Reign of Exiled

Chapter 118: A Crown Forged in Loss

The profound silence that followed the revelation of the SSS+ quest, 'Echoes of the Exiled Sovereign,' was heavy with the weight of Kael's hidden past. The quest text hung in the air, a stark reminder of betrayal and a demanding call for retribution. An Eternal Crown Elder as the true enemy... the difficulty was immense, but so was the personal stake.

Kael's gaze swept over his wives, seeing their unwavering support reflected in their eyes. The time for holding back, even the deepest wounds, was over.

"There's more," Kael stated, his voice a low, raw cadence that held a profound grief. "The High Chancellor, the noble houses... they were merely instruments. The Eternal Crown Elder pulled the strings, and in his ambition, he ensured my family's eradication." His fists clenched. "My family... they are mostly gone. The usurpers run the kingdom as their own now."

Selene's hand instinctively reached for his. "Oh, hubby..." her voice was a soft murmur of sorrow.

Kael looked away for a moment, gathering himself, the pain clear on his face. "My father... he was the one who signed my exile decree. Manipulated by those ministers and nobles, blinded by their lies, fearing the chaos they painted me to be. But he wasn't entirely lost to their influence." A shadow of a grim, sorrowful pride crossed his features. "He found out. He discovered the depths of their deceit, the true mastermind's hand. And in his last moments, he tried to make amends."

His voice grew strained. "When the rebels, those conspiring nobles, finally moved to seize the throne completely, my father stood against them. He fought to let my mother escape. He created a diversion, drew their forces, giving her a chance to flee their grasp. He... he was killed in that struggle."

The revelation hung in the air, a tragic testament to a father's flawed judgment and ultimate sacrifice. Kael's wives absorbed the heavy truth, their expressions shifting from sympathy to a hardened resolve.

"So, your father, though manipulated, sought redemption," Evelyne said quietly, her starlit eyes gleaming with understanding. "He died a king, protecting his queen."

"And your mother?" Nysera inquired, her gaze sharp and discerning. "Did she escape?"

Kael shook his head slowly. "I don't know for certain. The last reports were of chaos, of her attempting to break through their lines. I can only hope she succeeded. Her fate remains unknown." A new, unspoken objective solidified in his mind: finding his mother, if she lived.

"This isn't just about reclaiming a throne, then, darling," Valeria said, her voice imbued with a new, fierce determination. "It's about vengeance for your lineage. For your father's sacrifice. And for the possibility of finding your mother."

"Indeed," Kael affirmed, his eyes now burning with a cold, clear fire. "Every drop of blood spilled, every betrayal, every stolen legacy... it will be answered. The Veridian Expanse will know its true ruler has returned."

Thalaria slammed a fist into her palm. "Then let's get there, hubby. An Eternal Crown Elder. Sounds like a proper challenge for the Stormheart Valkyrie!"

The immediate task was clear: returning to the Veridian Expanse. The most direct route was through the cosmic portal, their gateway to other realms. It was a leap into the unknown, but now, it also served as the first step on Kael's path of reclamation.

"The cosmic portal," Kael announced, turning towards the shimmering anomaly in the distance. "It's our bridge back to the Lower Realm Plane. We've spent enough time consolidating our strength. Now, we use it."

His wives gathered around him, their unified presence a formidable force. They were ready. For vengeance, for dominion, and for the family they had chosen.

STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN

System Level: 49

EXP: 35,000,000,000/80,000,000,000

Realm: Worldpiercer Realm — Tier 2/9

HP: 105,000/105,000

Mana: 118,000/118,000

Stats (with buffs applied):

Strength: 980×2.8×2=5,488

Endurance: 950×2.8=2,660

Willpower: 970×2.8=2,716

Charm: 1080×2.8=3,024

Intellect: 870×2.8=2,436

Dexterity: 980×2.8×2=5,488

Sin Points: 5,000,000,000/100,000,000,000

Sin Tier: Warlord Rank

SKILL WINDOW

Active Sin Skills:

Sovereign Flame Crush [+Max]

Wrathflare Lance [+Max]

Flamebind Chains [+Max]

Infernal Domain [+Max]

Passive Traits:

Crown of Dominion → Throne of Ascendancy [+Mythic]

Sovereign Union [+Enhanced]

Nullfire Core [+Enhanced]

Phoenix Mantle [+Enhanced]

Worldpiercer's Will [+New]

Vision Beyond the Veil [+New]

Verdant Sovereign's Heart [+NEW — Mythic Trait] (Passive regeneration aura for all party members within 500 meters)

Shared Bloom [+NEW — Passive Trait] (Increases Charm and Intellect of bonded partners by 8%)

Bloodline / Physique Traits:

Carnal Sovereign Core [+Enhanced]

Sin Catalyst Matrix [+Enhanced]

[Skill Upgrade Available — Spend Sin Points to enhance or evolve active/passive/bloodline skills]

[Bonded Partner Skills Eligible for Sin Point Upgrade]

Bonded Wives (Mythic Bloodlines/Physiques Active):

Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Mythic Eclipse Matron)

Evelyne — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Starlit Ember Empress)

Thalaria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Stormheart Valkyrie — Advanced 11 tiers)

Nysera — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Scarlet Hexmistress)

Valeria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Verdant Windborne Queen)

Aelisa — Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank) (Succubus Duskkissed Queen)

Pet Panel:

Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)

Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)

Cultivation Realms:

Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter → Worldpiercer ← Current (2/9) → Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant

Next: Heaven's Echo (Unlocks at Worldpiercer Tier 9/9)

With renewed purpose and the full, tragic scope of his past revealed, Kael and his Union are poised to embark on the challenging journey back to the Veridian Expanse (Lower Realm Plane). As they approach the cosmic portal, what unforeseen dangers or opportunities await them in the transition between realms, and what immediate threats will they encounter upon arriving in Kael's former home?