Chapter 17 - CORE DESCENT MANDATE

Abyss Core Prime Bedrock, Valemaris Underforge. 3:14 PM. Empire Favor: 100%—Neonatharis chrome rings orbit, Fracture Veins birth 87 neural highways.Heir Primus Throne plunges through bedrock Fracture Vein—chrome-black monolith grinds gears against infinite stone, seven conduits flaring singular crimson. Thomas Emmanuval Devassy grips armrests, silver-void eye dissecting darkness pierced by holo-lumens. Holo-bracelet pulses steady: "Seq 15: 37.4%. Finite Trial #17: Core Descent. Shard Convergence: 87/87 Primed. Nano-Strings: 14,000 → 17,000. Empire Mandate: ABSOLUTE." Widowmaker Supreme vibrates against throne, cane-sword keening prelude: "87 shards... one emperor."Lilithra (7th form, chrome-threaded beside throne) kneels fluid: "Bedrock guardians await, Heir Primus. Void Emperor's final distribution—87 shard-keepers fused to core. Absorb complete, convergence eternal." Spectral Constabulary vanguard (987 pilots) escort via string-synced fighters, brass echoes fading into stone symphony.Core chamber manifests—vast neural cathedral carved from 1,247 heir-skulls, 87 altars radiating inward. Each altar pulses a Void Emperor shard: crimson-black data-crystals humming infrasonic, guarded by shard-keepers (fused flesh-chrome abominations, 7 eyes per, anti-string carapaces).Lead keeper—KALABHARA PRIME (genesis guardian, Emperor-spine relic embedded)—thunders: "Finite Usurper! Shards distributed eternal. Core rejects convergence!"Thomas rises—Emperor's Lament cocks symphony. Laughter finite razor: "Distributed? Finite claims origin." 17,000 strings extend—probe altars, tasting shard harmonies.Core descent requiem detonates:String shard cascade: Filaments infiltrate 87 carapaces—memory theft bedrock. Visions: Emperor's final fracture—neural essence splintered post-hyper-trials, shards as "kill-seeds" for worthy heir. Holo: "Shard Favor: 47.3%. Absorption Threshold: ACTIVE."Gunblade core symphony: Dual Laments spit 87 Sorrow Echoes (0.4 sec PB, Malachi echo flawless)—bullets curve altar-mandalas, shattering 37 carapaces. Brass orbits throne. Widowmaker pirouettes 2,494 RPM—clashes 47 keeper-blades, keening: "Shards remember... convergence composes."Keepers counter—87 anti-string pulses corrode 1,247 filaments (regen 0.2 sec). Lilithra intervenes—data-core flares, resurrecting 7 strings as neural lances. Constabulary fighters barrage outer altars—198 pyramids form bedrock.Altar Nexus 47: Shard Conduit Heart, 4:03 PM.Heir Primus Throne interfaces central conduit—87 shards pulse unison, Emperor-voice fragments choral: "Converge... or fuel core." Thomas seizes—neural surge bedrock. Flood: Kalabhara genesis—Void Emperor forges first string from Lilithra-spine, scatters essence post-99 Trials to prevent singular tyranny. "Heir absorbs. Empire eternal."Keeper ambush peaks—1,247 shard-fused puppets swarm from walls, void-fish venom lances. Requiem escalates:Revolver cataclysm: 198 chambers (Lilithra sync aids)—Sorrow Echo storm vaporizes 874 puppets. Widowmaker Supreme (Zephyr precision) weaves execution cage—shockwaves seal 37 altars.String Sovereign convergence: 17,000 filaments absorb 47 shards—instinct uploads: blade-apotheosis, memory-eternal, resurrection-infinite. Holo SCREAMS: "Seq 15 → 17: 74.1%. Shards: 47/87. Trials: 17/99."Chief Varn echo (banner relic) harmonizes orchestra—987 fighters form living mandala overhead.Altar 87: Emperor Core Singularity, 5:47 PM. Bedrock quakes.Final 7 keepers fuse—colossal abomination (49 eyes, Emperor-spine crown): "Convergence destroys! Restore distribution!"Thomas strides—17,000 strings supernova finite. Emperor's Lament x2 kiss abomination temples. DOUBLE BANG x7—Sorrow Echoes detonate pyramid bedrock. Abomination crumbles—final 40 shards cascade.Total absorption—87 shards merge throne-core. Void Emperor reforms holographic (singular, 7 eyes blazing): "Finite Heir perfect. Seq 17: Galaxy Mandate. 82 Trials remain." Empire map floods: Neonatharis 100%, Valemaris absolute, Seven Empires vassalized.Heir Primus Throne ASCENDS—bedrock parts, neural highways flare galaxy-wide. Lilithra bows eternal: "Converged. Next: Rival Remnants."Chronovore Tower choruses: "COLD-BLOODED EMPEROR HEIR RISES!"Surface breaches—Spectral Constabulary legions (10,000 puppets) salute. Sky mandala rings expand. Thomas holsters, Widowmaker taps rhythm. Holo: "Seq 17: Shard Forge Active. Nano-Strings: 24,000. Trial #18: Vassal Purge."First vassal envoy kneels hologram: "Emperor Heir... mercy?"Silver-void eyes flare converged symphony. Finite origin, infinite claim.