SinBound The Seduction System

Episode 22

The room plunged into silence, heavy and electric.

Ethan stood frozen before the ancient sigil on the floor of the hidden chamber, its crimson glow pulsing like a heartbeat. The headmistress's words still echoed in his ears:

"Sign it... and unlock the true path of your system."

Molly clutched his arm, eyes wide, her voice barely a whisper. "Ethan, are you sure? This isn't just another quest... this feels... permanent."

He didn't reply. The system was silent too, unusually so. No prompts. No nudges. Only that soft, throbbing red light from the sigil, and the quiet hum of dark power waiting to be awakened.

Then came the flicker.

[System Notification] New Forbidden Contract Detected: Crimson Pact Warning: This choice may permanently alter System Alignment. Proceed? [Y/N]

Ethan's fingers trembled. This was no ordinary advancement. This... this felt like the unlocking of something primeval. But the temptation was undeniable. Power like this could make him unstoppable. A king among seducers. A god in the world of charm, lust, and dominance.

He clicked [Y].

The sigil erupted in flames, spiraling upward. Ethan felt it pierce into him like molten chains wrapping around his soul. His system screen flared to life.

[System Upgrade Complete!] Sin Type Unlocked: Crimson Seduction New Ability: Mindbind – You can now momentarily control a target's deepest temptation. New Passive: Aura of the Bound – Those who have tasted you will crave your presence endlessly. New Side Quest: Tame the Headmistress Reward: System Path Fragment + ???

Ethan staggered back, breathing hard. His body thrummed with new power, and he felt... different. Hungrier. More aware. Every heartbeat of Molly, every twitch of her lashes, her scent, her thoughts—he could almost taste them.

"Ethan," Molly whispered, stepping back. "What did you do? Your eyes... they're glowing."

He looked at his reflection in the dark glass beside the wall. Crimson veins of light pulsed in his irises. The pact had marked him.

Suddenly, the chamber rumbled.

[System Alert] You have broken the threshold. Welcome to Tier 2: Sinner's Ascent. New Realms Accessible. Sinbound Network Expanded.

A map appeared, showing not just the academy but underground networks, other hidden chambers, and a glimpse of a rival school known only as: The Serpent's Bloom.

"We have to get out of here," Molly said. "That... pact... it's summoned something."

She was right.

A new presence was rising from the depths of the chamber. The torches around them dimmed, and a tall, shadowed figure emerged from behind the sigil, its body robed in scarlet and obsidian. It carried a staff of bone and ruby.

"So... the boy has awakened the Crimson Path. It has been centuries."

Ethan squared his shoulders. "Who are you?"

"I am the Keeper of the Pact," the figure replied. "Your soul now carries the mark. Your journey will tempt the gods themselves. And your enemies... will multiply."

[System Notice: New Enemy Faction Detected – The Covenant of Purity]

Molly grabbed Ethan's hand. "Let's go. Please."

But the Keeper raised his hand, and time seemed to stop. Everything blurred but the voice that seeped into Ethan's mind.

"The headmistress is lying to you. She bound you not to free you... but to use you. Seek the Archive of Echoes... if you want the truth."

Ethan blinked, and the chamber was empty.

Back in the dormitory that night, Ethan lay in his bed, system windows floating before him.

He had new messages. Dozens. Women from the academy he'd never even met. Students. Teachers. Even rival schools. All drawn by his new aura.

And the Headmistress? She summoned him.

Midnight. My quarters. Alone.

Ethan smirked, a fire in his chest.

"Game on."

---

[System Stats Updated] Ethan Cross Tier: 2 (Sinner's Ascent) Affinity: Crimson Seduction

Unlocked Skills:

Mindbind

Aura of the Bound

Charm Overdrive (Lv. 2)

Active Quests:

Tame the Headmistress [Progress: 0%]

Seek the Archive of Echoes [Locked]

Discover the Serpent's Bloom [Untracked]