Chapter 19: Chains of the Forsaken Duel
"True power isn't shown. It's unchained."
Scene 1: The Duel Arena — "Spire of Reckoning"
The dueling grounds were unlike any in the academy.
A floating arena of obsidian and stardust hovered above the Academy of Chains, surrounded by spectral judges, watching from beyond space. The ground pulsed with ancient runes—the battlefield wasn't just for combat.
It judged fate.
Scene 2: Kael's Entrance — Corrupted Form Reveal
Kael Veylor stepped into the arena.
His once-noble armor was shredded, replaced by a crimson exoskeleton of thorns, metal, and shadow.
[Corrupted Divine-Class Form: "The Thornbound Sovereign"]
Thorns erupt from his back like wings.
His weapon: Sanguinlash, a cursed vine-blade that absorbs blood and converts it into cursed mana.
Passive: Echo of Hatred – For every wound he takes, he grows faster, crueler, harder to read.
The crowd gasped as Kael's face briefly flickered—revealing a second consciousness behind his eyes.
"He gave up his soul," Lira whispered. "For more than power."
Scene 3: Ren's First Strike
Ren stood calm, unreadable.
The Codex shimmered at his side, its pages turning like wind.
Nullfang appeared—reshaped. No longer a simple blade, it now hovered, alive with void energy, chained to Ren's hand by the Chain of Origin.
He raised a hand, and the chain snapped toward Kael with impossible speed.
Kael dodged—barely. But the chain rewound, striking again from another angle. And again.
"He's reading futures," one judge muttered.
Void-Class Ability Reveal: Null Rewrite
Null Rewrite (Chain of Origin):
Allows Ren to unbind reality in a specific radius. Within that field, time is no longer linear—Ren can adapt to attacks before they're made.
Downside: The strain fractures his body and mind if overused.
Scene 4: Duel Twist
As Ren began to corner Kael, the arena trembled.
A forbidden bell rang out.
Councilor Eiran emerged with a tribunal.
"This duel violates divine accords. Ren Kamizuki has accessed sealed Codex tiers. Seize him!"
Spectral chains erupted toward Ren.
But someone intervened.
Naelith.
She stepped forward, unsheathing a forgotten tome.
"Then I, as Whisperkeeper of the Forgotten Library, invoke Pact Nullum. He is protected."
The chains shattered.
"So it begins again," Eiran said. "The First Null returns."
Lore Drop: Pact Nullum
Pact Nullum is an ancient covenant between the Codex and the original gods, protecting the First Null's heir until their full awakening.
But by invoking it… Naelith marks herself for execution.
End Scene: Internal Rift
After the duel, Ren collapses, overwhelmed by visions:
A golden throne burning.
A celestial girl calling his name.
The phrase: "You are not just Ren. You are the mistake they failed to erase."
And from the Codex:
"Chain Two unlocked: Void-Eater Memory."