Demons Within: I level up endlessly - Chapter 18: The Mindshroud

“Legend had it that in the deepest part of the oldest galaxy, there was a door as red as blood and fire.

Legends and myths, darkness and light, countless stories passed through this old door.

The Door of Constellation that overlooked everything would warn the sky and earth, sending darkness back to where it belonged.”

“I’ll clear your mother’s debt entirely. In return, you’ll marry me.”“Are you out of your mind? Do you really think I’d agree to such an absurd proposal?”“Possibly. But it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. You keep your shop, and I get what I need.”“And what exactly is it that you need?”“That’s none of your concern. All you need to know is that this deal benefits both of us.”Two years ago, Lunara entered a marriage she never wanted. Desperate to save her mother’s flower shop, she was cornered by Eryx, a man with a hidden agenda. With no other choice, she agreed, and found herself bound to him in a transaction of convenience—he needed something from her, and she needed him to prevent her world from falling apart.But after the papers were signed, he disappeared without a word, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and lingering bitterness.Now, fate has thrown them together once more but with a cruel twist, Eryx doesn’t remember her at all.Lunara believes she’s long since moved on. But when she sees him again, a stranger who has no recollection of their past, old wounds resurface. What was the truth behind their marriage? And why, despite the resentment, does her heart still stir when he’s near?

In this world, laws are nothing but chains for the weak.The rich buy innocence. The powerful twist the truth.Justice? It was sold long ago to businessmen and politicians.He was no one. Shy, awkward, powerless. The kind of man people ignored.Until one day… a god descended.The forgotten God of Justice chose him as vessel.Chains of light tore through the darkness, dragging the guilty to their knees.And then, in his mind, glowing words appeared—[Justice Avatar System Activated][Skill Unlocked: Chain of Justice — Binding]Effect: No corrupt soul may escape once bound.From that day on, criminals trembled.The rich cried out. The politicians tried to resist.But when the chains fell, even their power meant nothing.The world called him a monster.The people whispered another name—“The Underworld Judge.”But he only said one thing:“I am the law. I am the verdict. I am justice.”

The life of the underworld was something Ashley had dreamed of escaping all her life. Born as a bastard from an affair between an underworld kingpin and a prostitute, Ashley was meant to die even before she was born. The only reason she survived was that her father thought she was a boy.From a young age, she understood that if she wanted to survive in this world of violence—on top of her father’s wife and daughter’s schemes—she had to be useful.So, she made herself a promise: one day, she would escape this world.Ashley almost succeeded… until her father found her again and thrust her into a marriage of convenience with his rival, Dominion, in his beloved daughter’s place.Everyone in the underworld knew Dominion.They were cruel, organized, and simply spawns of evil. And the man who stood above that power, Luciano, was said to be downright diabolical. Just their name alone could make anyone tremble.And this organization was where Ashley now had to survive.To make matters worse, the marriage also came with a child — Luciano’s mute heir.Forced to become the wife of one of the most violent and powerful underworld organizations, and the mother of its future leader, Ashley made a vow.“No matter what, I’ll escape this place!”But she would soon realize it wouldn’t be as simple as that. Not when the feared members of Dominion clung to her feet, begging,“Madam, don’t go!”And when the mute stepson finally spoke, “Mommy, if you’re leaving, please take me with you.”Finally, her diabolical, obsessive, and utterly territorial husband said,“I’ve packed our things. Where should we go?”