Dominic sat in the quiet of his quarters, the hum of the fortress wards faint in the background. Sincerity was nearby, her presence grounding him as she worked on sharpening her daggers, the rhythmic sound like a heartbeat against the stillness.
The system interface floated before him, its cold light illuminating the grim list of tasks. Each objective felt like a chain tightening around his chest, but Dominic knew there was no turning back now.
Player Objectives: Ashen_Soul Survive the Blood Games (Completed)Acquire 1,000 Souls (Progress: 650/1,000)Defeat 10 Hunters (Progress: 3/10)Form a Pact with a Faction (Completed with the Order of the Penitent Pilgrim)Ascend the Tower of Trials (Not Started)Claim the Crown of Thorns (Final Objective: Locked)Additional Objectives Collect 100,000 Souls (Progress: 650/100,000)Ascend to Level 50 (Progress: 33/50)Discover the Purpose of the System (Completed)Survive Until Day 100 (Progress: Day 47/100)Avoid Angelic or Demonic Retribution for 30 Days (Progress: 0/30)
Dominic leaned back, his eyes scanning the list with a mixture of determination and dread. The weight of the objectives was suffocating, but the final one—Claim the Crown of Thorns—felt like a death sentence.
"It's insane," he muttered.
"What is?" Sincerity asked without looking up from her blades.
Dominic gestured to the interface. "The Crown of Thorns. It's the final objective, but it doesn't just ask for completion—it demands total sacrifice. Everything the system puts us through is leading to this one moment where it either breaks us or hands us the reins."
Sincerity set down her daggers, crossing the room to sit beside him. "It's a trap," she said, her voice firm. "The system doesn't want to relinquish control. That's why it makes the path impossible."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "Then I'll do the impossible."
Sincerity raised an eyebrow, her sharp wit returning. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not," Dominic said, his voice softening. "But if completing these objectives is the only way to end the system's hold on us, I'll do it. Even if it means becoming the messiah of genocide."
Sincerity's expression faltered, her usual confidence giving way to something more vulnerable. "Dominic... don't say things like that."
"It's true," Dominic replied. "To finish this, I'll have to kill hunters, take souls, climb a tower filled with gods know what, and wear a crown meant to break me. And I'll do it all—if it means saving you from this world."
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then she reached for his hand, her grip firm despite the faint tremor in her touch. "You're an idiot," she said quietly.
"Probably," Dominic admitted with a faint smile.
Her gaze softened, and she leaned her forehead against his. "Then I guess I'm an idiot too, because I'm not letting you face this alone."
Dominic closed the interface, his focus sharpening. "We'll finish gathering souls first," he said, his tone decisive. "Then take down the hunters. With the Order's help, we might have a shot at surviving the Tower of Trials."
"And the Crown?" Sincerity asked, her voice tinged with caution.
Dominic exhaled, his chest tightening at the thought. "We'll deal with that when the time comes. But if I have to wear it, I will. Whatever it takes."
Sincerity studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Then we'd better start with those souls. The faster we move, the fewer hunters we'll have breathing down our necks."
Dominic smiled, her determination bolstering his own. "Together?"
"Always," she said, her voice steady.
As they left the room to prepare for the next step, Dominic couldn't shake the feeling of the system's invisible presence watching them, waiting for its moment to strike.
The objectives were a trap, but they were also a key—a way to take the system's power and reshape the world.
And if that meant sacrificing everything, Dominic knew he was ready.
Dominic and Sincerity sat in the quiet of the library, a large map of the city spread out before them. The glow of the wards painted faint patterns across their faces as they discussed their next move.
"We can't ignore the Tower of Trials forever," Dominic said, his voice calm but firm. "But if I head there now, I won't stand a chance. Level 33 isn't enough—not for what we'll face inside."
"And we're still far from the 100,000 souls," Sincerity added, her sharp eyes scanning the objectives Dominic had shown her earlier. "Even if we scavenge every scrap of soul energy we can find in the city, it'll take too long. We need a better plan."
Dominic leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. "Then we focus on levelling up and gathering souls first. If I hit level 50, I'll have the attributes and abilities to survive the tower. And with 100,000 souls, I'll have the resources to deal with anything the system throws at us."
Sincerity nodded, her expression thoughtful. "The soul-farm's our best bet. It's steady, reliable. If we can channel most of the output directly to you, we might be able to hit the 100,000 mark within a couple of weeks."
Dominic frowned. "But that would leave the Order without a supply. If the system sends another wave of hunters—"
"We'll figure it out," Sincerity said, cutting him off. "Elara will understand. She knows how important this is."
Dominic hesitated, then nodded. "Let's take it to her."
Elara stood at the head of the command chamber, her arms crossed as Dominic and Sincerity laid out their plan. She listened intently, her sharp green eyes betraying no emotion as they spoke.
When they finished, she remained silent for a moment, her gaze shifting to the glowing map of the city behind her.
"You're asking for a lot," she said finally, her tone even. "The soul-farm is the backbone of the Order's operations. If we divert its output entirely to you, we'll be vulnerable."
"I know," Dominic said, his voice steady. "But this isn't just about me. If I don't level up and gather those souls, we'll all be vulnerable—because the system won't stop coming after us."
Elara's expression remained unreadable, but she seemed to consider his words. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Alright," she said. "For the next two weeks, the soul-farm's output will be diverted to you. But you'll need to make up for it in other ways. Train the knights, lead patrols, and help us prepare for any attacks. If we're taking this risk, I need to know you're pulling your weight."
Dominic nodded. "You have my word."
Elara turned to Sincerity. "And you? Are you committed to this as well?"
Sincerity smirked. "Always."
Elara gave a faint nod, her gaze softening slightly. "Then make it count. Because if this plan fails, we may not get another chance."
Over the next few days, the soul-farm's output was carefully channelled into Dominic's reserves. Each morning, he checked the system interface, watching the soul count climb steadily higher.
Souls Held: 11,750... 20,000... 37,650...
At the same time, Dominic threw himself into training with the knights, honing his combat skills and testing new abilities purchased from the shop. The farm's steady supply allowed him to invest in powerful upgrades, each one bringing him closer to the strength he needed to face the Tower of Trials.
One evening, as they stood on the fortress walls overlooking the city, Dominic turned to Sincerity.
"Do you think this will work?" he asked, his voice quiet.
Sincerity leaned on the parapet, her gaze distant. "I think it has to," she said. "Because if it doesn't... what else do we have?"
Dominic nodded, her words a reflection of his own thoughts. "I won't let it fail," he said firmly. "Not for you, not for the Order, not for anyone."
Sincerity smiled faintly, her sharp eyes softening. "That's why I believe in you, Dominic. You don't know how to give up."
He reached for her hand, their fingers intertwining as they stood in silence, the city's neon glow stretching out before them.
As the two-week mark approached, the Soul-farm's output began to plateau, and Dominic's level hovered just below 50. Elara watched their progress closely, her faith in Dominic tempered by the ever-present risk of the system's interference.
But Dominic remained resolute, his determination unwavering. With Sincerity by his side and the Order backing him, he knew they were closer than ever to the next step in their journey.
The Tower of Trials awaited.
Dominic drifted into sleep, exhaustion from the day's training and planning pulling him under. The hum of the fortress wards faded into silence, replaced by a strange, oppressive stillness.
He stood in a void, the air heavy and electric. The darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, broken only by a faint light in the distance. As he moved toward it, the light grew brighter, revealing Sincerity.
But it wasn't the Sincerity he knew.
She stood with her back to him, her once-sharp posture now slumped and defeated. Her wings, no longer radiant, hung in tatters, dripping with black ichor that pooled at her feet. As Dominic stepped closer, the void around them shimmered, revealing flashes of a scene he couldn't fully comprehend.
Sincerity stood in a golden hall, her angelic wings spread wide. Before her knelt a man, his hands bound, his face streaked with tears.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"You betrayed us!" a booming voice thundered, echoing through the hall.
Sincerity fell to her knees, her wings folding around her as tears streamed down her face. "I didn't know," she said, her voice cracking. "I didn't know he would—"
"Enough!" the voice roared.
Dominic felt the weight of the judgement as though it were aimed at him. A blinding light filled the hall, and when it faded, Sincerity was alone, her wings scorched and her body trembling.
The scene shifted violently. Dominic was back in the void, but now it was filled with a river of blood, its crimson surface churning with tortured faces. Sincerity stood at the edge, her expression vacant, her hands trembling as she reached for her face.
"Don't," Dominic tried to say, but his voice didn't carry.
She ignored him, her fingers digging into her eyes. The sound was sickening, the wet squelch of flesh and bone causing Dominic to flinch. When she turned to face him, her hollow sockets burned with an unnatural light, staring directly into his soul.
"Become the messiah of genocide," she screamed, her voice layered with something inhuman. "Ascend the river of blood, claim the throne, and wear the crown!"
Dominic tried to move, to reach her, but his body was frozen. The system interface flickered into view, its cold blue light marred by flashes of red as error messages filled his vision.
System Error: Connection Instability Detected.
System Error: Player Objectives Compromised.
System Error: Logic Thread Overload.
The messages blinked furiously, their mechanical tone warped and chaotic. Dominic's mind raced, the words from Sincerity and the errors melding into a nightmarish cacophony.
"You'll break it," Sincerity screamed, her hands clawing at her face. "Or it will break you!"
The void shattered, and Dominic was consumed by a blinding light.
Dominic woke with a gasp, his chest heaving as cold sweat drenched his body. The faint hum of the fortress wards grounded him, but the images from the dream lingered, vivid and raw.
Sincerity stirred beside him, her brow furrowing as she opened her eyes. "Dominic?" she asked groggily, sitting up. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head, his breath still uneven. "Another dream," he said, his voice strained. "It was... you. But not you."
Her expression hardened. "Tell me."
Dominic hesitated, then recounted the dream in detail, his voice faltering as he described her self-inflicted wounds and the river of blood.
When he finished, Sincerity's face was pale, her hands trembling. "That wasn't just a dream," she whispered.
"What do you mean?" Dominic asked, his chest tightening.
She looked at him, her sharp eyes filled with fear. "The system is reacting to you, Dominic. To us. It's trying to warn you—or push you. Either way, it's losing control."
"And the throne?" Dominic asked, his voice low.
Sincerity hesitated, then gripped his hand tightly. "If we're going to do this, you need to be ready. Because whatever waits at the end of this path... it's worse than we imagined."
Dominic nodded, his resolve hardening despite the fear clawing at his chest. "Then we don't stop. Not now."
Sincerity's gaze softened, and she gave a faint nod. "Together, then."
"Always," Dominic said.
The air in the fortress felt heavier after the dream, the oppressive hum of the system lingering in Dominic's mind like static. His body was still trembling when he got dressed, Sincerity watching him carefully.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked, her voice unusually soft.
Dominic ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts a tangled mess. "I'm fine. Or as fine as I can be after seeing... that."
Sincerity frowned, her gaze searching his face. "You've faced a lot already, Dominic. But that dream? That was something else. You're not fine."
Dominic hesitated, his hands clenching into fists. "It wasn't just a dream, Sincerity. It felt real. Like the system was showing me something—or trying to manipulate me. And those error messages... what if the system is starting to break?"
Sincerity's eyes narrowed. "If it's breaking, it's because of you. You've pushed it harder than anyone else ever has. You've refused to follow its rules, and now it doesn't know how to handle you."
"Or it's trying to make me crack," Dominic said bitterly. "It's trying to turn me into something I don't want to be."
Sincerity stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "You're stronger than that. The system doesn't get to decide who you are. You do."
Dominic looked at her, the sincerity in her eyes grounding him. He nodded slowly. "You're right. I won't let it win."
Later that day, as Dominic worked with the soul-farm, the first signs of the system's breakdown became impossible to ignore.
The interface flickered erratically as he monitored the farm's output, and messages began to appear that made no sense.
System Alert: Logic Thread Overlap Detected.
Warning: Objective Parameters Are Unstable.
System Alert: Player Dominic Ashen-Soul – Mission Conflict Detected.
Dominic frowned, his hand hovering over the interface as the messages continued to flash. "Sincerity," he called, his voice tense.
She appeared at his side almost immediately, her sharp eyes narrowing as she read the messages. "That's not normal."
"No kidding," Dominic muttered. "The system's unravelling"
Before Sincerity could reply, another message appeared, its text flickering like a faulty neon sign.
Critical Error: Bloodline Priority Compromised. Initiating Reset Protocol.
Dominic felt a chill run down his spine. "Reset protocol? What the hell is that?"
Sincerity's expression darkened. "It's trying to reboot itself—to wipe out whatever's causing the errors."
"And I'm guessing that's me," Dominic said grimly.
That night, Dominic sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. The dreams, the error messages, the system's attempts to reset—it all weighed on him like a leaden cloak.
Sincerity sat beside him, her presence a steadying force. She didn't speak at first, simply letting the silence stretch between them.
Finally, Dominic broke the silence. "What if I'm not strong enough?"
Sincerity turned to him, her expression fierce. "Don't say that."
"I mean it," Dominic said, his voice raw. "The system is breaking because of me. It's throwing everything it has at me—hunters, manipulation, these damn messages. What if I can't handle it? What if I fail?"
"You won't," Sincerity said firmly. "You've come too far to give up now."
Dominic shook his head, his frustration bubbling over. "It's not just about me! If I fail, you—Elara, the knights, everyone—they'll all pay the price. Sincerity: The system doesn't just punish players. It punishes everyone around them."
Sincerity reached out, gripping his hands tightly. "Listen to me. The system is trying to scare you because it knows you're a threat. It's panicking, Dominic. That means you're winning. But you need to focus. You need to keep going."
Dominic met her gaze, the intensity in her eyes forcing him to steady his breathing. "You really think I can do this?"
"I know you can," she said. "And I'll be here every step of the way."
The next morning, the system's instability became more pronounced. Knights reported strange glitches during training, their objectives flickering or changing without warning. One knight claimed to have received two conflicting missions simultaneously: Protect the Soul-Farm and Destroy the Soul-Farm.
Elara called an emergency meeting, her expression grim as Dominic and Sincerity joined the knights in the grand hall.
"The system is destabilising" Elara said, her voice carrying through the chamber. "It's targeting Dominic, but the effects are spilling over to the rest of us. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."
Dominic stood, his resolve hardening. "The system won't stop until it resets—or breaks completely. If we're going to survive this, we need to push back harder than ever."
Elara nodded. "What do you propose?"
"We focus on the objectives," Dominic said. "Levelling up, gathering souls, and preparing for the Tower of Trials. The faster we complete this, the less time the system has to regain control."
The room was silent for a moment, then Elara spoke. "Agreed. But Dominic, understand this: if you fall, the system will consume us all. Don't let that happen."
Dominic met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "I won't."
As the knights dispersed, Sincerity stayed by Dominic's side, her presence a steadying force. "You're ready for this," she said, her voice quiet but confident.
Dominic nodded, his resolve hardening. "I have to be. For you, for the Order, for everyone."
"And for yourself," Sincerity added, her hand brushing against his. "Because you're stronger than you think."
Dominic smiled faintly, her words anchoring him. "Together, then."
"Always," she replied.
Dominic stood in the quiet city streets, his breath steady as the special ward in his hand pulsed with an eerie glow. Its light danced across the surrounding buildings, an irresistible beacon for the hunters he sought to draw. Sincerity stood beside him, her daggers glinting in the faint neon haze.
"This is it," Dominic said, his voice low but resolute. "Time to finish the hunter objective."
Sincerity nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. "They'll come in force. You're ready for this, right?"
Dominic flexed his fingers, the surge of power from his recent level 50 ascension still coursing through him. "Ready as I'll ever be."
He activated the ward. The air around them seemed to ripple, charged with an otherworldly energy. Moments later, the night erupted with the sound of wings and roars as eight hunters descended upon them—angels and demons alike.
The hunters surrounded them in a chaotic maelstrom of light and shadow. Radiant angelic figures clashed with monstrous demonic entities, their ancient rivalry spilling into the fray as they attacked Dominic and each other.
The first angel launched a divine spear, its golden energy crackling through the air. Dominic activated Flashstep, his body blurring as he dodged the attack and countered with Blazing Sabre, the weapon igniting as it sliced clean through the spear's shaft and into the angel's side.
A demonic hunter roared behind him, its claws raking the ground as it charged. Sincerity intercepted, her daggers a blur as she danced around its strikes, delivering precise, devastating blows to its joints.
"Focus, Dominic!" she called, ducking under a wide slash.
"I'm trying!" he shot back, unleashing an Energy Wave, a surge of force that threw two hunters into a crumbling wall.
Dominic burned through his soul reserves with calculated precision, activating abilities in quick succession.
Judgement Strike: A searing arc of divine energy cleaved through a pair of angels, their radiant forms disintegrating into bursts of light. Endurance Surge: Dominic's stamina surged as he absorbed a crushing blow from a demon's mace, his barrier runes sparking but holding firm. Shadowburst Cloak: A new ability purchased in preparation for this fight, it wrapped Dominic in a shroud of darkness, allowing him to strike from the shadows with brutal efficiency.
The hunters grew more desperate as their numbers dwindled. The remaining angels and demons turned on each other in a frenzy, their attacks unintentionally aiding Dominic's cause.
Dominic and Sincerity fought side by side, their movements perfectly synchronised. With a final burst of power, Dominic activated Ultimate Requiem, an ability that channelled all his remaining energy into a devastating shockwave.
The ground shook as the shockwave tore through the battlefield, obliterating the last of the hunters.
The silence that followed was deafening. The ward's glow dimmed, its purpose fulfilled.
Dominic leaned on his sword, his breath ragged as the system interface blinked into view.
Hunters Defeated : +8
Experience Gained: 32,000 XP
Level : 50 (MAX)
Souls Collected: +13,482
Dominic straightened, his gaze shifting to his soul total.
Current Souls: 135,217
"We did it," he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion and relief.
Sincerity approached, wiping ichor from her blades. "You did it," she corrected. "That was insane, Dominic. Even for you."
Before Dominic could reply, the system interface flickered erratically. Red error messages filled his vision, their text warped and fragmented.
System Alert: Logic Thread Failure Detected.
Critical Error: Messiah Candidate Exceeding Parameters.
Recalibrating Objectives...
Dominic scowled, the error messages only adding to the weight on his shoulders. "It's breaking," he said. "The system doesn't know how to handle this."
Sincerity frowned, stepping closer. "And it's not going to stop until it finds a way to reset or destroy you. We need to move fast."
Dominic nodded, his resolve hardening. "The Tower of Trials is next. Once I gather the last souls I need, we're heading straight there."
As the two made their way back to the fortress, the adrenaline from the battle began to wear off. Dominic's mind wandered to the dream he'd had the night before, Sincerity's hollow eyes and haunting words still fresh in his memory.
"You're quiet," Sincerity said, breaking the silence.
Dominic glanced at her, his expression troubled. "It's nothing."
"Liar," she said, her tone gentler than usual. "You're thinking about the dream, aren't you?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "I can't shake it. What if it wasn't just a dream? What if it's the system trying to get in my head?"
Sincerity placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. "Listen to me. The system doesn't control you. It tries, sure, but you're stronger than that. You've proven it over and over again."
Dominic looked at her, her fierce determination grounding him. "And what if I'm not strong enough when it matters most?"
"You will be," she said firmly. "Because I'll make sure of it."
Dominic managed a small smile, her words easing the tension in his chest. "Together, then."
"Always," she replied.
With eight hunters defeated, Dominic was closer than ever to completing his objectives. The path ahead was treacherous, but the bond he shared with Sincerity and the determination forged in battle gave him the strength to keep going.
The Tower of Trials awaited, and with it, the next step toward claiming the Crown of Thorns—and reshaping the world.