The surface of the world seemed calm, like a tranquil lake, but beneath it hid the ominous signs of a raging storm and slaughter. The Demon King—a once ordinary human—had awakened the power to control human will, driving her to unparalleled madness, and gradually seized control of the entire world. Now, she sat on the throne of her high tower, overlooking everything beneath her.
People walking the streets still had thoughts and emotions, but every act of defiance, every disobedience, was met with ruthless death by the Demon King. Her power was like invisible chains, binding humanity tightly. No one dared oppose her, for any challenge meant certain death.
The protagonist was the Demon King's attendant, following her cautiously every day, fearing for her life at even the slightest displeasure. Yet, trivial events eventually began to shatter her entire life. One day, another attendant accidentally spilled red tea on the Demon King's clothes. A flash of murderous intent appeared in the Demon King's eyes, rendering the other attendant immobile. She looked at the protagonist and said coldly:
"Kill her."
The protagonist froze for a moment. The Demon King wasn't controlling her; she was to act on her own. But gripping the blade, she could not strike. She had witnessed countless deaths and brutal tortures caused by the Demon King, yet to personally kill innocent people went against her conscience.
The Demon King's gaze instantly turned icy.
"Are you defying me too, thinking to betray me?" Her voice was calm, yet pierced like frost through bone.
At that moment, the protagonist understood: she had now become an enemy the Demon King would not hesitate to kill.
---
The prologue of the protagonist's world collapsing began in that instant.
The day her world fell apart had no thunder, no earthquakes.
Only one sentence:
"You have betrayed me."
The Demon King stood atop the high tower, looking down at the kneeling protagonist. It was not hatred in her eyes, but the cold judgment of being offended. The Demon King smiled cruelly and said, "Run quickly, so the next act may unfold."
In the next moment, the world was rewritten.
The prologue of the protagonist's world collapsing had begun. The Demon King's power was unrivaled, humanity's freedom entirely stripped away, and the protagonist—once a loyal attendant—would embark on a journey of escape and despair. She did not know that this was only the beginning… for what awaited her was endless darkness and cruelty.
---
From that day on, all humans in the world became her enemies.
They still retained consciousness, could cry, plead, and fear. But with a single command from the Demon King, they would wield knives and guns, chasing the protagonist into madness, yet never truly kill her—the Demon King merely toying with her until boredom struck.
Escape by day.
Escape by night.
Cities, wastelands, ruins, forests—no place was truly safe.
The protagonist did not know how long she had been running. She only remembered never sleeping through a night free of nightmares. Until one day—
She saw a familiar figure.
---
Her sister and younger sister.
The protagonist stood in the middle of the ruined street, unable to move at first.
Her sister stepped closer, hands trembling slightly, eyes full of tears.
The younger sister stood behind her, small body tense, as if enduring some agony.
"You can't run anymore," the sister's voice broke and trembled.
Before the protagonist could react—
The sister suddenly raised a knife, swinging it straight at her.
In that instant, the protagonist did not dodge.
She thought: the Demon King has grown tired of this game… fine, I am exhausted, but at least I can die by my sisters' hands.
But the blade veered at the last moment.
The sister's hands shook, and the knife fell to the ground.
She bit her own hand desperately, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
Sister: "I'm sorry… sorry… tears and blood mix together…"
Younger sister: "If you run again… the Demon King will force me to inject the poison into my own heart…"
The protagonist looked helplessly at her younger sister, once more awaiting her death.
The sister suddenly gave a smile so tender it broke hearts.
"This is enough."
She plunged the knife into her own heart. Blood blossomed.
At that moment, the protagonist's world froze.
---
"No—!!!"
She rushed forward, embracing her sister's falling body, feeling the warmth drain rapidly.
The younger sister stood still, already streaming with tears.
She looked at the protagonist softly and said:
"Sister… I'm sorry… now you won't be threatened anymore."
The younger sister injected the poison herself. Her body went limp.
---
The world was silent.
The protagonist knelt between two bodies, eyes hollow, lips trembling.
"Why…"
The first sound was a quivering breath.
"Why—!!!"
The second sound, a scream that tore through her soul.
She cried, calling for her sisters in utter despair, helplessness, and guilt. But the sisters were already cold corpses, and no matter how she called, nothing could awaken them… Hatred, anger, despair, and guilt flooded over her like a tide of decay, consuming her entirely.
At that moment, a previously unknown power within her was awakened.
Her entire body radiated a dark aura that inspired terror, shaking the earth itself.
Soon, the dead responded to her cries.
Her sister's corpse moved.
Her younger sister's corpse slowly stood.
The protagonist's eyes widened, trembling with a smile.
"You… you've come back…?"
She was ecstatic, but soon discovered
Their eyes held no consciousness; they were hollow.
No souls.
No wills.
Only moving corpses.
The protagonist held them, collapsing into despair for three whole days.
Until—
On the fourth night, she suddenly smiled.
---
"I see… so that's it."
"It's not resurrection, it's control."
She slowly stood, her gaze devoid of sorrow, only filled with a murderous madness.
"Since you have made all humans in the world my enemies—"
"Then I will kill every single human."
"And turn them all into my army, to oppose you."
Hahahahahahahaha… at that moment, her conscience had been completely consumed by the flames of vengeance, transforming her into the Phantom of Vengeance.
From then on, she began controlling her sisters, embarking on… the first massacre.