**Chapter 7: Awakening the Sovereign System**
Erythion lay on his bed in the small dormitory provided by the Academy, staring at the ceiling. The events of the past weeks replayed in his mind—the trials, the revelations, the encounters with nobles and powerhouses. He had held his ground, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was barely scratching the surface of what was to come.
Rynna's words echoed in his thoughts. "There's a storm coming, Erythion. You need to be ready."
As if answering that call, the strange golden insignia on his wrist—the mark he had dismissed as a birthmark for years—began to glow faintly.
A sharp pain shot through his arm, causing him to sit upright. "What the—?" he muttered, clutching his wrist.
Then it happened.
**[System Detected. Initializing Sovereign Interface.]**
A sudden rush of energy coursed through his body, and his vision blurred. In the darkness, glowing letters appeared before him, written in a language both unfamiliar and oddly intuitive.
---
### **Sovereign System Activation**
**Welcome, Erythion Ashvale. You have been chosen as the inheritor of the Sovereign System, a unique construct designed to guide, strengthen, and elevate you to supremacy.**
**Current Status:**
- Title: **Unranked Beast Sovereign**
- Talent: **Apex Evolution (EX-Rank)**
- Current Bonded Beast(s): 1 (Obsidian, Abyssal Direwolf)
- Potential Bonds: 5 (Upgradable)
- Skill Points: 0
- Sovereign Points: 0
**Unlocked Features:**
1. **Beast Integration** – Combine your essence with your bonded beast for temporary power boosts.
2. **Skill Fusion** – Merge existing skills to create new and unique abilities.
3. **Realm Synchronization** – Analyze and optimize performance within Secret Realms.
4. **Sovereign Quests** – Complete tasks to earn Sovereign Points and unlock exclusive powers.
---
Erythion stared at the glowing text, his heart pounding. "A system...?"
**[Congratulations. You are now bound to the Sovereign System. Do you wish to proceed with a tutorial?]**
"Yes," he said automatically, the word leaving his mouth before he even thought it through.
---
**Tutorial: Sovereign Basics**
A shimmering figure appeared in his mind's eye—an ethereal guide shaped like a beast of light and shadow, its form constantly shifting.
"Welcome, Sovereign Candidate," the guide said in a calm, neutral voice. "The Sovereign System is your key to surpassing limits. Its features are designed to amplify your connection with beasts, your personal abilities, and your understanding of the world."
"Amplify?" Erythion asked aloud.
"Correct," the guide replied. "Your first step is understanding your **Talent**: Apex Evolution. This EX-Rank ability allows your beasts to evolve beyond their natural limits, tapping into powers that others can only dream of. However, evolution requires resources, synchronization, and mastery."
Erythion felt a surge of excitement and trepidation. "How do I start?"
"You will be given a **Sovereign Quest** to unlock your first system upgrade. Complete it to earn points and rewards."
---
**Sovereign Quest Initiated**
**[Quest: Prove Your Worth]**
- Objective: Defeat a beast at least two ranks higher than your own.
- Reward: +5 Sovereign Points, Access to Beast Integration.
- Time Limit: 7 Days.
---
The guide faded, leaving Erythion alone with the glowing interface.
"Two ranks higher," he muttered. "That means a creature in the High-Rank category." His mind raced, already thinking of where to find such a challenge.
Before he could plan further, a knock on his door jolted him back to reality.
"Erythion, are you coming to the courtyard?" Rynna's voice called out.
"Uh, yeah, give me a minute!" he replied, scrambling to his feet.
As he glanced at the glowing insignia on his wrist, now pulsing faintly, he realized that nothing would ever be the same again.
---
The golden insignia on Erythion's wrist glowed faintly as he strode across the Academy courtyard. The events of the night before—his awakening to the **Sovereign System**—played over in his mind. It was a revelation unlike anything he had expected, a system with the power to reshape his destiny, to elevate him beyond the boundaries of talent and bloodline.
But it came with a price.
**[Quest: Prove Your Worth]**
- Objective: Defeat a beast at least two ranks higher than your own.
- Reward: +5 Sovereign Points, Access to Beast Integration.
- Time Limit: 7 Days.
The timer ticked down in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder of the challenge ahead. He clenched his fist, feeling the pulsing energy of the system within him.
---
Erythion made his way to the Academy's **Bestiary Grounds**, an expansive forest-like area maintained for training purposes. It was home to various beasts, ranging from docile to deadly, carefully categorized by rank for the students' use.
He had a clear objective: find and defeat a beast that would meet the quest's requirements. But he couldn't do it recklessly; preparation was key.
The system provided a tactical advantage. As he walked, faint overlays appeared in his vision, marking nearby beasts and detailing their ranks. Most were of equal or lower rank to Obsidian, his **Abyssal Direwolf**, but a few marked **High-Rank** or above glimmered in the distance.
"Not strong enough," he muttered, dismissing a shadowed leopard-like beast labeled **Low-Mid Rank**. "I need something that can push me."
The sound of snapping branches drew his attention, and Obsidian growled low. A massive figure emerged from the treeline—a hulking, armored **Stoneback Bear**, its body covered in jagged, rock-like protrusions.
**[Stoneback Bear: Mid-Rank Beast. Known for its overwhelming defense and brute strength. Weakness: Soft tissue beneath its armor.]**
Erythion smirked. "Perfect."
---
The Stoneback Bear roared, its deep voice shaking the trees around them. Obsidian stepped forward, growling in response, its crimson eyes glowing as it crouched in preparation to strike.
"Focus on its legs!" Erythion commanded.
Obsidian darted forward, its claws raking against the bear's armor. Sparks flew, but the beast barely flinched, swiping its massive paw in retaliation. The direwolf narrowly dodged, circling back for another strike.
Erythion activated his system.
**[Analyze Active: Stoneback Bear.]**
A glowing outline of the bear appeared, highlighting weak points around its legs and neck. Armed with this knowledge, Erythion directed Obsidian with precision, each strike aimed at exposing the vulnerable spots.
The battle was grueling. The bear's defense was nearly impenetrable, and its strength was monstrous. Several times, Obsidian was forced to retreat, narrowly avoiding devastating blows.
But slowly, they gained the upper hand. A powerful swipe from the bear left its underside exposed for a fraction of a second, and Obsidian struck with all its might.
**[New Skill Available: Abyssal Fang.]**
"Use it!" Erythion shouted.
Obsidian's fangs glowed with dark energy as it lunged, biting into the bear's unprotected leg. The beast roared in agony, stumbling as its balance faltered. Erythion seized the moment.
"Now, finish it!"
With a final strike, Obsidian delivered a devastating blow to the bear's exposed neck. The massive creature collapsed with a ground-shaking thud, its body shimmering briefly before dissolving into light.
---
Erythion's vision flickered as the system activated again.
**[Quest Complete: Prove Your Worth.]**
- Rewards Earned: +5 Sovereign Points, Access to Beast Integration.
**[Beast Integration Unlocked.]**
- Feature: Temporarily merge with a bonded beast to enhance physical and magical abilities.
The insignia on his wrist glowed brighter, and Erythion felt a surge of power course through him. For a brief moment, he sensed Obsidian's presence more deeply than ever before, their bond strengthening.
---
As the adrenaline faded, Erythion knelt beside Obsidian, patting its fur. "Good work," he said softly. The direwolf growled in approval, its crimson eyes meeting his with a spark of mutual respect.
He looked up at the sky, the weight of his newfound abilities settling on his shoulders. The Sovereign System was a gift, but it was also a responsibility—one that would demand everything from him.
And this was only the beginning.
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*End of Chapter 7.