CHAPTER 129 — THE COST OF OVERRIDE
The desert exhaled.
And then—
It took something back.
The moment the localized sigil beneath Long Hao's feet faded, the triangular lattice inside the void trembled violently.
Outside, the Sovereign construct remained partially submerged, quiet, watching.
Inside—
The silver-amber fragment pulsed erratically.
Longyu's black-gold light flickered.
[ DUAL-FRAGMENT STABILITY — DEGRADING ][ OVERRIDE STRAIN EXCEEDING SAFE PARAMETERS ]
Long Hao took one step toward the gate.
And his vision fractured.
The desert tilted sideways.
Sound muted.
The world dimmed not like night—but like a failing signal.
Inside the void—
The triangular lattice cracked along one edge.
"You forced premature authority," the silver fragment said, voice sharper than before.
"You assumed liability without complete synchronization."
Longyu's voice cut in immediately.
"Stabilize rotation frequency!"
"I am."
"You are failing."
The word landed heavier than any blow.
