Chapter 66: Inheritance of the Vault King
A low hum echoed through the vault as the golden gate at the far end pulsed with ethereal light. Kael's sword arm trembled—not from exhaustion, but from anticipation. The glyphs etched along the gate flared, revealing the outline of a massive humanoid warrior clad in ancient golden armor. It didn't step out. It simply appeared, as though it had always been there, watching, waiting.
[System Notification: Dimensional Legacy Trial — Initiated]
> Trial Type: Combat-Inheritance
Recommended Tier: Moonglade Tier 5+
Warning: Failing the trial may result in death or soul fragmentation.
Kael exhaled slowly. "Let's see what the Vault King has to offer."
He stepped forward, sword held firm. The armored figure's eyes—if it had any—glowed like twin suns.
"You who defy realms with borrowed fate," the Vault King's voice thundered, neither cruel nor kind, "do you seek my mantle?"
Kael nodded. "I seek strength to change destiny."
The Vault King raised its weapon, an obsidian-gold halberd that vibrated the dimension with every movement. "Then endure."
The halberd fell with a speed unnatural for something so large. Kael barely twisted out of its arc, blade scraping against it with a burst of sparks. The impact blasted a crater where he had stood.
> [HP: -2,900]
[Internal Bleeding: Minor — Regenerating]
"Your power is unrefined," the Vault King growled. "But your will… impressive."
Kael coughed, wiped blood from his mouth, and charged again. This time, he activated Flicker Step.
> [Passive Triggered: Flicker Step — Successful Dodge]
He vanished, reappeared beneath the Vault King, and drove his blade upward. Sparks flew—then a crack. One piece of the Vault King's greave shattered.
> [Vault King Armor Integrity: 95%]
"Good," the ancient voice murmured. "Now prove it wasn't luck."
---
Outside the Dimension
In the real world, only two hours had passed. Nysera, Valeria, and Selene walked through the town square of Alverith, cloaked in illusion magic. Their conversation turned from curiosity to concern.
Valeria stopped suddenly. "Did you feel that?"
Selene's eyes narrowed. "Kael's fighting something... no, someone. A remnant. Powerful."
Nysera nodded. "We return the moment our realms are fully stabilized. No distractions."
But they all silently knew: something massive was underway.
---
Back in the Vault
The battle raged for what felt like hours. Kael bled from a dozen wounds, his armor cracked, but his eyes never dimmed. He adapted to the Vault King's tempo, parrying deadly arcs, striking weak points, shifting stances as if guided by instinct and battle memory.
At last, the halberd shattered under one final clash.
The Vault King staggered. "You have fought not with hatred… but with purpose. Then take it. My strength. My legacy."
He knelt, dissolving into particles of gold, flowing into Kael's chest.
> [Trial Complete — Vault King's Legacy Absorbed]
[EXP Gained: +100,000,000]
[Sin Points Gained: +1,000,000]
[New Title Unlocked: Successor of the Vault King]
[Inheritance Reward: Vault King's Martial Codex — Divine Grade]
Kael dropped to his knees, breath ragged.
> [Realm Advancement Available: Sunbound Tier 7 → Tier 8 → Tier 9]
> [WARNING: Tribulation Required for Breakthrough to Moonglade Realm] [Overflow EXP Storage Activated — Future EXP will be stored until tribulation completed.]
---
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 28
EXP: 100,000,000 / 220,800,000
Realm: Sunbound Realm — Tier 9/9 (Bottleneck — Tribulation Required)
HP: 30,500 / 30,500
Mana: 35,100 / 35,100
Stats (with buffs):
Strength: 675 ×2.1 ×2 = 2,835
Endurance: 648 ×2.1 = 1,360
Willpower: 662 ×2.1 = 1,390
Charm: 734 ×2.1 = 1,541
Intellect: 580 ×2.1 = 1,218
Dexterity: 615 ×2.1 ×2 = 2,583
Bonded Wives:
Evelyne (Moonglade 8/9, Ice/Lunar Flame) — Present
Selene (Skyshatter 9/9, Shadow/Moon) — Outside
Thalaria (Sunbound 3/9, Lightning) — Present
Nysera (Skyshatter 1/9, Blood/Curse) — Outside
Valeria (Skyshatter 3/9, Nature/Wind) — Outside
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Flame Tiger Cub (Tier 3)
Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
Cultivation Realms: (Each System Level = 1 Tier, blocked by tribulation at Tier 9)
1. Initiate
2. Essence Drawn
3. Veinwoven
4. Soulroot
5. Starforged
6. Sunbound ← Current (9/9)
7. Moonglade
8. Skyshatter
9. Worldpiercer
10. Heaven's Echo
11. Celestiaflame
12. Worldbreaker
13. Eternal Crown
14. Primordial Ascendant → 18. Origin Flame locked
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