The Darkness System: Rise of the Broken Sovereign

The moment Kael stepped back onto the spaceship, he pulled out his communication device and contacted the Nine Star Trading House. The line connected within seconds.

”Nine Star Trading House, this is Representative Howells. How may I assist you?”

”I need a Void Crystal,” Kael said. ”Any branch. Any location. I’ll pay premium.”

A pause. The sound of fingers tapping against a crystal terminal—tak-tak-tak-tak—echoed through the device.

”We do have some in stock, sir. However, it’s currently held at our Trisellian Branch in the Veranthus Galaxy.”

Kael frowned. The Veranthus Galaxy. That was on the opposite side of the mapped star systems from where he needed to go. He still had to visit the Inter-Galactic Federation training facility before the Inheritance Ground opened. Detouring to Veranthus would cost him weeks.

”Too far,” he muttered. ”Cancel the request.”

”Very well, sir. Have a pleasant day.”

Click.

Kael pocketed the device and walked to the cockpit where Brody sat at the controls. The Origin Realm master looked up.

”Take this coordinates,” Kael said, handing Brody a small crystal slab. ”We go to planet Khalil first.”

Brody took the slab, slotted it into the navigation console, and studied the route. His eyes narrowed slightly.

”That’s a water-based planet. Mostly islands and ocean territories.” He looked up at Kael. ”We should arrive in approximately five hours.”

”Good.” Kael turned and walked toward his quarters.

The door slid shut behind him with a soft hiss. He dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

His mind drifted.

I wonder how Rue and Sage are doing.

A slow, perverted grin spread across Kael’s face.

Especially Rue’s tight pussy. And Sage’s breasts—those massive, perfect—

Hmph. Heh heh heh...

[Pervert.]

The System’s voice cut through his thoughts, flat and deadpan.

”Oh, shut up,” Kael said, still grinning. ”You’re supposed to be on my side.”

[I am on your side. That doesn’t mean I approve of your thought processes.]

”You don’t have thoughts. You’re a parasite.”

[And yet I have better morals than my host.]

Kael snorted. Hmph.

Five hours later, the ship broke through Planet Khalil’s atmosphere.

Kael stood at the viewport, watching the world below unfold. It was exactly as Brody described—a water planet. Endless blue oceans stretched in every direction, broken only by clusters of islands ranging from massive landmasses to tiny dots of green and sand. Cloud formations drifted lazily across a pale violet sky.

Brody guided the ship toward one of the larger islands—a bustling commercial hub with a busy port, multi-tiered buildings, and traffic from dozens of vessels coming and going. The landing pad was crowded but organized. Kael, Yuki, and Brody disembarked.

”Stay with the ship,” Kael told Brody.

”Understood.” Brody crossed his arms.

Kael and Yuki walked through the busy streets.

They reached the Guardian branch base. It was better hidden than the Morir operation—a squat stone building nestled between two warehouses, marked only by a faint silver rune above the door.

Kael pressed his Guardian badge against the rune. It pulsed once—brrrm—and the door slid open.

Inside, the space was expanded similarly to the Morir base, though smaller. A reception hall with half a dozen desks, a few corridors leading to back rooms, and the faint hum of privacy runes in the walls.

Kael approached the reception desk.

The dwarf behind it looked up. He was short—even by dwarf standards—barely reaching Kael’s chest. A thick beard braided with iron rings hung past his belt. His eyes were sharp, framed by bushy eyebrows that seemed permanently furrowed. He wore the same dark uniform with the silver Guardian insignia.

”Guardian badge,” the dwarf said, his voice rough like gravel scraping stone.

Kael placed his badge on the counter. The dwarf picked it up, examined it, and his eyebrows rose slightly.

”Two-star.” He looked at Kael’s face. ”You here for a promotion?”

”I need three-star missions. Whatever’s available.”

The dwarf grunted. Hmph. He tapped the surface of his desk—a crystalline panel that flickered to life, projecting a holographic display between them.

”Five three-star missions currently available,” the dwarf said. He swiped his hand through the display, and five entries materialized.

Three were located on nearby planets. Kael’s eyes scanned past them and settled on the remaining two.

”These two,” Kael said, tapping the holographic entries. ”They’re on this planet.”

The dwarf leaned forward, squinting. ”Aye. Both local.”

Kael studied the two missions. The first was a standard elimination contract in one of the underwater cave systems. The second caught his attention.

MISSION: ABYSSAL HUNT

Location: Vornhelm Ocean, bordering Greymist Island

Target: Trenchtooth Leviathan (Mana Heart Rank 8)

Objective: Kill the Trenchtooth Leviathan. Return with its Mana Core, spine segments, and jawbone.

Reward: 3-star Guardian credit + 35,000 credits

Kael tapped the entry. ”This one.”

The dwarf’s expression shifted. He looked at Kael with exasperation.

”Dangerous mission,” the dwarf said. ”The Vornhelm Ocean is dangerous itself. Has other inhabits. Three-star missions are designed for late to peak Mana Heart guardians.” He looked pointedly at Kael’s badge. ”And from what I can see, you’re still an early Mana Heart guardian.”

Kael smirked. ”I’ll take it.”

The dwarf sighed.

Hssss.

He thought, He’s probably one of those young talents chasing glory and probably finding coffins instead.

”Your choice,” the dwarf said. He pulled Kael’s badge back and pressed it against a small runic device on his desk. The device hummed—zzzt-zzzt—and a faint blue light pulsed from the badge.

”What did you do?” Kael asked.

”Mission tether,” the dwarf replied. ”Your badge is now linked to this specific mission. It will track your location, vital signs, and—” he looked at Kael directly—”any foreign signatures around you during the mission.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”This is a promotion mission,” the dwarf continued. ”No outside help. No hired assistance. The badge will detect any foreign mana signature within a hundred-meter radius and transmit it to this base. If detected, the mission is voided and your Guardian status is reviewed.”

Kael nodded slowly. ”Understood.”

The dwarf handed the badge back. ”Don’t die out there, lad.”

Kael pocketed the badge and left the base. Yuki fell into step beside him.

”I’ll be back in a day,” Kael told her.

Yuki nodded, ”Alright, my Lord.”

”Wait on the ship with Brody.”

Kael hired a fast transport vessel from the port—a sleek, single-occupancy skimmer designed for inter-island travel. Within two hours, the skimmer cut across open ocean, the water below a deep, endless blue.

Greymist Island appeared on the horizon. As they drew closer, the details sharpened—a small, rugged island with rocky shores, a handful of fishing villages, and dense tropical vegetation clinging to low hills.

Kael landed at a dock on the island’s southern coast. He pulled a dark cloak around his shoulders and walked into the nearest village.

It was small. Maybe three hundred people. Wooden houses on stilts, fishing nets drying in the sun, the smell of salt and cured fish thick in the air. Children ran between buildings—patter-patter-patter—their laughter carrying over the sound of waves.

Hahaha! Splash!

A child threw a stone into the water, laughing as the ripple spread.

Kael walked through the village, his soul sense sweeping outward. The strongest person here was an old fisherman at the village’s edge—Foundation Establishment Rank 6. Most were Mana Gathering or unranked civilians.

No Guardian presence. No hired hunters currently. Just villagers.

He reached the ocean side of the village, where the shore dropped sharply into deeper water. The waves here were heavier—crash... crash...—slamming against black rocks with enough force to send spray fifteen meters into the air.

Psssshhhh...

The ocean stretched endlessly. Somewhere beneath those waves, the Trenchtooth Leviathan waited.

Kael crouched at the water’s edge and stared into the depths.

”I need to lure it out,” he murmured. ”System.”

[Available lure items in System Shop:]

A translucent panel materialized in his vision.

[Abyssal Blood Bait — 3,000 SC]Concentrated blood essence synthesized from deep-sea predator glands. Releases a pheromone signal detectable by ocean beasts within a 50-kilometer radius.

[Beast Call Whistle — 1,500 SC]Emits ultrasonic frequency attuned to Leviathan-class hearing. Effective range: 20 kilometers. Warning: may attract unintended predators.

[Royal Blood Essence — 8,000 SC]Concentrated blood of a Spirit Soul realm sea beast. Irresistible to any Mana Heart level predator within 100 kilometers.

Kael studied the options. The Beast Call Whistle risked attracting everything in the ocean. The Royal Blood Essence was overkill and too expensive.

”The Abyssal Blood Bait,” Kael said. ”3,000 SC.”

[Purchase confirmed. Abyssal Blood Bait acquired. Remaining SC: 56,000.]

A small vial materialized in his palm—dark glass filled with a thick, crimson liquid that seemed to pulse faintly. The moment his skin touched it, he felt the faintest vibration from the ocean ahead.