Ch-178 offer to be a slave or death

The space around Raghav twisted unnaturally as the dark crimson threads spiraled along the edge of his black sword. The sheer density of the energy caused the void beneath his feet to crack and distort, warping reality itself.

Violet's breath quickened as the crushing weight of Raghav's presence pressed down on her chest like a vice. Her legs trembled despite herself. Leona's golden aura flared wildly, but her limbs felt heavy—each breath like fire in her lungs.

"This…" Leona growled through clenched teeth, golden blood dripping from her lips. "This pressure… how is it still growing?"

Raghav's crimson eyes flashed coldly as his black sword hummed with unstable power. "If you can't stand under this weight… you have no right to survive."

He raised his sword.

The dark crimson threads twisted violently, forming into a spear of corrupted energy at the tip of his blade.

"I'll give you one final lesson."

Suddenly—

SLASH!

A single downward stroke.

The corrupted spear shot toward them, splitting the void apart with terrifying force. The sheer speed and weight behind the attack warped the air itself.

Violet's crimson eyes widened.

"MOVE!"

Violet's blood chains erupted from beneath her feet, dragging her body to the side. At the same time, Leona's golden aura flared as her werewolf form surged with primal light.

BOOM!

The corrupted spear struck the ground beneath them.

A deafening explosion of crimson-black light tore through the void, creating a shockwave that shattered everything in its path.

Violet's body hit the ground hard, blood spraying from her mouth as she skidded across the cracked surface.

Leona's body slammed into the ground beside her, her limbs trembling as she coughed up golden blood.

Raghav stood in the center of the destruction, his sword lowered. The air around him crackled violently as the remnants of his attack faded into thin streams of crimson-black light.

"This is the limit of your strength?" Raghav's voice was devoid of emotion.

Violet's trembling hand pushed against the ground as she forced herself to sit up. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. Her vision blurred as pain raged through her broken body.

"Tch… it's not… over."

Leona's chest heaved as golden light flickered weakly across her torn form. Her claws dug into the fractured ground as she tried to stand—only to collapse to one knee.

"We're… not done…" Leona growled.

"You're done."

Raghav's crimson eyes flashed. He appeared in front of them in a single instant.

Before Violet or Leona could react, Raghav's sword pressed against Violet's throat.

Her breath hitched.

"You fought well." His gaze darkened. "But you're not strong enough to stand before me."

Violet's body stiffened as the cold steel pressed against her throat. Her hands trembled.

"Then… are you going to kill us?" Violet's voice was quiet—calm despite the trembling in her limbs.

Raghav's gaze sharpened. His sword trembled slightly against her skin.

Then…

"No."

Raghav's sword vanished in a thin trail of crimson smoke. His hand lifted from Violet's throat.

Violet's crimson eyes widened as Leona's gaze sharpened with confusion.

"You're weak." Raghav's tone remained cold. "But there's potential."

Ah Ming's soft giggle echoed through the void as her golden-crimson eyes glinted with amusement.

"Oh?" Ah Ming purred, her legs crossed as she rested her chin on her hand. "You're sparing them? How merciful."

Raghav's gaze darkened. "Mercy?"

He crouched down in front of Violet, his crimson eyes meeting her wide gaze. His hand reached out and brushed against her bloodied cheek.

"No."

His fingers trailed down to her chin, tilting her face upward toward him.

"I'm not offering mercy." His voice dropped into a chilling whisper. "I'm offering you a chance."

Violet's heart hammered painfully against her chest as Raghav's crimson eyes glowed ominously.

"Become stronger." His gaze sharpened. "Swear loyalty to me."

Violet's breath hitched. "What…?"

Leona's golden eyes narrowed. "Swear loyalty? You mean…"

Raghav's gaze shifted toward Leona. His eyes darkened.

"Serve me." His tone was absolute. "Swear your lives to me… and I will give you the strength to survive."

Leona's breath quickened. "You want us to become your slaves?"

"Slavery." Raghav's smile sharpened. "Call it what you want." His gaze darkened. "But if you want to survive—if you want the strength to stand on your own—this is the price."

Violet's fists clenched. "And if we refuse?"

Raghav's eyes narrowed.

"Then you die here."

The space around them trembled under the weight of his words.

Leona's jaw tightened. Her body trembled from exhaustion, but her golden eyes flashed defiantly.

"Tch…" Leona's lips curled into a sharp grin. "You think I'm scared of death?"

Raghav's gaze remained cold. "Fear is irrelevant. Strength is all that matters."

Violet's breath steadied. Her crimson eyes burned with quiet intensity.

"If we serve you…" Violet's voice was quiet. "Will you make us stronger?"

"Beyond your imagination." Raghav's gaze sharpened.

Silence filled the space between them.

Violet's crimson eyes narrowed. Her gaze shifted toward Leona, who stared back at her with quiet resolve.

Violet's lips curled into a sharp smile.

"Then…"

She raised her head, her crimson eyes glowing darkly.

"I accept."

Leona's golden eyes narrowed. "If Violet's in… I'm in."

Raghav's expression didn't change.

"Good."

Suddenly—

Crimson and golden sigils ignited beneath their feet. Violet's eyes widened as dark crimson chains wrapped around her wrists, glowing with eerie light. Leona's golden aura twisted violently as similar chains coiled around her limbs.

The sigils flared. A burning sensation spread through their bodies as the chains sank beneath their skin.

"The contract is sealed." Raghav's crimson eyes pulsed. "Your lives belong to me now."

Violet's breath hitched as the burning sensation faded into a cold pulse of power. Her crimson eyes widened as strength slowly returned to her limbs.

Leona's golden aura surged. Her wounds slowly closed as the golden light in her body grew stronger.

"Now…" Raghav's voice darkened. "Rest."

The crimson chains faded into their skin as their bodies slowly relaxed. The void around them trembled as Raghav's dark aura faded.

Violet collapsed to her knees, her breath ragged. Leona dropped beside her, clutching her chest.

Raghav turned away from them.

"We'll begin your training soon." His gaze darkened. "Try not to die before then."

Ah Ming's soft giggle echoed as she floated toward Raghav's side.

"Oh, this is going to be fun." Ah Ming's golden-crimson eyes shimmered.

Violet and Leona's gazes lifted toward Raghav's fading figure.

Both of them could feel it—the dark pulse beneath their skin.

The bond had been forged.

And now… there was no turning back.