บท 2: Ambitious Princess

The omniverse is the expansive concept that encompasses all possible universes, realities, and dimensions, each existing independently yet collectively forming a vast collection. It includes a multitude of universes with varying characteristics—some may be magical, others technological, or a mix of both or none of anything—allowing for infinite possibilities. Within this framework, countless realities and dimensions exist, each with its own laws and stories, all interconnected as part of the greater omniverse. Essentially, it represents the ultimate realm of existence, where anything that can exist, exists somewhere.

Whether it is true or not has not yet been discovered by any humans to date; its existence has always been debatable in any and every possible era where time and space have been discussed. Though not explained by science, spirituality has always believed in such.

Among the boundlessly expansive universes where myriad realities exist, there is Atheria, far from our native universe, which we call home. Atheria is a mystical world teeming with life, where ancient forests whisper secrets of millennia, and mountains touch the skies. Atheria is home not only to forests and mountains but to all sorts of life. Multiple creatures like Elves, Demons, Orcs, Dwarves, Dragons, Fairies, Goblins, Griffins, Unicorns, Nymphs, and of course Humans, among many more, inhabit this world.

Various creatures have divided the great world into countless territories, and among them were countless kingdoms and empires that show the rich legacy these creatures have passed on to their kin for god knows how long. And in one such empire, amidst the human territory, there was a castle that resided at the heart of this empire in the capital city Zafyris. Within it was a figure often regarded with awe and admiration among the nation's subjects.

Princess Seraphina Von Zafyre. With raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders and piercing blue eyes that seemed beautiful and captivating, warm and approachable to others, she concealed her true nature: a cunning, deceptive, and manipulative woman who would go far enough for power that even the top demons would stay wary in front of her. She was the princess of the Zafyre Empire, which was located in the heart of Atheria, bordered by the Silvara kingdom of Elves in the south, the Ardengarde kingdom of Dwarves in the west, the Eldoria kingdom of Eldorians in the east, and the Valkren clan in the north.

The princess stood tall and poised, her slender figure accentuated by an elegant posture. Her long, flowing hair framed a heart-shaped face with sharp, intelligent features. She possessed a captivating figure, her curves gracefully accentuating her silhouette. Her waist was slender, drawing attention to her generous hips, which gave her an air of femininity and strength. The elegant neckline of her regal garments framed her chest, enhancing her allure while maintaining an air of nobility.

Seraphina's thoughts were consumed by her family's rivalry, a constant reminder of the precarious nature of power. In royal families, rivalry and the fight for the throne have existed as long as royalty itself. Everyone vies for power and status for themselves. This was the same in Zafyre as well. Seraphina's father has three wives and a total of eight children from them, and she is the second daughter of the first wife. She was just like her mother—cold, calculative, and manipulative. She had always played the game with finesse, using manipulation and charm to outsmart her siblings and gain the favor of nobles and people. But as the competition grew fiercer, so did her resolve to secure her place as the next Empress of Zafyre. Desperation clung to her like a shadow. The throne was not merely a seat of power; it was the key to uniting a fractured empire and asserting her dominance over those who sought to undermine her. Each day brought fresh challenges, yet Seraphina reveled in the chaos. She crafted alliances in shadows, sowed discord among her brothers and sisters—whom she delightfully called "stepping stones"—and whispered secrets into the ears of key advisors. The court may have viewed her as a delicate flower, but they were oblivious to the thorns beneath her petals. Her charm was disarming, yet each smile masked a keen awareness of the stakes at play.

As the time for succession came, the air grew thick with the scent of rivalry. Most of her nobles had already formed factions with those they thought might become the crown prince of Zafyre. Each of her siblings had a unique talent giving them an advantage, trusted fighters, and spies in each other's factions, each one following a different path with the same goal: the throne. Although she had everything from endless wealth to trusted advisors and an intelligent mind that has guided her through the treachery of politics, what she lacked was a powerhouse that would back her up with undeniable strength so she could rule the realm with an iron fist. She needed not only power but also loyalty so they wouldn't backstab her at a crucial point. And that she had almost found on a fateful afternoon. While perusing dusty tomes in the royal library, Seraphina stumbled upon an ancient scroll hidden beneath layers of neglect. It pulsed with arcane energy that was both boundless and nonexistent at the same time. Looking at it, she knew this might be the key to her power.

That scroll was called the Scroll of Eldritch Pact, an S-Grade SSS-level artifact that could summon a demon far above one's level and bind them to the summoner, though it also had its downsides.

Resentment and Betrayal: While the summoned demon is bound by the pact and will not betray the summoner initially, it may harbor resentment due to its restraints. If freed, it could become a formidable enemy.Proximity Limitation: The summon cannot stray more than five feet from the summoner unless in constant battle; if it does, it gains freedom. Should it hold any resentment, it may turn against the summoner.Binding Risks: Upon summoning, the demon must be charmed and entranced to facilitate the binding of its soul. If it regains its senses before the pact is fully established, it may resist and potentially attack, posing a lethal threat to the summoner.Destruction: The place where the demon is summoned will be destroyed and may become barren for centuries to come. No crops or any kind of life will be possible there. The effect will spread wide according to the abilities of the creature summoned.

These are the reasons she hadn't yet summoned a creature, even after holding the scroll for over a year. It could be potentially lethal for her and even the entire empire; if such an entity were unleashed, freed and angered, it could go rogue and destroy everything in its path. Over the past year, she has researched everything she could find about demons. She concluded two things: demons loved wealth and power, and they loved young women of human, elf, and especially nymph descent. So over the past year, she scoured all the brothels in the empire and beyond and even secretly captured several women. She sold multiple lands and assets under her name to amass enough wealth and women that might charm the demon. Every second counted.

She had sold multiple of her properties to accomplish this and spent even more money on charm skills that could enhance her and the different women's allure. Combined with such a lineup, she believed she was ready. One day, a carriage left the capital city of the Zafyre Empire, heading to the northern mountain range, which was covered with snow year-round. Most of this region was tundra, and it lay near the border with Valkren. Just a few miles away lay the boundary between human and Valkren territory. This was where Princess Seraphina had decided to summon the demon. Recently, she had scouted this land with her aides and found it was the best place for the summoning. This place had no life for miles in its radius, and if something destructive were to happen, it would occur on the Valkren side. Although this might antagonize them, it could always be attributed to a natural disaster, and no one would know.