The air was too still.
Aren knelt beside a broken pillar at the far edge of the Hollow Throne's boundary, shadow-fog curling at his feet. Fang, his shadow wolf, growled low and steady—ears pinned back.
Someone was coming.
And they weren't alone.
[Null Domain Alert]Intrusion Detected: 3 EntitiesAffinity Signature: Spiritbound (Elemental Tier – Low)Null Veil: Partially Active
Aren's fingers curled around the broken hilt of a short sword he'd salvaged from the shrine. The metal was old, chipped, useless against proper enchantments.
But the system didn't care about equipment.
It cared about intent.
Three cloaked figures emerged from the forest, boots crunching on frost-hardened earth. Each wore black armor etched with spirit glyphs, and beside them shimmered their companions—one a hawk of wind, another a serpent of red glass, and the last… a burning hound, flames flickering around its paws.
Inquisitors.
And they weren't scouting.
They were cleansing.
"Target location confirmed," the lead woman said, voice flat. "No heat signature detected—possible cloaking enchantment."
She raised her hand, and the flame-hound growled, pacing forward with its nose to the air.
"Spiritless anomaly," another muttered. "Just being near this place makes my soul itch."
The third, younger and more hesitant, whispered, "Is this really necessary? He's unbonded. A failed student."
"He triggered a Forbidden Signal. He's not a student anymore."
They were looking for him.
No—they were hunting him.
Aren ducked low behind the pillar, heart pounding. Fang dissolved into smoke beside him.
[Command: Shadow Meld – Active]Domain Synergy: +20% StealthSoul Essence: 11/25
He pulled up the system menu silently:
[Memory Reap – Ready][Shadowcrafting – 2 Constructs Active][Skill: Echo Fang – 1 Use Remaining]
The system was ready.
But Aren wasn't.
His hands trembled. These weren't students or animals.
These were trained Spiritbound warriors.
One wrong move, and I'm ash.
Then he remembered the cold silence of the academy.
Lira's eyes turning away.
Luthien's voice."Spiritless. Unworthy."
His fear hardened.
He wasn't fighting to win.
He was fighting to exist.
He acted.
[Skill Activated: Echo Fang]
Fang split into two shadows—one lunging left with a burst of black mist, the other darting right.
The flame hound snarled and chased the decoy.
"Contact!" the lead Inquisitor shouted. "Spirit anomaly—intercept!"
Aren emerged from the frost with a low sweep, slashing the ground beneath the red serpent's summoner.
[Shadowcraft Triggered – Ground Surge: 8 Soul Essence]
The earth exploded in black tendrils, knocking the second Inquisitor off balance.
He didn't hesitate.
Aren lunged with the rusted blade—not aiming to kill, but to touch.
Steel scraped against leather. Enough contact.
[Memory Reap – Activated]Fragment Gained: [Combat Reflexes Lv. 1]Memory Echo: "Sweep left. Reposition. Redirect momentum…"
Suddenly, Aren knew how to move better. His next dodge was cleaner. His shoulder rolled into motion instead of resisting.
The knowledge wasn't complete—but it was useful.
[Soul Essence: 3/25][Health: 62%][Null Pressure Building…]
The lead Inquisitor hissed. "How is he dodging? That's a training maneuver!"
The third hesitated. "Something's wrong… he's learning."
"Kill him. Now."
The air crackled with spirit pressure as the wind hawk screeched overhead and dived at Aren's exposed flank.
Aren didn't move.
Instead—
He raised his hand toward the collapsed shrine.
[Command: Collapse Structure]
Black threads pulled a loose beam free.
It dropped.
The hawk shattered into pieces of wind as its Spiritbound cried out in pain—his link disrupted.
The system flared.
[Domain Action Successful.][Null Domain Synchronization: 8%][Trait: Sovereign's Will +1%][Level Progress: 12%]
Only two enemies remained.
Fang returned to his side, maw flickering with unstable shadowflame.
Aren's chest rose and fell as he stared down the two remaining Inquisitors.
His muscles ached. His soul felt like it was fraying.
But they were stepping back now. Unsure.
The system whispered one final message.
[You are not Spiritless. You are Unbound.]
The remaining Inquisitors withdrew, dragging the wounded third between them. Their spirits flickered—dimmed.
Aren collapsed near the throne, blood on his lip, system windows still open.
He didn't win through strength.
He won through control.
And the world would soon learn—
The Sovereign of Shadows doesn't beg for power.
He takes it.