Resolve

Sethius's crimson eyes scanned the glowing panel before him, absorbing every detail shown by the floating screen. The unfamiliar terms, the status of Royal Vampire, the peculiar traits and laws—they were all familiar and unfamiliar to him.

But, suddenly, a jolt of realization struck him like lightning. 'This is the world of that damned novel I was reading before dying'. He thought. The memories from his previous life on Earth that he just got confirmed it.

He was no longer in his old world but inside the pages of a story he had once read, a narrative he vaguely remembered and just finished, and that as a character.

And not just any character—he was Sethius Von Nevermore, Prince of the Moros Empire and the demon spawn bastard who relentlessly tried to kill the protagonist, leaving only a trail of chaos and blood until the end of the novel, though he never succeeded in his life goal.

But instead of fear towards his new-found life, a wicked grin spread across his face, his crimson eyes glinting with a dangerous light as if a switch was pulled inside his mind.

Excitement bubbled in his chest, almost too much to contain. "Sethius Von Nevermore," he whispered, barely containing his chuckle. "That overpowered useless prick. Oh, what fun this is going to be."

His breath quickened as he paced the room, his fingers twitching with anticipation. The thought of stepping into this dark, violent world—his world now—filled him with an almost unhinged delight. The memories of what the future entails from the novel flashed in his mind like a series of thrilling previews.

"So much blood to spill," he murmured, his voice low and tinged with madness. "So many battles to fight... It's all waiting for me. A new life!" He clenched his fists, his grin stretching wider. "And this time, I won't become someone's dog again."

His thoughts turned to the protagonist, the one he was supposed to chase endlessly and fail to destroy. Finally, a small chuckle escaped his mouth. "Let's see how long you last when the hunter knows you better than you know yourself, Hero."

The weight that this new reality brought was now gone, replaced by a ravenous hunger for the chaos that awaited him.

This, wasn't dread—it was raw, unbridled exhilaration.

Sethius Von Nevermore was no longer a character in a story.

He was alive.

Hungry.

Waiting for the world to tremble before his very eyes.

But, while cementing his resolve, the shimmering panel flickered slightly, letting a new notification appear.

[System Notice]

New Quest: Rise of the Fateless

Objective: Strengthen yourself

Reward: None

Failure Penalty: True Death

Seeing this, Sethius clenched his fists, his crimson eyes blazing with anger.

The implications were clear: he hadn't been brought into this world to live freely, to do only the things he wants.

No, no, no... Even now, though unseen, he could feel the weight of the invisible chains shackling him, forcing him into the role of someone else's pawn again, their obedient little doggy.

But instead of breaking him, this realization only made the fire within stronger while his lips curled into a cold, defiant grin.

"Whoever you are, pulling the strings before the screen and giving these shitty quests," he hissed through gritted teeth, his voice a low animalistic growl, "be prepared to lose your head—no matter how long it takes to make that a reality."

Seeing him, the room seemed to hum with his intensity, the air growing heavier as his conviction solidified.

He wasn't here to kneel before someone else.

He was here to rise.

To become something not even The Gods dare to defy.

Alas, he looked back at his status window, with his eyes narrowing at the words "Rank: E".

While a lot stronger than others his age, he was still at the bottom of the hierarchy in this world where weakness was a sin.

He turned from the window, the faint glow of the system panels casting long shadows across the room. His silver hair caught the light as he clenched his jaw, finally calming himself a little.

"If I'm going to survive this... no," he muttered, his lips curling into a smirk again as his eyes gleamed with a feral hunger. Then, his voice grew sharper, laced with raw, unhinged determination. "If I'm going to free myself, I need to start now."

And with that, while walking towards the door, a low, dark chuckle escaped his throat, his fingers twitching as if they ached to hold a weapon. "Blood. Chaos. I'll carve my path with their screams and broken bodies. I'll let them learn what happens when you try to chain me for a second time."