Raid 1

Damon stared at me, rubbing his temple as if he had a headache. "A kingdom to take back? Kid, do I look like I care about the empire?"

I glanced at the half-empty bottle in his hand. His coat was torn, his boots muddy. He looked nothing like the empire's former strongest swordsman.

"I didn't come here for the drunk you've become," I said. "I came for the man you used to be."

His eye twitched. Good. He wasn't completely broken yet.

I crouched next to the mercenary leader still gasping on the ground. "You have two options. Crawl back to Caius and tell him what I said, or…" I let my dagger hover near his throat.

He scrambled to his feet and ran.

Damon sighed. "Now you've pissed off someone dangerous."

I grinned. "Caius was always going to come for me. Might as well make it interesting."

[DING!]

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▶ [Quest Completed: The First Counterattack]

▶ Reward: Stealth (F) Unlocked, +3 Strength

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A warm sensation coursed through my body. My grip felt steadier, my muscles tighter. The system was working—I was getting stronger.

Damon raised an eyebrow. "You're different. Last time I saw you, you were a sniveling brat."

Last time. He meant in my past life. Back then, I had come to him with nothing but desperation and an empty promise. This time, I had power.

"I know how this ends, Damon," I said. "If you keep running, you'll die in a ditch somewhere. Forgotten. Just like me."

He scowled. "That supposed to convince me?"

"No," I said. "But this might."

I tossed him something—the insignia I had taken from the assassin's corpse. His fingers closed around it, his expression darkening as he recognized the emblem.

"The Black Serpent Assassins," he muttered. "Caius sent them after you?"

"Not just me," I said. "He'll send them after anyone who could be a threat. That includes you."

Damon was silent. Then he took a long swig from his bottle… and smashed it against the tavern wall. Glass shattered, ale dripping down his sleeve.

He exhaled. "Damn it."

I smirked. "So? You in?"

He turned, his old warrior's instincts creeping back into his stance. "I'll hear you out. But if your plan is stupid, I'm throwing you out myself."

[DING!]

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▶ [New Companion Acquired: Damon Varik]

▶ Damon's Skill: Swordmaster's Will (Passive) – Boosts weapon proficiency and reaction speed.

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I grinned. First ally secured.

But this was just the beginning.

Caius thought I was dead.

Now, I was going to make him wish that were true.