[Fiona's POV]
Why… does this have to happen to me?
I signed my everything away—my name, my worth, my future.
And still… they wouldn't let me live or climb the Tower.
I'm not even strong enough to kill dungeon monsters, yet they still paid mercenaries to corner me—to take this sword.
The sword I was clutching in my trembling hands.
The sword that thrummed lightly… the very thing responsible for everything that went wrong.
My family.
My father's business.
Everything annihilated because of this cursed blade.
And still, I can't throw it away.
Not after the promise I made to my father.
I cursed the sword, cursed myself, as I trudged through grass and shrubs toward the Domain's boundary—hoping, praying, that I could find a decent party to drag me up to higher floors.
Maybe then, I could at least survive.
I have a high affinity… a good Innate Ability…
But my Talent?
It's the anchor pulling me down.
I promised myself I'd climb higher.
Evolve my Talent.
Become strong enough to never live in fear again.
But fate had other plans.
A shadow stepped in front of me, blocking the way.
I lowered my head, trying to walk around him… but then I froze.
Boots shuffled around me.
Four men. Surrounding me.
My fingers tightened around the sword's hilt as I looked up.
The man closest to me was grinning—his face twisted with a lecherous, saliva-slick smile.
"Hey there, beautiful," he drawled, leaning close enough for me to smell the stench of blood and ale. "Heard you lost contact with your team and are looking for a party. Why don't you come with us?"
I swallowed hard and forced the words out. "Please… just let me go. I don't have anything. Just let me climb the Tower in peace."
His grin widened. "You're alone. Your party left you. Why don't you come with us?"
His voice hardened. "We'll protect you—and as payment, I'll take your sword. After all, you won't need it."
Then he started laughing.
Not like a man, but like a lunatic high on power.
A manic hyena on steroids.
"Please," I begged. "Just leave me alone. I won't give you my sword. Just—let me be."
I steadied my stance.
If they came closer, I'd fight.
Even if it killed me, this sword… this last piece of my family… I wouldn't give it up without a fight.
And then—
A calm, unhurried voice drifted from behind.
"You guys are behaving, right?"
Everyone froze.
Even the air around us turned tense.
All four men turned toward the voice.
I followed their gaze… and saw him.
A red-haired boy stood at the edge of the clearing—dressed simply in a t-shirt, jeans, and a travel cloak.
At first, I thought he was just another fool walking into danger.
But then I saw their faces.
Fear.
Utter, primal fear.
The red-haired boy walked toward me, expression unreadable.
The mercenaries huddled closer together, weapons shaking slightly.
His tone was relaxed, almost lazy.
"Were you guys going to help her clear this Domain?"
All four nodded immediately.
Like puppets.
Like trained animals.
He smiled faintly.
"Well, you won't need to worry about that. I'll take it from here… unless you need a reason?"
The leader bowed his head so fast it nearly cracked.
"N-No, boss. Your orders are our salvation. Please excuse us!"
They scrambled to leave.
The boy—no, the young man—spoke again, voice casual yet carrying weight like a divine decree.
"If your employer asks why you failed, tell them my name—Max the LimitBreaker."
The moment he said it, they ran faster than frightened beasts.
It looked as if they had sprouted wings.
I stared at him—the hooded figure who had just turned predators into prey.
Was I… safer now?
Or just facing something worse?
He turned to me suddenly, and I flinched.
But instead of malice, his eyes held curiosity—steady, calm, unjudging.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you or anything," he said.
"I heard a few words before. I know your situation. So, I'll offer you a chance.
Read it and decide. But don't take too long—the Domain resets soon."
Before I could reply, a chime echoed.
A panel materialized before me.
[SYSTEM CONTRACT]
[COMPANION AGREEMENT — ACTIVE MODE]
[CONTRACT TIER: Mythical-Class (Upgradeable)]
[CONTRACT TYPE: Loyalty & Empowerment Pact]
[BENEFITS:]
Become one of the strongest beings
Receive continuous growth and support
Access to potential skills, arts, spells, titles, and traits granted by Player Max
Protected from outside forces if signee is in need.
[PENALTY:]
Erasure of Existence (Total Deletion)
Record Nullification (Memory deletion)
[REQUIREMENTS:]
Absolute loyalty to Player Max and his allies.
Obedience to issued orders.
Orders cannot violate or harm signee.
[SIGNATURE FIELD:]
Contractee: MAX [Bloodmark Linked]
Signee: [_______] [Soulmark Pending]
[STATUS: Awaiting Signee Confirmation…]
I read it again; and again; and again.
One question echoed in my mind—
"Why?"
The red-haired boy—Max—answered quietly, his voice calm but resolute.
"Because you're in a situation that needs help. And I want to build a group I can trust when my sister starts climbing the Mythus Tower next year."
His words were simple… but something about them felt real.
Still, I needed to be sure.
"You said to those players that you're Max the LimitBreaker. Are you… the same one the Tower announced?"
He chuckled.
"Yup. I don't think the Tower could handle two of me."
I froze.
My mind spun.
Max the LimitBreaker.
The Tower's first anomaly.
Standing right in front of me.
I tried to think logically, but reason shattered against the absurdity of it all.
After a few deep breaths, I finally spoke.
"The contract doesn't say anything about ethics… about what you or I will have to do to gain power.
I know I'm weak, but I don't want to become strong by stepping on the corpses of others."
He laughed softly—then looked at me with a seriousness that made my chest tighten.
"Don't worry. I don't do sacrifices. And I don't have that 'power at any cost' mindset.
If you sign, I'll add the ethics clause myself."
Silence followed.
I debated with myself.
It was a golden opportunity—its path uncertain, but brighter than the one I was walking now.
Yet my scars whispered caution.
Too many promises had turned to chains before.
But this was a system contract.
And in the Tower… no one defied the System.
So, after what felt like an eternity, I nodded.
The moment I did, the panel pulsed, and golden threads of light wrapped around my hand.
The Soulmark burned gently against my chest.
The contract sealed.
╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [SYSTEM CONTRACT] ║
║ ➤ COMPANION AGREEMENT — SEALED ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ CONTRACT TIER: Mythical-Class (Active) ║
║ CONTRACT TYPE: Loyalty & Empowerment Pact ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ STATUS UPDATE: ║
║ > Contract successfully accepted. ║
║ > Soul-link established. ║
║ > Loyalty verification complete. ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ BENEFITS GRANTED: ║
║ ▸ Ascension Protocol: ENABLED ║
║ ▸ Growth Support: GRANTED ║
║ ▸ Skill, Art, Spell & Trait Synchrony: STANDBY ║
║ ▸ Protection under Player Max: ACTIVE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ETHICS CLAUSE: ║
║ ✦ Player Max shall not compel, order, or ║
║ request the Signee (Fiona Everhart) to ║
║ take part in any act she perceives as ║
║ unethical or immoral. ║
║ ✦ Protection of conscience: ENSURED. ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ LINK STATUS: STABLE — Soul Resonance: 99.7% ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
"Congratulations," Max said, smiling faintly.
"You've just taken your first step forward. Let's go—the Domain resets in about an hour. We'll clear this floor, then move ahead. Have you completed the other dungeons and labyrinths?"
I just nodded, still dazed.
The last few minutes felt like a fever dream.
He started walking, and I followed silently behind—lost in thought.
Then—
A chime echoed again.
[You have bound yourself to a Fateless Being.]
[The Tower grants you the Title: 'The FatelessBound.']
[For taking the first step to create your own Myth, the Tower rewards you 250 Myth Points.]
I looked up at him—at the red-haired boy walking ahead of me.
The name echoed in my mind.
Max The LimitBreaker.
And for the first time in what felt like years, I thought—
Who is this saviour of mine?