Orin saw a man in armor standing still, guarding the ancient stone tablet. He slowly walked forward, the sky above a deep, blood-red hue. The moonlight pierced through the clouds, casting a blood-red glow on the ground. Orin walked carefully along a stone path that seemed alive, stretching and shifting beneath his feet. The trees were colossal, their razor-sharp leaves looking deadly enough to lead to a bloody demise with a single touch.
"Where am I, and why am I here? I remember falling asleep while talking to Alice."
"Why does this all seem so real? Is this just an illusion? What's happening right now?"
The knight remained motionless, and Orin approached cautiously. As he drew closer, he could see the visage of the knight, as though something had been sealed inside the armor. The armor itself was bound by what appeared to be thick ropes, made from thorny vines that oozed blood and fire. The vines were constantly burning but never consumed, wrapping tightly around the armor in an eternal, unyielding embrace.
Orin stepped closer and stopped right in front of the armor, staring at something sealed within. It resembled a heart, still beating. He could hear it—thump, thump, thump.
Turning his attention to the ancient stone tablet, Orin noticed it was filled with unfamiliar names. But every name had been slashed out with a sword. Strangely, all of them shared the same last name—"Crimson." The names were scratched out so forcefully, it seemed as if the very act of erasure was a deliberate act of violence.
The knight still stood, motionless, as if frozen in time. Driven by curiosity, Orin reached out and touched the armor.
"I don't know what this will do, but I need to find out as soon as possible," Orin thought.
Suddenly, Orin felt a sharp pain in his finger as a drop of blood fell onto the armor. In an instant, the armor rumbled and began to stir. The thorny vines retreated into the ground, some of them sinking into the heart of the armor. The heart began to beat louder, and a voice echoed from within the armor.
The Armor: "It's been hundreds of years since someone has summoned me again... Who are you, kid?"
Orin: "I am Orin Crimson. Who are you, and why are you trapped inside this armor?"
The Armor: "Funny, kid. But didn't your clan ever tell you about me before you met me?"
Orin: "No, I don't know anything about my clan, or even who I am."
The Armor: "Really? You know nothing at all?"
Orin: "Yes."
The Armor: "Well then, let me break it down for you. You're currently undergoing a ritual to summon the first commander you can use in battle. The ritual will teach you about dark and blood magic. It's categorized into several tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Unique, and Once in the Realm."
Orin: "Wow, I didn't know that. So, what tier are you?"
The Armor: "My tier is Once in the Realm."
Orin: "Really? Just one?"
The Armor: "Yes. It seems your clan vanished long ago, due to some catastrophe, possibly involving an elder god. And you're the last one left."
Orin: "So, I'm the only one left of the Crimson Clan, huh?"
The Armor: "Yes, you're the last one. Do you understand what that means?"
Orin: "What does it mean?"
The Armor: "It means you can access all the commanders of your clan, as long as you're strong enough."
Orin: "Really? That means I could become super powerful?"
The Armor: "That's right. But there's a limit. If you summon more than two commanders, your body will be unable to handle their power. The side effects will kill you, because your human body can't withstand such force."
Orin: "Can I at least know your name?"
The Armor: "My name is Black Skull, commander of all the dark commanders."
Orin: "So, you're my commander now?"
Black Skull: "Yes. Here, take this contract. Sign it, and everything will be completed in no time."
The face of Black Skull twisted into a mischievous grin.
Orin took the contract, glanced at it, and signed.
Black Skull: "Haha, sucker! You've signed a contract that makes you my slave now! Hahaha!"
Before Black Skull could savor his victory, the thorny vines wrapped around him once again, sinking deep into his core, tightening with a suffocating grip.
Black Skull (screaming in agony): "Why? Why did I give you the master-slave contract? How can you be the master and I be the slave? This isn't fair! It's not fair!"
Orin (laughing): "Haha, sorry, but I had a spell in my head to reverse the contract. That means you're my slave now."
Black Skull began to transform into black smoke, which flew straight into Orin's body.
Orin (feeling empowered): "That feels amazing."
Suddenly, Orin awoke, feeling stronger than ever. His mana capacity had soared beyond his comprehension. He felt a surge of power, as if the very core of his being had been reborn.
In his head, a voice echoed:
Black Skull (grumbling): "Such a bastard."
Orin realized the dream had been real. He had successfully completed the ritual and summoned his first commander.
A knock came at the door.
Orin: "Come in."