That night, as Ryner's infant body rested quietly in the wooden cradle beside his mother's bed, his consciousness slipped into the white void of the Crowns once more. The transition was seamless, like drifting through a dream, but Ryner knew better. This space was not illusion—it was the very nexus of fate, where the Crowns imparted their burdens.
The void was endless, glowing faintly, and in its center stood a man draped in flowing silver robes. His hair shimmered like threads of mist, and his eyes reflected an unfathomable paradox, calm yet filled with infinite storms.
Rune Blackwood. The second Crown.
"Ryner Alostrio," Rune's voice was soft, steady, each word carrying the weight of law, "the path of the Fifth Crown is not one of vengeance alone. You think your oath to protect and your thirst for vengeance define you—but they are only the beginning. What you carry now… are burdens older than kingdoms, older than gods."
Ryner's soul flickered faintly, a child in body but no longer a child in spirit. He did not interrupt, though the burning questions pressed inside him.
Rune raised his hand, and the blank void rippled. From his palm, stars unfurled, blossoming into a vast constellation that stretched across the void like a night sky. Each point of light pulsed faintly, carrying an aura that made Ryner's soul tremble.
"These lights," Rune said, his tone deepening, "are **treasures of forbidden origin**—scattered across the realms, sealed because their might could sunder the very fabric of existence. Soon, their seals will weaken. If left untamed, they will bring calamity and drown this world in chaos. Thus, they must be claimed. You, Ryner, must claim them."
The constellation shifted, and the stars aligned into patterns. With each movement, Rune's voice carved the truth into Ryner's very essence.
---
✨ **The 11 Swords** – fragments of divine edge scattered across time and space.
"Each sword contains one ultimate sword technique, engraved in its core. But once drawn, once unleashed, the sword vanishes—leaving only the technique burned into the wielder's soul. They are gifts of gods long departed, yet they demand sacrifice. Use them wisely."
The stars split into eleven slivers of silver, sharp and dazzling. Ryner's soul shivered with awe.
---
💎 **The 7 Sword Gems** – radiant jewels, each harboring elemental sword essence.
Rune extended his hand, and seven colored lights spun into being, each glowing with a distinct brilliance:
* **Ruby** – Fire, *Blazing Steel*
* **Sapphire** – Water, *Aqua Ring*
* **Topaz** – Thunder, *Thunder Mirage*
* **Emerald** – Forest, *Forest Guardian*
* **Quartz** – Ice, *Frost Blizzard*
* **Diamond** – Light, *Radiant Sovereign*
* **Obsidian** – Darkness, *Temporal Darkness*
"These gems are not weapons, but seeds. Whoever fuses with them gains mastery of a peerless sword technique—at the cost of burning part of their soul. Power never comes freely, Ryner."
The gems pulsed, their colors reflecting across the void.
---
⚔️ **The 4 Emperor Swords** – weapons of empires, embodying legacies of war.
"Each Emperor Sword," Rune continued, his eyes narrowing, "is not one technique, but four. With each evolution, its form and art ascend, each layer surpassing the last. They are kingdoms in themselves—hungry, demanding, alive."
Four crimson stars ignited, each one radiating oppressive might:
* **Blood Emperor** – *Blood Calamity*
* **Shadow Emperor** – *Shadow Domain*
* **Divine Emperor** – *Divine Authority*
* **Fight Emperor** – *Legion of Destruction*
Their combined pressure shook the void itself. Even as a Crown's heir, Ryner struggled to breathe under their presence.
---
🛡️ **The 3 Armours** – remnants of gods who once walked creation.
The stars warped again, coalescing into three shapes: radiant armor glimmering like heavens, vast and primal as earth, and one blazing with both dragon's fire and phoenix's flame.
* **Divine Armour** – the shield of the heavens.
* **Primordial Armour** – the body of creation itself.
* **Dragon Phoenix Armour** – the eternal balance of life and destruction.
"These armours," Rune said gravely, "are not tools. They are beings. To wear them is to enter covenant. They will test your will, Ryner. Fail, and you will be devoured."
---
The constellation stilled. Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Rune lowered his hand, and his gaze pierced into Ryner's soul. "Understand this—these are not treasures. They are destinies. Each one breathes, each one remembers. To claim them is to inherit not only their strength, but their will. If you are not ready… they will destroy you."
Ryner's infant face might have been calm, but within his soul blazed a fire fiercer than steel.
*So what if they can consume me?* he thought. *I will consume them first. I will grow. Faster. Harder. Stronger than anyone. If I must bear the weight of the Fifth Crown, then I'll carve my path with their power.*
His spirit voice thundered, fierce and unwavering:
> *"Then I'll take them all. Every last one. And when I stand at the peak… no one will trample me, no one will take her from me. This is my oath."*
The void trembled faintly. For a moment, Rune's impassive expression softened into a faint smile. "So be it. The map is sealed into your soul. Its stars will guide you when the time is right. But heed this, Ryner—every treasure you claim will make the world tremble. The higher you climb, the louder the heavens will roar against you."
His voice echoed, fading into silence, and the constellation collapsed into a single spark that sank into Ryner's chest. His infant soul glowed faintly with a sigil—the invisible seal of the **Treasure Map of the Crowns.**
---
When Ryner opened his eyes, he was once again in his crib. Moonlight poured through the window, bathing his tiny form in silver glow. His small hand clenched unconsciously, the faintest trace of light pulsing against his palm.
Alia stirred beside him, humming a lullaby, oblivious to the storm awakening in her child.
Ryner gazed at the ceiling, his baby eyes gleaming unnaturally sharp.
*The hunt has begun. This world is full of predators and prey. Last time, I was prey. This time… I'll be the predator. Piece by piece, treasure by treasure, throne by throne—I'll devour them all.*
The oath of vengeance now carried the weight of worlds.
The map of forbidden treasures had been drawn.
And Ryner Alostrio's silent war against fate had truly begun.
**(Chapter End)**