“Open the door!
Let me out!
This isn’t a god— it’s a demon, a demon!
Doctor, you’re wrong! You must be mistaken! Let me out!”
I scrambled backward, shrinking into the corner beneath the door.
Under that towering, pitch-black gate, I felt as small as a dim star in the night sky.
And yet, I could still feel it— that god’s gaze, locked onto me with such intensity.
That greed in her eyes— it felt like she wanted to strip my bones clean.
“Come here, little one.”
The god’s voice was soft and ethereal, just like the responses she gave during rituals.
I tried to resist, but my body no longer obeyed.
The brand on my forehead began to glow, and I stood up blankly, obediently walking toward the “god.”
She had the face and figure of a goddess, but her body was scaled up— ten times larger than a human, at least.
A tentacle reached toward my abdomen, coiled around it, and lifted me up to eye level.
“You… you’re not a god…” I bit my lip hard, mustering my last bit of willpower.
My little feet kicked helplessly— utterly in vain.
“Silly child.” The god smiled down at me, her expression tender and sorrowful.
She didn’t need to explain. All she had to do was activate the brand on my forehead.
My eyes went blank. My body yielded completely to her control.
There was nothing left to prove.
That beautiful, seductive mark on my forehead had been branded by the High Priestess herself.
In front of the entire Association’s upper council, I had received what was called a divine blessing.
Only the true god served by the Association could command that brand.
She could.
Which meant— she was God.
“You poor child. Your pain… God has felt it.”
One of her tentacles traced my brand, the tip opening like a flower. Its petals closed gently over my forehead.
I trembled all over, limp and soft in her grasp.
“God has also sensed your wish.”
“You want to offer everything to God. You want everyone who’s hurt you to pay… don’t you?”
Yes.
But…
But if even God is a demon—
Then why was Sister still being hunted? Why was she treated as a criminal?
If the Association’s god is a demon, then why does the world still preach hatred for demons and their power?
Could it be…
That this power… is only allowed to belong to one?
“You’re thinking too much.” The god’s voice suddenly turned cold.
Ah… ahhh— my head, it hurts so much!
Let me go! Let me goooo—!
My consciousness spun like a flickering film reel.
I was forced to relive my entire life, displaying it for this “god” like a show.
“Hi there~ I’m Cluru! Were you adopted by Father too?”
“From today on, you’re my little sister! And as your big sister, I’ll protect you from now on!”
In the memory, the girl proudly patted her chest.
I… have a sister?
I looked around the unfamiliar mansion in panic.
It was grand and luxurious— nothing like the world I’d known before.
It made me feel out of place and scared.
But at least I had Cluru.
She was with me from morning to night, sticking to me like glue, helping me overcome my fear of this strange new world.
But when did everything start to fall apart?
“Cluru, what rank did you get on the test?”
“S-rank!”
“And you, Luoxen? Look at me! Don’t stare at the floor!”
“…”
“Answer me! Do you want the belt?”
“…C.”
“Father, why can’t Luoxen come play with us?”
“She’s not worthy.”
“But…”
“Cluru, do you want extra dessert?”
“…I’m sorry, Father.”
……
So that’s when the rift began.
Father’s favoritism bred resentment in me. I began to envy everything Cluru had.
After my first test, Father made me drink potions and drained my blood.
From that day on, no matter how hard I tried, the gap only grew wider and wider.
That helplessness twisted into hate and fear.
It lasted so long that I even forgot what exactly I hated— was it Father? Myself? Cluru? Or the entire world?
In the end, hatred was all I had left.
“…Luoxen~ Got you~~ Happy birthday!”
“Get away from me!”
“Luoxen, I’m sorry… I really didn’t know Father would come back.”
“I didn’t mean to— I really didn’t— I wanted to help you with the bandages, but I… I was scared of the blood…”
She feared blood. Especially mine— because every day she was forced to drink it.
That sticky-sweet taste lingered constantly on her lips and tongue.
It was her sister’s blood.
“I’m sorry. I know… it’s all too late now.”
That day, the demon nearly tore my body apart, and she— she became a demon and stood between us.
The Association’s mages arrived too late.
They didn’t know what had happened.
They blamed her for destroying the school.
She cupped my face.
And gently leaned in.
Her forehead was still bare, smooth and unmarked.
She kissed it.
“My silly little sister… the rest of the path… you’ll have to walk it alone…”
She left.
Only the defeated me was left once again.
Only hatred and emptiness remained within me.
“Oh? Are you crying?”
The deity looked down at me with satisfaction.
Just like all the others who had looked down on me— Father, Cluru, the doctor, the demons.
I thought I had forgotten how to cry, yet tears slid silently down my cheeks.
I didn’t sob, didn’t make a sound. Just tears, welling up.
“This is no good. You still see her as your sister.”
The deity tightened her grip on my forehead.
“Forget all of that.”
“Now that you’re here, you no longer need your own will.”
“What a rare and perfect vessel you are… completely hollowed out, with only a shattered soul remaining. Heh. Congratulations, little witch. You’ve passed the test of the gods.”
“From now on, as you wished, you shall have the honor of offering everything to the deity!”
What are you doing?
No…
Stop playing with my memories! That’s enough! Get out! You’re no god!
“There, there. Be good.”
The brand on my forehead shimmered with ripples.
My forehead felt like a door made of water, allowing the deity’s tendrils and body to slip inside.
“Be good. Surrender your soul.”
“Forget all of this, and continue your path.”
“Your sister won’t walk it with you, but… the great deity will~”
No.
No!
Aaaaahhhh——
…
“Cough—”
I awoke from the memory in pain, looking at Cluru among the trees.
I was restrained.
It seemed… I had lost to her again.
Bound to a tree by Cluru’s tendrils, I thought she’d kill me. But she didn’t.
She simply pressed my brand and unsealed the memory locked away by the deity.
“Xiao Luoxian.”
She held my shoulders sorrowfully:
“I know you never believed my apologies, but… I’m sorry. Truly, I am. If only I hadn’t scored so high that day… if I’d been brave enough to refuse that cup of blood… if I’d taken more responsibility, acted like a real sister…”
By now, I could barely feel sadness anymore.
Just a bitter smile.
“Sis…”
That faint whisper made Cluru tremble.
It had been a long time since she heard that word.
Many years.
“Maybe… I stopped hating you long ago.” I whispered, “It was Father’s fault. She’s the one who ruined us both… I’ve already taken revenge.”
“…”
“The deity helped me. Under her guidance, Father died… painfully.”
I kept talking, leaning on Cluru’s shoulder, eyes closed.
Cluru clutched me tightly, overcome:
“Come with me! Let’s live together— just a small cabin here in the woods. No going back. We’ll hide from the association, and we—”
“Sis, kill me.”
“?!”
“Kill me. The deity is inside me. She wants to hurt you.”
“No, Luoxian— we’ll find a way—”
“Sis, don’t go easy on me.”
“I promised to protect you!”
“Silly… I don’t need your protection anymore.” My smile grew bitter. “These years, I’ve killed so many. Not all because of the deity’s orders.”
“I don’t care about that!”
“I’m no longer the innocent girl you knew. I’m addicted to killing. Twisted. I only find release in destruction.”
“I don’t care!!!” Cluru screamed.
“Kill me. Now. Before the deity emerges again.”
“No! I will save you! I’m your sister—I said I’d always shield you!”
“Do it! I can’t hold on any longer! Kill m— Heh… too late.”
……
When I regained consciousness again, there were two corpses nearby.
One was the deity’s.
One was Cluru’s.
Oh. I’ll be the third soon. The deity pierced my heart before she died.
“In the end… all I can do is talk big, huh…”
I suddenly laughed.
At least, this time— I won.
You couldn’t save me, silly sister~ nyeh nyeh nyeh~~
“If there’s a next life…”
With the last of my strength, I tried to reach for Cluru’s hand.
What comes next— I had no strength left to say. I used it all just to lift my arm.
But it was too far. I couldn’t reach her.
The world blurred.
Everything faded away…
Only those thoughts echoed in my mind.
If there’s a next life, I’ll become strong— so strong that no one can challenge me.
I’ll take you to the top of the world, free of schemes and sorrow.
I’ll become your god, and make everyone who hurt you pay.
That life will be one worth living.
When we meet again, it’ll be my turn to protect you.
Cluru.
……
“Passive Immortal Art: Innate Primordial Qi Creation Technique! Activate— Triple Strengthening on the Purifying Heart Mantra!”