The Void Spear descended.
It carried enough power to erase everything in its path.
Space itself twisted.
The air screamed.
Even time seemed to slow.
Lyra stood in front of Kael.
Her silver sword trembled in both hands, yet her eyes never wavered.
“If someone has to die…”
“…it won’t be you.”
Kael’s heartbeat stopped.
The same scene…
The same sacrifice…
Only this time…
The roles were reversed.
In his previous life…
He had died protecting Lyra.
Now…
She was prepared to do the same for him.
“No…”
Kael whispered.
“…Not again.”
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Every Sovereign Blade reacted.
Scarlet slammed her fist against her throne.
“Master!”
“Move!”
Astra’s expression turned anxious.
“Your body can’t handle another release!”
Nerina clasped her hands together.
“Please…”
Solis closed his eyes.
“The choice has already been made.”
Deep within the Archive…
Aurelius slowly opened his eyes.
For the first time…
He stood from his throne.
“So…”
“You’ve reached this moment.”
The Void Spear was only meters away.
Kael forced himself to stand.
Every muscle in his body screamed.
Blood dripped from his lips.
His right arm refused to move.
Yet…
He stepped forward.
He gently placed one hand on Lyra’s shoulder.
“Move.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“You protected me once.”
“This time…”
“…let me protect you.”
Kael smiled sadly.
“I promised myself…”
“…I’d never let you cry again.”
Before Lyra could react—
He pulled her behind him.
BOOOOOOOOM!!
The Void Spear struck.
At the exact instant of impact…
A golden barrier appeared.
Not around the chamber.
Around Kael himself.
The spear stopped.
Unable to move another inch.
Malachar’s smile faded.
“…What?”
A new voice echoed through the Infinite Sword Archive.
Ancient.
Calm.
Absolute.
“Authorization Granted.”
The entire Archive shook violently.
Millions of swords began glowing simultaneously.
One after another…
They flew toward the sky.
A sea of blades covered the heavens.
Kael looked upward.
“Aurelius…”
The First Sword Sovereign smiled.
“No.”
“This power…”
“…belongs to you.”
A notification appeared.
Sword Sovereign’s Domain
Current Release: 1%
Warning: Time Limit—30 Seconds
Golden light erupted from Kael’s body.
His torn academy uniform fluttered in the wind.
Ancient runes spread across his arms.
His blue eyes slowly turned gold.
Behind him…
Thousands of spectral swords materialized in a vast circle.
Every sword in the chamber resonated.
Professor Roland could barely breathe.
“What…”
“…is this?”
The silver-haired woman whispered with tears in her eyes.
“The Sovereign’s Domain…”
“He awakened it…”
Malachar narrowed his eyes.
“So…”
“You inherited more than I expected.”
He extended both hands.
Black chains erupted from the abyss.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Millions.
The chains rushed toward Kael.
Kael calmly raised one hand.
He didn’t swing his sword.
He simply spoke.
“Return.”
The countless spectral swords behind him surged forward.
BOOM!!
Steel met chains.
The chamber exploded into light.
Every chain was cut apart instantly.
Not through overwhelming force.
But because the Domain declared them unworthy.
Malachar’s expression darkened.
“This Authority…”
“It shouldn’t exist anymore.”
Kael slowly walked forward.
Each step echoed through the chamber.
“I don’t need overwhelming power.”
“I only need enough…”
“…to protect those important to me.”
The Dragon King looked at Kael.
Its sapphire eye grew brighter.
The corruption weakened.
Nerina smiled.
“The dragon is responding.”
Kael nodded.
“One more strike.”
Suddenly—
Malachar laughed.
A cold, mocking laugh.
“You’ve forgotten something.”
He snapped his fingers.
The remaining corruption abandoned the dragon.
Instead…
It rushed toward Kael.
A black chain pierced his chest.
SHKKK!!
Time froze.
Lyra’s eyes widened.
“KAEL!”
Kael staggered.
Blood stained his uniform.
The golden Domain flickered.
Inside the Archive—
Scarlet rushed toward him.
“Master!”
Solis immediately examined the chain.
His normally calm expression changed.
“…Soul Corrosion.”
Fenrir growled.
“He branded him.”
Aurelius looked unusually serious.
“So this was your objective…”
Malachar smiled.
“Exactly.”
“I never intended to kill him.”
“I merely needed to mark the next Sword Sovereign.”
The black chain dissolved into Kael’s chest.
A dark symbol appeared over his heart before disappearing beneath his skin.
Curse Applied
Status: Dormant
The Sword Sovereign’s Domain shattered.
The spectral swords vanished.
Kael collapsed.
Before he hit the ground…
Lyra caught him.
She knelt beside him, gently supporting his head.
“Kael…”
“You idiot…”
“I told you not to push yourself.”
Kael managed a weak smile.
“Weren’t those…”
“…my words?”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“You don’t get to joke right now.”
She held him tighter.
“I finally remembered…”
“…and I almost lost you again.”
Kael slowly lifted his trembling hand.
He gently wiped away her tears.
“I promised…”
“I’d survive this time.”
“And I will.”
The Dragon King suddenly roared.
Not in anger.
In freedom.
The remaining black chains shattered.
Its enormous body glowed with sapphire light.
The corruption was gone.
The Dragon King lowered its colossal head before Kael.
Then…
To everyone’s astonishment…
It knelt.
The chamber fell silent.
The Dragon King’s deep voice echoed gently.
“Thank you…”
“…Sword Sovereign.”
Its massive body dissolved into countless blue lights.
The lights flowed into the silver-haired woman’s crystal.
The ancient prison completely disappeared.
She stepped onto the ground for the first time in ten thousand years.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight.
She walked toward Kael and Lyra.
Then smiled warmly.
“You have fulfilled the oath that even we could not.”
She bowed deeply.
“I am Selene.”
“The Moon Sovereign.”
“The last guardian of this sanctuary.”
Kael looked at her in surprise.
“Moon Sovereign?”
Selene nodded.
“I was Aurelius’ partner.”
She glanced at Kael and then at Lyra.
A knowing smile appeared on her face.
“The two of you…”
“…walk the same path we once did.”
Lyra’s cheeks turned slightly red.
Before she could say anything—
The mountain shook violently once more.
A new notification appeared.
Main Quest Complete
The Abyss Dragon Liberated
Rewards Granted
Synchronization Increased: 3.5% → 5.0%
Fifth Sovereign Blade: Compatible
New Arc Unlocked: The Royal Tournament
Far beyond the kingdom…
Within the Abyss Continent…
The masked ruler slowly opened his eyes.
A smile spread beneath the black mask.
“So…”
“The boy has awakened the Sovereign’s Domain.”
He slowly stood from his throne.
Behind him…
Seven Demon Kings knelt in silence.
“Prepare the armies.”
“The era of waiting…”
“…is over.”
End of Chapter 21