The sky above Elaris had become a sea of gold.
Seven enormous figures descended from the clouds.
Each sat upon a floating throne formed from divine energy.
The pressure they released was overwhelming.
Even the mountains surrounding Elaris began cracking.
Lyra looked upward.
"Seven..."
Seraphine's expression became serious.
"The Seven Celestial Thrones."
Kael stared at them.
His system analyzed the figures one after another.
> **[Analysis initiated...]**
>
> **[Target 1: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 2: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 3: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 4: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 5: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 6: Unable to fully analyze.]**
>
> **[Target 7: Analysis impossible.]**
Kael smiled.
"Seven opponents."
Eclipse looked up.
**"Seven meals."**
Lyra glanced at the small black creature.
"Does he always talk like that?"
Seraphine smiled.
"Only when he's hungry."
Kael laughed.
"Good to know."
The central throne moved forward.
A woman wearing a crown of silver light looked down at Kael.
"Kael Ardyn."
Kael raised his sword.
"You're late."
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"You have no idea what you've awakened."
Kael looked at Eclipse.
"I think I do."
The woman looked at the small creature.
Her expression changed.
"Impossible."
Another throne moved forward.
An elderly man with golden eyes spoke.
"The Abyssal Heart has taken physical form."
Kael corrected him.
"Eclipse."
The man ignored him.
"It must be destroyed immediately."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Try."
The seven thrones began glowing.
Seraphine stepped forward.
"Kael, don't underestimate them."
"I won't."
Aetherion suddenly appeared beside him.
"The Seven cannot be defeated by strength alone."
Kael looked at him.
"Then what do we use?"
"Authority."
Kael understood.
His system had been measuring Sovereign Authority for a reason.
The Seven weren't simply powerful cultivators.
They were embodiments of the laws of Heaven.
And Kael's Sovereign Authority was the only thing capable of challenging those laws.
The system appeared.
> **[Special Condition detected.]**
>
> **To challenge Celestial Thrones:**
>
> **Sovereign Authority ≥ 70%**
>
> **Current Authority: 71%**
>
> **Condition satisfied.**
Kael smiled.
"So I qualify."
Aetherion looked at him.
"That doesn't mean you'll win."
"I don't need to win."
Kael raised his sword.
"I just need to survive long enough to remember everything."
### The First Throne
The woman on the first throne raised her hand.
"Judgment."
A massive golden sword descended from the heavens.
Kael activated **Sovereign Barrier**.
The sword struck.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The ground collapsed.
Dust covered the battlefield.
Lyra shouted:
"Kael!"
The dust cleared.
Kael stood inside a cracked barrier.
Blood trickled down his cheek.
He smiled.
"My turn."
He activated **Heavenly Step**.
His body disappeared.
The first throne shook.
Kael appeared directly before the woman.
She raised a shield.
Kael's sword struck.
**CLANG!**
The shield cracked.
Her eyes widened.
"You..."
Kael struck again.
**BOOM!**
The throne itself fractured.
The woman was forced backward.
The other six thrones reacted immediately.
"Protect the First Throne!"
Kael smiled.
"So you can be damaged."
### The Second and Third Thrones
Two celestial rulers attacked simultaneously.
One summoned thousands of spears.
The other froze the entire battlefield.
Kael's movements slowed.
Ice spread across his legs.
The spears descended.
Lyra rushed forward.
"Kael!"
She unleashed her Dawnfire Bloodline.
A golden flame exploded outward.
The ice melted.
Kael regained movement.
He looked at her.
"Thanks."
Lyra smiled.
"You're welcome."
Kael vanished.
He moved between the spears.
One after another, they shattered.
Then he reached the second throne.
**Eternal Severance.**
Kael slashed through the divine formation.
The throne's connection to Heaven was severed.
The celestial ruler fell.
The third throne attacked.
Eclipse suddenly appeared.
The small creature opened its mouth.
A black sphere formed.
**WHOOM!**
The attack disappeared into Eclipse.
Eclipse blinked.
**"Tasty."**
Kael laughed.
The Third Throne's ruler stared in horror.
"What are you?"
Eclipse smiled.
**"Hungry."**
The battle intensified.
The Seven Celestial Thrones had ruled for thousands of years.
But Kael had something they had never expected.
His old abilities were returning.
His swordsmanship.
His Void techniques.
His Sovereign Authority.
And most importantly—
his companions.
Seraphine fought beside him.
Lyra protected his blind side.
Eclipse consumed divine attacks.
Aetherion restrained the remaining celestial forces.
For the first time in ten thousand years, the Celestial Thrones were losing ground.
Then the Seventh Throne stood.
Every other throne immediately stopped.
The entire battlefield became silent.
The figure sitting upon it was completely covered in black robes.
Kael couldn't see his face.
But the system reacted violently.
> **[WARNING]**
>
> **[Target recognized.]**
>
> **[Identity: Unknown.]**
>
> **[Connection to Host: 100%]**
>
> **[Threat Level: Catastrophic.]**
Kael's smile disappeared.
"Who are you?"
The Seventh Throne slowly removed its hood.
Kael froze.
The face beneath it was his own.
Not the False Sovereign.
Not a clone.
Not a vessel.
**Kael.**
But older.
Colder.
His eyes were completely black.
Seraphine staggered backward.
"No..."
The Seventh Throne smiled.
"Hello, Kael."
Kael's sword lowered slightly.
"What..."
The other six Thrones bowed toward him.
The Seventh Throne spoke:
"I am the part of you that never reincarnated."
Kael's heart raced.
The system flashed:
> **[True Sovereign Fragment detected.]**
>
> **[Soul Fragment: 100% compatibility.]**
>
> **[Current Host Soul: 71%]**
>
> **[Warning: Integration may cause identity collapse.]**
Kael stared at his own face.
The Seventh Throne stood.
"Ten thousand years ago, you divided your soul."
"One part became the system."
"One part became Eclipse."
"One part became the False Sovereign."
He touched his chest.
"And one part remained here."
Kael whispered:
"Why?"
The Seventh Throne smiled.
"Because someone had to become the enemy."
The sky darkened.
"And that someone..."
He pointed at Kael.
"...was always supposed to be you."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
The Seventh Throne raised his hand.
"Come."
"Reclaim your final fragment."
Kael's system appeared one final time.
> **[FINAL SOVEREIGN FRAGMENT DETECTED]**
>
> **Integration rew
ard: 100% Sovereign Authority**
>
> **Risk: Permanent personality alteration**
>
> **Warning: Host may cease to be Kael Ardyn.**
Kael stared at the message.
Then at his other self.
He smiled.
"Then I'll take the power..."
His sword began glowing.
"...without losing myself."
The Seventh Throne laughed.
"Let's see if you can."
The two versions of Kael stepped toward each other.
And above them, the heavens began to break.
**To be continued...**