Chapter 1: Death Is Only the Beginning
Darkness.
That was the last thing Kael Ashborne saw before death took him. The sound of car horns blaring, the screeching of tires, and a woman's scream all melded together in a final, chaotic symphony before silence claimed him.
He had died saving a stranger.
How ironic.
A life filled with solitude, cynicism, and apathy had ended in one moment of reckless kindness.
'Guess I finally did one good thing…' were his last thoughts before everything faded.
But death was not the end.
Instead of nothingness, Kael awoke to pain—unrelenting, mind-numbing agony searing through every fiber of his being. His chest heaved, lungs searching for air as though they hadn't tasted oxygen in years. His vision was blurry, and the weight of his own body felt alien.
And then came the voice.
> [Covenant System Initialized.]
Host: Kael Ashborne
Synchronization: 97%... 98%... 100%.
Welcome to the world of Eidralos.
Kael's eyes shot open.
The world around him was unfamiliar, regal, and ancient. He was lying in an opulent chamber, adorned with obsidian pillars and dark velvet curtains embroidered in crimson runes. A scent of incense and iron lingered in the air. Gold-trimmed banners bearing a snake coiled around a sword hung from the walls.
He tried to rise but hissed as pain flared through his ribs. Looking down, he saw bandages—fresh, bloodied, and wrapped around his torso. His skin was paler than he remembered, and his once short, black hair now flowed past his shoulders, silvery with hints of violet under the candlelight.
> [Memory Sync Completed.]
You have successfully inherited the identity of: Kairon Drestan, the Cursed Sovereign.
Fate Designation: Final Villain.
Kael's breath caught.
Kairon Drestan.
He recognized the name immediately. It wasn't his. It belonged to the antagonist of a novel he'd read—Fate's Requiem, a popular dark fantasy series. Kairon was the final boss. A sovereign born of forbidden magic, destined to fall at the hands of the hero, Aleron Dawnstar, and his righteous companions. His fate was sealed from the very beginning.
"Am I… inside a novel?" Kael whispered, voice rough and foreign. "Is this reincarnation? No—transmigration?"
> [Correct.]
Triggering Introductory Quest: "The Chains of Fate."
Objective: Survive the assassination attempt planned by your own retainers.
Reward: Access to the Covenant Shop, Fate Points +100, System Upgrade I.
"What?!"
The door to the chamber creaked open.
Kael pushed himself off the bed despite the agony. His eyes scanned the room—no weapons. No armor. Just silken robes and scattered scrolls. He stumbled toward the nearest wall and yanked a dagger from a ceremonial display.
Three figures entered. All wore dark cloaks, the sigil of House Drestan emblazoned on their chests. Their faces were concealed by half-masks, but their eyes glimmered with murderous intent.
"Lord Kairon," one of them said mockingly. "You should be resting. After all, you won't need to stay awake for long."
Kael's mind raced.
He remembered from the novel: Kairon's most loyal retainers had betrayed him days after he awoke from a cursed slumber. Fearing his return to power, they sought to kill him before he regained his full strength.
'So this is that moment… If I die here, I'm dead for good.'
> [System Notification: You are currently at 23% of Kairon's peak power.]
'Great.'
The first assassin lunged forward, sword flashing in the candlelight.
Kael barely dodged, rolling to the side. His body screamed in protest, but adrenaline dulled the pain. The second traitor attacked from behind. Kael twisted, parrying the strike with the ceremonial dagger—only to have the third drive a knife toward his ribs.
He grabbed a vase from the shelf and hurled it. It shattered against the attacker's face, staggering him.
Kael wasn't a fighter in his past life. But Kairon had been. And now, Kael had his instincts—dull, but present.
He ducked, slashed upward, and drove the dagger into the first attacker's throat.
Blood sprayed.
Kael stumbled back, his breathing heavy, heart racing.
The second and third hesitated. Their "cursed sovereign" wasn't supposed to fight back.
> [Quest Progress: 1/3 Eliminated.]
"Kill him now!" one shouted, voice trembling.
Kael growled, eyes glowing faintly violet. The third attacker rushed in—sloppy, enraged. Kael feigned a leftward dodge, then pivoted right and slashed across the man's eyes.
He screamed, collapsing to the ground.
The last assassin, now alone, turned to flee.
"No," Kael snarled, voice laced with venom. "You entered my den to kill me. You don't get to leave."
He tackled the man from behind, smashing his head into the stone floor until he stopped moving.
> [Quest Complete.]
Rewards: Fate Points +100 | Covenant Shop Unlocked | System Upgrade I: Insight of the Fallen.]
Kael dropped to his knees, covered in blood—his own and theirs.
"Insight of the Fallen…?" he asked, panting.
> [Skill Unlocked: Insight of the Fallen]
Effect: Temporarily grants the memories and combat knowledge of slain enemies for 3 minutes per kill. Stacks up to 5 uses.]
He laughed—bitter, cold, triumphant.
So this was how it started. Thrust into the role of a villain. Betrayed. Hunted. Alone.
But he wouldn't die like the original Kairon.
Kael Ashborne had never been one for playing hero. But now, he wasn't bound by morality, law, or fate.
He was Kairon Drestan, the Cursed Sovereign.
And he would make this world kneel.
---
As Kael dragged the bodies toward the hidden chute behind the throne—another memory buried deep within Kairon's mind—he paused. His hands trembled slightly.
Was it fear? Guilt?
No.
Excitement.
A strange thrill pulsed in his chest. This world was cruel, yes, but it was also beautiful. Powerful. Unpredictable. Here, he wasn't just some faceless salaryman working a dead-end job. He wasn't another average soul fading into obscurity.
Here, he had power.
And more importantly, he had a chance to rewrite destiny.
> [New Quest: "Forge Your Legacy."]
Objective: Reclaim the Seat of Sovereignty and confront the Council of Lords.
Optional: Spare no traitors.
Rewards: Access to Personal Domain, Covenant Forge Unlocked, New Skill Acquisition Opportunity.]
Kael smirked.
The throne behind him gleamed with dark obsidian runes, calling to him. He sat on it—not as a dying monarch, but as a man reborn.
Above him, the ancient chandelier flickered, casting twisted shadows on the walls.
He wasn't a hero.
He wasn't a savior.
But he would become the most feared existence in Eidralos. Not because fate demanded it—but because he chose to be.
"Let destiny try to stop me," Kael whispered.
"I'll tear it apart with my own hands."