it secretly. Maintain public hero status. Gain 300 Good Karma Points and unlock 'Double-Faced Emperor' title.
He smirked. "Why not both?"
Option Selected: Secret Acceptance. Path of the Dual Mask initiated.
In the mirror, his reflection smiled back—a shadow cloaked in moonlight.
The Hidden Villain was about to take his first step into global chaos… and no one, not even the heavens, would know until it was too late.