Chapter 32 - The Price of a Divine Contract
Golden light engulfed the Dragon's Heart Cavern.
The contract circle beneath Kai and Ignis slowly faded.
For a brief moment, the world became perfectly still.
Then...
Kai felt an overwhelming force surge through his body.
"Argh!"
He dropped to one knee.
It felt as though molten fire was flowing through every vein.
The Book of Infinite Beasts opened frantically.
Its pages turned faster than ever before.
---
Warning
Divine Contract Successful
Host Capacity: Insufficient
Mana Overload: 97%
Soul Stability: Critical
Immediate Action Required
---
The Crimson Flame Fox rushed to Kai's side.
"Kai!"
Ignis lowered his massive head, his golden eyes filled with concern.
"I feared this."
Kai looked up through gritted teeth.
"What... is happening?"
The Eclipse Dragon sighed.
"My true power is sealed..."
"But even a fragment of a Divine Beast's soul is too much for a human who has only just begun the Sovereign Path."
Golden cracks spread across Kai's arms.
Each pulse of energy caused unbearable pain.
---
Outside the cavern...
The Four Divine Guardians had defeated the remaining Holy Hunters.
Azrael, battered and bleeding, retreated through a black portal with the survivors.
Before disappearing, he looked back at Kai.
"This isn't over."
"The High Pontiff will come personally."
The portal closed.
Silence returned.
---
Aurelius approached Kai.
The Celestial Roc studied the glowing cracks on his body.
"He has less than one hour."
Commander Arcturus looked alarmed.
"Can you save him?"
Aurelius slowly shook its head.
"Not alone."
Verdantis, the Emerald Dragon, stepped forward.
"It will require all four of us."
The Divine Guardians formed a circle around Kai.
Their immense auras filled the cavern.
---
The Book displayed a new message.
Emergency Procedure
Sovereign Stabilisation Ritual
Requirements:
- Four Divine Guardians
- Crimson Flame Fox
- Eclipse Dragon
- Book of Infinite Beasts
Probability of Success: 62%
---
Kai smiled weakly.
"So..."
"Those aren't great odds."
The fox nudged his shoulder.
"We've survived worse."
Kai chuckled despite the pain.
"Fair point."
---
The ritual began.
Aurelius released golden light.
Verdantis surrounded Kai with emerald life energy.
Raikou channelled silver lightning into the Book.
Aegis summoned ancient runes that circled Kai like stars.
The Crimson Flame Fox pressed its forehead against Kai's.
Ignis did the same from the opposite side.
For several minutes, the cavern glowed with five different colours.
The golden cracks slowly stopped spreading.
Then...
A symbol appeared on Kai's chest.
It resembled a dragon wrapped around an open book.
The Book confirmed the change.
---
Divine Vessel Created
Current Compatibility:
Crimson Flame Fox: 100%
Ignis: 18%
Maximum Active Contracts:
2
Future Capacity:
Unknown
---
Kai slowly opened his eyes.
The pain was gone.
He took a deep breath.
"I'm... alive."
The Guardians smiled.
---
But Ignis suddenly began shrinking.
Its colossal Divine body dissolved into streams of black-and-gold light.
Within seconds...
Standing where the mighty Eclipse Dragon had been...
Was a dragon no larger than a housecat.
It stretched its tiny wings and yawned.
The Crimson Flame Fox burst into laughter.
"You're adorable!"
Ignis glared at the fox.
"I am the destroyer of tyrants..."
"The guardian of forgotten ages..."
"I am not adorable."
The fox grinned mischievously.
"Keep telling yourself that."
Kai couldn't help but laugh.
"So this is your sealed form?"
Ignis sighed dramatically.
"Until my seals are broken..."
"...yes."
It climbed onto Kai's other shoulder, opposite the fox.
The fox smirked.
"Looks like I have company."
Ignis folded its tiny wings.
"I merely require a convenient place to sit."
The two beasts exchanged competitive glances.
Kai smiled.
His family had grown.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts glowed one final time.
Arc Progress Updated
Current Contracts:
1. Crimson Flame Fox – Primordial Bloodline (25% awakened)
2. Ignis – Eclipse Dragon (Divine, Sealed)
Bloodline Awakening:
10% → 15%
Authority Level:
High → Sovereign Candidate
---
Far away, in the floating city of Elysium, a colossal black throne stood beneath a sky of perpetual twilight.
Upon it sat an old man dressed in white robes trimmed with gold.
His eyes slowly opened.
Before him knelt Azrael and the surviving Holy Hunters.
The old man's voice was calm.
"You failed."
Azrael lowered his head.
"The Eclipse Dragon has chosen the Ninth Beast Sovereign."
The old man closed his eyes for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
"So..."
"The game truly begins."
He stood from his throne.
The air itself trembled.
"Summon the Twelve Apostles."
"If the Beast Sovereign has awakened..."
"...then the Temple shall march to war."