Rias sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the pitch-black sword in his hand.
The Mythic weapon pulsed with a quiet, terrifying energy. It felt completely weightless, but the sheer presence of the blade was overwhelming.
He wanted to swing it. He wanted to test its limits.
But a sudden, crushing wave of exhaustion hit him like a physical blow.
His vision blurred for a second. The mental strain of keeping his mask up against the Blood Princess, combined with the explosive physical changes from his massive level-ups, finally caught up to him. His body was pushed to its absolute breaking point.
[Ding!]
[Would you like to bind the Mythic Weapon: 'Eclipse' to your soul?]
[ YES / NO ]
Rias didn't even have the energy to speak. He simply focused his mind on the glowing blue 'YES'.
The pitch-black sword suddenly vibrated. It lost its solid shape, breaking apart into thousands of tiny, glowing dark particles. The particles swirled through the air like black snow, wrapping around his right arm before sinking directly into his chest.
A warm, heavy anchor settled deep inside his soul. He could feel the sword resting there, waiting to be summoned with a single thought.
But Rias didn't think about anything else.
He fell backward onto the soft silk sheets. He didn't take off his clothes. He didn't even pull the heavy blankets over his body. The moment his head hit the pillow, the world went completely dark.
He fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, bright golden sunlight streamed through the massive balcony windows.
Rias groaned, slowly opening his eyes. The luxurious bedroom was quiet.
He sat up and stretched his arms. His joints popped loudly. The massive headache from the previous night was completely gone. His body felt incredibly light, packed with dense, coiled power.
But his brain was still moving slowly. The grogginess of the deep sleep clung to him like a heavy fog.
Rias rubbed his eyes and walked into the adjoining washroom. It was built from pure white marble, featuring a massive copper basin filled with clear water. He splashed the cold water on his face, washing away the lingering sleep.
He grabbed a fresh towel and looked at himself in the mirror.
His blonde hair was a mess, but his pale skin had a healthy, vibrant glow. His crimson eyes looked sharper, deeper, and completely calm. He didn't look like the terrified punching bag of the Leonhart family anymore.
*Knock.* *Knock.*
A soft tapping sound echoed from the heavy white doors of his bedroom.
"Enter," Rias called out, tossing the towel aside.
The door creaked open. A young servant girl in a crisp grey uniform walked in, pushing a silver rolling cart. She kept her head bowed low, refusing to make eye contact. Her hands were visibly trembling as she gripped the handle of the cart.
"Your breakfast, My Lord," she whispered, her voice shaking.
She quickly parked the cart near the small table by the balcony, turned around, and practically ran out of the room. The door clicked shut behind her.
Rias sighed.
'I am going to have to get used to everyone treating me like a monster,' he thought.
He walked over to the balcony table and sat down. The morning air was crisp and cool. The view of the glowing capital city of Erzel was stunning.
He looked down at the silver cart. The food looked incredible. There were thick slices of roasted boar meat, fresh bread glazed with honey, a bowl of bright red fruits, and a steaming cup of dark, fragrant tea.
His stomach growled loudly. He hadn't eaten a real meal since the poisoned stew Lily tried to feed him back at the Duke's estate.
Still feeling a bit sleepy, Rias picked up a silver fork. He cut a generous piece of the roasted meat and took a bite.
It was delicious. The meat practically melted in his mouth, seasoned with a perfect blend of salt and rich spices. He grabbed the cup of hot tea and took a long, deep sip to wash it down. The tea had a strange, slightly bitter aftertaste, but it was warm and comforting.
He reached for a piece of honey-glazed bread.
Suddenly, a sharp, violent cramp ripped through his stomach.
Rias dropped the bread. He gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. His vision instantly doubled, the bright morning sun blurring into a harsh, blinding glare.
A terrible, burning sensation rushed up his throat. He coughed, and a few drops of dark black blood splattered onto the pristine white tablecloth.
[Ding!]
[WARNING: Lethal Toxin Detected in Host's digestive tract!]
[Toxin Name: Widow's Kiss.]
[Description: A highly concentrated, odorless poison favored by Velmer assassins. It paralyzes the nervous system and liquifies the internal organs within sixty seconds.]
[Estimated time until organ failure: 42 seconds.]
Rias gritted his teeth, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.
'Poison,' Rias thought, his mind racing through the pain.
'They didn't even wait a full day. Someone spiked my breakfast.'
He tried to stand up, but his legs were already going numb. The Widow's Kiss was moving incredibly fast, fighting against his purified blood.
Before panic could even set in, the world seemed to freeze.
[Ding!]
[Passive Talent: Infinity has been triggered!]
[Analyzing toxin structure: Widow's Kiss...]
[Detecting chemical components...]
[Breaking down lethal properties...]
Rias felt a sudden, intense heat spread from his stomach outward. It felt like his blood was literally boiling.
[Applying Talent: Infinity...]
[Reconstructing Host's cellular defense...]
The numbness in his legs vanished. The burning pain in his throat cooled into a soothing, minty sensation. His blurred vision snapped back into perfect, crystal-clear focus.
[Ding!]
[The toxin has been completely neutralized and devoured.]
[You have comprehended the structure of the poison!]
[New Skill Acquired: Absolute Toxin Resistance (Passive - Lv. 1)]
[Description: The Host's body automatically breaks down and nullifies all common and rare poisons. Lethal toxins will now act as minor nutritional supplements.]
Rias sat perfectly still in his chair.
He let out a long, slow breath. He reached up and wiped the few drops of black blood from his chin with a white napkin.
The pain was completely gone. He felt perfectly fine. In fact, he actually felt a tiny bit more energized than before.
He looked down at the silver cart. The roasted meat, the honey bread, the cup of dark tea. It was all heavily laced with a poison meant to melt his organs.
A slow, dark smile spread across Rias's face.
'Absolute Toxin Resistance,' he read the prompt again.
'Lethal toxins are now nutritional supplements. That is completely broken.'
Most people would throw the food away. Most people would call for the guards, screaming about an assassination attempt.
Rias picked up his silver fork.
He cut another piece of the poisoned roasted meat and popped it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring the rich spices. He picked up the cup of poisoned tea and drank the rest of it in one long gulp.
It didn't hurt at all. It just tasted like a very hearty, spicy breakfast.
'If they want to spend a fortune trying to poison me,' Rias thought cheerfully, 'I might as well enjoy a free meal.'
He finished the entire plate. He wiped his mouth, feeling completely awake and refreshed.
But his amusement quickly faded into a cold, calculating calm.
Someone in this palace thought they had just successfully murdered him. The servant girl who brought the food was definitely involved. She was shaking too much. She knew exactly what was on that cart.
Rias stood up. He grabbed the empty silver tray from the cart and walked toward his bedroom door.
He wasn't going to hide in his room. He was going to send a message.
He unlocked the heavy white doors and stepped out into the quiet hallway. He carried the empty tray casually in his left hand.
He walked down the long corridor, his footsteps completely silent. He turned the corner, heading toward the servant's stairwell.
Just as he suspected, he heard whispered voices coming from the alcove near the stairs.
Rias pressed his back against the marble wall and listened.
"Are you sure he ate it?" a gruff, deep voice asked.
"Y-Yes," the servant girl's trembling voice replied.
"I poured the entire vial into his tea, just like you ordered. He should be dead by now. Please, Sir Valen, you promised my brother would be released if I did this!"
"Quiet your voice," the man hissed.
"Your brother will be released when I confirm the Leonhart rat is dead. Wait here. I will go check the room."
Heavy armored footsteps began to walk toward the hallway.
Rias didn't wait in the shadows. He simply stepped out from behind the corner, stepping directly into the path of the approaching man.
The man was a Velmer Royal Guard, wearing heavy silver armor and a dark blue cape. Sir Valen.
Valen stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes bulged out of his head. He looked at Rias as if a demon had just crawled out of the floorboards.
Behind the guard, the servant girl let out a horrified gasp, covering her mouth with both hands.
"Good morning," Rias said smoothly. His voice was perfectly polite, carrying no anger at all.
Valen couldn't speak. His jaw opened and closed, but no sound came out. He stared at the boy's healthy, pale face. The Widow's Kiss should have turned the boy's insides into liquid sludge five minutes ago. How was he standing here?
Rias walked right up to the terrified guard. He didn't release his aura. He didn't draw a weapon.
He simply held out the empty silver tray.
"I wanted to return this," Rias said cheerfully, pressing the tray directly against Valen's armored chest. The guard was so shocked his hands automatically moved up to take it.
Rias leaned in slightly, his crimson eyes locking onto the guard's panicked face.
"Please give my compliments to the chef," Rias whispered, his voice dropping to a chilling, silky tone.
"The meat was fantastic. But tell them to add a little more poison to the tea next time. It was a bit weak for my taste."
Valen's face drained of all color. He looked down at the empty tray, completely speechless.
Rias didn't wait for a response. He offered the terrified servant girl a polite nod, turned around, and walked casually back down the hallway toward his room.
He had survived his first night. He had eaten their deadliest poison for breakfast. But now it's only the beginning