Chapter 3: The Demon Beneath the Noble House
The underground chamber was colder than Kael had expected.
Every step echoed through the darkness as he descended the ancient staircase beneath the Veyron estate. The walls were covered in strange symbols, and black mist drifted along the floor like living shadows.
[Warning: Unknown energy detected.]
[Your current level is insufficient to enter this area.]
Kael glanced at the notification.
"Then why did you bring me here?"
The system remained silent.
At the bottom of the staircase stood an enormous black gate. Thick chains wrapped around it, each marked with glowing golden symbols.
Something was sealed behind it.
Something powerful.
Something dangerous.
Kael approached cautiously.
"Is anyone there?"
A deep voice answered.
[After all these centuries... someone finally came.]
The ground trembled.
Kael stopped.
"Who are you?"
[I am the forgotten existence beneath your family's home. The monster your ancestors feared. The sin they buried beneath their own bloodline.]
Kael examined the chains.
"Sounds like a family problem."
A low, sinister laugh filled the chamber.
[You have your ancestor's blood, but your soul is different. Interesting.]
Before Kael could respond, his system activated.
Hidden Quest Unlocked
THE DEMON BENEATH THE NOBLE HOUSE
Objective: Discover the truth behind the Veyron bloodline.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure Penalty: Soul destruction.
Kael frowned.
"Your quests really need better rewards."
The voice laughed again.
[You speak boldly for someone standing before a being who could erase your existence.]
"Then kill me."
Silence.
Kael continued.
"If you can, you wouldn't need to make deals with me."
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the enormous eye behind the gate slowly opened.
[Clever child.]
A wave of black energy burst from the gate. Kael staggered backward, but he refused to fall.
His system began flashing.
[Warning! Abyssal energy detected.]
[Unique Skill Resonating...]
[The Abyss That Hates the World is responding.]
The black mist surrounding Kael suddenly rushed toward his body. A sharp pain spread through his chest.
He dropped to one knee.
"What... is this?"
[Your blood remembers what your mind has forgotten.]
Images flashed through his head.
A burning kingdom.
A battlefield filled with corpses.
A man wearing the Veyron crest standing before a throne of darkness.
And a voice whispering:
The world will never forgive our bloodline.
Kael gasped.
"Who was that?"
[Your ancestor. The first sinner.]
The system displayed another notification.
Contract Available
THE FIRST SIN
Contractor: Unknown Entity
Required Sacrifice: A portion of your humanity.
Potential Reward: Access to the sealed power of the Veyron bloodline.
Warning: This contract cannot be reversed.
Accepting this contract may permanently alter your soul.
Kael stared at the message.
He remembered the original story.
Kael Veyron was a weak, arrogant noble who tormented the future heroes. He was eventually betrayed by his own family and executed before reaching adulthood.
That was supposed to be his fate.
But he had no intention of following a story written by someone else.
"Humanity, huh?"
He slowly stood up.
"I already lost my old life. I'm not going to lose this one just because I'm afraid of becoming a monster."
He reached toward the gate.
"I accept."
[Contract Accepted.]
The chains shattered.
A tremendous explosion of darkness filled the chamber. Kael's body lifted from the ground as black energy surrounded him.
[Unique Skill Evolution Confirmed.]
[The Abyss That Hates the World has evolved.]
[New Ability Acquired: Abyssal Blood Awakening.]
[New Trait Acquired: Sin Eater.]
Kael's status window appeared.
## KAEL VEYRON
Awakened
| Attribute | Status |
| ------------ | ------ |
| Level | 1 |
| Strength | 8 |
| Mana | 15 |
| Abyss Energy | 100 |
| Reputation | -999 |
Unique Skill: The Abyss That Hates the World
New Ability: Abyssal Blood Awakening
New Trait: Sin Eater
Kael looked at his hands.
The power was overwhelming, but something felt different. He could hear whispers from the darkness, and every shadow seemed to recognize him.
Then the demon spoke again.
[Now you understand, little heir. Your family did not inherit a noble title. They inherited a curse.]
Kael looked toward the broken gate.
"Then I'll make sure it's a curse the entire world remembers."
### Meanwhile, Inside the Veyron Mansion
Lucien Veyron was sitting beside the window when a strange notification appeared.
[Warning: An ancient seal has been broken.]
His smile vanished.
He immediately stood up.
"That energy..."
A servant entered the room.
"Young Master Lucien, is something wrong?"
Lucien ignored him.
For the first time, the kind and gentle young noble looked genuinely disturbed.
He stared toward the underground section of the estate.
"Kael..."
His hands tightened.
"What have you awakened?"
Deep beneath the mansion, Kael smiled as another notification appeared.
[Main Quest Updated.]
[Survive Until Your Eighteenth Birthday.]
Time Remaining: 364 Days.
Kael looked at the countdown.
"One year..."
His smile widened.
"Let's see who gets executed first."
End of Chapter 3
Next Chapter: Chapter 4 – The First Taste of the Abyss