The night sky above the imperial capital was painted in crimson.
Flames danced in the distance, devouring buildings, swallowing screams, and turning the once-glorious kingdom into a burning graveyard. The air smelled of blood and ash.
At the highest tower of the royal palace stood a lone figure.
Prince Arian Valemont.
His golden robe was torn, stained with dirt and blood. His long black hair fluttered wildly in the cold wind. His chest rose and fell unevenly as he stared down at the chaos below.
His kingdom… was falling.
"No…" he whispered, his voice trembling.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He had done everything right.
He had protected the borders, negotiated peace, fed the poor, and strengthened the army. He had sacrificed his pride, his desires—everything—for the sake of the empire.
So why…
Why was everything burning?
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Slow. Calm. Deliberate.
Arian didn't turn around immediately. He already knew who it was.
"…You came," he said quietly.
A soft chuckle followed.
"Of course, brother."
Arian slowly turned.
Standing before him was a young man dressed in luxurious crimson armor, his expression calm, almost amused.
Prince Lucien Valemont.
His younger brother.
But at this moment… he looked more like a stranger.
"You did this?" Arian asked, his voice low.
Lucien tilted his head slightly, as if the question amused him.
"What do you think?"
Arian clenched his fists.
The answer was obvious.
The rebellion. The sudden betrayal of generals. The coordinated attacks.
It was all too perfect.
Too precise.
"You… orchestrated everything," Arian said, realization dawning in his eyes.
Lucien smiled.
"Finally, you understand."
Silence fell between them.
The wind howled.
Somewhere far below, a woman screamed before her voice was abruptly cut off.
Arian's heart tightened.
"These are our people," he said, his voice shaking. "Our kingdom!"
Lucien's expression didn't change.
"They are tools," he replied coldly.
Arian's eyes widened.
"Tools…?"
"Yes," Lucien said, stepping forward. "A king does not protect. A king controls."
Arian shook his head slowly.
"No… that's not what Father taught us."
Lucien's smile faded.
"Father was weak."
The words struck like lightning.
Arian felt his chest tighten.
"Our father built this empire!" he shouted.
"And I will rebuild it," Lucien replied calmly. "Stronger. Ruthless. Unbreakable."
Arian stared at him.
For the first time… he felt it.
The distance.
The cold, unbridgeable gap between them.
"You've changed," Arian said.
Lucien chuckled softly.
"No, brother."
"I've simply stopped pretending."
Suddenly—
Clang!
The sound of metal echoed.
Arian froze.
Behind him… the royal guards he trusted most had drawn their swords.
Their blades gleamed under the moonlight.
Pointed at him.
His breath caught.
"You too…?" he whispered.
These were men who had sworn loyalty to him.
Men he had saved.
Protected.
Trusted.
None of them met his eyes.
Lucien spoke calmly.
"You see, brother… loyalty is bought, not earned."
Arian's mind went blank.
Everything…
Everything was a lie.
He let out a hollow laugh.
"So this is how it ends…"
Lucien stepped closer.
"Yes."
Arian lifted his head.
Despite everything, his eyes still burned with defiance.
"You think you've won?"
Lucien stopped just a few steps away.
"I know I have."
Arian took a deep breath.
Then… he smiled.
It was faint.
But it was real.
"Then let me ask you one thing…"
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
Arian's gaze sharpened.
"Will you be able to sleep… after killing your own brother?"
For the first time—
Lucien's expression flickered.
Just slightly.
Then it disappeared.
"I'll sleep just fine," he said.
Arian nodded slowly.
"I see…"
He closed his eyes.
Memories flashed through his mind.
His childhood.
Training with his father.
Laughing with Lucien.
Dreaming of becoming a just king.
Everything…
Gone.
"Then do it," Arian said quietly.
Lucien raised his hand.
The guards moved.
One of them stepped forward.
Arian opened his eyes.
He didn't resist.
Didn't beg.
Didn't run.
He simply stood there.
Like a king.
The blade pierced his chest.
Arian gasped.
Pain exploded through his body.
Warm blood spilled down his clothes.
His legs gave out.
As he fell backward… time seemed to slow.
The sky.
The moon.
Lucien's face.
Everything blurred together.
"So this is death…" he thought.
Regret filled his heart.
Not for dying.
But for being weak.
If only…
If only he had been stronger.
If only he had been ruthless.
If only…
Darkness consumed him.
…But then—
A strange voice echoed in the void.
[System Initializing…]
Arian's consciousness stirred.
"…What?"
[Soul Detected]
[Compatibility Confirmed]
Arian frowned.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
Only the cold, mechanical voice.
[Activating Divine Conquest System…]
Suddenly—
Light exploded.
Arian's eyes snapped open.
He gasped, sucking in air like a drowning man.
His heart pounded wildly.
"I'm… alive?"
He sat up abruptly.
The room around him was unfamiliar… yet familiar at the same time.
Simple wooden furniture.
Curtains drawn.
A faint smell of medicine in the air.
"This place…"
His eyes widened.
"This is my old chamber!"
He looked at his hands.
Small.
Thin.
Weak.
"This… this is…"
He rushed to the mirror.
And froze.
Staring back at him was a pale, frail boy.
Dark circles under his eyes.
A body that looked like it could collapse at any moment.
"The Third Prince…"
Arian staggered back.
"This is me… from ten years ago!"
His breathing became heavy.
Reborn.
He had been reborn.
Before the betrayal.
Before the war.
Before everything.
A strange feeling rose in his chest.
Relief.
Shock.
And then—
A cold, burning hatred.
Lucien.
The guards.
The traitors.
"I died…"
His eyes darkened.
"Because I was weak."
Silence filled the room.
Then—
A low chuckle escaped his lips.
It grew louder.
And darker.
"Heh… hahaha…"
Arian covered his face.
"This is my second chance…"
His laughter stopped abruptly.
His eyes became sharp.
Dangerous.
"This time… I won't be kind."
"This time… I won't trust anyone."
"This time…"
"I will become the king they feared."
[System Activated Successfully]
A glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes.
Arian froze.
"What is this…?"
[Welcome, Host]
[Divine Conquest System Online]
His heartbeat quickened.
"A system…?"
His mind raced.
This was something beyond logic.
Beyond magic.
"What can you do?" he asked.
[System Function: Help Host Conquer the World]
[Reward: Power, Skills, Summons]
Arian's eyes narrowed.
"Summons…?"
[You can summon Gods and Demons to serve you]
Silence.
Then—
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Gods… and demons…"
His fingers clenched.
Power.
Real power.
Not politics.
Not trust.
Not fragile alliances.
But absolute power.
"Good…"
He looked at the screen with burning determination.
"Very good."
[First Mission Assigned]
[Survive the Next 7 Days]
[Reward: Beginner Summon Ticket]
Arian blinked.
"Survive?"
Before he could think—
The door creaked open.
A maid entered quietly.
"Your Highness, it's time for your medicine—"
She stopped.
Her eyes widened.
Because the prince she knew…
The weak, timid boy…
Was gone.
In his place stood someone else.
Someone terrifying.
Arian slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
The maid trembled.
"Y-Your Highness…?"
Arian stared at her silently.
Then he smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Tell me," he said softly.
"Who ordered my poisoning?"
The maid's face turned pale.
"P-Poisoning…?"
Arian's smile deepened.
"I remember everything now."
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Deadly.
"And this time…"
"I won't die quietly."