*Chapter 20: The Leviathan Breach*
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The tremor that rolled through Thalorion wasn't just physical — it echoed through every cultivation core, every bloodline, every artifact of power. A low, primal *hum* followed, unsettling even the seasoned warriors.
*The Leviathan Seed had awoken.*
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The Crack Beneath the Hall
Beneath the Grand Council Hall, once believed to be a sacred foundation blessed by ancient sages, the *cracks widened*.
From the breach emerged tendrils of living shadow — *smoke that hissed names*, feeding on secrets.
Every person who had hidden guilt or suppressed trauma began to feel it surface. Fear. Rage. Lust. Regret.
The Leviathan didn't just destroy.
*It fed on emotion. Twisted it. Amplified it.*
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Sophia's Revelation
Atop the tower, Sophia struggled to maintain control of the Heart of Nyx. It vibrated violently in her grasp, attempting to *tether* to the Leviathan's dark frequency.
"The Heart… it was never just a source," she whispered. "It was a lock."
Alethea, bound in chains beside her, smirked. "And now you've unsealed it. Your light opened the door. Just as we hoped."
Sophia reeled — her powers had *helped* awaken the Seed.
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Within the Breach Kyrillos, Andreas, and Leonidas led an elite squad into the catacombs. Their goal: *reach the core of the disturbance*, seal it before it reaches the city's soul well.
But the deeper they went, the more unstable the space became. Reality bent.
- Stairs looped endlessly.
- Ghosts from past lives whispered in their ears.
- Bloodlines tried to *rewrite themselves*.
One warrior turned on another, convinced his ally was a demon.
Kyrillos had to strike him down.
"We're being tested," he growled. "The Leviathan isn't just power. It's temptation."
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The Beast Takes Form
Finally, in the core vault — they saw it.
Not a dragon.
Not a serpent.
But a *being of shifting faces* — formed from all the negative emotions harvested across centuries.
It had *Sophia's eyes*.
*And Kyrillos's voice.*
"Father... why did you leave me in the dark?"
It wasn't real.
It was a twisted illusion formed from his regrets.
But it *moved*.
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Back Above
Sophia collapsed. Blood ran from her eyes.
"The Leviathan… it's trying to forge a body using our link," she whispered.
Niko screamed from the watchtower. "It's breaking into the soul well! We'll lose the city!"
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Final Scene
Kyrillos stepped forward, facing the illusion.
He raised his blade — then dropped it.
Instead, he whispered:
*"You are not my sin. You are my test."*
Light erupted from his chest — the first spark of a deeper cultivation tier.
*Ascendant Soul: Phase One unlocked.*
But the Leviathan only grinned wider.
"You're too late."