Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

"Owen succeeded!"

"The seal on the Demon Abyss has been broken!"

Countless members of the tribes in the region looked skyward, tears streaming down their faces. They had waited far too long for this day to come.

Among them, Raina stood in a daze, lost in thought. She could still recall the despair she had felt when they were first trapped in this place.

No matter what means they tried, they had been unable to leave. The Demon Abyss was like a perfectly crafted cage, designed for entry but not escape.

In their desperation, they had resigned themselves to living here forever.

But everything changed with Owen's arrival.

Princess Marry, too, was dazed. The waves of power emanating from the battle in the mountain earlier had seemed capable of annihilating the entire plane. It was clear that Owen and his companions had encountered formidable foes within the mountain.

"Owen truly is a man of miracles!"

Recalling her encounters with him, Princess Marry marveled at how Owen had always managed to create miracles, always stepping up at the most critical moments to turn the tide. He had done so in the past, and he had done so again today.

Even in this dire situation, Owen shone as brightly as a star.

At that moment, countless members of the tribes stood beneath the warm glow of the sunlight piercing through the Demon Abyss's shattered sky. They squinted, their faces lit with awe and joy as they experienced the warmth of sunlight for the first time.

"So this is the sunlight beyond the Abyss?"

For those who had never seen real sunlight, their expressions brimmed with exhilaration.

To them, sunlight was a precious and extraordinary resource. Until now, they had only read about its brightness and warmth in books. Now, they could finally feel it for themselves.

Even for powerful beings like The Chief and the four Primordial God-level mages, the sight of sunlight brought a profound sense of relief. Their once-restrained hearts seemed to find release, their inner states reaching a newfound clarity.

Though they had long since reached the Primordial God level, their ascent had been primarily due to their unique bloodlines. As descendants of the sacred mountain, they were born as deities.

However, while their power reached great heights, their mental states had remained incomplete. This was why they were no match for the four monstrous guardians of the Demon Abyss despite sharing their rank.

Now, under Owen's leadership, they had broken free of The Celestial's seal, shattering both physical and mental shackles.

Their understanding of Order deepened, their hearts unburdened, and the invisible chains that had bound them for so long finally fell away.

As their mental states transformed, the other Throne Celestial-level mages who had followed them also experienced significant growth.

The weight of The Celestial, which had oppressed their spirits, was lifted. With this newfound liberation, their power surged. Among them, those with exceptional talent and unique bloodlines radiated divine light.

All eyes turned toward Owen.

Today, it was Owen who had led them to freedom and restored light to their lives. His contributions were immeasurable.

Without Owen, they would have been lost, unable even to discern the correct path forward.

Even if they had found the way, they lacked the strength to break through The Celestial's restraints. They would have remained prisoners in the Demon Abyss forever.

As they gazed at Owen, he stood silently, his expression solemn as he looked toward the heavens.

In his mind, the system's notifications echoed, accompanied by black text flashing across his vision:

"Congratulations, Master, for completing the hidden side quest: Liberation of the Alps Sacred Mountain!"

"Congratulations, Master, on obtaining 10 million Fate Points and one Super Lottery Chance!"

As the system's voice trailed off, a smile spread across Owen's face.
Continue your saga on empire

The Fate Points and the lottery chance had long been objects of his desire. Without hesitation, Owen opened the System Store.

The store had been upgraded previously, adding a new feature: Comprehension.

Activating this feature, Owen was presented with a dense array of special rules, each representing a pinnacle Order.

All Things Ablaze: Flames that burn everything—laws, rules, and doctrines reduced to ash.

Cost: 10 million Fate PointsDark Winter: An icy plateau of death, freezing all in eternal frost.

Cost: 10 million Fate PointsAngel of Rebirth: Master of life and death, guiding souls through cycles of reincarnation—an eternal supreme Order.

Cost: 10 million Fate PointsCrimson Dawn: Carnage incarnate—shattering lands and piling countless corpses to ascend to supremacy.

Cost: 10 million Fate PointsSupreme Creation: The power to reshape life and wield dominion over existence.

Cost: 10 million Fate Points

A long list of awe-inspiring rules appeared before Owen.

For most, the chance to comprehend even one of these would represent a path to the pinnacle of power, a dream out of reach for the vast majority of Throne Celestial-level mages.

And yet, here they were, laid out before Owen like an array of common items in a marketplace.

Though the cost of 10 million Fate Points was astronomical, Owen had precisely 30 million points from completing the quest. This allowed him to choose three such rules to comprehend.

Despite his current Primordial God-level combat prowess, Owen remained technically at the Throne Celestial tier. Using these rules, he could quickly bridge the gap and achieve true Primordial Godhood.

However, Owen remained cautious.

These rules, while powerful, were not born of his own understanding. Using them to ascend might lead to a dead end, especially since his unique path—one crafted with Leslie's guidance—was meant to defy fate itself.

Owen's path was one of rebellion, of rewriting destiny. If he relied on pre-existing rules, it could interfere with his journey.

Having weighed the pros and cons, Owen decided to purchase three rules not as a foundation for his ascension but as nourishment to refine his own path further.

He selected All Things Ablaze, Angel of Rebirth, and Supreme Creation—rules he believed could complement his unique journey.

With the system deducting 30 million Fate Points, the knowledge of these rules flooded Owen's mind, shining like stars in his consciousness.

Confidence surged within him. With these insights, he felt certain he could perfect his path.

Taking a deep breath, Owen snapped back to reality, surveying the transformed Demon Abyss.

The black sea had vanished, replaced by brilliant sunlight illuminating the once-dark region.

The Chief and the others, basking in the light, exchanged glances. Then, as one, they placed their right hands over their hearts, bowed deeply toward Owen, and spoke in unison:

"We greet the Mountain Lord!"

Their collective voices thundered, echoing across the heavens.

According to the sacred mountain's ancient law, the one who led them out of captivity and shattered The Celestial's seal would be recognized as their Mountain Lord.

Prophecies had foretold the coming of a Mountain Lord who would free them.

Now, having witnessed Owen's actions, they wholeheartedly acknowledged him as their leader.