The days after the duel blurred into a rhythm Kai hadn't known he craved.
Contracts poured in, high-paying, high-risk jobs that sanctioned guilds avoided. Clients specifically requested the "Double Divine Tamer" of the Ashen Blades.
Kai led strike teams into unstable Rifts, cleared guardian nests, harvested rare cores. Nyx and Veyra grew stronger with every fight, levels climbing past 35, skills sharpening, bloodline percentages ticking upward like a slow-burning fuse.
Corruption settled at 70% and stayed there, a constant pressure behind his eyes. The purifying vials helped, but not enough. Dark veins laced his arms permanently now, faint but visible. Visions came nightly: crumbling thrones, chained beasts roaring for freedom, ancient voices calling him Sealbreaker.
He pushed them down.
Focused on the next hunt.
On the surface, life was good.
The guild prospered. Ragnar expanded the camp, new forges, bigger pens. Garrick trained him personally, teaching old-school tactics that complemented the system's raw power. Jorin and Brak became real friends, trading jokes over ale. Even quiet Mira opened up, her light sprite often playing with Nyx's shadow tendrils.
But something was building.
Kai felt it in his bones.
On the fifteenth night after Elias's defeat, it broke.
He woke gasping in his tent, sweat soaking his shirt.
The vision had been clearer than ever.
A colossal throne of black stone and crimson flame, chains snapping one by one. A voice, not Warden's calm whisper, but something vast and hungry.
"The first seal fractures. Come, heir. Claim what is yours… or be claimed."
The system flared unbidden.
[Critical Alert: First Celestial Throne Awakening Detected]
[Location: Abyssal-Ember Convergence Zone — 200 leagues northwest]
[Time Until Full Instability: 72 hours]
[World Seal Integrity: 87% → 71%]
[New Main Quest: Throne of Duality]
[Objective: Reach the convergence and secure the throne fragment.]
[Rewards: Third taming slot. System evolution. Bloodline fusion prototype.]
[Failure: Major Divine Beast outbreak. Global corruption spike.]
[Warning: Multiple factions converging. Hostile entities en route.]
Kai sat up, heart racing.
Nyx whined, pressing against his side. Veyra uncoiled from the tent corner, scales flaring bright enough to light the space.
For the first time, the beasts looked… agitated. Not playful. Not protective.
Restless.
Like something called them home.
Kai dressed quickly, stepping outside.
The camp slept under starlight, but the air felt wrong, charged, heavy.
Garrick was already awake, sitting by a dying fire, sharpening his axe.
The old man looked up. "Felt it too?"
Kai nodded. "The throne. It's waking."
Garrick's face grim. "Whole camp's beasts are restless. Ragnar's calling council at dawn."
He paused.
"You going?"
"I have to."
Garrick sighed. "Figured. Then I'm coming with you."
Kai blinked. "It's suicide for a full raid. The convergence, legends say it's where the first two thrones collided. Nothing survives there long."
"Exactly why you need someone who's seen real calamities." Garrick stood. "Besides, someone's gotta keep you from going full dark."
Dawn brought chaos.
Ragnar gathered the lieutenants.
Reports flooded in: unstable Rifts opening across the region. Beasts migrating northwest. City patrols mobilizing. Noble houses sending elite teams.
And rumors, Elias Vossari had recovered, leading a Vossari strike force toward the same zone.
The convergence was drawing every predator.
Ragnar looked at Kai. "This is bigger than one guild. But it's your beasts reacting strongest. You lead, we follow, or you go alone?"
Kai met the eyes around the circle.
Fear. Greed. Respect.
"I'll lead a small team. Fast. In and out."
Ragnar nodded. "Take who you want. Best gear from the vault."
Selections were quick.
Garrick, of course.
Jorin, eager, reliable.
Brak, for raw muscle.
Serna, for fire support synergy with Veyra.
And Mira, her healing had saved lives too many times.
Six total. Mobile. Deadly.
They left at midday, riding hardened Rift mounts, swift shadow stags provided by the guild.
The journey took two days of hard travel, skirting unstable zones, fighting off migrating packs.
Corruption crept to 72%. Visions constant.
On the third dawn, they reached the convergence.
The land ended.
A massive chasm split the earth, kilometers wide, bottomless black. At its center, floating on chains of crimson energy, the dual throne.
Half abyssal shadow. Half primordial flame.
Cracked down the middle, bleeding power.
Rifts tore open around it like wounds.
And they weren't alone.
Three other groups ringed the chasm.
Vossari elite, Elias at the front, beasts healed and stronger.
A black-robed cult, whispering forbidden chants, beasts twisted with corruption.
And a city expedition, sanctioned Tamers, heavy armor, siege beasts.
All staring at the throne.
All waiting for someone to make the first move.
Elias spotted Kai across the void.
His smile was venom.
"Back for more, Null?"
Lightning crackled around his reformed beasts.
Garrick's hand tightened on his axe.
"Trap," he muttered. "They'll let us cross first, then strike while we're weakened."
Kai felt the pull, irresistible.
The throne called him.
Nyx and Veyra strained forward, eyes fixed.
Corruption surged to 75%.
Dark veins spread to his face.
He stepped to the edge.
Chains extended from the throne, ancient bridges forming only for him.
The other factions tensed.
Kai looked back at his team.
"Stay here. Guard the rear."
Garrick grabbed his arm. "You go alone, you don't come back."
Kai met his eyes.
"I have to."
He stepped onto the chain.
It held.
Behind him, chaos erupted, factions clashing to stop others from following.
But Kai walked forward.
Alone.
Toward the throne that had chosen him.
The first seal shattered as he reached the center.
Power flooded him, shadow and fire merging in his veins.
Corruption hit 80%.
Visions overwhelmed: the Celestial War. Gods falling. Thrones sealing the survivors.
And one fragment, split between abyss and ember, waiting for an heir.
Kai reached out.
The throne accepted.
[Ding!]
[First Throne Fragment claimed.]
[Third taming slot unlocked.]
[System evolution initiating…]
[New skill tree: Divine Dominion]
But something else stirred.
Deep in the throne's core.
A third presence.
Not shadow. Not fire.
Something balanced.
Waiting.
And far below, in the chasm's dark…
Eyes opened.
The true guardian awakened.
Kai turned slowly.
A colossal shape rose from the abyss, fused guardian of duality, half shadow dragon, half flame serpent.
Roaring challenge.
The real fight began.
And across the chasm, Elias smiled.
The trap sprang.
Kai stood alone on the throne, beasts at his sides.
Corruption whispering sweet madness.
Power like a god's.
The first throne was his.
But the cost…
Had only just begun.