Chapter 2 – The First Contract


    “This is insane…”


    Elena’s sharp voice snapped me out of my daze.


    “Hyunwoo, Move. Now.”


    I stumbled forward, doing my best not to trip over the corpses scattered across the dungeon floor. Meanwhile, Elena moved effortlessly through the dark, like this place was her personal domain. Her long black hair blended into the shadows, making her look less like a person and more like a part of the abyss itself.


    ‘She says she was a hunter… but is she even human anymore?’


    I hesitated for a moment before asking, “Elena… what are you? You said you were a hunter, right?”


    She didn’t even glance back as she answered.


    “I was. But after this dungeon swallowed me whole, my fate changed.”


    Her voice was calm, but something about the way her shoulders tensed told me not to push further.


    Then, out of nowhere, a system message flashed before my eyes.


    [Target: Elena Blackmoon]


    [Status: Mentally Unstable / Partially Corrupted]


    [Chance of Domination: 68%]


    [Condition: Establish Domination Contract to share partial abilities]


    “…Domination? Contract?”


    I frowned. This was similar to the messages from before, but now it looked like I had a success rate—as if I was in some kind of game, trying to persuade an NPC.


    I didn’t have time to think too much about it.


    Elena suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    “Wait. Something’s coming.”


    A scratching noise echoed from deeper in the dungeon.


    Then came the unmistakable sound of something crawling closer.


    Elena’s expression hardened.


    “…It’s still here?”


    As soon as she muttered those words, a monstrous figure emerged from the swirling black mist.


    Five elongated arms clattered against the dungeon walls, each ending in razor-sharp claws.


    One look at it, and I knew.


    This was the thing that wiped out our entire party. A Servant of the Abyss.


    I froze. My body refused to move.


    “Get back!”


    Elena shouted as she conjured a storm of crimson energy, launching a barrage of magic bolts toward the creature. But it was fast—too fast. It scuttled across the walls and ceiling, dodging every attack with inhuman precision.


    Then, it struck back.


    Its claws lashed out like whips, forcing Elena on the defensive. Even she wasn’t able to dodge everything. Her movements were just slightly off, as if something was slowing her down.


    ‘She’s still not at full strength…’


    I tightened my grip on my dagger, my hands trembling. There’s no way we’re winning this fight like this.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    That’s when another message appeared.


    [‘Hand of Domination’ Activated.]


    [Subjugate the target, or corrupt yourself to draw more power.]


    Subjugate…


    Elena let out a sharp gasp as the creature’s claws raked across her side.


    She collapsed to one knee, her breathing ragged.


    Her crimson eyes flickered, her magic barely holding on.


    If she fell now, I was dead too.


    Without thinking, I rushed forward, grabbing her before she hit the ground.


    “Elena! Stay with me!”


    Her black dress was soaked, though I couldn’t tell if it was from blood or the abyss itself.


    “…Move, Hyunwoo. This is… my fight.”


    She struggled to speak, but the monster screeched and lunged at us again.


    At that moment, something inside me snapped.


    A surge of dark energy erupted within me, and a single thought crashed into my mind.


    If I take control… If I blind her… I can share her power.


    And that meant… we might actually survive this.


    “Elena, trust me. No, you don’t have a choice.”


    Before she could resist, I cupped her face with both hands.


    Her crimson eyes widened in shock.


    The monster lunged.


    And I activated Hand of Domination.


    Blood-red energy pulsed from my fingertips, wrapping around Elena like chains.


    My consciousness was yanked into a different plane.


    A space filled with swirling red mist.


    At the center, a shadowed figure with wings loomed—it was her.


    Elena stood there, tears brimming in her eyes.


    Her entire being radiated rage, sorrow, and despair.


    “How dare you…”


    Her voice echoed, laced with fury.


    Bolts of crimson lightning streaked toward me. The pain was unbearable, but I stood my ground.


    “You know this isn’t how it ends,” I gritted out.


    “We can’t die here.”


    I reached out toward her, my entire body screaming in agony.


    Domination wasn’t just about taking control.


    It was about guiding the corruption.


    “Elena… if we want to live, you have to accept me.”


    Her crimson gaze wavered.


    For the first time, I saw a flicker of hesitation.


    Then—


    A whisper.


    “…Save me.”


    The moment those words left her lips, the magic around us shifted.


    The red mist coiled around her, forming a magic circle beneath our feet.


    A system notification blared in my mind.


    [Domination Contract Initiated.]


    [Target: Elena Blackmoon]


    A brilliant light exploded, and suddenly I was back in reality.


    Elena was trembling in my arms.


    A faint, blood-red aura linked us, circling our bodies like chains.


    And then, I felt it.


    A connection.


    I could sense her pain, her exhaustion… and her hunger for something more.


    “…You’re insane,” she whispered.


    But unlike before, her voice wasn’t filled with hostility.


    Instead, it carried something softer—resignation.


    “Yeah. I know,” I said, panting.


    She lowered her gaze for a moment before meeting my eyes again.


    There was uncertainty in her stare.


    And something else… something dangerous.


    “…I don’t understand how an E-rank like you has this power.”


    “Me neither,” I admitted. “But one thing’s for sure… we’re connected now.”


    A final system message appeared before my eyes.


    [Contract Complete – Target: Elena Blackmoon]


    [Mana Link Established]


    [Loyalty increases over time – Additional abilities unlockable.]


    Loyalty?


    I frowned at the wording, but there was no time to think.


    We had to get out of here.


    I held out my hand to her.


    Elena hesitated before finally accepting it.


    Her fingers were ice-cold, but beneath them, I felt a strange, lingering warmth.


    “…From now on, we survive together,” she murmured.


    I nodded.


    Not just to escape this abyss.


    Not just to stay alive.


    But because I knew—this was only the beginning.


    The power of corruption. The Hand of Domination.


    If I mastered this ability, no one would ever look down on me again.


    But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling.


    A whisper of doubt gnawed at my mind.


    Will I be the one in control… or will I become the thing I fear most?


    And as for Elena…


    Would she ever truly be mine?


    Either way, I had no choice.


    Even if this path led me straight to becoming the villain…


    I was going to survive.


    And I was going to rule.