Somewhere on Val

A large portal opens atop a tall skyscraper as numerous denizens of the planet Val kneel all around the crimson portal. And the moment people begin to walk through the portal from the other side, the ones kneeling around the portal immediately begin to chant prayers.

Prayers to the Primordial of Sin.

The person leading the forces walking out of the portal barely glances at the denizens of the lower world, all of whom are wearing deep crimson cloaks. Instead he just continues walking all the way until he reaches the edge of the roof and finds himself looking out at the city itself.

Then the man, one of the seven Cardinals of Sin himself, brings out a special smoke and begins to calmly use it without taking his gaze off of the people walking the streets below. All while more members of the Church of Sin walk through the portal and begin taking up places all around the roof.

Out of the powers within the universe, the Cardinal of the Envy Sin is proud to say that the Church of Sin is one of the most powerful. And one of the most infamous on top of that.

There isn't a single person who is happy to have the Church of Sin – a church that directly worships the Primordial of Sin – arriving on their world. Much less with one of the seven Cardinals of Sin leading the church arriving personally.

But their visit this time wasn't to spread Erebos's grand and sinful name to the nonbelievers of the newly initialized planet. Even if Velvet is planning on doing that while he's here anyways.

The reason Velvet and the Church of Sin arrived was to find and kill the Successor of Chaos while Erebos himself holds back the heretical Primordial of Chaos personally.

Princes and Princesses of Sin have already tried to deal with the Princess of Chaos within the Official System Events, but not one of them has even come close to succeeding. Proving that the job will take far more than just a single person to handle at one time.

Velvet glances behind himself at the several high ranking officials from the Church of Sin who are still spilling out of the portal. Officials who include at least five Successors of Sin amongst their number. Then he turns back to look out at the city again.

With this many, we're bound to be victorious.

Velvet breathes in then breathes out a puff of smoke that billows out into the night air around them.

And even if we fail, we still have that last ditch method.

The cardinal continues looking out into the city streets for several more minutes before finally turning around and beginning to walk towards the building entrance. With all of the kneeling acolytes of sin quickly getting up and moving to guide him and the other officials of the Church of Sin.

If we can't win in the Official System Events, we'll just have to win on your home planet instead.

Ashley

After Dhalia's interesting performance in the Planetary Official System Event, I go ahead and leave the VIP room. Before anyone else approaches me, of course. Because it honestly looks like everyone in there is staring at me like they want to eat me or something.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

And it's rather creepy.

So after leaving, I go ahead and take a brief look around my own territory. Where I find numerous tents still set up all over the ground near my Spire's base, along with a little marketplace down there.

But no permanent buildings are being set up.

I squashed that idea because I didn't want them ruining the lovely forest down there.

Nature is a nice thing, so there's no way in hell I would let someone ruin the one bit of nature in this massive city.

As for the Gates that pop up all over the place? They're all being handled by the denizens of this little park. With the exception of a few Class D Gates that the people living down there seem to be struggling with.

So I go ahead and enter those and clear them real quick myself. Without having any difficulty whatsoever in doing so.

Partially because I'm almost at the minimum level required to ascend to Class C and partially because I'm just too powerful in general. Mostly the latter.

And after slaughtering my way through several of the Class D Domains, I do actually make it past the minimum required level to reach Class C.

But I hold off on actually ascending. Mostly because I want to reach the level cap of Class D first.

Also, I want to compete in another Planetary Official System Event while at Class D before ascending. Not that it'll really matter all that much in the long run.

It would just be a pain fighting enemies an entire Class below me when they're likely to all run away or surrender, leading to me not getting any new skills from them.

But when I reach around level 300 or so, something unexpected happens. Right as I'm getting back home to my Spire from one of the Domains.

One of the subordinates of the Tower of Chaos brings me an invitation sent from the other leaders of the Planetary Council.

An invitation to a banquet and ball hosted by the Successor of Order in about two weeks from now.

I lie down on my bed while staring up at the invitation with a frown on my face.

"It would benefit you to attend," Chaos suggests with his voice sounding slightly tired for some reason. "I've just been fending off a pesky lizard, don't mind me. Anyways, even if you don't plan on interacting with them, it would be a good idea to at least get a look at the other powerhouses of Val."

Hmm… yeah, I guess you're right.

And it's not like I can run away from my family forever.

So I might as well meet them there. Even if I mostly just ignore them.

Except maybe my older sister and younger brother. I might at least try getting along with them. Assuming they talk to me first.

If they don't then I won't bother.

At least those two were victims as well, even if they did just straight up ditch me and Blake. Without any ill intent, that is.

I let out a sigh at that thought.

"My only issue is that too many people might fall for your beauty if you come to the ball wearing a dress rather than your usual outfit," Chaos mutters, making me blink before narrowing my eyes.

Why the heck would someone do that?

"Have you not looked at the System Forums recently?" Chaos asks, sounding both amused and tired.

Of course I haven't.

On purpose.

Some of those forum threads are disturbing.

"The ones you saw were the more mellow ones," Chaos says without any hesitation. "I've already deleted the threads that were more… inappropriate."

My jaw drops open at that statement.

Seriously?

"Seriously," Chaos responds.

Well then.

I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.

On another note, I don't have any sort of formal attire.

"Don't worry about that," Chaos states with what sounds like a slightly mischievous tone to his voice this time. A tone that has me narrowing my eyes in suspicion. "I just sent word to the Tower Master staying in your Spire. You won't have to worry about getting a dress for the event."

Why do I have a bad feeling about this…

Just half an hour later I find myself faced with dozens of maids as they showcase hundreds of different dresses and other outfits for the banquet and ball. All while Chaos makes the occasional comment about which one looks best on me along with the Tower Master making his own comments.

And at this point I feel like I've just been turned into a dress-up doll for Chaos and the Tower Master.

Maybe I should've just gone to find my own outfit…

"Nope," Chaos briefly responds to my thoughts without turning his attention away from the dresses. "There's no way I'd let you wear some shabby outfit made by someone from a newly initialized world."

Right.

Of course not…

I let out a sigh.

At least I won't have to worry about attire for any of these sorts of events…