Reborn as the Third Prince: To Build and Conquer my way to Royalty.

The guttural growls of the Dalins reverberated through the Heart's Sanctum, shaking the very crystalline floor beneath Sylus's feet. Zani's reinforced barrier, a shimmering web of thorned mana vines, pulsed violently, spiderweb cracks appearing across its surface. The Dalins, enraged by Sophia's despair-inducing deterrent, were throwing themselves against it with increasing ferocity, their golden eyes burning with a chilling, single-minded purpose.

"My lord! It won't hold much longer!" Zani grunted, her stance wide, her muscles screaming as she poured more mana into the failing defense. The pure mana of the Sanctum, though abundant, was still a raw, untamed force, and maintaining such a complex barrier under relentless assault was pushing her to her absolute limits. Her Blazer flickered, threatening to destabilize.

Sylus ignored the growing clamor, his eyes closed, his mind a whirlwind of concentrated thought. His Blessing of Information, now fully restored by the Sanctum's primordial mana, hummed with unprecedented clarity. He wasn't just searching for a hidden passage; he was searching for a temporal signature, a deliberate distortion in the fabric of time left by Haves.

He cast his awareness across the vast chamber, feeling the subtle currents of primordial mana, the echoes of ancient will. He focused on the "Temporal Residue" mentioned in the system's report, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple in the otherwise stable temporal flow of the Sanctum. Haves, the Principle of Time, would not have left a simple physical door. Her exit would be as intricate and subtle as her love.

The Dalins' roars intensified, a thunderous crack echoing as a section of Zani's barrier finally gave way, a shower of crystalline thorns exploding inwards. Three Dalins, their forms shimmering, surged through the breach, their golden talons extended, aiming directly for Sylus.

"Master!" Sophia materialized instantly, her dark mist swirling, her eyes burning with a predatory glow. She intercepted the first Dalin, her shadowy form wrapping around its crystalline body, a silent, chilling scream of despair emanating from her essence. The Dalin shrieked, its form flickering, destabilizing, but it was too strong, too driven by its purpose.

Zani, despite her exhaustion, moved with impossible speed, her blade a silver blur, deflecting the second Dalin's strike, then twisting, sending a powerful kick that sent it stumbling. The third, however, lunged past her, its golden tail lashing out, aiming for Sylus's head.

Sylus's eyes snapped open. He saw the Dalin, a shimmering blur of death, hurtling towards him. He felt the phantom ache in his chest, the memory of the spear. But his mind was clear. He had found it.

Not a door, not a passage, but a frequency. A specific mana resonance, woven into the very fabric of the colossal Mana Crystal wall. It was a silent hum, a "music note" far beyond human hearing, a temporal key.

He slammed his palm against the section of the wall where the frequency resonated most strongly. He poured his Catalyst mana into it, not in a raw blast, but in a precise, intricate pattern, replicating the "music note," the "star alignment," the "heart of trust" – the very commands from the Korean message, but now directed at the temporal lock.

The wall vibrated, not with a physical tremor, but with a deep, resonant hum that seemed to echo through time itself. The ancient carvings on the crystal surface flared with blinding white light, then began to spin, faster and faster, blurring into a vortex of iridescent energy.

The attacking Dalin, caught in the sudden surge of temporal energy, froze mid-air, its crystalline form distorting, stretching, then snapping back, trapped in a rapid, disorienting loop. Sophia, still grappling with the other Dalin, felt the temporal shift, her shadowy form flickering, but her connection to Sylus anchored her.

"Zani! Now!" Sylus roared, pulling his hand away from the wall.

Zani, battered but unyielding, saw the shimmering vortex. She didn't hesitate. With a final, desperate surge of mana, she unleashed a torrent of thorned vines, creating a momentary, explosive barrier that held the remaining Dalins at bay. Then, she launched herself towards Sylus, grabbing his arm.

They plunged into the shimmering vortex, the world dissolving into a kaleidoscope of light and sensation. It was not a physical journey, but a temporal one, a dizzying rush through the currents of time. Sylus felt his fragmented soul resonate with the temporal flow, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him. He was traveling through Haves's domain, guided by her intricate design.

The journey was fleeting, a blink in the cosmic eye. Then, with a gentle ripple, they emerged.

The air was crisp, the scent of pine and damp earth filling his lungs. The warmth of the sun touched his face. They were no longer in the oppressive depths of Alhara, but standing on a familiar, grassy hill.

Sylus stumbled, his legs giving out, and Zani, still holding him, gently lowered them both to the ground. His chest still ached, but the wound was now a faint, pink scar. His mana reserves, though not full, were no longer critically depleted. The primordial mana of the Sanctum, and Haves's temporal passage, had accelerated his recovery.

He looked around. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds. Below them, stretching into the distance, was the familiar landscape of Linye. The newly constructed wooden homes of Thornmere were visible in the distance, a testament to his earlier efforts.

They had returned. But not just to Linye. They had returned to a specific point in time.

[Temporal Displacement Confirmed.] [Current Time: 37th Arth Year, 1st Day of the 3rd Month. (Approximately 3 weeks after your departure from Linye).]

Sylus stared at the system notification, a mix of relief and shock washing over him. Three weeks. They had been gone for three weeks, yet it felt like only hours. Haves's temporal gate hadn't just transported them through space; it had transported them through time, albeit subtly. This was a deliberate choice, a gift from the Principle of Time, perhaps to give him a head start, or to ensure he returned at a crucial juncture.

"My lord... we're back," Zani whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. She looked at her arm, the crystalline wound completely gone, replaced by smooth, unblemished skin. Her Blazer, the star on her brow, pulsed with a calm, steady light, stronger than before.

Sophia shimmered into existence beside them, her dark mist swirling, her eyes wide. "Master... the energy... it is vast. The temporal shift... it was... exhilarating." She seemed to have recovered fully, her form more stable, more defined than before. The primordial mana of the Sanctum and the temporal journey had strengthened her as well.

Sylus pushed himself to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the landscape. Three weeks. What had happened in Linye during their absence? Had Alfred managed the daily wages? Had the Red Vipers resurfaced?

He activated his "Lord of the Land" aspect, pouring a surge of mana into it.

[Territory status — County of Linye.] [Current Time: 37th Arth Year, 1st Day of the 3rd Month.] [Total population: 54,000 (Stable).] [Jobless (14-55): 78% (Stable - no significant change).] [Current treasury balance: 34,000 gold coins (Stable - no significant change).] [Merchant Guild activity: Five major trade caravans active (Stable). Merchant immigration rising due to new reforms (Continuing trend).] [Unexplored land: 68% (Stable).] [Note: Daily wages for registered workers have been consistently paid by Queen Elizabeth. Monthly wages remain outstanding.]

A sigh of relief escaped Sylus. Elizabeth had held up her end of the bargain. The daily wages were paid, preventing widespread unrest. But the core problem of the monthly wages, and the lack of significant progress in Linye's economy, remained. The Dalins, the Manifestation Engine, the pure Mana Crystals – they were the only answer.

"We need to get to the mansion," Sylus declared, his voice firm, his eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of Eric's former residence. "Alfred will be there. We need to assess the situation fully."

He looked at the pure Mana Crystal in his hand, the one he had manifested in Alhara. It pulsed with a soft, internal blue light, a tangible proof of the Sanctum's power. This was the key. This was the future of Linye.

"Sophia, Zani," Sylus commanded, "we have a new mission. We bring Alhara to Linye. We bring its resources, its power, and its truth. But first, we need to secure it, control it, and make sure its immense power serves our purpose, not the Destroyer's."

He felt the weight of his new identity, the shard of the Bringinger, the potential Star Killer. The cosmic war was not a distant prophecy; it was here, now, intertwined with the fate of a struggling county. He had fallen into the heart of the world's greatest secret, and he would emerge, not just as a prince, but as a force capable of reshaping destiny itself. He would fight. He would survive. And he would protect Zani, the key, the ancient protector.

The journey back to the mansion was swift, a silent trek across the familiar landscape. As they approached the outskirts of Linye, the sounds of daily life began to filter through the air – the distant murmur of voices, the clatter of tools, the faint scent of woodsmoke.

But as they drew closer to the city's main gates, a new sound reached them, a discordant note in the otherwise peaceful morning. Shouts. Cries of alarm. And the unmistakable clang of steel.

"My lord?" Zani's hand went to her blade, her eyes narrowing.

Sylus's Blessing of Information flared, scanning the immediate vicinity.

[Alert: Red Vipers activity detected within Linye's main gate. Conflict in progress. Royal guards engaged. Casualties rising.]

Sylus's eyes hardened. The Red Vipers. He had underestimated their resilience, or perhaps, their desperation. They hadn't been fully purged. And now, they were attacking the very symbol of his new rule.

"They're attacking the gate," Sylus stated, his voice low and dangerous. "They're trying to reclaim what they lost."

Sophia shimmered, her dark mist swirling around her. "Master... permission to engage?" Her voice was a chilling purr, filled with destructive anticipation.

Sylus looked at the chaos unfolding at the gate, then at the pure Mana Crystal in his hand. He had just learned the secrets of creation, the power to manifest. And now, his first challenge awaited him.

"No," Sylus said, a cold, strategic glint in his eye. "Not yet. We observe. We assess. And then... we make an example."

He would show Linye, and the Red Vipers, the true meaning of his return. The Star Killer had arrived.