Falseness

Undeterred by her emotional outburst, he stood up, a toothy grin tugging on his lips. His voice was surprisingly gentle, but it sent shivers wracking Argider's body, her eyes fluttering away in pain. "Fool. I was the one who sold you out. The one who left you dead."

 He reached out and and swiped the wetness of Argider's trembling lips, savoring her labored breathing, greeting her with a reassuring smile.

Before she could even utter a gasp, he struck her face with a firm but controlled hand, sending her toppling back onto the bed. He spared no time pulling at her ankles and flipping her over, constraining her movements, amused at their efforts to escape. 

The stupendous burden of the crowd's clamor and shouts that always surrounded Argider was a speck compared to the predatory eyes of Denzelle, whose emotions were faint but held the bloodlust that would crack her entire skull if there was the slightest fissure on her mask.

 It ought to remind her that the horizon beyond the confines of this room is a distant cliff, that even if she slipped through the daunting walls made by Denzelle, she would fall unwillingly to a painful grip. 

 "But you wouldn't have known, would you? You were always a fool. Drinking your thoughts away and whoring around. You were the dumbest of the bunch, yet you managed to get away as the last offspring," his tone darkened, his smile faltering as he spat out. As he clenched his teeth tightly in a fit of madness, squeeking emanated.

 "H-How did you know about the system?..." Argider asked weakly, her voice quivering with uncertainty.

 Denzelle chuckled darkly, a sardonic smile playing on his lips, "Every emperor had a system. We don't know the truest source, but this knowledge was passed down from generation to generation in my family, as we are the sole advisors to the crown." He explained, his gaze studying her intently. "From the moment you walked in, I could sense something different, something new. It was this newfound form of yours that confirmed it. So I can't let you die on me, not yet..."

 "What are you going to do with me?" Argider weakly asked, her voice trembling with trepidation. 

 Denzelle's lips curled into a chilling smile, a sinister glint in his eyes as he responded, "Ah, but it wouldn't be me. The real master is up there in the palace, waiting to see his newly acquired 'experiment.'"

 Effortlessly, his massive hand enclosed around Argider's face, his grip firm and steady as a distinct aura of negativity emanated from his being. A visible dark hue blended seamlessly with the vibrant red that danced around his hands, the colors swirling together in a way that made Argider's skin crawl.

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

— [Warning!]

— [Enemy Has Induced Life-Force Absorption! User's Energy Is Being Depleted...]

 Argider's vision started to blur, her consciousness gradually slipping away as Denzelle ruthlessly yanked her soul and life force, forcibly siphoning it away. The transfer of energy sapped her strength, leaving her feeling weak and helpless in the face of his malevolent onslaught.

 Following the girl's descent into unconsciousness, two figures knelt before Denzelle, their movements swift and precise. They promptly seized Argider's unresponsive body, expertly binded her, and quietly exited through the less conspicuous rear end, cleverly minimizing the odds of crossing paths with any observant courtesans.

 The sun rose to its zenith, but its golden light was swallowed by the gathering clouds, instead bathing the landscape in a dull, greyish hue. Wisps of smoke floated lazily in the crisp morning air, their acrid scent mixing with the fresh fragrance of the early hours. In the carriage, Denzelle sat silently, his gaze fixed on his former best friend, who was now a woman seated across from him.

 The vehicle was hurtling through the chaotic streets of the city, the somber atmosphere palpable as Argider's unconscious body was held captive while their surroundings were shrouded in shadows, the darkness intensified by the absence of lights, and the streets filled with whispers.

 At the approach of the palace, the colossal gates swung open, their hinges creaking softly. The carriage rolled to a stop within the palace's grand courtyard, revealing a grandiose structure that exuded power and authority. The palace was an architectural masterpiece, its facade a fusion of intricate ornamentation and towering spires that soared high into the sky.

 The courtyard itself was expansive, paved with smooth stones and adorned with lush greenery.

 In a secluded corner, they were concealed from view. Denzelle emerged first, while Argider's limp form was dragged away to a secret area beneath the castle. This was the place where prisoners who had acted against the Imperial Monarchy were kept. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Argider was placed in that very location within a cell, the door shutting and locking her inside.

— [Congratulations! You Have Completed Your First Mission]

[Reward Being Installed....]

[Stats Increasing....]

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— [You Have Ranked Up From 'Perceiver' To 'High Perceiver'!]

— [Inserted New Redemption System Skill: Empathic Inundation - The user possesses the powerful ability to assault their victims with unwanted emotions and emotions that have remained buried within the victims' consciousness. Not only can users force others to endure the full weight of their most profound sentiments simultaneously, but this act leaves them vulnerable to mental torment, causing them to slip into unconsciousness or even lead to their demise.]

— [Empathic Inundation | Level One: Level One of Empathic Inundation can only elevate the primary emotions, such as anger, happiness, etc, of the afflicted individual, calibrated based on the user's cognitive level status and neurosis levels. Individuals with lower levels of neuroticism may begin to experience mental deterioration as this skill takes a toll on one's emotions because it requires one to feel large amounts of emotions.]

— [Synchronizing Percentage: 1%]

— [Synchronizing Percentage: 20%]

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— [Synchronized Skill!]

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— [New Notification]

— [New Mission: Kill Denzelle Arctera]

— [Time: Indefinite]