Location: Starroot Academy – Inner Codex Chamber, Sublevel 7
Ren stood within a ring of shifting glyphs, bound in layered energy restraints. His left arm was wrapped in black flame, his right pulsed with spectral shadow.
Above him, the chamber groaned with ancient power.
[Codex Alert – Dual Sync Conflict Reaching Critical Threshold]
Warning: System Instability 81%
Threat Detected – Beast Core Disruption Imminent
Recommended Solution: Initiate Sovereign Beast Trial
Initiating…
Trial: Balance of Dominion
Status: Life-Threatening
Around him, both beasts appeared.
Nyx still, composed, but his mane bristled with tension.
The Emberstar Wyrmling hovering in a cyclone of fire, eyes gleaming with challenge.
They weren't fighting monsters now.
They were fighting for dominance of him.
[Trial Start – Codex Sovereignty Mode: Activated]
Objective: Stabilize Dual Bond | Establish Beast Order
Rules:
– Survive the elemental clash
– Choose dominance or unity
– If balance fails, Codex will shatter
Inside the Trial Realm – Core Mindspace
Ren blinked.
He now stood on a floating battlefield, half bathed in eternal shadow, the other half blazing in molten gold.
Between them stood a broken crown.
"Of course," he muttered. "A symbolic choice."
Two beast forms emerged in front of him: Nyx, cloaked in starlit darkness. Emberstar, blazing like a phoenix.
Each had a single message.
Nyx's eyes glowed, and the voice in his mind whispered:
"We are silence, precision, survival."
The Wyrmling roared, and a second voice boomed:
"We are flame, fury, conquest."
[Trial Condition: Make your Choice]
① Choose Nyx as Primary – Shadow Reign Path
② Choose Emberstar as Primary – Flame Sovereign Path
③ Choose Unity – Eclipse Core Path (High Risk)
Ren's hands trembled.
He saw memories. Nyx shielding him. The fire beast saving the squad. His death in the old world. His rebirth into chaos.
He looked at the broken crown.
And stepped between them.
"I won't choose. You're both mine. And I'm yours."
Codex Core Reacting...
[Error: Conflict... Overridden]
[Warning: System Logic Denied]
[Sovereign Instinct Triggered]
Initiating Hidden Pathway: Eclipse Codex
The ground cracked. Light and shadow swirled.
Both beasts lunged toward Ren.
Not to kill him.
But to test him.
Shadow claws slashed. Flame fangs bit.
Ren raised his hands no weapon, No armor, Just will.
[Codex Signature Lock Engaged]
Soul Sync: 57% → 73% → 88%...
He screamed
and unleashed a pulse of Eclipse energy, dark light tinged with gold, blasting both beasts back into stasis.
The broken crown floated into his hands, glowing.
And fused.
Trial Complete – Beast Order Established
[Result: Unity Achieved – Eclipse Path Unlocked]
Codex Tier Upgrade: Sovereign Fragment → Eclipse Sovereign (Phase I)
Dual Beast Mode: Stabilized
New Trait:
– Eclipse Bond (Passive) – Shadow and Flame co-link boost when both beasts are deployed
Fusion Node Discovered: Soul Merge Evolution (Locked)
Sync Rates:
– Nyx: 89%
– Emberstar: 46%
Codex Condition: STABLE
Tamer Status: Conscious… barely
Outside the Trial – Chamber of Binding
Ren collapsed, breathing like he'd run a hundred miles underwater.
The chamber cracked with leftover force.
Sana burst in first. "He's alive!"
Nyx appeared at his side, growling protectively. Emberstar hovered above him, warm, pulsing, watching, but no longer hostile.
Riven stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
"…That was fast."
Ren groaned. "Fast? I thought I died."
Riven smirked. "You almost did."
System Log – Final Trial Report
[Ren Kazuki – Codex Holder: Sovereign Lineage Confirmed]
Codename: Eternal Fragment
System Classification: Rogue (Override Pending)
Reclassification Option Available: Sovereign Cadet (Hidden Path)
Accessing Beast Sovereign Council Archives…
[New Feature Unlocked: Eclipse Tree – Evolution Split Paths Available]
Eclipse Path Level 1 Achieved
– Eclipse Synergy Bonus (+8%)
– Hidden Evolution Options (Locked)
– Fusion Sync Rating: Initiated
Night Outside the Dorms
Ren sat under a tree, both beasts beside him.
Silent.
Balanced.
The fire no longer burned him. The shadows no longer pulled him in.
He finally felt… whole.
He looked up at the stars.
"Nyx. Ember."
They turned.
"Thank you. Now let's set the world on fire… together.
Location: Starroot Academy — Sovereign Arena, Sector A
The horns of the trial echoed through the dawn sky. A hundred banners fluttered from the surrounding terraces, each bearing the crest of a Great Beast Clan.
Ren stood before a coliseum of stone and sky.
Ahead of him loomed a massive gate, engraved with the glowing script of Sovereign bloodlines.
Behind him, Squad 07 waited, silent, tense.
"You ready for this?" Sana asked, adjusting her twin blades.
Ren nodded once. "I have to be."
Riven snorted. "You're up against the best of the Nine Clans. Just don't die in the opening round."
Nyx's shadow rippled behind Ren. Emberstar hovered, wreathed in a crown of fire.
[System Update: Sovereign Cadet Trial Activated]
Entry: Rogue-Override Status – Conditional
Codex Holder: Ren Kazuki
Tier: Open Combat + Beast Control + Tactical Sync
Trial Rewards:
– Codex Promotion
– Sovereign Ranking Points
– Access to Beast Vault
– Authority Badge (if ranked top 10)
Ren took a deep breath.
"I'm not here to win their approval. I'm here to prove one thing"
He clenched his fist.
"That a Sovereign doesn't need a pedigree. Just power."
Inside the Arena – Round 1: Wild Drop Zone
The gates opened.
Ren stepped onto the shimmering battlefield, hexagonal platforms floating across a jungle-like terrain. Illusions shifted, showing forests, ruins, rivers.
A voice echoed from the central sky altar:
"Round 1 Initiated: Beast Extraction Combat Zone
Participants: 108
Objective: Capture and Subdue 3 Trial Beasts
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Note: Combat allowed. Eliminate or assist at will."
A ripple of excitement surged through the air as portals opened.
[System Alert – Drop Zones Detected]
Randomized Beast Locations Assigned…
– Nyx: East Ruin Zone
– Emberstar: Lava Stream Zone
Trial Sync Mode: Split Command Protocol Activated
Ren's heart skipped.
"They're sending them into different zones?"
[Codex Sync Trial Mode Initiated]
Condition: Control both beasts simultaneously in separate combat zones
Failure Condition: One beast falls = automatic elimination
Meanwhile – East Ruins: Nyx's Mission
Nyx raced through crumbling stone and dense shadow. Three wild trial beasts circled, glowing like phantoms.
[Targets Identified – Phantom Howlers]
Type: Spirit/Wind
Skillset: Sonic Shriek | Wind Phase Dash | Illusion Clone
Nyx snarled. The shadows around him twisted and surged.
He was outnumbered.
Good.
He lunged, vanishing in a blink, and reappearing behind the first beast.
[Skill: Shadow Break]
Critical Hit! Phantom Howler 1 subdued.
Lava Stream Zone – Emberstar's Trial
The wyrmling soared above molten rivers as flame-serpents twisted through the air.
[Targets Identified – Scorch Serpents]
Type: Fire
Skillset: Heat Lash | Burn Cloud | Converge Strike
One serpent dove, fangs ready.
[Skill Activated: Phoenix Pulse]
A shockwave of flame burst out, knocking the serpents from the air. Emberstar's eyes glowed brighter. His core pulsed.
He wasn't just winning.
He was evolving.
Back in the Arena Core – Ren's Strain
Ren stood in the command circle, Codex glowing violently.
Sweat ran down his face. He was controlling two battles, processing dual sensory input, and maintaining sync, all without external aid.
[Mental Load: 73%]
Suggestion: Initiate Partial Fusion Boost
"No," Ren muttered. "If I do that now… I'll burn them out before the next round."
He gritted his teeth.
"I trust them."
System Log – Trial Update
Nyx: 2/3 Targets Subdued
Emberstar: 3/3 Targets Subdued
Sync Rates Stable
Combat Control: High Precision
Trial Round 1 Result: Pass
Ranking: #9 out of 108
Bonus: +12 Sovereign Points
Next Round: Elite Combat Gauntlet – 1v1 Beast Duel
Post-Trial — Participant Lounge
"You ranked ninth?" Sana blinked. "That's insane."
Ren slumped onto a bench. "Yeah… but barely."
Graveboy chuckled. "You just made a lot of enemies. The clans don't like rogues in the top ten."
Riven nodded. "Especially not one with a dual sync and Sovereign signature."
Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Let them come."
He looked up at the arena scoreboard, his name now glowing in red.
[Kazuki Ren – Rank #9]
Status: Rogue Override
Watchlist: Priority Tag – Potential Threat
End of Chapter 11