Each of the Abyssal Archdukes had a unique innate ability, a gift from the Abyss when they climbed out. Rotgar's ability, "Possession," let him turn his body ethereal, like a soul, and possess intelligent creatures, perfectly controlling their bodies. Baran knew this part, but not the part about obtaining memories.
Thus, the bet seemed easy to Rotgar. He would find a playboy, use the man's memories to win the hearts of human women. Human women, vain and greedy, would be easy to conquer.
There was no direct passage between the demon and human realms. The environments were poisonous to each other's inhabitants, and only a few individuals from certain races could survive in the other realm with the help of items or secret techniques. Even so, their power would be diminished.
Rotgar, in his quest to lift his Abyssal curse—a price for the Abyss' gift—frequently visited the human realm for clues. There was a cross-realm teleportation circle set up in the castle's underground.
He stood in the circle, flicked his finger down, and a black flame hit the center, activating the teleportation circle with a burst of purple light. He appeared in a forest ten miles from a human city.
The spell's unique light quickly dissipated, and Rotgar frowned. Every visit to the human realm was uncomfortable. Even as an Abyssal Archduke, resistant to the human realm's toxicity, he wasn't unaffected. His power was suppressed to less than half.
Ahead, he heard voices, mingled with screams and raucous laughter. Rotgar didn't conceal his presence, so they noticed him as he approached.
"Who are you?"
Rotgar ignored them, continuing on his way.
A woman's voice cried out, "Help me, please save me!"
"Shut up!" followed by the sound of a slap, then a rough male voice, "I asked you, who are you! Stop right there! Brothers, get him!"
Several men grabbed their discarded weapons and rushed at Rotgar. The forest's dim light and branches had obscured Rotgar's form until they surrounded him, realizing he wasn't human but a horned demon.
"Demon! It's a demon!"
The men screamed in terror and turned to flee, but it was too late.
Rotgar raised his hand and flicked his fingers. Black flames appeared, spreading rapidly over the men like oil, engulfing them in an instant and reducing them to ashes. He didn't even pause.
The woman, who had witnessed the terrifying scene, trembled in fear, clutching herself and silently praying to the goddess of light. She quickly decided to treat the day's events as a nightmare and tell no one.
Rotgar soon found a suitable possession target: Parrysh Wilson, the son of the Blue Stone City lord, riding in a luxurious four-wheeled carriage back to the city. Parrysh, not a mage, had weak mental strength. Besides him, only the driver and his servant, both ordinary humans, were in the carriage. Rotgar easily possessed him. This body was young and handsome, capable of winning at least ten women's marriage proposals in a day.
Possession didn't kill the original owner; the soul would be forced into a dormant state, with the body under Rotgar's control.
The carriage slowly entered Blue Stone City. Rotgar opened the window and coldly observed the outside. These lowly, weak humans were still as disgusting as ever.
The carriage suddenly halted, and the driver angrily shouted, "Peasant! How dare you block Master Parrysh's carriage! Do you want to be hanged?"
Rotgar looked back, hearing a timid female voice, "Sorry, someone pushed me... I'll move right away!"
A poor excuse.
Rotgar remembered seeing similar scenes many years ago: a poor but beautiful girl falling before a wealthy noble's carriage, hoping to climb the social ladder.
Pathetic.
Rotgar stepped out of the carriage, seeing the girl struggling to stand but falling back in pain due to her injured knee. Onlookers had gathered, whispering among themselves.
Quite a performance, Rotgar thought maliciously, walking up to the fallen girl and bending down to pick her up.
The crowd gasped in astonishment. Most recognized the lord's son, and seeing a noble lift a commoner was shocking.
To Rotgar, humans were beneath even the lowest slimes in the demon realm. If he were in his true form, he wouldn't let a human woman touch his clothes. But for the Abyssal Seed, he would tolerate it.
Using Parrysh Wilson's memories, Rotgar smiled and looked deeply at the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl, saying, "Beautiful lady, your beauty has captivated me at first sight. Seeing you hurt breaks my heart. How can I leave you like this? Please come with me, and I will take care of your wounds."
Parrysh, due to his background and looks, was a popular playboy, full of sweet words. Rotgar had seen enough in his memories to use.
The girl, with long auburn curls, fair skin, and blue eyes, had a bit of tearful pain in her eyes. Her full red lips and slightly small, old gray dress made her look like a pearl covered in dust.
Before she could respond, Rotgar carried her into the carriage, prompting more whispers from the crowd.
"Oh, Master Parrysh is so gentle. I wish I were the one who fell in front of his carriage!"
"That girl is so lucky. Why couldn't it be my daughter?"
Rotgar heard the envious murmurs, understanding and hating their reaction. These vile humans never failed to disappoint him. Contradictory to his thoughts, he gently placed the girl on the seat, sat across from her, and looked at her with tender eyes. With a magnetic voice, he said, "Beautiful lady, you are like the rising sun, lighting my path. Without you, I would be lost. Please, marry me!"
Rotgar opted for a direct approach. If this girl intended to use the accident to rise in status, she would be overjoyed at his proposal.
The girl's hand, which had just wiped away her tears, froze. She looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly, and her lips trembling in disbelief.
Rotgar's disgust grew. He expected her to answer quickly, so he could kill her once she agreed.
But as he lowered his gaze, his hand casually touching the short sword at his waist, waiting for her joyful acceptance, he heard a soft yet firm voice: "I refuse."
Rotgar's eyes snapped up, taken aback. She had refused him? Impossible!