Iron Sky Sect — Secluded Chamber #7, Inner Valley
Stone walls.
Spirit-reinforced silence.
A lone flame crystal pulsing in rhythm with a hidden heartbeat.
Kaelen sat cross-legged at the center of the chamber.
Still.
Focused.
Alive with purpose.
Flashback — His Promise
Just before retreating into isolation, Kaelen stood at the edge of their shared courtyard.
His companions stood before him, faces uncertain, still processing how the elders had dismissed him.
Kaelen looked at each one of them.
Then raised his head.
"I'll be number one in this sect."
"Not just to prove them wrong…"
"But because we weren't born to be looked down on."
He gave a small smile.
"When I walk back into the light… they'll all know exactly who I am."
Then he vanished into the stone halls.
System Activation — Cultivation Protocol Engaged
[Sovereign Core: Core Formed (Low)]
[Cultivation Acceleration: Active — Resource Sync x2000 Multiplier]
[Sovereign Store Access Granted — Tier 2 Unlock: Spiritual Forging, Flame Crystal Chambers, Heavenly Qi Capsules]
[Status Monitoring: Daily Milestone Updates Enabled]
[Body Refinement Detected: Adaptive Aura + External Symmetry Adjustment Ongoing]
Kaelen's Transformation Begins
Days passed.
His qi became denser.
His muscles honed and lean, defined for strength and speed.
His bones subtly shifted — more durable, less mortal.
His hair grew longer, brushing his shoulders like a cloak of shadowed flame.
But most haunting of all—
his eyes.
They glowed like a slow dawn.
Crimson threaded with Sovereign gold.
Calm. Cold. Beautiful.
The kind of gaze that made lesser cultivators forget how to breathe.
POV: Aria, Mira, Selina, Lyra, Valessia, Lyanna
They trained under their elders — each girl progressing rapidly:
Aria began wielding Sovereign-style sword forms infused with elemental strikes
Mira mastered a shadow-step kill art that made even her elder pause
Selina could now heal internal wounds mid-combat
Lyra reached stable aerial flight during full spiritual exhaustion
Valessia learned how to manipulate qi waves in political duels
Lyanna was beginning to form dual cores — a feat thought impossible
And yet…
Even in their growing strength,
every one of them thought about him.
Every day.
The Global Sect Duel — Whispers Begin
Posters and messengers flooded the sect halls.
"The Global Sect Duel approaches."
"Only the strongest Outer or Inner disciples will be selected."
"The Iron Sky Sect must dominate this year."
And with it—
the taunts came.
"Maybe one of the girls will make it… but the bodyguard?"
"He hasn't been seen in weeks."
"Still hiding? Maybe he's afraid."
Laughter echoed through the dorms.
POV: Disciples and Enemies
Jin Rokan sneered during a private lesson.
"He'll never be chosen. Let him rot in silence."
Fei Yuzen smirked.
"The longer he hides, the easier it'll be to forget his name."
Taro Lin just chuckled.
"Let the flame die quietly."
But in the Chamber…
Kaelen opened his eyes.
His aura pulsed once —
and the reinforced walls cracked.
The system chimed.
[Congratulations: Rank Increased — Core Formed (Mid)]
[Sovereign Body Evolution: Phase 2 Engaged]
[Dominion Pressure Unlocked — Passive Intimidation Field Active]
And Kaelen whispered:
"Soon."
"The world will remember."