The sky didn't just darken—
It bent.
Like reality itself was bowing.
To him.
The true Sovereign.
Adrian stood still.
Watching.
Measuring.
For the first time—
He didn't move first.
Name Revealed
The system flickered violently—
Trying—
Struggling—
Then finally—
[Target Identified]
[Name: Kael]
[Rank: Sovereign]
[Threat Level: Catastrophic]
Adrian smirked slightly.
"…Kael, huh."
Kael tilted his head.
"…You can see it?"
A pause.
"…Interesting."
The Difference
No flashy aura.
No overwhelming explosion of power.
But—
Everything felt heavier.
Even breathing.
Even standing.
Adrian's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Absolute danger.
First Move
Kael stepped forward.
Just one step.
Adrian reacted instantly—
Ash surged—
Domain expanding—
But—
Nothing happened.
"…What?"
Kael appeared in front of him.
No movement.
No transition.
Just—
There.
Impact
A single punch.
No buildup.
No power-up.
Just—
Contact.
BOOM
Adrian's body vanished from the spot.
Launched across the ocean—
Skipping across the surface like a stone—
Before crashing into what remained of the island.
[HP -62]
Silence.
Reality Check
Adrian coughed—
Blood spilling.
"…Tch…"
He stood slowly.
Body already regenerating—
But slower than before.
"…So this is a real Sovereign…"
No Tricks
Kael didn't chase.
Didn't rush.
He simply walked forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each one—
Closing the distance.
Inevitably.
"…You rely too much on abilities," Kael said calmly.
"…Let me show you something simpler."
Second Clash
Adrian moved first this time.
Faster than ever.
Ash + Lightning + Frost combined—
A devastating strike—
He aimed straight for Kael's head.
But—
Kael raised his hand.
Caught it.
Effortlessly.
Complete Overpower
"…Too complicated," Kael said.
He squeezed.
CRACK
Adrian's arm broke.
[HP -18]
Before he could react—
Kael struck again.
A knee—
Straight to Adrian's stomach.
BOOM
Adrian folded.
Air gone.
Body shaking.
No Defense
Ash tried to respond—
But it felt—
Suppressed.
"…Why…?" Adrian muttered.
Kael answered calmly.
"…Because you don't control it."
A pause.
"…It controls you."
Brutal Lesson
Kael grabbed Adrian's face—
And slammed him into the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Each impact—
Breaking the island further.
[HP Critical]
On the Brink
Adrian lay there.
Vision blurred.
Body barely responding.
For the first time—
He couldn't stand immediately.
Kael's Judgment
Kael looked down at him.
Expression unchanged.
"…This is the difference."
A pause.
"…Between a candidate…"
He raised his hand.
"…and a Sovereign."
Power gathered—
Not visible—
But absolute.
"…Die."
Instinct
Adrian's eyes widened.
Death.
Real.
Certain.
His body—
Moved on its own.
Black ash exploded outward—
Wild—
Uncontrolled—
But desperate.
Unknown Reaction
Kael's attack—
Stopped.
Not blocked—
Interrupted.
By something else.
Something Awakens
Adrian's shadow—
Twisted.
Moved.
Independently.
Kael stepped back slightly.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
"…Oh?"
Cliffhanger
The shadow rose—
Taking form.
Not human.
Not beast.
Something else.
Something ancient.
Adrian's voice—
Echoed twice.
One his own—
One deeper.
"…Don't touch what's mine."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Kael smiled.
Wider than before.
"…Now this…"
A pause.
"…is interesting."