The moment I stepped into the gate, the air thickened, humming with energy so dense it pulsed like a heartbeat. Seven cloaked figures stood in a perfect arc around a cracked obsidian throne. I couldn't see their faces, only shifting shadows beneath the hoods. But I felt their attention settle on me like chains.
> [Trial of Sovereignty – Stage One]
Objective: Defeat the Shades of Judgment
Bonus Reward: Class Evolution Path Reveal
Difficulty: Moderate
One of the shades stepped forward. Its form flickered between solid and smoke. "You who were cast away... why do you seek power?"
I stared him down. "Because it was stolen from me."
Another moved. "You, who were forgotten… why do you walk through death's door?"
"Because I survived it."
The third raised its head. "You, who carry darkness… what will you become?"
My voice was steady. "Something worse than they ever feared."
The air trembled. Without warning, they attacked.
A pulse of dark energy blasted toward me. I rolled left, shadows reacting faster than muscle. The system kicked in.
> [Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step (Active)]
Dash forward up to 6 meters through the shadow plane.
Cooldown: 10 seconds
I blinked forward, reappearing behind one of the shades. My hand glowed with the same black energy I'd used on the Hollowfang. I drove it into the figure's back.
It shrieked—inhuman, hollow—and dissolved into mist.
> [Shade of Regret eliminated. +120 EXP]
[Shadow Devour activated: Agility +1 (Temp), HP restored +10%]
The remaining six spread out. One hurled a spear of pure shadow at my chest. I ducked, letting it sizzle against the throne's base. Another circled, fast, slashing at my side with a curved blade.
It clipped my arm. Pain flashed. Blood sprayed.
> [Damage Taken: -14 HP]
[System Suggestion: Activate Shadow Veil for temporary invincibility? Y/N]
"Not yet," I muttered. "Let them come."
They did.
Two came from either side, blades aimed at my throat. I dropped to one knee, activated Shadow Step, and zipped past them. In that instant, time slowed.
I struck both as I passed—one in the throat, the other in the side. They screamed and collapsed into smoke.
> [Shade of Pride eliminated. +130 EXP]
[Shade of Doubt eliminated. +120 EXP]
[Level Up: 3 → 4]
My strength surged. My fingers curled tighter, energy coiling in my palms. I didn't feel fear anymore. I felt clarity.
Only four remained.
The next one tried to bind me with black chains that burst from the floor. I leapt, spinning midair and threw a blast of raw shadow energy. It struck its chest. The chains shattered. The shade flailed before disintegrating.
> [Shade of Chains eliminated. +140 EXP]
Another hurled spikes—hundreds of them—from the dark ceiling. I activated Shadow Veil this time.
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Veil]
Duration: 4 seconds
Effect: Invulnerable while within a living shadow
I vanished into the throne's shadow just as the spikes rained down like obsidian hail.
When I reemerged, I was already swinging.
> [Shade of Grief eliminated. +125 EXP]
Only two left. They stood side by side now, their forms denser than the others. Stronger. Older.
Twins.
> [Shade of Legacy – Twin Form: Unity and Ruin]
Shared HP Pool: 500
Joint Attack Pattern: High
Reward: Unique Skill Unlock
They charged as one. Blades clashed in unison, their movement flawless. I could barely dodge.
Steel tore into my shoulder.
I gritted my teeth and fought back, landing a blow against one's side—but it did nothing. Their HP was linked.
> [Shadow Chain Detected. Suggestion: Disrupt Link]
"How?" I hissed, ducking again.
> [New Skill: Shadow Shatter (Unlocked)]
Effect: Breaks enemy-bound shadow links. Single-use per battle. Cost: 40 mana.
Perfect.
I waited. Let them get close again—let them lunge—and just as their blades came for my chest, I triggered it.
"Shadow Shatter!"
A wave of black light exploded from me. The chain connecting their chests cracked, snapped, then shattered completely.
One of them staggered.
I hit him hard. My fist, charged with rage and shadow energy, slammed into his core.
He burst apart like glass.
> [Shade of Unity defeated. +160 EXP]
The second twin let out a shriek of rage and lunged blindly. I sidestepped, grabbed his cloak, and slammed him face-first into the base of the throne.
Then I drove my palm into the back of his head.
> [Shade of Ruin defeated. +160 EXP]
[Level Up: 4 → 5]
[Shadow Devour: Strength +2 (Temporary)]
I stumbled backward, chest heaving, blood dripping from my wounds—but the system was already repairing me.
The throne pulsed once, and then the voice returned.
> [Trial Complete.]
[All Shades Eliminated. Path Accepted.]
Before I could speak, a panel of text bloomed before me—glowing like a star in the dark.
> [Class Evolution Option Unlocked]
Available Paths:
1. Shadowblade Warlord – Focus: Melee Combat / Shadow Clones / Bleed
2. Nightbound Sage – Focus: Magic / Curses / Area Control
3. Sovereign Ascendant (Locked – Requires Bloodline Unseal)
My breath caught.
That last one... Sovereign Ascendant. It was locked, but it was mine. I knew it.
> [Temporary Class Chosen: Shadowblade Warlord]
Can be changed upon unlocking Bloodline Seal
The throne cracked open, revealing a black crystal shard the size of my palm.
> [Item Acquired: Sovereign's Echo – Fragment 1/7]
Contains a piece of the Shadowborn Sovereign's lost will.
Required to access true class.
I gripped it tightly. It was warm—almost alive.
As the gate behind me shimmered back into existence, I turned and stepped into the fading stormlight.
I wasn't just surviving anymore.
I was awakening.