Power?

Indeed, it seems that my cheat code is finally online.

Lorne glanced at Arianne next to him, thinking to himself.

Thanks to this sudden visit from Miss Saint, how much time would it have taken me to find this "altar" if it wasn't for her? Several years, more than a decade?

Who knows?

But she is clearly a member of the church, why would she help me, a demon, activate a cheat code?

Is this really okay?

The System interface in front of him was still open, but no one else could see it except for Lorne himself.

He suddenly noticed a blinking and jumping icon in the bottom right corner. It was a box wrapped in silk ribbon with the words "Newbie Gift Package" written next to it.

In addition, all the gray buttons on the interface were now lit up. Including tasks, check-ins, lucky draws, stores, and so on.

Each button also had a tiny red dot that would give anyone with OCD a headache.

"What kind of mobile game is this? It seems to have a lot of features..."

Lorne shook his head in amusement.

He noticed that there was a floating pointer on the interface, moving with his gaze. Now, Lorne could use the interface with his mind, without needing to reach out and operate it.

So, Lorne quietly clicked on the newbie gift package.

"Congratulations, you have received 【Lucky Ring】x1, 【Mystical Orb】x1, 【Pure Soul】x5! Please make good use of them and build the most terrifying Dungeon!"

Oh well, these things seem quite useful...wait, what the hell is a "pure soul"?

Lorne read the descriptions of these items and thought to himself. Then, he eagerly clicked on the panels that had just been unlocked, one by one, to check them out.

Of course, to others, it just looked like Lorne was standing there in a daze.

"Hey, are you okay? Can you please react..."

Arianne reached out and poked Lorne's cheek.

Helena and Aze also approached, their eyes filled with concern.

"Oh, um...I'm fine." Lorne snapped back to reality.

Arianne breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly asked, "How do you feel, Lorne? Do you feel reborn?"

"Reborn? It's not that exaggerated." Lorne smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He realized that Arianne had used the vague word "power" earlier. In other words, she didn't know the specific form of this power—System.

And explaining the concept of the "System" to someone from this different world would probably be difficult.

Besides, Lorne didn't have that intention. Until now, he still didn't know enough about this Miss Saint, not understanding her true motives or whether she was trustworthy.

Lorne didn't want to reveal his trump card easily.

"Did I fail? This shouldn't be..." Arianne frowned and muttered.

"I can feel that I have become somewhat different, but I don't know how to explain it to you... Um, I probably need some time to adapt." Lorne evaded Arianne's question, giving a vague response.

Just then...

Cracks appeared on the black altar.

The entire stone platform started crumbling, and within seconds, it turned into a pile of rubble, completely unrecognizable.

Lorne suddenly felt a burning sensation on his back.

"Lord...Lord City Master, your back is glowing!" Helena exclaimed, through Lorne's thin shirt, a faint outline of dark red could be seen.

Arianne raised her hand seriously and reached for the buttons on Lorne's collar:

"Glowing? Come on, take off your clothes! Let the Master check!"

The inscriptions that were engraved on the altar had now appeared on Lorne's back.

Soon, the glow began to fade, and the burning sensation started to recede. But the mark remained on his skin, like a tattoo.

Arianne gently stroked Lorne's back, nodding in satisfaction:"Well, that's right. It means the contract has been successfully formed. The power previously stored in the altar has now been transferred completely into your body... Hmm, your 'trial path' has begun!"

Trial path? What is this?

Before Lorne could even ask, he heard a noise. He turned his head and saw a figure dressed in silver armor appearing by the door.

Yes, it was Arnold Green, the Holy Knight who had been standing rigidly in the hall all this time.

After such a long time, he was finally making a move.

"This guy finally snapped out of it? He has quite a long reflex arc," Lorne muttered to himself.

At the same time, Arnold frowned and stared at Lorne with hostility. After noticing the dark red mark on Lorne's back, he paused for a moment and then drew his longsword without hesitation!

He anxiously roared, "This... is an ominous mark! Lady Saint, quickly get away from that demon, he exudes a strong evil aura!"

But Arianne remained indifferent and just chuckled softly. "Wow, Arnold, you're quite something. I didn't expect you to break free from my 'Frightening' so quickly... Hmm, looks like I underestimated you."

"Frightening?" Lorne raised an eyebrow in surprise. No wonder this guy had been standing dumbfounded in the hall all this time. It wasn't just because he was shocked...

By the way, when did Arianne cast her spell? I didn't notice at all.

"So, Lady Saint, you did something to me... to keep me out of the way," Arnold finally understood. "What have you done during this time?"

He continued to scrutinize Lorne with suspicion.

"He didn't originally have this evil aura, but now... did you..." he trailed off.

"Yes, I did," Arianne admitted frankly. "I helped him open the 'trial path'."

Upon hearing this, Arnold couldn't help but inhale sharply. "I see... this is the starting point of the 'trial path'. No wonder you came here specifically! But... do you really understand what you're doing? This is a serious act of apostasy!"

Arnold's expression became even colder, and anxiety and unease were evident in his trembling voice.

"If this ancient evil is allowed to reappear in the world, the consequences will be unimaginable! Stand aside, I must completely eradicate this demon... before he grows stronger!"

With that, he activated his power, and the longsword burst into dazzling white flames.

A scorching gale filled the entire room!

"Well, Arnold, that's not permissible... He is my slave, you're not allowed to touch him."

Arianne raised her arm and stood in front of Lorne. Her pure white robe fluttered in the hot wind, and her violet eyes shimmered with coldness, as if they were millennia-old ice.

For a moment, the room was filled with a tense atmosphere.

"Back off with your subordinates, Lorne, so they don't get caught up in our fight," she ordered softly.