The crystal key was warm in my hand.
Not warm like metal left beneath sunlight.
Warm like something alive.
The flame-shaped symbol at its centre pulsed faintly, matching the rhythm of the Crimson Core above us.
I stared at it for a long moment, Professor Mehra's final words still echoing inside my mind.
Become the bridge between worlds.
The projection had vanished.
The Sovereign Archive had returned to silence.
But the weight of what I had learned remained heavier than any weapon I had ever carried.
The worlds were connected.
The gods were real.
My master had crossed these realms before me.
And somewhere in the shadows between worlds, an organisation called the Obsidian Covenant was moving first.
Lian Xueyi stood beside the pedestal, her crimson eyes fixed on the crystal key.
"Their name should not exist here."
Her voice was low.
Cold.
Dangerously calm.
I looked at her.
"You know them."
It wasn't a question.
She turned and walked slowly between the towering crystal shelves of the archive.
The red glow reflected off the black crystal walls, painting shadows across her silver hair.
"Not directly," she said.
"But I have seen the traces they leave behind."
I followed.
The archive felt less like a library and more like a tomb of forgotten truths.
Every step echoed.
Every shadow seemed to listen.
Lian stopped before an ancient mural carved into the wall.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary depiction of sovereign history.
Then I noticed the details.
Several rulers stood beneath a massive celestial gate.
Some were kneeling.
Some were fighting.
And behind them—
figures dressed entirely in black robes.
Their faces hidden.
Their hands stretched toward the gate like they were trying to control it.
Lian touched the mural lightly.
"These records are older than my reign."
Her voice hardened.
"Whenever a world collapses unnaturally… their shadow appears."
A chill crawled up my spine.
Not one world.
Multiple.
This was bigger than the Crimson Sect.
Much bigger.
"The Crimson Sect wasn't acting alone," I said.
She nodded once.
"Greed makes useful servants."
That made sense.
A weak sect leader would worship power.
A secret organisation would only need to offer it.
I clenched my jaw.
The same thing could have happened on Earth.
The broken laboratory.
The trap in the desert ruins.
The professor is disappearing.
It was all connected.
ARINA's voice echoed softly.
"Main Threat Classification Updated."
A blue panel unfolded before me.
Primary Enemy Identified Organisation: Obsidian Covenant Threat Level: Unknown Influence: Multi-Realm Current Objective: Track Gate Fragments
Unknown.
I hated the unknown.
I turned toward Lian.
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
Her expression remained unreadable.
"Because until today, I had no proof your world was connected."
Fair.
And until today, I had no proof my master had truly crossed worlds.
She stepped closer.
"The Covenant does not conquer like kings."
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"They infect."
That single word felt worse than war.
She continued.
"They enter through scholars, sect elders, rulers, priests… anyone desperate enough to trade loyalty for power."
The Crimson Sect.
Zhu Kain.
Even the elders.
Corruption disguised as opportunity.
I had seen enough of humanity to know how easily that worked.
The world gate wasn't just a bridge.
It was an infection route.
Suddenly, the crystal key in my hand pulsed violently.
A sharp wave of heat surged through my palm.
I hissed and nearly dropped it.
The flame symbol blazed bright gold.
ARINA's voice sharpened instantly.
"External presence detected."
The archive lights dimmed.
The entire chamber trembled.
Lian's expression changed.
"Someone is forcing a gate connection."
A black crack split open in the air, the archive floor.
Space itself tore apart like paper.
Cold wind poured through.
Then footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
A man stepped through the distortion.
Tall.
Dressed in black robes embroidered with silver patterns that resembled broken stars.
His face was hidden behind a smooth obsidian mask.
Only his eyes were visible.
Calm.
Ancient.
Watching.
Behind him followed two women in crimson-black armour, each carrying twin curved blades.
Not disciples.
Executioners.
The masked man looked around the archive with casual familiarity.
Then his gaze landed on me.
Interesting.
As if he had been expecting someone else.
"Professor Mehra's disciple."
His voice was smooth and terrifyingly polite.
"So he truly left his legacy behind."
Every muscle in my body tightened.
"How do you know my master?"
He ignored the question.
His eyes shifted toward Lian.
"The Flame Sovereign."
He gave a shallow bow.
"My apologies. Your death was apparently delayed."
Lian's flames ignited instantly.
"Speak one more word, and I will reduce your bones to ash."
He smiled beneath the mask.
I could hear it.
"Yes. That temper was always inconvenient."
Always?
No.
This man was older than he looked.
Much older.
ARINA's warning flashed violently.
Danger Alert: High-Rank Covenant Executor Detected. Codename: Ashborn. Threat Level: Catastrophic
Catastrophic.
Wonderful.
I stepped slightly in front of Lian without thinking.
The two armoured women immediately shifted stances.
Ready.
Predators.
Ashborn tilted his head.
"You are weaker than expected."
His gaze dropped to the Phoenix Mark beneath my collar.
Then paused.
For the first time, his calm cracked.
"…interesting."
His voice had changed.
Recognition.
No—
concern.
He stepped closer.
"Who gave you that mark?"
I said nothing.
He took another step.
The archive itself seemed to darken around him.
"The Phoenix should not have chosen a mortal."
Lian moved beside me.
"He is under my protection."
Ashborn looked at her.
Then at me.
Then slowly exhaled.
"That is unfortunate."
The two executioners drew their blades.
Silver-black steel reflected the crimson light.
Ashborn raised one hand.
"Kill the witness."
The women vanished.
Fast.
Far too fast.
The first strike came for my throat.
I barely blocked with the crystal key.
Metal screamed against divine crystal.
The second attacker came from below.
Lian's flames intercepted her instantly.
The archive exploded into battle.
Ashborn stood still, watching.
Not fighting.
Evaluating.
Like I was some unfinished answer to a question only he understood.
That terrified me more than the blades.
Because enemies who hated you were simple.
Enemies who studied you were dangerous.
The first executioner spun, her twin blades carving silver arcs through the air.
I activated Flame Step.
The world blurred.
I slipped behind her and struck her ribs.
She didn't even flinch.
Strong.
Far stronger than Zhu Kain's disciples.
The second attacker broke through Lian's fire and lunged again.
This wasn't a fight we could win by force.
Not here.
Not now.
Ashborn's calm voice echoed through the archive.
"Take the key."
Everything clicked.
That was the true target.
Not me.
The World Gate Key Fragment.
I tightened my grip.
No.
After everything—
not happening.
I planted my feet.
And prepared for war.