Recap:
With the rise of the Chainbreaker, a rogue Sovereign-class entity capable of severing all connections, Kael Vire is gearing up to protect the Hollow Court. He's expanding his territory into the Echo Maw, a prison for ancient horrors. But as he readies himself for battle, he must confront a harsh reality—Sovereigns are no longer at the top of the food chain.
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There are names that have scorched their way through history.
Names that are murmured during execution rites, etched into iron bindings, and buried beneath sacred stones.
Chainbreaker is one of them.
Another is Aelrix the Uncrowned.
The first Sovereign who chose to cast aside their crown.
The last time someone attempted to shatter the System, it was Aelrix who stood in their way.
And now...
...Kael finds himself where Aelrix once bled.
The Echo Maw isn't just a location—it's a wound.
Blackstone cliffs spiral down into a pit filled with haunting echoes, and ancient runes glow red against the obsidian walls.
Kael descended the spiral path alone, the Hollow Crown flickering like a dying flame.
With each step, he felt his power wane.
With each breath, visions danced at the edges of his mind.
"You come to awaken monsters?" a voice inquired.
It wasn't the System.
It was something deeper.
Something older.
Kael didn't flinch.
"I come to command them."
[Territory Binding Initiated: Echo Maw]
Warning: Domain Opposed by Forgotten Law.
Ancient Inmates May Resist Control.
Kael raised his hand.
A spark of Hollowfire ignited throughout the Maw.
Chains shattered.
Seals broke.
And then, from the shadows, a low growl echoed in the darkness.
A figure emerged, towering at eight feet, its skin resembling polished coal and its face a grotesque mask of molten bone.
"Who dares to awaken the Burned?" it rumbled.
Kael locked eyes with the creature, its fiery gaze piercing through him.
"I am the Tyrant they forged."
The beast hesitated, then slowly knelt before him.
[First Echo Bound: 'Ashmaw the Crownless']
Trait Unlocked: Sovereign's Wrath – This allows you to infuse the essence of your bonded monster into your domain weaponry for 10 minutes a day, with effects that scale according to your territory tier.
High above, in the White Spire, Lord Cerian observed the Hollow's growth.
"He's binding Echoes," he murmured.
Behind him, the Guild Lords and System Representatives exchanged anxious glances.
"This is perilous," one of them whispered.
"No," replied the woman draped in red silk. "This is beyond reversal."
Meanwhile, Kael made his way back to the Hollow Court, where Sel awaited him with fresh intel.
"They're constructing a Wall," she informed him, "to separate Draewyn from the outer zones. It's a suppression field for rogue Sovereigns."
Kael's jaw clenched. "They're trying to trap us again."
Sel nodded in agreement. "Just like they did with Aelrix."
Kael's gaze shifted from the Crown to the Maw.
"I'm not Aelrix," he declared firmly.
"Then who are you?" Elric inquired.
A smile crept across Kael's face.
"I'm the consequence of a System that forgets: the abandoned will always fight back."
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End of Chapter 11