"Hey, Luke Simmons, or should I say Luke Arcadia?" said the woman, her gaze fixed on Luke's eyes, sending his mind into a whirlwind of possibilities. "Who are you?" Luke asked, surprised, his curiosity piqued as he wondered about her identity and the reasons behind her presence."Since you know my name how about introducing yours!!"ask Luke

She smiled mysteriously in response, and Luke could sense a certain restraint in her demeanor.

"You sure are cocky for a mortal! You would have died if not for me!" she exclaimed, her words carrying a hint of pride. "Well, I'm the one who brought you here, and I'm also the one who orchestrated your reincarnation."

"Are you some kind of deity, like God?" Luke inquired cautiously, aware of the immense pressure emanating from her presence, which suggested a higher being.

"You could say that, and I know you have doubts about your identity. Allow me to clarify: you are Luke Simmons, and you have been reincarnated into the body of Luke Arcadia," she explained with a smile, enduring the electrical currents coursing through the chains binding her.

Luke's face brightened with relief upon hearing her words. "So, what happened to Luke Arcadia?" he asked, puzzled by the circumstances surrounding his newfound existence.

"He died. His soul was terminated, and you took over his empty vessel. It's as simple as that. As for why your soul was reincarnated, that was my doing," she revealed matter-of-factly.

Curiosity sparked within Luke as he probed further. "So, what is your goal in all of this? I'm sure there must be a price to pay for your involvement," he suggested, aware that nothing in life comes without a cost.

"To free myself," she answered with a smile once again, enduring the surges of voltage running through her restraints. "But now, you are far too weak to be of any use." "Am I about to get some sort of cheats like protagonists in novels " Luke think cheerfully and request"Are you give me some kinds of protection or blessings? I'm pretty sure you don't want me died early, right!" "I can't give you my blessings or divinities since they will hunt you down if they found out your connection to me.However, I can grant you a crest, *The Crest of Corruption*. It will provide you with power and protection, but be warned, it is also quite dangerous. You will have to conceal it carefully," she cautioned.

Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding at her words. "That sounds ominous," he thought to himself, though he dared not voice his concerns. Instead, he shifted his focus to another matter that had been nagging at him. "Do you have any knowledge about Luke Arcadia's past? I need to know more in order to convincingly assume his identity. I can't afford to be exposed," Luke asked, realizing that he needed to gather information about Luke Arcadia in order to successfully navigate his new role.

"All I know is that the body you currently inhabit belonged to the eldest son and heir of Duke Arcadia. You've probably already met your parents, Lucius and Maria. However, it's not the identity of Luke Arcadia that you should worry about; it's the identity of being the current leader of the Luminous Dawn, a notorious cult. But fear not, the Crest of Corruption will aid you in maintaining both identities," Ravenna explained. Just as she was about to continue, Luke interjected.

"Wait a minute, he's the cult leader?" Luke asked, his surprise evident in his voice. Ravenna confirmed his assumption, explaining, "Yes, he was not kidnapped by cult members; he was the leader. They were conducting a ritual that I disrupted, causing it to go awry and resulting in the death of everyone involved. Your reincarnation was a direct result of that event."

Realization washed over Luke as he comprehended the weight of his new predicament. "So, not only do I have to assume the role of Luke Arcadia, but I also have to act as the cult leader?" he asked, his initial excitement and aspirations of being a protagonist in a novel from his previous life fading away. He now realized the magnitude of the challenges he faced.

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"How should I act?" Luke pondered, suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of the disturbance caused by the failed ritual. "It should be relatively easy to play the role of a memory-less Luke Arcadia and gather information about his past to mold myself accordingly. But what about the cult members?" he wondered, turning his attention back to Ravenna.

She stood before him, immensely beautiful, the most enchanting woman he had ever seen in his past life. Although she was currently naked and bound, Luke knew better than to do anything foolish, as he could still feel her oppressive power, surging from a higher being to a mortal. She possessed the ability to disintegrate his body with a mere spark, but she is currently restrained within the seals. While he couldn't trust her unconditionally, he recognized that she's a god-like being. Even in her confined state a God is still god. At present, striking a favorable or balanced deal and finding a way out seemed to be his best course of action. As for the rest, he could contemplate it later. After all, he was still a novice in this unfamiliar world, and his encounter with Ravenna, a seal demon or goddess or whatever she may be, was far from ordinary.

Denying a deal was not an option for Luke. He knew he couldn't bear the weight of such a conscious decision, especially considering the unknown realm in which he now found himself. The title of Duke's heir may have sounded impressive, but the identity of a cult leader hung like a sword above his head. What would Luke Arcadia's parents think if they discovered his role as a cult leader? "So, the deal is that you help me, and in return, I free you?" Luke confirmed, making his decision to proceed with the arrangement. He recognized that he couldn't avoid this deal with Ravenna, and the best course of action was to negotiate the best terms possible. "Deal! It's not like I have a choice. Can you send me back now??" he inquired further. "And, oh yes, do we have a means of contacting each other?"

"I have used up all my spare energy to help you reincarnate and bring you here. I will contact you again when the time is right. Before I send you back, take this," Ravenna said, as a black ring materialized before her.

The ring was entirely black, emanating a powerful aura. Luke, unfamiliar with this world's extraordinary phenomena, could sense its extraordinary nature with a single glance. "What is this?" he asked, reaching out to grab the ring with his right hand, feeling its tremendous energy coursing through him.

Just as he grasped the ring, Ravenna's voice echoed in his mind. "We will meet again..." And in an instant, Luke found himself lying on a bed, surrounded by numerous medical personnel, nurses, and his current parents.

In a room resembling an office or study, a man in his early forties sat solemnly, his hands clasped together. Standing before him was Paul Devereus, also looking grave, as they reported their findings. "So, what do you think their goal is?" the man asked. Paul replied, "Your Majesty, we cannot pinpoint their goal. But whatever the purpose of their ritual was, it ultimately failed." This man was Benedict Sinclair, the Emperor of the Lux Sanctus Empire, a figure of authority atop millions, if not billions, of people.

"We cannot worry about something we do not know, but keep a close eye on the movements of the Heretics, especially those from the Luminous Dawn," the Emperor commanded. "Yes, Your Majesty!" Paul affirmed. The Emperor nodded in response to Paul's answer and continued, "So, how is Luke?"

"He is physically fine, but I am uncertain of the psychological and spiritual impact he may experience," Paul replied. "Especially with his crest being removed." The Emperor sighed and said, "I understand. Make finding the purpose behind the removal of the crests a top priority. Additionally, tighten the border controls and immigration procedures." "Yes, Your Majesty," Paul acknowledged.

After exchanging a few more questions, answers, and casual conversation, Paul took his leave. Benedict sat there in silence, pondering the situation. After a few minutes, he summoned "Deeva." As soon as the words left his lips, a woman dressed entirely in black, resembling a ninja, emerged from the darkness, kneeling before him. "At your command, Your Majesty," she said. Benedict stared at the wall in front of him, as if he could see through it, and ordered, "Keep an eye on that kid, Luke Arcadia." "Yes, Your Majesty," Deeva affirmed before sinking back into the darkness, disappearing from sight.

After a while, Benedict rose to his feet and approached the door, muttering, "The time has come. Be ready for it," as if addressing someone who was not present, but himself.