"Is that guilt I see, Sir Kael?" Eryndel's voice was sharp, her emerald eyes fixed on the knight kneeling before her.

Kael kept his gaze lowered, his golden armor glinting faintly in the torchlight. "You see wrong, Your Majesty. My loyalty is unwavering."

"Is it?" Her tone hardened as she stood from the throne, her crimson gown trailing behind her. "Then why do I feel the stench of treachery in this very room?"

Kael flinched but did not respond.

The air in the grand chamber grew heavy. Outside, the distant clamor of rebellion rumbled through the stone walls, the sound of a storm ready to break.

The heavy doors of the throne room burst open, and Lord Verren stumbled in, his face pale and streaked with blood. "Your Majesty! The inner gates—they've fallen! We must flee at once!"

Eryndel's expression didn't falter. "Flee? Vaelorian emperors do not flee. They fight. They die standing if they must." She turned her piercing gaze to Kael. "Summon the guard. We make our stand here."

But Kael remained still.

"Sir Kael," she said, her voice icy. "That was an order."

The knight finally rose to his feet, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. His eyes met hers, and for the first time in years, Eryndel saw hesitation—no, regret.

"Forgive me," he murmured.

Her heart sank. The betrayal she had feared for months was no longer a shadow; it stood before her, sword in hand.

Kael lunged.

The blade pierced her chest, a cold, searing pain spreading through her body. Eryndel staggered, blood staining the royal sigil embroidered on her gown. Around her, the world seemed to collapse. The sounds of the rebellion grew louder, but all she could hear was her own ragged breathing.

She fell to her knees, clutching at the blade still embedded in her chest. Her vision blurred as Kael's face swam before her, etched with sorrow.

"You were my most trusted," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kael's lips trembled, but he said nothing.

As darkness crept in, Eryndel turned her gaze to the high, arched windows. The night sky stretched above, cold and indifferent. With her last breath, she whispered a vow.

"If I had another chance... I would destroy you all."

Eryndel awoke with a gasp, the taste of dirt and blood in her mouth. She blinked rapidly, her surroundings coming into focus—a dark, damp cell with iron bars and the faint stench of rot.

"What... where am I?" she muttered, her voice hoarse and unfamiliar.

"You're in the pits, girl. Same as the rest of us," a voice sneered.

She turned her head toward the sound and froze. A gaunt man with a scar running across his face sat against the wall, his smirk revealing yellowed teeth.

Eryndel tried to move but felt the weight of chains on her wrists and ankles. Panic surged as she caught sight of her reflection in a puddle on the ground.

It wasn't her face staring back. It was the face of a thin, dirty girl with hollow cheeks and lifeless eyes.

"What is this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Suddenly, a cold, metallic voice echoed in her mind:

"Welcome, Host. You have been bound to the Shadow Sovereign System. Synchronization in progress…"

Her vision flickered as glowing runes appeared on her forearm, their shapes shifting and pulsing with an eerie light.

"You have been granted a second chance. Rise, conquer, and claim your destiny."

Eryndel's fear melted into resolve as the realization sank in. This was no ordinary death. The gods had given her a gift.

Her lips curled into a faint smile. "A second chance... Fine. This time, I will not falter. And I

Will crush every last one of them"

Eryndel forced herself to sit upright despite the ache in her frail body. The weight of the chains felt unbearable, but she refused to let it show. Around her, other prisoners huddled in the dark corners of the cell, their eyes hollow, their spirits broken.

The metallic voice from the Shadow Sovereign System still echoed faintly in her mind.

"Synchronization complete. Host identity confirmed: Eryndel Ashera. Initializing tutorial sequence…"

Her vision blurred, and suddenly, glowing text appeared in the air before her.

[Shadow Sovereign System Interface]

Host Level: 1

Abilities Unlocked:

Shadow Manipulation (Basic): Control small shadows within a 5-meter radius.

Insight (Passive): Detect lies and hidden intentions.

Quest Activated: Survive the First Trial.

Reward: Shadow Core Fragment

"Shadow manipulation?" she whispered, her voice low enough that the others couldn't hear. The implications were staggering. Power—true power—was now within her grasp, even in this pit of despair.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the screech of rusted iron hinges. The heavy cell door swung open, and a burly guard stepped inside, his eyes scanning the prisoners.

"You," he barked, pointing at Eryndel. "Get up."

She didn't move.

"I said, get up!" he growled, stomping toward her.

The scarred man from earlier chuckled. "Better do as they say, girl. Or you'll wish you had."

Eryndel met the guard's glare with calm defiance. Though her body was weak, her mind was sharp, and now she had something else—a weapon he couldn't see.

The guard reached for her, but as his hand closed around her arm, she felt it—a flicker of cold energy pooling within her. Instinctively, she focused on the shadows cast by the torchlight behind him.

"Shadow Manipulation activated," the system chimed in her mind.

The shadows shifted, curling upward like living tendrils. One of them coiled around the guard's ankle, pulling hard enough to make him stumble.

"What the—?!" he shouted, spinning around.

Eryndel took the opportunity to rise to her feet. Her legs were shaky, but she held her ground. "Unhand me," she commanded, her voice carrying a sliver of her former authority.

The guard hesitated, his confusion turning to anger. "You think you can—"

The shadows surged again, this time wrapping around his arm and yanking it back. He cried out, releasing her.

Gasps filled the cell as the other prisoners watched, their despair momentarily replaced with curiosity—and hope.

Eryndel straightened, her chains clinking softly. "Take me to whoever's in charge," she said, her tone icy. "Or do you want to test your luck again?"

The guard glared at her, his pride wounded, but the shadows' eerie movement was enough to keep him at bay. He grunted and gestured for her to follow.

As Eryndel stepped out of the cell, she felt dozens of eyes on her back. She didn't look back.

This was her beginning.

The dimly lit corridor led to a sprawling underground arena. The roar of a crowd above sent vibrations through the stone walls.

Eryndel was shoved forward into the center of the sandy pit. Around her, spectators jeered and cheered from the stands.

A booming voice echoed from above. "Fresh meat for the pit! Let's see if this one lasts longer than the last."

A gate on the opposite side of the arena creaked open, and a monstrous beast lumbered out—a creature of jagged fangs, matted fur, and glowing red eyes.

The crowd erupted in excitement.

Eryndel clenched her fists. The system's voice chimed in her mind:

"Sub-Quest Activated: Defeat the Arena Beast."

Reward: Skill Upgrade – Shadow Manipulation (Intermediate).

She stared at the creature, her lips curling into a determined smirk. "A trial by combat? Fine. Let's see how far this power can take me."

The shadows around her began to stir, responding to her will.