Chapter 8: The First Authority
The shattered pieces of Abster's sword scattered across the ground.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Even the monsters stopped moving.
General Gruk slowly lifted his massive blade.
"You blocked my strike."
"For a human... that's impressive."
Abster clenched his fists.
"I don't even know who you are."
Gruk laughed.
"You don't remember."
"How unfortunate."
Helena shouted from behind.
"Abster! Fall back!"
"He's far stronger than an ordinary monster!"
But before Abster could move—
Gruk vanished.
BOOM!
His sword crashed down.
Abster instinctively crossed his arms to block.
The impact sent him crashing through a stone wall at the edge of the village.
Dust filled the air.
Lyra gasped.
"Abster!"
Fenrir roared and charged.
The enormous wolf slammed into Gruk, forcing the goblin general back several steps.
Gruk smiled.
"A Moonfang Dire Wolf..."
"You've chosen a worthy master."
Inside the ruined building...
Abster slowly stood.
His arms trembled.
Blood trickled from a cut above his eye.
"...He's strong."
Stronger than anyone he had ever faced.
For the first time since arriving in Aetherion...
He felt genuine danger.
Then—
The world froze.
Everything became silent.
A familiar black-and-gold screen appeared before him.
Hidden Sovereign Authority Detected
Host Life in Danger
Emergency Authorization Approved
Authority I – Dominion
Status: Unlocked
Would you like to activate?
YES / NO
Abster stared at the floating words.
"...What happens if I press yes?"
No answer came.
Outside...
Gruk slowly walked toward the ruined house.
"So this is all the Hidden Sovereign amounts to?"
Disappointment filled his voice.
"I expected more."
Abster took a deep breath.
"...Fine."
He touched the glowing word.
YES.
The screen disappeared.
Darkness spread beneath Abster's feet.
Golden lines covered his arms like glowing veins.
His eyes changed.
One became gold.
The other turned black.
A deep voice echoed—not from outside...
But from within him.
> "Authority accepted."
> "The world shall kneel before its rightful Sovereign."
A wave of invisible pressure exploded across the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!
Clouds split apart.
The earth trembled.
Every monster dropped to its knees.
Even Gruk stumbled backward.
"What...?"
Fenrir lowered his head in respect.
Helena's sword slipped from her hand.
The mana around the village became completely still.
It was as though the world itself had acknowledged someone greater.
Abster slowly walked forward.
His expression remained calm.
But his presence had completely changed.
He looked at Gruk.
One simple word left his lips.
"Kneel."
Nothing more.
No spell.
No chant.
Just one command.
Gruk struggled.
His legs shook violently.
"I..."
"I refuse!"
He pushed against the invisible force.
For a moment...
It seemed he might resist.
Then—
CRACK!
The ground beneath him shattered.
Gruk crashed to one knee.
Sweat poured down his face.
His entire body trembled.
"...Impossible."
"...This Authority..."
"...It truly belongs to the Hidden Sovereign."
Abster looked at his own hand.
"I didn't..."
"I didn't even touch him."
Before he could understand what had happened—
The black-and-gold aura disappeared.
His vision blurred.
The Authority had drained almost all of his energy.
He collapsed.
"Abster!" Lyra shouted as she ran toward him.
Fenrir caught him before he hit the ground.
Gruk slowly stood, breathing heavily.
He looked at the unconscious Abster and smiled.
"So..."
"It really is you."
He raised his sword in salute.
"We shall meet again, my Sovereign."
Instead of continuing the battle, Gruk ordered the monsters to retreat.
The horde vanished into the forest.
No one dared to pursue.
Later that evening...
Inside the Adventurers' Guild...
Abster lay unconscious in the guild's infirmary.
Helena stood beside his bed.
"The Authority..."
She whispered the ancient word with unease.
"I thought it was only a myth."
Lyra looked at her.
"What is an Authority?"
Helena hesitated.
Then she answered quietly.
"It is a power said to stand above magic itself."
"Only beings written into the oldest legends were ever said to possess one."
She looked at the sleeping Abster.
"If what we witnessed today is truly an Authority..."
"...then Aetherion has just entered a new era."
Outside, under the moonlit sky, a hooded figure watched the guild from a distant rooftop.
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"The game has finally begun."