Chapter 274 ~ Linked Horizons

Words : 2345 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 274 ~ Linked Horizons Estelle Spencer. A woman born into a world of struggle—yet graced with brilliance, beauty, and a magnetic charm that set her apart from the crowd. Though her parents were often absent, their love was never in question. She grew up a conscientious child, shaped by hardship but fueled by unshakable optimism. From a young age, she dreamed of a better life—not just for herself, but for her entire family. A life where they didn’t have to wonder where the next meal would come from, or whether the lights would stay on another week. And through relentless determination, that dream began to take form. Her intelligence earned her a full scholarship to Harvard, where she pursued a dual major in finance and management—an ambitious path few dared to tread. Her charisma drew people in. Professors praised her. Classmates admired her. She made friends effortlessly and built a strong network that made even the most competitive academic environment seem manageable. But her beauty... it became her undoing. It caught the attention of a powerful heir to a major conglomerate—a man infamous behind closed doors for his depravity. His family's influence ensured that no scandal ever reached the surface. Every atrocity he committed was buried beneath legal teams, falsified records, and hush money. She saw the truth with her own eyes the night she accepted an invitation to one of his celebrity-studded parties. It was a gilded cage of sin. In a mansion bathed in luxury and decadence, she witnessed acts so vile, so casually depraved, they left her breathless—not in awe, but in horror. She walked away, disgusted. She rejected him without hesitation. But that rejection shattered his fragile ego—and he retaliated with the full weight of his power. In a single night, everything Estelle had worked for was stolen. Her scholarship revoked. Her reputation destroyed. Friends distanced themselves out of fear. Her future, once so bright, collapsed into darkness. She vowed vengeance, but with nothing left—no allies, no voice, no resources—it was a hollow promise. Then came the final blow. Her father, who had spent his life pushing his body to the brink just to keep food on the table, died from exhaustion. Her mother, already fragile, followed shortly after—consumed by grief and despair. Estelle had nothing left. No family. No future. No hope. She cursed her fate. She cursed the gods, the system, the world itself. And in the bleakest moments of her despair, she realized something chilling: her story was not unique. There were countless others—bright young men and women, entire families—crushed under the boots of the powerful for no greater sin than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A single misstep. A single rejection. That’s all it took. And so, her hatred expanded. It wasn’t just the man who ruined her she loathed—it was the world that allowed it to happen. She longed for power. Not fame. Not riches. Just the strength to fight back, to make those who trampled others pay for what they’d done. But power was a luxury she didn’t have. And in its absence... there was nothing she could do. By her late thirties, Estelle had faded into the shadows—just another forgotten soul in the gutters of the city. Every waking hour, the thought of ending it all whispered louder in her mind. Until one night... she finally gave in. She wandered to a quiet bridge, the moon hanging above like a silent witness. The cold wind bit at her skin as she looked down at the black water below. It felt peaceful. Final. No mess, no spectacle. Just disappear. But just as she took a step forward, a voice, smooth and hauntingly melodic, pierced the silence. “If you're going to throw your life away... why not give it to me instead?” Startled, Estelle turned. Standing behind her was a woman—breathtakingly beautiful, almost unearthly. Her golden eyes shimmered with a light that seemed to glow from within, like stars trapped in a sea of amber. It was this moment that changed her life once more and brought her here... She knelt on one knee at the heart of a vast, opulent office perched high atop one of the tallest towers in the city. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls wrapped around her, revealing a sea of glittering city lights—brighter, more alive than the stars hanging in the night sky above. This was her domain. The office of the CEO of Linked Horizon. The woman she met on that fateful night had offered her a choice: To end it all and become just another nameless body floating lifeless downriver by morning... —or to give her life to the Goddess before her. Estelle chose the latter. But she hadn’t handed over her life blindly. A businesswoman to her core, she had made one request—one condition. ‘Help me kill that man and destroy his empire.’ Whether it was out of pity, amusement, or something else entirely, the woman—Albedo—accepted. And Estelle was reborn. She was granted a second chance, and she wasted none of it. She burned herself into the ground, working tirelessly—building her fortune, forging new alliances, and eliminating all who dared obstruct her path. She rose from the ashes of her former life, sharper, stronger, and more ruthless than ever. And with Albedo’s unseen hand guiding her, she exacted her revenge. She gave her parents peace, and buried the pain of the past. Now, nothing held her back. And so, she offered Albedo everything. Her loyalty. Her body. Her life. Her soul. And this time... she was not just reborn metaphorically. She was transformed, literally—ushered into an entirely new world. A world of magic. Of devils, angels, and fallen. A world where gods ruled and devils walked among mortals. A world that lived in secret, overlapping the mundane. And she became a part of it the moment Albedo revealed her true form, and she accepted the Seed of Lust to be remade as a succubus. With her new identity came a purpose far greater than she would have imagined. She soon realized that all the success she had achieved—all the empires she had built in the human world—was merely a tutorial. A prologue to her true mission. Linked Horizon, though little-known by the general public, was whispered of in the uppermost circles of power. In the shadows of global finance and influence, it was the conglomerate—an invisible hand guiding the world. But what even fewer knew was that Linked Horizon was just as dominant in the supernatural realm. It held ties with ancient pantheons. Brokered deals with devils, gods, and powerful beings. It was a silent empire with threads woven through every dimension of power—human and divine. Yet despite its reach, no one knew the identity of the one who created it. No face. No name. Just myths and guesses whispered by those who dared to wonder. That was—until now. Lady Albedo and the unseen Council, whose presence Estelle had only heard of through mentions or referrals from Albedo, had glimpsed the future. They had deemed it necessary for the world to see a representative. A voice. A face. A force to carry out the will of the one above the clouds. That was why Albedo chose Estelle. To be groomed. Forged. Tested. To one day become the figurehead of Linked Horizon—when she was truly worthy. Now, as a Succubus born anew, with a body stronger and more enduring, equipped with enchanted artifacts of immense power, Estelle worked without rest to fulfill her purpose. But Albedo’s guidance had grown scarce over the years. What were once frequent communications had dwindled to yearly messages. Sometimes even less. And then, just yesterday, a message arrived. It was brief. Only a single line: “I will appear.” She had spent the night preparing herself—body, mind, and soul. She had reviewed everything she had accomplished and questioned whether she had done enough. And now, with the moment upon her, Estelle knelt at the center of her office, bathed in moonlight and the glow of a thousand city lights, her heart pounding in quiet anticipation. She waited for her goddess to appear. And from a silent whirling darkness that manifested out of thin air before her, she appeared as promised. “Rise.” Estelle raised her head from the single word of command she had uttered. Not out of compulsion, but out of genuine loyalty and devotion directed to the Goddess who had given her everything she wished for—revenge and a life worth living. Her eyes gazed upon her, and awe filled her heart anew. A pure white dress adorned her curvaceous body. White silky gloves covered her slender hands, and a golden spiderweb necklace covered her shoulders and bountiful chest. Her lustrous jet black hair cascaded down her back like silk woven from the very threads that made up the starry night sky. She had the face of a Goddess, but the golden irises and vertically slit pupils of a devil. Two thick horns protruding crookedly on either side of her temples, and on her waist are a pair of black feathered wings. Her eyes glowed in the dimly lit room, looking down upon the kneeling golden-haired woman. She had the bearing of a ruler, an empress, dwarfing any other “rulers” she had met in her life. And upon witnessing her figure once more, her respect, admiration, and loyalty only deepened. “Welcome, my lady. It is an honor to be graced by your presence once more.” “Estelle. It has been a while.” “Too long without your presence, my lady.” Albedo stared at the woman kneeling before her. She had never actually met the woman before. But, “memories” given to her by the group chat to establish her “place” in this world gave her all the information she needed to act and be. She was one of the very few in this world with potential and worth to become a servant of the greatest supreme being and her beloved husband. It seemed that her “self” in this fabricated-turn-real memory made the decision she would have if it was her. Smart. Loyal. Devoted. Controllable. And a passable appearance. A perfect figurehead to show the world while she and her dear husband stay in the shadows, holding the true strings. “I’ve come to inform you of something.” “My lady, your wish is my command.” Estelle closed her eyes in deference, like a worshipper ready to receive the oracle from her God. “He has come.” Her eyes opened, and she raised her head towards Albedo. “My lady... You mean...” Albedo nodded. “You may have the chance to meet him and be of use to him directly. Do not disappoint him.” “Never, my lady. I shall grind myself to dust to fulfil all of his wishes.” “Good.” Albedo turned around and the same whirling darkness appeared once more. And before she stepped inside, she gave Estelle one last glance. “I shall be more present here soon. Ready reports on the major line of business you have. Especially with the forces of the supernatural.” “I obey.” And with that, Albedo stepped into the whirling darkness and disappeared, leaving Estelle alone but with a renewed purpose and anticipation. --------------------------------X-------------------------------- Dinner. Yuuji prepared a sumptuous, nutrient-rich feast that not only delighted the senses with its taste but also worked wonders on the body for Rias and her peerage. Every bite was packed with restorative properties—rejuvenating their stamina, replenishing their energy, and subtly enhancing their physical vitality. It wasn’t just a meal; it was fuel for both the body and the soul. As they ate, Aika could see how amazed they were and how ravenous they turned, and couldn’t help but smirk proudly. “This isn’t even Yuuji’s best, you know,” she said with a teasing glint in her eyes. “He’s holding back because the ingredients here aren’t good enough.” Akeno let out a soft sigh of bliss, setting down her chopsticks with a dazed look. “I’m ruined,” she said dramatically. “There’s no way I’ll ever enjoy normal food again after this.” Rias, Koneko, Asia, and Kiba all nodded in unison, while Issei was already clinging in between conscious and not from being too full. Erika nodded solemnly, clearly sharing her sentiment. “Same here,” she said. “Yuuji’s cooking has completely spoiled my taste buds. Everything else just tastes... dull now.” “Thank you, Yuuji-kun... for everything.” Rias turned to the man who had not only helped her, but also guided her dear peerage members and opened their eyes to new possibilities. Though she still had much to learn and many challenges ahead, her heart was filled with sincere gratitude for all he had done for her that day. “You’re welcome,” Yuuji replied with a calm smile. “But if anyone deserves the thanks, it’s Aika. This was all her idea from the start.” Rias’s gaze shifted to Aika, and her expression softened further. “Of course. Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity.” Aika gave a playful wink, her tone light and teasing. “Hehe~ Naturally~ I really appreciated that you didn’t try to pressure or manipulate me into helping you. That would’ve been a huge turn-off. And besides... I hated the idea of you being forced into a marriage with someone you don’t even love~ So, I thought—why not lend a hand~?” A quiet sigh of relief escaped Rias’s lips. She had been right to trust her instincts—to respect Aika’s boundaries even in her moment of desperation. It hadn’t felt right to coerce someone, especially a friend, no matter how much she needed help. “Thank you,” she said once more, this time with more emotion in her voice. Aika grinned mischievously. “Hehe~ But don’t think today was the end of it, alright? This was just the warm-up! Yuuji’s going to push you all even harder starting tomorrow~!” Rias straightened up, determination gleaming in her eyes. “Of course! We’ll give it everything we’ve got!”

Chapter 274 ~ Linked Horizons

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