The chamber felt colder. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.
Akira stood over Luma, lightning dancing in her palm.
"Akira—please," Luma choked out, her voice trembling. "We've fought together. We've bled together. You don't need to do this."
The crowned figure leaned forward slightly, their tone almost curious. "Do you? Or do you need to prove that sentiment is weakness?"
Tamaki didn't move, but his eyes locked on Akira's, searching for the answer before she even made it. He knew what she was capable of. The rest of the crew—back outside—didn't.
Akira crouched, her shadow stretching over Luma's bound form. For a moment, her fingers brushed the chains. "You know, Luma," she murmured, "I've always wondered what would happen if you pushed me too far."
Luma's eyes widened.
Then the lightning flared, so bright it painted the chamber red.
The smell hit first—burning flesh, sharp and metallic. Luma's scream tore through the silence before cutting off abruptly. When the light faded, her body lay limp, the chains now the only thing keeping her upright.
Tamaki didn't flinch. He just exhaled, almost relieved. The crowned figure smiled faintly.
"Well done. You have no ties that outweigh your ambition."
Akira rose slowly, red sparks still flickering across her hands. She didn't bother looking back at Luma. "She knew the rules. I warned them all—loyalty's a one-way street when you're with me."
The Reward
The throne dissolved into mist, and in its place appeared a floating sphere of crimson energy. It pulsed in rhythm with Akira's heartbeat.
"This," the crowned figure said, "is the Core of Dominion. Take it, and your evolution will accelerate. Your hunger will deepen."
Akira didn't hesitate. She reached out, fingers sinking into the energy. A rush of power slammed into her, forcing her to her knees. Veins lit up under her skin like molten lines, and her vision bled to red.
System text flashed across her mind:
[Level Up]
[Dominion Class Unlocked: Predator Queen]
+200 Strength
+150 Speed
Skill Unlocked: Feast of the Sovereign – Absorb ALL life force from a target within 30 seconds
When she stood, the ground beneath her cracked. Even Tamaki took a cautious step back.
Outside the Gate
The Dominion Gate burst open, releasing a shockwave that sent dust and wind rolling across the camp. The crew, still uneasy from Kale's death, shielded their faces.
When Akira and Tamaki stepped through, the crew froze.
Something in her presence was different. Heavier. Darker.
Kairos was the first to speak, voice sharp. "Where's Luma?"
Akira's gaze slid to him, cold and slow. "She didn't make it."
A murmur rippled through the group—fear, suspicion, even disgust. Kairos clenched his jaw. "Didn't… make it? Or didn't survive you?"
Tamaki's smirk was all the answer they needed.
One of the younger members stepped back. "We can't follow her anymore. She's dangerous—"
Before the words were even finished, Akira's hand was on his throat. She lifted him effortlessly, her new power crackling.
"You think you get to choose?" she said softly, almost kindly. Then she activated Feast of the Sovereign. The boy's scream was brief—his body withered to nothing in seconds, leaving only dust that scattered in the wind.
The crew stared in horror.
"Anyone else?" Akira asked.
No one spoke.
The Path Ahead
Tamaki stepped forward, his grin lazy. "Looks like they get it now."
Akira's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Good. Because from here on out, we're not just surviving. We're taking everything."
The Dominion Gate faded behind them, leaving only scorched earth where it once stood.
But in the distance, beyond the jagged hills, an even darker power was watching—something that had noticed her ascension and wasn't about to let her keep it without a fight.