Elena suddenly opened her eyes from the large bed. The sunlight outside the window made her feel a bit dazzling. After taking two deep breaths, she clenched her teeth and fists. Impossible... She simply couldn't survive the coming-of-age ceremony! There were just too many people who wanted her dead!! No... No!! Calm down! Calm down! Calm down, Elena! Finally, she panted and relaxed her body, then sat up, thinking carefully without a moment's delay.
1. In an "abnormal" state, her father would order anyone to kill her! "Abnormal" was defined as losing the nobility and elegance of a princess, referring to mental abnormality, not physical anomalies like the frog disaster.
2. The absence of a guest would result in the appearance of "another self," and she would very much want to die. If a deviation from the prophecy would surely bring disaster, this must be it!
3. She was trapped in a state of mental pollution filled with blood, and the culprit was the "Lord of Fear"!
4. The flag of her turning into a frog was Arucado, the method was uncertain, but it was related to her stepmother!
5. The false mirror could provide useful information, but it was definitely not honest.
Elena firmly remembered the five pieces of "known information" she had summarized. Although many of the reasons were still unclear, she believed it must be correct.
Knock, knock, knock! There was a knock on the door. It was three gentle and unhurried knocks, which sounded very pleasant. "Is it Arucado?" "Yes, sister." The voice outside the door was gentlemanly. "Today is your coming-of-age ceremony. According to etiquette, it should be me, your younger brother, who personally escorts and accompanies you."
Elena was about to say the same words as last time, "I don't want to see you, just as you don't want to see me," but the words stuck in her throat. Arucado might have resentment towards her and her mother for having abandoned him, but the more he resented it, the more it proved how much he cared about them. Otherwise, when he found out Elena was "abnormal," he wouldn't have let her go without killing her.
Elena suddenly felt that the words she said last time, "I don't want to see you," might have hurt Arucado deeply. "Thank you, Arucado." Elena said gently. "But I'm not feeling well. Could you wait for me in the lounge for a moment? I'll join you soon. Don't worry, I know where the lounge is."
"Unwell? Humans are really troublesome." Arucado said coldly. "Alright, sister. I'll wait for you in the lounge. Um... Do you need me to prepare some red sugar water for you?"
"Sure, thank you." Elena accepted it happily. Listening to Arucado's footsteps slowly fading away outside the door, Elena let out a long breath. Meeting Arucado was inevitable, and for now, she could only delay it as much as possible.
Elena quickly walked to the mirror to get dressed. On the mirror, there were blood-red words that were shocking to the eyes - Third time, the future is visible. She took a deep breath and her gaze became determined. Even if all of you want me dead! But this time, I must solve all the mysteries and finally complete my coming-of-age ceremony! - To become the most powerful vampire!
Elena changed her clothes and opened the door. Her high heels made a "tap tap tap" sound in the empty corridor. There was no frog croaking, just as she had expected. However, soon. "Boom"! Thunder rumbled in the sky, thick black clouds rapidly gathered, blocking out the sun, and it began to rain heavily. She stood quietly by the window. Soon, she noticed that the heavy rain outside had turned blood red, as if the entire world was slowly becoming monstrous and gradually collapsing in the blood rain.
"Drip... drip..." Nor did she know where the sound of water drops hitting the floor came from. Elena turned around silently, looking at the ceiling and walls that were bleeding around her, and smiled faintly. "Come out. I know you're here." But there was no sound in the corridor except for the dripping. "Since you've come, but you don't dare to show yourself, you might as well not be called the 'Lord of Fear' anymore. 'Lord of Cowardice' suits you better."
At this moment, an ominous black mist inexplicably emerged in the corridor! It was like a nightmare, like a disaster, like all the terrors in the world. Soon, the black mist gathered together, as black as ink, billowing above Elena's head. Elena looked up, as if she could see through the black mist and sense the strange world behind it, a place perpetually shrouded in disaster and fear.
[The Lord of Fear]
[Age]: Eternal.
[Level]: ??? ...
[Alignment]: Chaotic Evil.
[Possession]: Curse of Agony.
[Weakness]: Curse of Agony.
[Introduction]: Fear has existed since life became conscious. And the Lord of Fear has been around even longer than life has known fear. He can turn all your fears into reality, or turn reality into pure fear. Bravery is the greatest illusion in this world. Hypocritical people have never truly triumphed over fear. People run from fear, never admitting their cowardice. The curse of fear in their hearts has granted the Lord of Fear unparalleled power.
Elena's heart sank as she read the system introduction.
Chaotic Evil...
Another chaotic fellow.
"You are very brave, Princess Elena. You possess a quality that I detest the most," the thick black fog said in a low voice. "And, you truly live up to the honor of the new *****. I hid so well, yet you still managed to discover me. By the way, 'cleverness' is also a quality I detest."
Elena took a deep breath. Since the chaotic fellow was speaking to her, according to the "Survival Rules of the Dark World," she should respond to it. So, Elena stretched out her hand towards the black fog and said, "Nice to meet you. Let's shake hands."
The thick black fog paused for a moment, then began to churn wildly. "Calmness is also a quality I detest. Congratulations, Princess Elena. To thank you for giving me so many surprises, I decide to bestow death upon you right now!" After the thick black fog finished speaking, it rolled towards Elena's body! An indescribable fear instantly enveloped Elena's heart. In just an instant, she would be completely enveloped by the thick black fog and trapped in eternal fear.
But! Just as the black fog was within one meter of her, that terrifying black fog suddenly condensed more solidly, gradually transforming into two hands reaching out from the black fog one meter away towards Elena. Then, the black fog continued to envelop Elena's one-meter range...
Elena watched as long arms, broad shoulders, a solid body, and slender legs gradually emerged behind those hands... Finally, a handsome face that even women would envy appeared. Finally, the entire thick black fog dissipated behind the man, and the man stepped out of the black fog, standing within one meter of Elena, staring at his hands and body in disbelief... Then he touched his face in confusion, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
After a long while. "This... How could this be..." The handsome man's lips trembled as he said, "I... I actually broke free from the curse... I finally escaped the eternal pain brought by the curse!!" "Why... Why is this happening..." "Ha ha ha ha!!" The man laughed in a distorted and chaotic manner.
"Hey!" But Elena interrupted him, raising her still outstretched hand towards him. "Shake hands, sweetie." The man stared at the blood-red pupils of the woman in front of him and couldn't help but swallow. Then... He obediently placed his hand in Elena's.