The wind-sloop tore through the night sky like a black comet, leaving a faint trail of storm qi that dissipated before any mortal eye could track it. Elaric stood at the prow, robes whipping in the gale he himself summoned to push the craft faster. Zephyr flew escort high above, silver wings cutting silent arcs through clouds. Nyxara crouched low beside him, horn glowing faintly crimson, absorbing stray shadow-qi from the darkness to fuel her judgment flames.
The System map overlay pulsed urgently in his vision:
Beast Tide Precursor Wave – Frostfang Pass
Current Status:
• Sylvaine Vanguard (1,200 troops): Holding central choke point – 28% casualties
• Frostveil Frost-Knights (800): Reinforcing eastern flank – heavy losses to alpha pack
• Enemy Composition: ~3,400 demonic beasts (mostly Qi Condensation & Foundation realm)
• Alpha Beasts Confirmed: 5 × Core Formation stage (Ironback Ape Lord, Venomspine Hydra, Shadowfang Direwolf Pack Leader, Blazetail Salamander Matriarch, Thunderhoof Rhino King)
• Projected Time to Breach: 47 minutes without reinforcement
Elaric's expression remained calm, but inside calculations raced at lightning speed.
"Zephyr—scout the western ridge. Nyxara—prepare judgment chains for the alphas. We hit the pack leaders first. Break their command structure, the horde scatters."
Both companions acknowledged with low calls—eagle screech and kirin growl merging into a single resonant note.
The sloop descended in a steep spiral, cloaked by layered wind illusions and shadow veils. They landed silently on a high overlook directly above the pass. Below: chaos illuminated by mana flares and frost-light arrays.
Sylvaine knights formed shield walls of aura-hardened steel, wind blades slicing through beast flesh. Frostveil ice lances impaled charging direwolves. But the alphas were carving bloody paths.
The Ironback Ape Lord—twenty meters tall, fur like rusted iron—roared and smashed a siege tower flat. The Venomspine Hydra's nine heads spat corrosive venom that melted armor and bone alike. The Shadowfang Pack Leader flickered in and out of darkness, tearing throats with surgical precision.
Elaric exhaled once.
Then stepped off the ledge.
No wings. No glide.
Pure freefall—controlled by wind intent alone.
He landed in the exact center of the breach point—boots cracking stone.
The nearest beasts—hundreds of Foundation realm direwolves and ironhide boars—turned as one, sensing apex predator.
Elaric raised his right hand.
Tempest of Silent Judgment – Full Deployment
The hybrid domain exploded outward.
Fifteen meters became thirty—then fifty as he poured qi, mana, aura, and ki without restraint.
Black storm winds howled. Killing intent threads wove through every gust like invisible razors. Lightning forked in fractal patterns, each bolt seeking corrupted demonic cores first. Shadow-flame tendrils from Nyxara's bond licked at the edges, burning sin and rage before flesh.
The domain swallowed the front line.
Beasts screamed—some disintegrated mid-leap, others froze as judgment flames consumed their killing intent, leaving them docile long enough for allied blades to finish them.
Elaric walked forward.
Every step—thunder.
He pointed at the Ironback Ape Lord.
Storm Sovereign's Gaze – Lock-on
The ape's position burned gold in his mini-map. Even as it tried to retreat behind a rockfall, the mark persisted.
Elaric flickered—Ninefold Shadow Steps + Phantom Step chain—reappearing directly atop the beast's skull.
Fist descended.
Eagle's Descent from the Ninth Heaven (38% comprehension via ancestral fragment) + fused multi-system impact.
Palm met iron-fur skull.
Crack like mountain splitting.
The ape's head caved inward. Judgment flame erupted from Nyxara (bond-shared) through the wound—burning the Core Formation beast core to ash in seconds.
The body toppled like a felled ancient tree.
DING!
Core Formation Alpha Eliminated
First War Achievement: "Apex Slayer"
Permanent Buff: +12% damage to beast-type enemies
System Points +8,500
The horde faltered.
Elaric didn't pause.
He turned to the Venomspine Hydra.
Zephyr dove—Lightning Feather Barrage raining plasma darts that blinded three heads.
Nyxara flickered through shadow—horn piercing the central neck. Judgment chains (new skill from kirin growth) wrapped the remaining heads, burning venom glands from inside.
Elaric leaped.
Mid-air: Tempest Blade (hybrid wind + shadow + lightning)
A thirty-meter crescent of black storm-fire slashed downward.
All nine heads fell in a single, perfect arc.
Blood rained like black acid—yet the domain neutralized it before it touched allied troops.
The Shadowfang Pack Leader tried to flee into darkness.
Elaric's gaze locked.
Lock-on active.
He vanished—reappeared inside the shadow realm the wolf had created.
Inside that pocket darkness: storm winds howled anyway.
The pack leader died with a whimper—throat torn by ki intent blade.
Two alphas down. Three remaining.
The Blazetail Salamander Matriarch roared—tail whipping firestorms.
Elaric met flame with storm.
Mana Core – Wind-Lightning Incarnation (partial)
His body shimmered—half translucent wind, half crackling plasma.
He walked through the inferno untouched.
Palm pressed to salamander forehead.
Judgment Overload (Nyxara synergy)
Flames turned inward—burning the beast from core to scale.
It collapsed into glowing ash.
Last: Thunderhoof Rhino King.
Massive. Horn crackling natural lightning.
It charged—hooves shaking earth.
Elaric stood still.
At ten meters—domain pressure crushed its momentum.
At five—lightning met lightning.
Elaric's palm met horn.
Absolute Counter – Fusion Reflection
He redirected the rhino's own thunder qi back through its channels—amplified by his hybrid domain.
The beast's body swelled—then detonated from inside in a spectacular burst of contained lightning.
Silence.
The remaining horde—leaderless, demoralized—broke.
Allied knights and frost lancers pursued, cutting down stragglers.
Elaric stood in the center of carnage—untouched, robes pristine.
Sylvaine General Torvald—bloodied but alive—limped forward and dropped to one knee.
"Young master… you saved the pass. Alone."
Elaric placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Not alone. With our people. With Zephyr and Nyxara. And with every house that sent aid."
He looked up—toward the distant Frostfang peaks where the true tide still gathered.
"This was but the herald. The real storm comes in eighty-four days."
DING!
Main Quest Progress: "Rise of the Sovereign – Phase 2"
Beast Tide Precursor – Major Skirmish Victory
Rewards:
• War Contribution Points +18,000 (redeemable at royal armory)
• Mythic-grade Beast Core ×5 (absorbable for qi/mana boosts)
• Unlock: "War Domain Seed" (grows faster during large-scale battles)
Three days later—return to Aetherion.
The royal court buzzed.
News of the pass defense had traveled via communication arrays faster than the sloop.
When Elaric entered the Grand Throne Hall this time—no summons needed—the entire assembly rose.
King Alaric III smiled—genuine this time.
"You have our thanks, Elaric Sylvaine. The northern pass holds because of you. The kingdom owes House Sylvaine a great debt."
Crown Prince Valerian inclined his head—respect, not warmth.
Third Prince Cassian's smile was tighter.
Princess Elowen—standing beside her mother—met Elaric's eyes and gave the smallest, realest smile he'd seen in the capital.
But shadows moved.
During the victory banquet that night—Elaric felt it.
System Alert: Assassination Attempt Detected
Source: Hidden poison intent in wine (Third Prince's table servant)
Type: Soul-corroding Shadow Lotus Extract – lethal to Foundation & below, crippling to Core
Elaric never touched the cup.
Instead—he activated Memory Scan on the servant from across the room.
Images: Third Prince Cassian's private order. "If he refuses betrothal… remove him quietly."
Elaric sighed inwardly.
He rose—excused himself to the balcony.
Cassian followed minutes later—alone.
"Elaric. A word."
Elaric turned.
"Your Highness."
Cassian smiled—knife-edged.
"The kingdom needs stability. A marriage to Elowen would—"
Elaric cut him off.
"Your servant's poison was clumsy. Your intent—transparent."
Cassian froze.
Elaric stepped closer.
Tempest of Silent Judgment – Localized (3-meter radius)
Invisible threads wrapped the prince—killing intent reversed, pressing on his own meridians.
Cassian paled.
"I could end you here," Elaric said softly. "But I won't. Because your sister is genuine. Because the kingdom needs unity against the tide."
He released the domain.
"Tell your father the truth: I will consider alliance on my terms. Not yours. Attempt this again—and I will not be so merciful."
Cassian swallowed.
Left without another word.
Elaric returned to the banquet.
Later—private meeting with Princess Elowen in the moonlit garden.
"No betrothal contract," he said plainly. "But friendship. Alliance between equals. When the tide breaks—if we both survive—I would welcome your presence on the northern front."
Elowen smiled—relieved, bright.
"I would like that very much."
Hidden Quest "Throne Gambit" Progress: Royal Ally Acquired (Princess Elowen – Genuine)
Favor +55
That night—alone in guest chambers.
Elaric opened Eternal Sovereign Scripture – Chapter 3.
The words burned:
"Absolute Fusion is not mere combination. It is annihilation of separation. When all systems become one breath, one heartbeat, one will—the sovereign ascends beyond realms."
Comprehension flooded.
Chapter 3 Progress: 0% → 61%
New Function Unlocked: "Omni-Fusion Core"
→ Allows temporary fusion of THREE systems (cost: massive qi/mana drain, cooldown scales with realm)
New Technique Seed: "Sovereign's Breath" (incomplete – fuses mana, qi, aura into single breath attack)
Elaric exhaled.
The main beast tide loomed—eighty-one days.
But he was no longer preparing.
He was becoming the storm itself.
End of Chapter 8.
The capital's games continue. The tide gathers strength. Fusion paths open wider.