Recap:
After overcoming his shadow-self in the trial of the Laughing Ashes, Kael Vire has acquired the Ashen Core—an extraordinary item that can either forge a Sovereign Artifact or further awaken his Domain. The Hollow Court is gaining strength, but with power comes a hefty price. In this chapter, Kael faces a pivotal decision on how to shape his sovereignty while dealing with the attention his ascent has attracted from the harsh world above.
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Kael found himself standing in the heart of the ruined marketplace, the Ashen Core glowing in his hand like a dying sun.
Its warmth was anything but comforting.
It burned—not his flesh, but his very mind.
Visions danced before him: cities ablaze, tyrants cackling, chains slithering like serpents.
And amidst it all... a throne of obsidian, hovering above a sea of shattered crowns.
This was the cost of power.
"What will you forge?" the System whispered.
"A weapon? A crown? Or a cage?"
[Sovereign Choice Triggered: Core of the Hollow Flame]
You can now shape your first artifact from the Ashen Core.
Choose wisely—your Dominion will reflect this decision.
1. Crown of the Hollow Flame (Path: Rule)
2. Blade of Silent Chains (Path: Conquest)
3. Mirror of the Lost Self (Path: Madness)
Kael didn't hesitate.
"I didn't come to conquer," he murmured.
"I came to rule what others have cast aside."
He set the Core on the cracked fountain and knelt.
Shadows swirled around it.
Fire without heat.
Power devoid of kindness.
He pressed his palm against the sigil etched into the fountain.
[Artifact Forged: Crown of the Hollow Flame - Sovereign Grade I]
Effect: Grants +15% Influence over bonded followers. While worn inside the domain, it suppresses system scans and increases Fear Factor by 30%. Grants passive aura: "Burning Silence."
New Passive Skill Gained: Burning Silence - Causes enemies within 10 meters to second-guess their actions for 3 seconds upon entering the domain.
Cooldown: 60 seconds per target.
A faint circlet of flickering shadow and flame materialized above Kael's brow.
It wasn't solid.
It wasn't beautiful.
But it was his.
Elric stood at a distance, his eyes reflecting something deeper than mere awe.
Loyalty.
"I saw a man in armor," the boy murmured. "He was watching from the wall, and then he just disappeared."
Kael's expression sharpened.
He turned his attention to the northern edge of the marketplace.
The walls there had crumbled long ago, but just beyond them lay the Lower Wards, where Guild enforcers kept a watchful eye and the System Lords held sway.
Someone had spotted him.
And they were keeping tabs.
Hours later, in a forgotten room illuminated by flickering candles, Kael gathered for his first meeting.
There were only three of them:
- Elric, his loyal ward.
- Joran, once a warden, now a mere enforcer.
- Kael, wearing an invisible crown that everyone could sense.
"This is not an empire," he said softly. "Not yet."
"But it will be," Elric chimed in.
Kael offered a faint smile.
"Yes, but first, we need to protect what's ours."
He pulled out a sheet of paper from a pilfered Guild ledger.
Names.
Movements.
Supply routes.
He pointed to one: Redhook Lane.
"A Guild transport is set to pass through there tomorrow. They're bringing Class-D System Crystals—enough to power this district for weeks."
"Are we going to hit it?" Elric asked eagerly.
Kael nodded.
"We're hitting it."
[Quest Acquired: Strike the Serpent's Tail]
Objective: Intercept the Guild supply convoy on Redhook Lane. Secure the crystals. No survivors.
Difficulty: High - Elite Enforcers Present.
Reward: +1 Territory Claim Token. Chance to upgrade Hollow Court to Tier II.
The road ahead wasn't lined with gold.
It was marked in blood.
But Kael was no longer bound by chains.
He strode through the flames.
High above, on the marble balcony of a spiraled white tower, a figure clad in golden armor peered through a crystal monocle. "Fascinating," the man remarked.
"The rat has some bite.
" Behind him loomed four others—elegant, lethal, and icy.
The System Lords of Draewyn.
"He wears a crown now," one of them commented.
"We ought to crush it."
The golden man grinned.
"No. Let him establish his kingdom."
He turned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "It'll be much more entertaining to watch it burn later."
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End of Chapter 6