Trial of the Twin Tyrants
The silence that followed Kieran's full power release lasted only a moment—but in that instant, the entire Hidden Valley responded.
Trees recoiled. Magic surged. The very air trembled.
And the two apex predators of this forsaken land—the Dragon and the Hydra—awakened with a thunderous roar that shattered stone and echoed across the world.
Above the Battlefield – Obsidian Lake Ruins
A storm had begun to swirl. Not of wind or rain, but of pure magic. Every breath burned with energy; every heartbeat echoed like thunder.
The nine-headed Hydra, with its jet-black scales veined in sickly green, reared up first. Each of its eyes locked onto Kieran—who stood completely still, cloak fluttering.
"System," Kieran said calmly, "analyze the combat potential of both beasts."
[Target Scan Complete]• Name: Vur'zhal, the World-Eater Hydra• Tier: Mythical-Class Beast (Level 173)• Traits: Rapid Regeneration, Acidic Blood, Plague Breath, Multiplicative Limb Growth• Threat Rating: Cataclysmic
• Name: Eltherion, Frost Sovereign Dragon• Tier: Mythical-Class Beast (Level 182)• Traits: Domain of Eternal Cold, Soul-Linked Ice, Dragonlord's Presence• Threat Rating: Cataclysmic+
"…and here I thought I'd get a warm-up," Kieran muttered.
The Hydra moved first.
All nine heads fired off beams of acidic mist and corrupted mana in wild arcs, painting the entire sky in streaks of death. Trees, boulders, entire hills melted or exploded under the barrage.
But Kieran was already gone.
[Skill Activated: Void Mirror Steps Lv.12]
He reappeared midair, upside down, standing on a thin ripple in space as if it were solid. His hand raised, gathering raw, pulsing void.
[Skill Activated: Devouring Spiral – Compressed Version]
A condensed vortex of gravity and space erupted from his palm—slamming directly into one of the Hydra's heads. The skull imploded in a spray of black ichor.
Before it even hit the ground, two more heads were already growing back.
"Tch. Just as annoying as the legends say," Kieran said, already moving again.
Then, the Dragon moved.
Eltherion's wings unfurled with a majestic screech, each longer than a castle wall. It let out a deep, ancient growl that sent a psychic tremor through Kieran's mind.
[You are affected by: Dragon's Presence – Will Suppression]Effect Negated: [Void Sovereign Immunity]
The dragon's mouth opened. Time seemed to freeze. A blinding torrent of pale blue fire—not frost, but soul-burning cold—shot across the valley.
Kieran didn't dodge. He stepped through space.
He reappeared behind the dragon, fingers extended like claws.
[Skill Activated: Dominion Break – Spatial Rend]
A massive gash opened across the dragon's back. Blood and ice exploded outward.
The dragon roared in pain, spinning in midair. Its tail whipped around like a blade, but Kieran grabbed it—yes, grabbed it—and slammed the dragon into the Hydra's chest.
The mountains shook.
The lake cracked.
The Hydra retaliated instantly, striking with five of its heads—jaws wide, poisonous breath flooding the air.
Kieran finally grinned. "Guess it's time to try that new ability."
[Job Skill Unlocked: Crown Art – Void King's Judgement Lv.1]Effect: Temporarily collapse an isolated space, nullifying all regenerative abilities. Deals percentile damage based on enemy level and class.]
A black sigil appeared beneath Kieran, massive and humming with destructive force.
"Crown Art: VOID KING'S JUDGEMENT."
The air fell silent.
Then, everything vanished.
Inside the Isolated Space
The Hydra screamed—but its regeneration failed.
The Dragon howled—but its resistance faltered.
Kieran floated above them like a sovereign, cloaked in the void. His presence was oppressive. Divine. Absolute.
"Die properly," he whispered.
He raised both hands.
Torrents of compressed destruction rained down—blades of time, spears of anti-matter, walls of reverse-gravity.
In less than two minutes… the beasts were broken.
The spell ended. Silence returned to the real world.
The Hydra lay crushed, its body twisted and torn. Its cores—nine of them—shattered.
The Dragon… knelt. Still alive. Barely.
It looked up at Kieran—not with rage, but awe. Then, it bowed its head and collapsed into light.
[System Alert: Mythic Bond Request – Eltherion seeks to become your companion.]
Kieran blinked. "...You're kidding."
[Accept Bond? Yes / No]
"…Yes."
Moments Later – Beside the Obsidian Lake
The dragon's form condensed into a crystal sigil, which embedded itself in Kieran's arm like a tattoo of frost and wings.
He stood alone now, the battlefield scarred but silent. The valley had accepted him.
[You have conquered Hidden Valley.][You may now construct a Territory-Class Headquarters.][Blueprint Templates Unlocked.][Crown Core Integration Protocol Initiated.]
Kieran looked around the ruins.
A smile crept onto his face.
"This… will be the cradle of the Hidden Crown."