The stench of blood lingered in the cell.
Lian sat silently beside the guard's lifeless body, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The Sin System's interface hovered before him, illuminating the damp stone walls with an eerie light.
The Sin Tree loomed in his vision, its twisted branches whispering temptation.
He had unlocked only Wrath, but six more sins waited like hungry beasts.
[Sin Points: 50]
[Available Skill: "Blood Fury" – Level 1]
Description: Temporarily boosts strength and speed at the cost of sanity.
Lian touched the glowing words, and the system's cold voice confirmed:
[Blood Fury – Level 1 Activated.]
Instantly, heat surged through his veins. His heart pounded like a war drum, muscles coiling with new strength. It was intoxicating—wild, chaotic, yet empowering.
"Power born from sin…" he muttered, flexing his bloodstained hands. "So this is the path I've been given."
He stood, the chains that once bound him now nothing more than scraps of twisted iron. The cell door was still open, the corridor beyond dimly lit by torches.
From a distance, he could hear footsteps—other guards patrolling the prison.
His lips curved into a cruel smile.
The system had given him a simple quest.
And he had no intention of stopping with just one kill.
The first guard came around the corner, yawning, spear resting lazily on his shoulder.
He froze when his eyes landed on Lian—standing free, drenched in blood, a wicked grin splitting his face.
"You—!"
The man didn't even finish his words before Lian moved. With speed no unarmed prisoner should possess, Lian closed the distance and slammed his elbow into the man's throat. The guard gagged, stumbling backward, but Lian snatched the spear from his hands and drove it straight through his chest.
Blood sprayed. The man collapsed.
[Sin Committed.]
[+10 Sin Points (Wrath).]
The voice chimed coldly in his mind, yet every sound was a melody to Lian's ears.
Another guard shouted from further down the corridor, rushing forward with a drawn sword.
"Prisoner! Stop!"
But Lian only chuckled, spinning the spear with deadly precision. His body moved instinctively, like a predator finally unchained.
Steel clashed, sparks flew, and with a sudden thrust, Lian pierced the man's stomach. He twisted the weapon cruelly, savoring the scream before ripping it free.
The system chimed again.
[+10 Sin Points (Wrath).]
[Skill 'Blood Fury' EXP +5%.]
Lian's grin widened. His body was drenched in sweat and blood, but instead of fatigue, exhilaration burned in his veins. Every kill fed him. Every sin strengthened him.
And the guards kept coming.
Minutes later, the prison corridor was a crimson slaughterhouse.
Corpses littered the floor, torches flickering against walls painted in blood. Lian stood amidst the carnage, spear in hand, his crimson eyes burning brighter than ever.
The system's voice chimed with new notifications:
[Level Up: Wrath – Stage 1 Complete.]
[New Skill Unlocked: "Crimson Howl"]
Description: Release a wave of killing intent that paralyzes weaker enemies in fear.
Lian tilted his head, reading the notification with amusement.
"A howl born of wrath? How fitting…"
But then, another message appeared:
[New Quest Available.]
[Quest: Escape the Prison.]
[Reward: Unlock Sin Shop + 100 Sin Points.]
His laughter echoed in the bloody hall.
"Perfect. If this world wishes me to crawl in chains, then I'll break them all. If it wants me to die… then I'll kill everything that stands in my way."
As he climbed the narrow stairs leading out of the underground dungeon, he could already hear faint noises from above—the bustling sounds of a town, completely unaware of the massacre brewing beneath their feet.
He paused at the final door, pressing a bloodstained hand against the wood.
His crimson eyes glimmered with madness and anticipation.
Behind this door was freedom.
Behind this door was the beginning of his reign of sin.
The system whispered one last time, its cold, mechanical tone almost soothing:
[Remember: Sin is Power. The more you embrace it… the stronger you will become.]
Lian licked the blood from his lips and grinned.
"Then let's embrace it fully."
And with a violent kick, he shattered the door open.
The night greeted him—moonlight spilling over cobblestone streets, the scent of fresh air mingling with blood. For the first time in two lifetimes, Lian stepped out as something entirely new.
Not a man.
Not a victim.
But the embodiment of sin itself.
And this was only the beginning.