The invitation arrived wrapped in blood-red silk.

You are cordially invited to the Midnight Sovereign's Masquerade.

Location: Blackspire Border Fortress

Theme: Masks, Music, Mayhem.

Note: Duel rules enforced. Poison optional.

Aria stared at the invite, then turned to Elin.

“Is this a trap?”

“Yes.”

“Are we going?”

“Obviously.”

New Quest: Attend the Masquerade

Objective: Survive. Impress. Intimidate.

Bonus Objective: Ruin someone’s life in under 10 minutes.

The Blackspire Masquerade was infamous: nobles, mercenaries, assassins, rogue witches, and system hosts all hiding behind glittering masks—pretending they weren’t plotting to kill each other.

Aria arrived in midnight black, the skirt layered like raven feathers, her mask a sharp silver crescent that framed her glowing crimson eyes.

At her side, Elin wore a skin-tight suit with seven hidden blades, three poisoned pins, and the faint smile of someone praying for violence.

Prince Kael showed up fashionably late, dressed in dark gold and smugness.

“Lovely dress,” he said. “Planning to kill someone in it?”

“Several,” Aria said. “Want to help me pick?”

Passive Effect: Threatening Beauty Activated

All enemies within 10m experience mild vertigo and unexplainable regret

The music stopped.

A gong rang once. Then a voice echoed through the hall.

“Tonight, one duel will decide fate.”

A robed officiant stepped forward.

“By random draw—”

(Everyone knew it wasn’t random.)

“—Lady Aria von Roth will face Lord Meren of Ashvale.”

Gasps. Whispers. One dramatic faint.

Lord Meren was a renowned duelist. Also, a known Blackwing supporter.

Duel Rules Activated:

— One-on-one

— First blood ends it

— Death highly discouraged but not illegal

Meren stepped into the dueling circle, smirking.

“I heard you came back from the dead,” he said, drawing a curved blade.

Aria stepped in too, slow and calm.

“I hear you’re about to wish you hadn’t.”

System Combat Mode: ACTIVE

Available Skills:

— Verbal Violence II

— Queen’s Presence

— Tactical Taunt

— [Locked Skill Detected: System Counter-Consume]

Meren lunged first. Fast. Precise.

Aria didn’t dodge. She stepped forward and smiled.

Skill Activated: Tactical Taunt

Effect: Opponent's aim destabilized by +17%

Bonus: Looks fabulous doing it

Steel clashed. Sparks flew. Aria parried, twisted—and slashed across Meren’s shoulder.

First blood.

The duel was over.

Or it should have been.

Meren didn’t stop. His eyes glazed, and a black aura surged from his chest.

System Surge Detected: Host Entering Berserk Override

System Class: Devourer Fragment

Status: Unstable

Elin shouted, “That’s not a duel—that’s a ritual!”

Too late.

Meren lunged again, his sword crackling with corrupted energy.

And then—everything slowed.

System Unlock: Counter-Consume Protocol Beta (Experimental)

Description: Hijack enemy system link. Overwrite. Drain. Break.

Activation: Willpower + Touch + Rage

Aria grabbed his wrist.

“You want to consume me?” she hissed.

“Try choking on this.”

Light exploded. Meren screamed. His system howled.

And Aria felt it—power flooding into her like black fire turned gold.

When the light faded, Meren collapsed, unconscious.

Aria stood over him, mask cracked, eyes glowing.

A single message flickered in her vision:

Enemy System Fragment Absorbed

Skill Acquired: Devour Lock – Prevent enemy system activation for 30 seconds

Trait Gained: Partial Resistance to System Corruption

System Evolution Progress: 21%

The ballroom was dead silent.

Then—

Prince Kael applauded.

Slow. Smiling. Dangerous.

“I’m starting to think you’re not here to play,” he said.

Aria stepped out of the circle.

“I don’t play,” she said. “I conquer.”