Chapter 77 - Twin Sovereigns
The instant Kai's hand met the Tenth's...
The world stopped.
Not for everyone.
Only for those connected to the Star Fragments.
Time itself seemed to freeze.
The cries of battle faded into silence.
The four awakened Star Fragments shone across the world.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts opened on its own.
Its pages turned faster than ever before.
Golden letters burned themselves into the ancient paper.
Emergency Protocol Activated
Twin Sovereign Resonance
Status:
Successful
Current Duration:
10 Minutes
Warning:
This power has never been used before.
Historical Records:
None
---
A pillar of golden light descended upon Kai.
A pillar of silver light descended upon the Tenth.
Instead of clashing...
The two lights intertwined, forming a magnificent constellation above Aetherion.
Every beast on the battlefield looked towards the sky.
Even the Void Emperor Dragon paused.
---
Far beneath the World Tree...
The Fourth Star Fragment finally emerged.
It was unlike the others.
Instead of glowing with a single colour...
It constantly shifted between emerald, silver and gold.
It slowly floated into the air.
But...
It did not fly to Kai.
Nor to the Tenth.
Instead...
It remained suspended exactly between them.
Waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
---
The Book displayed another message.
Fourth Star Fragment
Status:
Undecided
Requirement:
A true Sovereign is measured not by strength...
...but by the choices made when victory demands sacrifice.
---
Lucien frowned.
"So the Fragment refuses both."
He raised his sword.
"Then I'll simply take it."
The Void Emperor Dragon opened its jaws.
The enormous sphere of darkness above Aetherion began descending.
Only five minutes remained.
---
"Not happening!"
Kai launched himself into the sky.
The Crimson Flame Fox transformed into a blazing cloak of crimson-gold fire around him.
At the same moment...
The Tenth leapt from the floating island.
Silver energy surrounded its body.
For the first time...
The two Sovereign candidates fought together.
---
Lucien smiled.
"Excellent."
"I wanted to test both of you."
He swung his obsidian blade.
A crescent of Void Energy tore through the sky.
Kai blocked it with his Star-forged Spear.
The impact threw him backwards through three floating islands.
The Tenth caught him before he could fall.
"You rely too much on instinct."
Kai grinned.
"And you think too much."
For a brief moment...
Both laughed.
---
Below them...
The battle raged on.
Bjorn and the Earth Titan Bear held the eastern bridge against hundreds of enemies.
Aria's Emerald Sky Hummingbird moved so quickly that it appeared as dozens of green streaks, guiding civilians to safety.
Selene's Moonlight Blade danced across the battlefield, protecting injured contestants.
Darius and the recovering Shadow Silver Wolf led a strike force against the Eclipse commanders.
The defenders of Aetherion had stopped fighting as separate factions.
They had become one army.
---
The Book glowed brightly.
Battlefield Analysis
Alliance Synchronisation:
91%
Morale:
Highest Recorded
Probability of Successful Defence:
31% → 67%
---
High above...
The Void Emperor Dragon unleashed another blast of darkness.
Ignis intercepted it.
Golden dragonfire collided with the abyss.
The explosion shook the heavens.
Yet Ignis was slowly being pushed back.
"I cannot hold it forever!"
he roared.
---
Kai looked at the descending sphere of darkness.
Then at the Fourth Star Fragment.
Then at the Tenth.
An idea formed.
"A Fragment doesn't choose the strongest..."
"It chooses the one who protects."
The Tenth looked at him.
"What are you planning?"
Kai smiled.
"We're not going to compete."
"We're going to give it a better choice."
Instead of reaching for the Fourth Fragment...
Kai turned away from it completely.
He dived towards the city below, where frightened civilians were trapped beneath collapsing crystal towers.
The Tenth hesitated.
Its eyes moved from the glowing Fragment...
To Kai.
To the people below.
For years...
The Council had taught that the mission came before everything.
But Kai...
Had chosen strangers over power.
The Tenth closed its eyes.
Then smiled.
"So that's the answer..."
Without another glance at the Fragment...
The Tenth followed Kai.
Together, they caught the falling tower before it crushed the families beneath.
At that exact moment...
The Fourth Star Fragment burst into brilliant emerald light.
It had made its decision.
The Book of Infinite Beasts revealed a final message.
Trial Complete
The Fourth Star Fragment has chosen...