Rohan stood on the ramparts of the newly conquered fortress, his mind swirling with calculations and strategies. The growing mercenary force under his control had begun whispering his name with reverence and fear. His rule was ironclad, but he knew that his current power was only the beginning.
During his private moments, he meditated on the nature of his Authority, sensing its progression. The Rule Indescribable was like a living entity, responding to the lives he took using its conditions. Every time someone died knowing his name and seeing his face, he felt the Authority grow sharper, more potent.
He clenched his fists, staring out at the vast wilderness. "This is only the beginning," he muttered. "If I can ascend to level 2, no one will be able to challenge me—not even the Seven Churches."
---
In a hidden chamber deep within one of the Seven Churches' cathedrals, glowing artifacts hummed with an otherworldly resonance. Seven grand priests, each representing their respective church, gathered through a synchronized projection of their souls into the chamber.
A pulsating sphere, shimmering with golden chains of energy, rested at the center. It was the Eternum Lock, an ancient artifact said to have the power to seal even gods.
"Our instruments have detected an anomaly," the Priest of Divinity began. "This... being has the potential to disrupt the natural order."
The Priest of War slammed his gauntleted fist on the table. "Potential? It is already in motion. This creature, this threat, must be dealt with immediately. We cannot allow an Authority of this nature to exist."
The Priestess of Knowledge nodded. "It is not just any Authority. Our readings indicate it has already begun to evolve. If it reaches level 2, it could rival our divine hierarchy. The Eternum Lock must be activated."
"But to use the Eternum Lock requires a sacrifice from all seven churches," the Priest of Shadows pointed out, his voice cold and calculating. "Are we ready for such a cost?"
"There is no other choice," the Priestess of the Arcane replied. "If we wait, the cost will be far greater. We are not dealing with a mortal threat but an existential one."
One by one, the priests chanted their agreement, their collective power activating the Eternum Lock. Golden chains erupted from the artifact, coiling and writhing as though alive. The priests focused their combined energy, sending the chains spiraling through dimensions, seeking their target.
---
Back at the fortress, Rohan sat in his chamber with Alex and Mark. "The priority is clear," he said, his tone firm. "We need to consolidate our hold here and expand outward. But more importantly, I need enemies. The more I kill under my Authority, the closer I am to unlocking level 2."
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Level 2? What happens then?"
Rohan leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "The Rule Indescribable will evolve. Right now, the conditions are strict—my name and face must be known. But at level 2, those who even hear whispers of my name will fall under my rule. I won't need to be seen, and my reach will extend far beyond proximity."
Alex whistled, impressed. "That's... terrifying. But it also means you'll attract even more attention. The Seven Churches won't stand idle."
Rohan smirked. "Let them come. They'll only fuel my ascension."
The day had turned ominous as Rohan sat amidst his growing influence, Alex and Marcus at his side, as they orchestrated the next steps. The mercenaries under his command were readying for another wave of conquests. Yet, the air around them shifted unnaturally. The sky darkened, and the very ground seemed to tremble with anticipation. Rohan felt it—a force unlike any he had ever encountered.
Unseen by him, the combined powers of the Seven Churches had converged to activate the Eternum Lock, an ancient artifact said to bind even gods. The churches had deemed Rohan too dangerous, his power too unpredictable. Though they didn't know his name, the energy emanating from his Rule Indescribable had disrupted their artifacts enough to identify him as a threat. The decision was unanimous; he had to be sealed.
The artifact materialized above the forest, a sphere of radiant light encased in shifting, ancient runes. It descended upon Rohan with immense speed. The ground quaked violently as Alex and Marcus tried to understand what was happening. Rohan stood tall, his face hardening with resolve as the artifact's power began to engulf him.
He fought. His Rule Indescribable lashed out, claiming the lives of mercenaries loyal to the churches who had unknowingly fulfilled the conditions of their demise. Yet, the power of the Eternum Lock was overwhelming. It bent reality itself, suppressing Rohan's resistance. He felt the crushing weight of its sealing energy, and for the first time, he realized he couldn't escape.
The artifact's light began to consume him, locking him away in an ethereal prison. The mercenaries screamed in panic, Alex and Marcus powerless to intervene. But as the final moments of freedom slipped from his grasp, Rohan's voice erupted like thunder, reverberating across the land.
"Spread my name!" he roared. "Spread my face to every corner of this world! Let everyone who dares look upon me remember my defiance! Let my enemies fall, one by one! You think this seal will hold me forever? I will rise again! I will return stronger, and when I do, I will change the fate of this world!"
The ground split, the heavens roared, and the sheer power of his defiance left a mark on the world. His voice faded as the Eternum Lock completed its work, sealing him in a dimension of isolation, away from the living world. Yet, his final decree echoed in the minds of all who had heard it.
The Seven Churches, feeling the artifact's success, rejoiced momentarily but remained uneasy. The power they had just sealed seemed too restless, too volatile. And somewhere in the shadows of the world, whispers of his name began to spread, carried by fear, awe, and defiance.
Rohan may have been sealed, but his legend had only just begun.