Recap:
Kael Vire pulled off a surprise attack on a Guild convoy down Redhook Lane, snatching up Class-D System Crystals and leveling up the Hollow Court to Tier II. With this upgrade, he unlocked a whole new set of domain powers and structures, including the enigmatic Throne of Silence. But with great power comes attention, and the System Lords aren't just watching anymore—they're gearing up for something big.
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The Hollow Market felt alive again.
As Kael made his way to the central plaza, the stones whispered beneath his feet. Behind him, the charred remains of shanty homes and vendor stalls were beginning to mend—not through hard work, but thanks to the domain itself.
Territory Evolution.
His influence was reshaping reality right here.
A child peeked out from a doorway—one Kael didn't recognize.
He nodded, and to his surprise, the child bowed.
That was a first.
Kael stood over the cracked fountain—once the site of his inner trial, now completely transformed.
Where water used to flow, only silence lingered.
At the center, hovering above the dark stone, was a seat—not crafted from wood or iron, but formed from the very absence of sound.
The Throne of Silence.
[Construct Unlocked: Throne of Silence]
Passive Effect: While seated, gain +20% domain control radius, +10% cooldown recovery, and a broadcast suppression aura.
Only one Sovereign throne may be active at a time within a district.
Kael reached out and touched the base.
A whisper resonated not in his ears, but deep within his bones.
"Speak only truth here. Lies break the mind."
He took a seat.
And just like that, the Hollow Court began to shift.
The mist thickened, and the firelight dimmed.
Elric approached, stumbling slightly before halting and blinking as if he'd forgotten who he was.
"Don't get too close," Kael cautioned.
"This throne... it changes things."
"It changes me," Elric replied with a nervous laugh.
"Even my thoughts feel quieter."
Kael let out a breath. "That's exactly the idea."
For the first time, Kael experienced a profound stillness.
No whispers lingered.
No shadowy doubts crept in.
No haunting flashbacks.
Just a cold, clear silence enveloped him.
[New Feature Unlocked: Sovereign Edicts]
You now have the power to issue one Edict for each territory tier.
These Edicts are binding magical laws that govern your domain.
Current Edict Slots: 1
Active: None
Kael opened the menu, and three initial options glimmered before him.
- Edict of Sanctuary – No combat is allowed by bonded followers within Hollow Market.
- Edict of Dominion – Any unbonded intruder will experience Fear and stat suppression.
- Edict of Oath – All agreements made within your domain are soul-bound. Violators will face punishment.
Kael selected the third option.
[Edict of Oath Activated – Soul-binding enforced within Hollow Court]
Effect: Anyone who agrees to terms in your presence becomes bound by them. Those who violate this will suffer mental collapse, curse rot, and a tarnished reputation.
Kael rose to his feet, his voice resonating with newfound authority.
"If you lie to me in here," he warned, "you won't leave with your sanity intact."
Later that evening, a visitor arrived.
Not a spy.
Not a child.
A merchant.
She bore no crest, her eyes concealed, but her wares were genuine.
"I've heard," she said softly, "that a new Sovereign walks among us."
Kael remained silent.
The woman smiled knowingly.
"I bring tribute: crystals, potions, maps."
Kael tilted his head, intrigued.
"And what is it that you seek?"
"Sanction.
The right to sell here.
To flourish here.
Under your rule."
Kael stepped closer.
"You choose your words carefully," he remarked.
"In your silence," she said, "words cut deeper."
He met her gaze. "Swear your trade by Oath," he insisted.
"Lie, and you'll bleed."
She knelt, her fingers brushing the cracked stone.
"I swear."
The domain accepted her vow.
Thus, the first officially recognized black market trader of the Hollow Market was born.
[Hollow Court Update]
- New Structure: Black Market Node
- Bonus: Income generated based on trader reputation
- New Bonded Follower: Whisper-Merchant "Sel"
But as Kael grew stronger from below… others were stirring from above.
In the White Spire, Lord Cerian stood before a crystal map of Draewyn, now dotted with red sparks—signs of unrest.
"He's building something," Cerian murmured.
"But for what purpose?"
A voice, smooth yet dangerous, replied, "Let's find out."
Far from Draewyn, in a desert crater beneath the shattered moon, an ancient System Node flickered back to life.
An old protocol ignited in blazing code:
[Sovereign Class Detected Outside Imperial Chain]
[Autonomous Protocol Initiated: Chainbreaker]
And somewhere in the sands… something began to stir.
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End of Chapter 8