Chapter 69: CH-69
The Asura card pulsed like a strobe, tugging at the air around it, as if the very atmosphere were being drawn into its core
This was the first time something like this had happened, and instead of feeling worried, I was thrilled. The crazier things got, the bigger the rewards. That was basic "road to overpowered" 101.
’Okay, system, give me everything you’ve got. Make me unrivaled.’
Everything went dark.
My heartbeat slowed, each thud echoing inside a vast, empty void.
For a second, I thought I was dead.
But then—clang.
A metallic sound rang out, followed by another.
Cold metal pressed against my wrists, and when I struggled, my arms were forced upward, locked into place.
"What the hell—"
My voice bounced off the walls like an echo in a cave.
I could sense I was surrounded by stone walls, their rough texture reminding me of granite. Or what I imagined granite to feel like from movies and anime
As my vision adjusted, the darkness receded just enough for me to see.
Both my arms were raised above my head, bound by thick chains.
Looking down, my eyes widened in disbelief.
Dozens of chains coiled around my legs, their weight anchored by iron spheres the size of a man’s head. Even the walls weren’t spared—links were fused into the stone itself.
For a second, I thought I was trapped in a demon’s body... but the frail, pale legs below me proved otherwise.
Moving was impossible. Even breathing felt like punishment.
’What kind of sick joke is this...’ I muttered, tugging again to no avail.
’System! What the hell is happening?!’
My voice was raspy, my throat raw, like I swallowed shards of glass for breakfast.
Starved. Dehydrated. This body was nothing but bones and willpower. It should’ve been a corpse, but somehow, it was still breathing—a cruel joke more than a miracle.
creak!
The sound of metal scraping against stone echoed through the chamber. I squinted as a sliver of light passed through the sealed door.
When my vision cleared, a figure came into view.
A woman in her thirties appeared, her black hair perfectly styled, every strand pinned with gold and diamond. Her small-shaped monolid eyes gave her an intimidating look.
Every step she took made her robe sway, the flowing sleeves painting arcs of silk in the air.
It reminded me faintly of a yukata from my past life—but the elegance and intricate patterns marked her as someone who commanded respect, the kind of presence only seen in martial arts dramas’ royalty.
"Do you now comprehend the weight of your transgressions?" Her voice slid through the darkness.
Shit. I had zero idea what she was saying. No memories, no instructions, not even a synchronization meter. I had to improvise, immediately.
"I—I’m sorry... for... everything. Please... spare me," I stammered, not just to look pitiful, but because my jaw ached just from opening my mouth.
"Spare you?" Her stare cut through me like a guillotine inching closer. "After the horrors you brought upon my family?"
I swallowed hard, trying to gather anything resembling words. "I—I didn’t... I don’t..."
"You didn’t what?" Her words lashed at me like a whip. "After deceiving my mother with your honeyed lies, you dared lay hands upon all my sisters? That night—had fate not intervened—you would have defiled me as well! You are a fiend, a scourge upon all women!"
Her statement left me speechless. What kind of sick psycho was I controlling right now? Mother and daughters? What the hell...
Then I realized. Oh no. I had done the same thing. No way I could call him out when we were practically on the same wavelength.
Maybe I could use this to my advantage.
"L...listen! What we did... we did it because we love each other!"
My voice cracked, hoarse, barely holding together, but I shoved every ounce of strength into it to look sincere.
"LIES!" She slapped me across the face.
"Do you even grasp the enormity of your evil deeds? All of them... every last one bears your seed. And my father—the emperor—lies bedridden, his heart gave up upon learning what you have done. You, whom he called friend, General Sun Wang..."
Are you kidding me? That piece of trash actually did all of that? The nerve... the absolute fucking nerve. What a disgusting, selfish jerk.
But the badmouthing would have to wait.
My mind raced for a way out, grabbing at scraps of information from what she said. I was a friend of the king—his trusted friend—and a general, which meant I had power once.
There had to be a reason why I’m still alive. They couldn’t execute me... not yet. Which meant there was still a slim chance to talk, to stall, to survive.
"I know what I did was wrong, but I am willing to take full responsibility. I will father every single one of them."
Her eyes narrowed. "Responsibility? Responsibility?!"
Before I could even process it, her hand shot out, slapping me across the face. Hard. Chains rattled as I slammed against them.
She didn’t pause at a single strike; her anger demanded more.
Each strike left my vision swimming, my jaw throbbing, my thoughts scrambling for a way out. I tried to speak, to explain, but every word seemed only to fuel her rage.
At last, she stopped, her gaze sweeping over the wounds marring my face. I couldn’t even blame her for lashing out like that.
And yet... why did her fury feel so pointed at me? Don’t tell me she actually had feelings for General Sun Wang, and her wrath was because he left her for last.
"How dare you cast such lecherous, sinful eyes upon me?" she hissed, her contempt slicing through the air between us.
This was it—the moment to test my hypothesis.
"My lady, I beg your pardon if I have offended you, but even in this state, I cannot help but admire your beauty—"
I was abruptly cut off by a kick to the stomach. Guess my assumption was very wrong.
"You are beyond saving, General Sun Wang. The nation may praise your victories in the battlefield, yet when it is revealed that your lust taints the weak and women already bound by vows, every corner of the country will curse your name."
I forced myself to look at her. No chance she would believe a word from this body. Honestly... compared to General Sun Wang, I almost looked like an upstanding man.
"’Just being near you makes me want to vomit.’
Breathing heavily, she turned, and walked away. The sound of her robe sliding across the floor echoed behind her.
Ten minutes later, my patience ran out.
"Damn it! Damn it!" I yanked at the chains again, but it was useless. Even a monster would have had a looser prison than this.
’System! Get me out of here!’ I yelled like a lunatic.
Nothing happened—no pop-ups, no HUD, not even a sarcastic error sound.
’Not good... I’m getting dizzy.’
I fought to stay awake, but when your body’s running on fumes, wanting it isn’t enough.
Before my eyes finally shut for good, I clung to the hope that I would wake from this nightmare, and get myself a refreshing sparkling water.