The collision between Kael Viren and Asterion never reached the ground.
The instant their blades met, the space around them shattered like fragile glass. Mountains disappeared into the fracture as the battlefield was swallowed by a realm beyond Blue Star.
The sky became an endless sea of stars.
Beneath their feet stretched a mirror-like surface reflecting countless versions of reality.
"This..." Kael muttered.
"...isn't Blue Star."
Asterion calmly lowered his sword.
"No."
"We've entered the Battle Domain of Sovereigns."
Kael looked around cautiously.
"So this is your technique?"
Asterion shook his head.
"The world itself created it."
"When two Sovereign Bloodlines of sufficient purity clash..."
"...ordinary reality cannot contain the battle."
Far above them, millions of stars flickered.
Each star contained a different world.
A different civilization.
A different history.
The Law's voice echoed through the domain.
> Special Battlefield Confirmed.
> Collateral Damage Nullified.
> Combat Restrictions Removed.
Flamingo grinned.
"Now we're talking."
---
Without another word—
Asterion vanished.
Kael's instincts screamed.
He twisted sideways.
A blade of golden light passed through the space where his neck had been an instant earlier.
There was no explosion.
Instead...
The stars behind him split apart.
Kael's eyes widened.
"He cut..."
"...the stars?"
The Moon Goddess corrected him.
"No."
"He cut the distance between them."
Asterion appeared behind Kael.
"Very observant."
His sword moved again.
Kael blocked.
CLANG!
The impact sent Kael sliding across the mirror-like battlefield.
Every step created ripples spreading through countless reflected worlds.
Asterion advanced relentlessly.
His swordsmanship contained no wasted movement.
No unnecessary power.
Every slash was absolute perfection.
Kael blocked.
Dodged.
Countered.
Yet he was steadily losing ground.
Flamingo clicked its tongue.
"He's reading everything."
Harvester emerged from Kael's shadow.
"No..."
"...he's predicting."
Kael immediately understood.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every shift in balance.
Asterion already knew what would happen before Kael acted.
"So..."
Kael smiled.
"Then I'll do something even I don't know."
Mental Disruption exploded outward.
The invisible waves didn't target Asterion.
They targeted Kael himself.
His own thought process became chaotic.
His movements became impossible to predict.
Even Kael didn't know what his next attack would be until the instant he performed it.
Asterion's eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting."
Kael suddenly attacked with an awkward overhead strike.
Asterion stepped aside easily—
Only for Kael to abandon the attack halfway through, spin with the momentum, and drive his elbow directly into Asterion's ribs.
BOOM!
For the first time in the battle—
Asterion was sent flying.
He skidded across the mirrored surface before regaining his footing.
He looked down.
Blood stained the corner of his mouth.
He touched it.
Then smiled.
"You truly are Father's greatest surprise."
Kael pointed his sword forward.
"I told you."
"I belong to no one."
---
Outside the Battle Domain...
Blue Star's sky had become a gigantic mirror.
Everyone on the planet watched the battle unfold above them.
Inside the Imperial Palace...
The Emperor remained seated upon his throne.
His generals watched nervously.
"Your Majesty..."
"If Kael defeats the First Prince..."
The Emperor smiled calmly.
"He won't."
"But..."
The Emperor raised one hand.
The room became silent.
"Asterion..."
"...hasn't used a single Bloodline."
---
Inside the Battle Domain...
Asterion slowly closed his eyes.
"I hoped..."
"...to win with pure swordsmanship."
He sighed.
"But you've earned the right."
Golden light erupted from his body.
Then crimson.
Then silver.
Then emerald.
One after another...
Fifteen Sovereign Bloodlines awakened.
Each formed an enormous phantom behind him.
The pressure became so overwhelming that cracks spread across the Battle Domain itself.
Kael inhaled deeply.
"Everyone."
His Avatars appeared one after another.
Harvester.
Flamingo.
Blade Avatar.
Moon Goddess.
Five translucent thrones manifested behind Kael.
The remaining six remained empty.
Asterion looked at them with admiration.
"So beautiful."
"So incomplete."
Kael smiled.
"I'll complete them."
"Not today."
"One day."
Dragon Hybrid roared as golden scales covered Kael's body.
Flamingo merged its flames into his blade.
Harvester wrapped shadows around his feet.
The Moon Goddess blessed his soul with silver radiance.
The Blade Avatar stood beside him.
Not behind him.
Beside him.
As an equal.
Asterion noticed.
"You've already changed the fate of one Avatar."
Kael nodded.
"They're free."
"No."
Asterion answered softly.
"They're becoming your equals."
The Blade Avatar suddenly spoke.
"And if we surpass him?"
Kael answered without hesitation.
"I'll become stronger."
Silence.
Flamingo blinked.
Harvester slowly turned toward Kael.
Even the Moon Goddess smiled.
The Blade Avatar stared at Kael for several long moments.
Then...
For the first time...
It smiled.
A genuine smile.
"I made the correct choice."
A pulse erupted from the Blade Avatar.
Its body became more solid.
Its soul became more complete.
The Law immediately announced:
> Independent Avatar Synchronization: 20%.
> Evolution confirmed.
Asterion's expression became serious.
"So that's your path..."
"Not domination."
"Trust."
Kael lifted his sword.
"My companions aren't tools."
"They're the reason I stand."
Asterion slowly nodded.
"I finally understand..."
"...why Father fears you."
Kael frowned.
"He fears me?"
Asterion laughed.
"Not your strength."
"Your ideals."
"They're contagious."
Far beyond the Gate...
The Civilization King slowly opened both eyes.
For the first time in countless millennia...
His expression turned solemn.
"The Human Heart..."
He whispered.
"So that's the power that escaped our calculations."
He slowly stood from his throne.
"Then I can no longer remain a spectator."
The Gate trembled violently.
Every Otherworld commander fell to their knees.
Even the Emperor's smile slowly faded.
The Civilization King took his first step toward Blue Star.
At that same moment, inside Kael's soul...
The empty Twelfth Throne shone with brilliant white light.
A shadow slowly began to take shape upon it.
Not a dragon.
Not a god.
Not a civilization.
But something that looked...
Exactly like Kael.