The moment the scroll's secrets poured into Belarion's mind, it was as if a river of stars had been unleashed within his consciousness. Knowledge ancient beyond imagination surged through him—runes older than kingdoms, battle chants whispered by gods, and laws that shaped the foundations of reality itself. His body trembled, not from pain, but from the sheer weight of comprehension.
[System Notification: Unique Law Comprehension Acquired – Starlight Dominion.] [Starlight Dominion (Tier: Mythic)] [Effect: Grants control over ambient astral energy. Enhances all fire-based and space-time techniques. Passive: Starborne Will – immunity to disorientation in dimensional shifts and void travel.]
Belarion exhaled. The power wasn't raw strength—it was law, influence, dominion over concepts that governed the world. He didn't just wield fire anymore. He defined it.
Behind him, Seraphion—the defeated astral remnant—watched in silence, admiration glimmering in his boundless eyes.
"You are the first in millennia," he said quietly, "to master not only Genesis Flame, but to earn the right to a Law."
Belarion turned toward the celestial entity. "Then what happens next?"
"The world shifts," Seraphion answered. "The heavens will take notice. The deep powers—the sleeping ones—they will stir. You've begun the War of Succession. And you don't even realize it yet."
Above, in the High Skies of Celestia Prime…
On the floating island of Arkhaal, seat of the Celestial Consortium, Arch-Lord Primaris Zalven's golden monocle cracked as he reviewed the ancient prophecy etched into his chamber wall.
"'When the Flame meets Star, and Law answers Name, the cycle shall restart.'"
He turned toward the gathering council of Sovereigns. "The Rebirth Protocol is active. Contact the Starbound Seers. Prepare for ascension trials across all thirteen divine sectors."
Across the skies, divine beasts trembled. In faraway monasteries, ancient statues shed tears of fire. The realms knew. A new contender had risen.
Back in the Seraphbane Sanctum…
[Main Quest Chain Unlocked: Ascension to Dominion.] [Stage 1: Establish Authority in a Recognized Region of Power.] [Suggested: Seize or Create a Sect. Influence Rating Requirement: 1,000+]
Belarion chuckled. "So now I need a sect. Do I look like a founder?"
[Optional Guidance Unlocked: System will highlight potential sect locations of strategic importance.]
Seraphion stood. "Before you leave, take this."
He plucked a shard of light from the void and molded it into a crystal orb.
[Item Acquired: Astral Beacon Core.] [Function: Can be used to found or upgrade a Sect Core. Linked to void-lattices. Enables astral recruitment and defense protocols.]
Belarion took it.
Seraphion bowed low. "You will be hunted now. Not just by kings or sects—but by fragments of gods who fear what you might become."
The system pulsed again.
[Auto-Map Update: Recommend location – Ashen Hollow, Northern Frontier.] [Reasons: High natural fire affinity. Forbidden zone. Site of a fallen divine beast. Zero Sovereign-level presence.]
Belarion smirked. "Perfect. A ruined land, no rulers, full of secrets. Sounds like home."
Days Later – The Ashen Hollow
The Hollow was aptly named. Once a divine hunting ground, it now lay charred and abandoned, steeped in spiritual ash and howling winds. The ground cracked beneath Belarion's steps, leaking streams of dormant mana.
He stood atop a blackened spire, the only remnant of an ancient citadel long lost to history.
[System Alert: Suitable site detected. Begin Sect Foundation?]
"Yes."
[Initializing… Infusing Astral Beacon Core…] [Founding Sect: House of Dominion Flame.] [Sect Grade: Unknown. Ascension Potential: High. Core Influence Radius: 5km. Auto-defense: Active. Recruitment Mode: Selective. Title Granted: Sect Lord of Dominion Flame.]
An explosion of starlight surged outward from the spire.
Mountains trembled.
Beasts fled.
And across the continent, ancient powers felt it.
Meanwhile, in the Midnight Court of the Seven Veils
A shadowy court convened beneath an eclipsed sky. Hooded figures whispered names.
"Belarion Vane."
"System-bearer."
"Flameborn with a Law."
An old crone—veiled in violet chains—croaked, "Dispatch the Black Envoys. We cannot allow another Sovereign Ascension without debt."
Elsewhere, a girl with silver hair woke screaming. She clutched her chest where a burned sigil had seared itself into her skin.
She remembered a past life.
His name.
And a promise to kill him before destiny could crown him.
To be continued in Chapter 6: The Founding Flame and the Blood That Follows...