The crimson light of the moon stretched across the alien landscape, casting long, shifting shadows that danced over floating towers and forests shimmering like molten gold. Lu Han's chest felt heavy, his pulse still hammering from the encounter with the Demon Princess.
Kang Young stayed close, his eyes scanning every strange detail of the world around them. "Lu Han… I don't like this," he murmured. "Everything feels… alive. Like it's watching us."
"You're not wrong," Lu Han said, trying to calm himself. His mind still buzzed with the System's presence. It's there… it's really here. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the whisper in his mind.
> [Welcome, Player Lu Han. Objective: Survival. Primary Task: Learn your abilities and interact with the world. Secondary Task: Monitor interactions with Demon Princess.]
The interface appeared in his vision again, soft but clear, listing options he could select with a mere thought:
Status
Inventory
Skills
Quest
Lu Han reached out mentally to Status, and a translucent panel appeared before his eyes. Health, stamina, mana… everything was normal, but there was a strange new gauge: Emotional Stability: 100%.
> [Warning: Interaction with high-level entity may alter emotional stability.]
"Emotional stability?" he muttered. His gaze drifted toward the Demon Princess, who still lingered on a nearby tower, wings folded but alert, crimson eyes fixed on him.
Kang Young nudged him. "What's wrong? Are you… checking some kind of… RPG menu in your head?"
"I… I have a System," Lu Han whispered. "I think it's giving me options, powers, quests…" He swallowed. "…and warning me about her."
Kang Young's eyebrows shot up. "Warning you? Bro, if I were you, I'd run the other way."
"I know," Lu Han admitted, but he couldn't look away. The pull from her gaze still lingered, subtle, dangerous, almost intoxicating.
The System buzzed again.
> [New Quest Detected: Explore Initial Area.]
[Objective: Understand the environment. Identify potential threats. Reward: Unknown.]
Lu Han nodded slowly, trying to steady himself. "Okay… step one. Explore. Find out where we are."
They stepped forward, moving cautiously across the rune-etched stone floor. The shadows of the towers stretched and twisted, some forming shapes that resembled monsters they had read about in the novel. Every so often, a gust of wind carried a faint, metallic scent, like blood and magic intertwined.
Kang Young shivered. "You weren't kidding… this place is straight out of the book. Only… it's real."
Lu Han tried to push down his growing unease. He focused on the System interface, opening Skills. At first, it was empty — but then, a single option appeared:
> [Observe: Magic Detection — Passive Ability]
He concentrated, and the air around him shimmered with faint threads of energy. Faint outlines glowed around certain rocks, trees, and distant towers. The magic was subtle, almost invisible, but now it was tangible.
"So this is… like… magic vision?" Kang Young asked, eyes wide.
"Something like that," Lu Han muttered. "The System… it's giving me abilities."
They continued walking, navigating narrow stone pathways suspended above vast chasms. Occasionally, the faint glimmer of movement in the shadows suggested creatures — perhaps demons, perhaps something else. Lu Han kept his hands close, ready to use whatever the System might allow.
Then, a sound caught his attention: soft footsteps, deliberate, echoing across the stone. He froze.
The Demon Princess's voice whispered in his mind — not aloud, but mental and commanding.
> "You cannot hide from me, Lu Han. Every step you take is mine to witness. Every thought, mine to tempt. Will you resist… or succumb?"
Lu Han's stomach twisted. The pull, the magnetic draw he felt before, intensified. He took a deep breath and forced himself to step aside, keeping Kang Young between him and her line of sight.
Kang Young frowned. "She's… she's watching you. Seriously, dude, we need to figure out a plan."
> [System Notification: Emotional Influence Detected. Suggestion: Exercise caution with high-level entity.]
Lu Han nodded, swallowing hard. The System buzzed faintly in his mind. It was advising, cautioning, instructing. He didn't know how much of his hesitation was his own will and how much was her pull, but he knew one thing: the Demon Princess had power over him already, subtle but undeniable.
They rounded a corner, and the air grew colder, the shadows deeper. A creature — wolf-like but with glowing red eyes and semi-transparent fur — appeared on a floating platform ahead. It snarled, low and menacing.
> [Threat Detected: Low-Level Demon. Level: 5/Unknown. Recommended Action: Avoid or Use Basic Skills.]
Lu Han's pulse raced. He focused, activating the System's Observe function fully. Threads of magical energy clung to the demon, revealing weak points: a faint shimmer on its shoulder, a gap in its shadow armor.
"Step back," Lu Han whispered to Kang Young. "I think I can—"
Before he could finish, the creature leapt, claws extended. Lu Han's instincts kicked in. He concentrated, reaching out to the System… and felt a surge of energy flow into him, tingling along his fingertips.
> [Ability Activated: Defensive Barrier — Duration: 10s. Mana Cost: Minimal.]
A faint, translucent shield appeared around him, just in time to deflect the demon's attack. Kang Young jumped back, eyes wide. "Dude… what was that?"
"I… don't know," Lu Han admitted, heart hammering. "The System… it did something."
The demon snarled again, circling. Lu Han's mind raced — he had abilities, but he didn't know their limits. Every instinct screamed caution, yet curiosity, fear, and the subtle memory of the Demon Princess's words pulled at him.
> [Warning: High-Risk Encounter Detected. Emotional State: Elevated. Suggestion: Do not engage recklessly.]
He squared his shoulders. "Okay… first combat test. Let's see what this System can really do."
The red moon above bathed the landscape in a surreal glow. Every step, every heartbeat, every glance over his shoulder reminded him: the Demon Princess was watching, waiting, and subtly pulling him toward a fate he didn't yet understand.
And Lu Han knew, with frightening clarity, that surviving this world — understanding the System, controlling his own desires, and keeping Kang Young safe — was only the first step.
Because in this realm, danger wasn't just physical. Desire, temptation, and power were just as lethal.
And the Demon Princess had already claimed him… even if he hadn't realized it yet.
End of Chapter Three (Opening)
To be continued.....