Chapter 61 - Star Sovereign
Golden starlight engulfed the battlefield.
The First and Second Star Fragments circled Kai like twin suns.
Every wave reflected their brilliance.
The storm clouds overhead split apart, revealing a sky filled with countless stars—even though it was still daylight.
The Book of Infinite Beasts floated before him.
Its pages glowed brighter than ever.
---
Star Sovereign Resonance
Status: Active
Star Fragments Synced: 2/7
Power Output: 18%
Warning:
First-time activation.
Use with caution.
---
Kai felt an overwhelming surge of power flow through his body.
It was unlike spiritual energy.
Unlike beast aura.
Unlike anything he had ever experienced.
It felt...
Ancient.
As if countless Beast Sovereigns stood behind him.
Their strength flowed into his own.
---
The Crimson Flame Fox stared in amazement.
"Master..."
"You've changed."
Golden markings appeared across Kai's arms and chest.
His eyes shimmered like constellations.
Even his spear transformed.
Its silver blade extended, becoming a magnificent spear forged from starlight.
---
Across the battlefield...
The Archivist watched silently.
"So..."
"You've awakened it."
"Earlier than expected."
---
Krakenoth roared.
The colossal beast sensed the new power.
All eight of its remaining tentacles surged toward Kai at once.
Each one was large enough to crush an entire fortress.
Kai closed his eyes.
He took a single step forward.
"Star Sovereign..."
"...First Form."
The sea became still.
Time seemed to slow.
He thrust his spear.
"Celestial Pierce."
A single beam of golden light shot across the ocean.
It did not explode.
It did not create shockwaves.
It simply passed through every tentacle.
For one heartbeat...
Nothing happened.
Then—
CRACK!
The black crystals covering every tentacle shattered simultaneously.
Krakenoth screamed.
The corruption receded from its flesh, revealing deep blue scales beneath.
The sea itself seemed to sigh with relief.
---
The Book updated.
Skill Learned
Celestial Pierce
Grade: Divine
Effect:
A concentrated strike capable of breaking corruption without harming the target.
---
Thalassor stared in disbelief.
"The First Sovereign..."
"Used that very technique."
---
But Kai dropped to one knee.
His breathing became ragged.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Ignis immediately flew to his shoulder.
"You've used too much."
"The Resonance isn't stable yet."
Kai nodded.
"I know..."
"But it worked."
---
It had.
Krakenoth's corruption had fallen dramatically.
100%... 81%... 64%
Yet the ancient beast continued attacking.
Its pain had not ended.
---
The Archivist slowly descended from the sky.
Its shadow stretched across the sea.
"You misunderstand."
"It was never Krakenoth that concerned me."
Kai looked up.
"What do you mean?"
The Archivist pointed toward the ancient gate.
"The seal."
Everyone turned.
The Third Star Fragment had begun to crack.
Not from corruption.
From age.
Ten thousand years of holding the prison closed had nearly destroyed it.
Nereus's face turned pale.
"No..."
"If the Fragment breaks..."
"The prison cannot be restored."
---
The Pearl of Tides floated helplessly before the fractured seal.
Its light flickered.
It could heal corruption.
But it could not repair a broken Divine Relic.
For the first time since the battle began...
Kai had no answer.
---
Then...
A warm voice echoed across the ocean.
"You do."
Noctis.
Far away in the Phoenix Empire, the Ashen Phoenix spread its restored wings.
A single golden feather drifted into the sky.
Across mountains...
Across rivers...
Across kingdoms...
It reached the Leviathan Sea.
The feather touched the cracked Third Star Fragment.
Then another feather arrived.
And another.
Soon, thousands of golden feathers gathered around the seal.
The blessings of every beast Noctis had protected over ten thousand years flowed into the fragment.
The cracks slowly stopped spreading.
Not repaired...
But stabilised.
The Book glowed.
Divine Assistance
Guardian Blessing Received
Source:
Noctis, the Ashen Phoenix
Effect:
Seal Collapse Delayed
Time Remaining:
10 Minutes
---
Kai slowly stood.
He looked at Selene.
At Ignis.
At Rowan.
At the Crimson Flame Fox.
Then at Admiral Nereus.
"We still have a chance."
Nereus smiled despite his injuries.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
The sea rumbled once more.
Deep beneath the ancient gate...
A massive chain began to glow.
It was the Final Chain.
And something on the other side...
Had just begun pulling on it.