The Binder

Soran - regardless of the circumstances - had originally come from the realm of the celestials. Not only that, but they were also quite familiar with his character, as Soran was no ordinary figure. Now that he was alive again in the same body, it was clear that there still existed a connection with the gods and goddesses, especially given his capabilities in this regard.

If Lumine that was bound to him attempted to breach the data source, the security system would read Lumine as an entity from one of the celestials. This would not only invite suspicion from the system, which would eventually send inquiries, but it would also initiate absolute prevention. In order to sever this connection, Soran had to replace it with a relationship from an entity as powerful as the celestials.

A coronation or Blood Contract was an extremely strong bond where Anubis would gain almost complete control over someone. The Blood Contract was not possible, however, since its prerequisites could not be fulfilled in this peculiar world. As for coronation, the risk of death was not a path Anubis chose. His reasoning was that if Soran died, then the information and knowledge he possessed would vanish into thin air, including Lumine's existence, which was bound to Soran. If Soran died, it was highly likely that Lumine would also cease to exist.

"Pledge allegiance... I don't mind at all. How do we do it?" Soran asked. "In the mechanisms of the game, a commoner could swear allegiance to a ruler... but that's only if Anubis already had a territory he controlled, which doesn't seem to be the case now?"

From Soran's perspective, who could no longer consider this world as just a game, exploring how a "law" could function in this world was reasonable. There might be areas where the mechanisms were similar or the same, although not entirely.

Such a relationship commonly occurred for various reasons, whether it was sharing common goals, seeking mutual benefits, or any other meaningful connection. The next step would likely involve a medium that would facilitate this bond.

Anubis murmured, "If something binding is required, it seems I have something in that room."

On the horizon, it was evident that the sun was about to begin its workday. Engaging in extended conversations on the world map during such times was something Anubis often avoided. Not only would his status be reduced by half, but the risk of being tracked while in such a state was also more dangerous.

"Can you fly, human?" Anubis asked as his wings unfurled gracefully, with Valeria following closely behind.

"Huh?! Of course not, I'm human," Soran replied, puzzled as to why the two vampires were approaching him with a certain intent.

"In that case, brace yourself."

***1

The scent and sensation of the ocean grew stronger, tickling their noses as if playfully dancing inside their nostrils. The vampires' wings unfurled, and their feet touched the sandy ground after unloading one passenger.

Soran's vision was blurred and hazy, to the point where he felt queasy. He tumbled to the ground, his face nearly swallowing the white sands beneath them. "Uuuh... couldn't we have used teleportation instead?"

"Valeria!"

"At your service, Master!"

Soran remained sprawled on the white sand, covering his eyes with his arms, while lively roots began to tickle his body from below. "Sorry... I really can't handle flying like that," he mumbled.

Anubis walked past him, and the gate in front of them opened, revealing a spacious and seemingly empty throne room. As Soran's body began to feel somewhat better, he got up and followed them inside, with the gate closing behind him.

"Do you feel unfamiliar with this place?" came a question from Anubis, who continued walking without looking back.

Soran observed his surroundings and found them unfamiliar. While everything appeared grand and spacious, it was just like an ordinary palace. "Not really... I once participated in a raid on one of the demon generals, and it was a magnificent palace. But I've never raided the vampire ministers."

"This is my castle... or you could say this is where The Vampire Lord occupies his throne."

"Is that so? I only met Dravenic in the realm of the celestials, and it seems that when we became partners, he had already left his castle in the mortal realm for who knows how long. I wasn't very aware of his backstory at that time."

They continued to follow Anubis as he led them, and it wasn't too far. Entering a corridor, Soran became more confident about the place. "This is like... a Private Domain, right? The castle expands according to its level, and it depends on how much influence the owner has on the world. No wonder it still looks like a shack from the outside."

Walking just ahead of him, Valeria immediately turned to give Soran a sharp look that made him rethink what he had just said.

"Previously, this place was indeed just like a shack standing in the middle of an uninhabited small island," Anubis replied casually. "And these corridors and rooms appeared when Valeria became my subordinate."

Private Domains indeed had many benefits and were versatile, but they didn't fall under the category of land territory controlled by Anubis. Whatever it was, this palace remained an asset on its own for Anubis. For now, only one facility was open. Although there were many doors along the corridor as they walked, none of them could be opened except for the one that had been transformed into a feature.

"So... what room are you referring to, Anubis?"

"The Treasure Chamber. It's a collection of spoils that we obtained. We should have never collected such items, but one of our Ministers did."

"It's useful, but the Master still can't use any equipment or items in there. So, the benefits don't really favor him," Valeria added.

Anubis himself felt unfamiliar with all the items and equipment in the Treasure Chamber, but when they first entered, there was one thing that left a stronger impression on him, and it seemed like something that could be used as a "binder" for a relationship.