"Since you’ll be dying here as well... along with your sister."

Jeremy’s smile twisted into something darker.

"But that isn’t important right now." He sounded almost amused. "Now then, what was I saying again? Ahh, right... about how I owe you all some explanations."

He turned back toward Alden, the smile on his face widening further.

"You see, Alden... long, long ago, in another world, there was a tyrant who exploited people of a certain kind, treating them as nothing more than slaves."

His tone remained calm and steady.

"Among those slaves was a particular young boy with dreams of his own. That tyrant believed he could control countless worlds using the unique ability of their kind, the power to enter worlds regardless of their restrictions. So he scattered those people across different worlds, forcing them to grow stronger. That way, once those worlds became capable of accepting outsiders, he would already possess forces hidden within them."

Jeremy’s eyes darkened slightly.

"He even branded them with slave seals, using bloodline supremacy to strip away their free will. But then one day... that young boy with countless dreams was sent to this world."

Jeremy spoke almost nostalgically now.

"He fought, stole, starved... did everything he possibly could just to survive in a world where he had no support, no allies, not even an understanding of the language."

His voice slowly lowered into a whisper.

"But one day, after that boy had finally grown into a man... he discovered traces of an ancient, forgotten civilization within some ruins."

"And there..."

Jeremy smiled.

"A fragment of a lost Goddess, pitying his miserable life, granted him a technique capable of fulfilling all his dreams." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Jeremy spread his arms slightly as if presenting a grand tale.

"A technique that granted power the more one devoured their own bloodline. A technique capable of swapping bloodlines... and much more."

"The man used it to grow stronger and stronger, but alas, a power of that magnitude could never be contained within a fragile, talentless vessel forever." His fingers traced the countless cracks across his body. "So eventually, that vessel began breaking down."

"And thus, the man started searching for the perfect vessel. One capable of containing both his soul and that powerful technique."

Jeremy’s smile deepened.

"He even had a few children he deliberately chose not to devour... just in case he someday found the perfect vessel and required their blood to activate the ultimate techniques."

Silence filled the dome for a brief moment before Jeremy looked directly into Alden’s eyes.

"And that man... is me, Alden."

"And you are the vessel that will carry my soul."

His smile widened into something almost insane.

"Doesn’t it sound just like a fairy tale?" He chuckled softly. "But in this story... the evil sorcerer is the one who wins."

"But worry not. I understand your pain better than anyone else." Jeremy’s voice softened almost gently. "I know how your own blood treated you."

"As compensation... I will make sure to destroy the entire Draven Family along with every single one of your enemies once I obtain the strength I desire."

"I will even treasure your friends and the people you cared about just as much as you did." He smiled faintly. "So you can rest assured about that as well."

His eyes locked onto Alden’s.

"So, how about it? Will you allow me to take over your body?"

Jeremy sighed softly.

"Although I could simply snatch it away without your permission... I see myself in you, Alden." His voice lowered. "I see the pain in your eyes. I see that desperate need for warmth buried inside you."

"And because of that... I do not wish to force such a fate upon you without your consent." For a brief moment, his expression almost looked genuine. "If we had met under different circumstances... if I had possessed a better vessel..."

Jeremy chuckled quietly.

"I’m sure we would have gotten along quite well."

***

Alden looked at the old bastard standing before him as a chuckle nearly escaped his lips.

A benevolent man?

Someone who cared about consent?

Yeah... complete bullshit.

Alden immediately understood what Jeremy was trying to do. The old monster simply wanted him to lower his guard so everything could proceed more smoothly.

Or perhaps Jeremy truly believed his own words.

But either way, it didn’t change the fact that he was still trying to steal Alden’s body. Still, the little theatrics Jeremy had put on, presenting his miserable life as some grand fairy tale, had revealed more than enough useful information.

So... Jeremy was from another world as well.

That revelation genuinely surprised Alden because, from everything he knew, outsiders were supposed to be restricted from entering this world.

Which meant Jeremy had somehow bypassed those restrictions.

But how?

What kind of bloodline did he possess to make something like that possible?

And does that mean that even this world will be open to outsiders one day?

But how does that work?

Does it have something to do with the Throne of Celestial Dominion?

And who was the Goddess who gave him this technique? Was she somehow related to my mother?

He had countless questions but no answers. But Alden knew this wasn’t the time for pointless curiosity. So instead, he forced the most pitiful expression he could onto his face.

"Does that mean you’ll kill Seles as well?"

He asked the question deliberately.

After all, he could clearly see that bitch still lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious. She was smart enough not to react even after hearing that she would die soon as well and was probably already thinking of ways to escape but if Alden was going down anyway, then he might as well drag that bitch down with him.

And just as he expected, Jeremy’s gaze immediately shifted toward Seles.

"As unfortunate as it may be, that is indeed the truth." His tone remained calm, almost regretful. "If I had another child suitable for the ritual, I would have gladly spared her because of her immense talent."

"But some sacrifices must be made for the greater good." Jeremy’s eyes rested on Seles’ motionless figure. "And I’m sure... she wouldn’t mind helping her own father."