BEAST CODE: System of the Eternal Sovereign ‎

Location: Starroot Academy – Outer Sanctum Cliffside, beneath the Lunar Cavern

The ground trembled slightly as the twin masked figures pressed their palms against a dormant beast rune etched into the cliff wall. The symbol lit up—black and violet lines pulsing outward in a spiral of energy.

A low hum echoed through the air. The very space warped.

[System Alert: Hidden Trial Gate Detected]

Name: Echoes of the Voidgate

Trial Type: Dimensional Core Stability

Tier: Codex-Locked (Accessible only to Bearers of Sovereign Fragments)

Danger Rating: S-

Required Condition: Beast-Tamer Synchronization ≥ 60%

Reward: Sovereign Legacy Fragment + Codex Tree Upgrade

Time Limit: 1 hour real-time

Ren took a deep breath, fingers tightening around the System Upgrade Core he had yet to activate.

Beside him, Nyx growled lowly, the air around his paws flickering like mist.

"Once you enter," the taller masked figure said, "you'll face echoes—fragments of beasts that once served the Eternal Sovereign. They are not real… but they remember."

The shorter figure added, "If your bond fractures during the trial… your beast could permanently degrade."

Ren met their gaze evenly. "If I'm going to claim this legacy… I don't get to hesitate."

Without waiting, he stepped forward.

[Trial Initiation Confirmed. Sync Lock Engaged.]

Loading Trial Environment: VOIDGATE SUB-REALM – ECHO LAYER 1

Standby...

Trial Realm: Echo Layer 1 – Realm of Hollow Howls

The world spun.

When Ren's vision returned, he stood inside a crater-like plain of ash and violet mist. The sky was a swirling hole of nothing. Ruins jutted out of the ground like bones. And in the center floated a fractured monolith covered in beast sigils, bleeding black light.

Nyx materialized beside him—his form slightly distorted, as if the space disliked his existence.

[Warning: Realm Pressure Detected – Stat Suppression Active]

Shadow-Type Resistance: -12%

Reaction Speed: -8%

Before Ren could process further, a sound pierced the air.

A long, low howl.

Then five shadows rose from the dust.

[Trial Echoes Manifested]

– Phantom Lupin (x3) – Shadow Beasts, Rank D

– Boneveil Stalker (x1) – Spirit-Hunter Class, Rank C

– Trial Warden: Void Fang Alpha – Echo Variant – Rank B (Leader)

Ren's heart skipped.

He was staring at a beast that looked… identical to Nyx. But older. Scarred. And broken in strange, mirrored places.

[Caution: Echo Variant – Memory-Based AI Construct]

Behavior: Aggressive

Goal: Break Tamer-Beast Sync

Defeat Required for Completion.

"Nyx," Ren whispered. "That's… you. Isn't it?"

Nyx snarled, not in fear—but in fury.

"Then let's prove we're not just his shadows."

The battle began.

Combat Phase: Initiated

The Phantom Lupins moved first—blitzing across the crater with clawed paws and void claws. They were fast, but not precise.

"Phantom Pounce—wide arc! Use real bodies as bait!"

Nyx vanished and struck left, then right, then mid-air—cracking two of the beasts with back-to-back slashes.

The third lunged at Ren.

Too fast.

CRACK!

Ren raised his bracer at the last second, catching the blow—but the force flung him backward.

[HP: 46 → 33]

[Bleed Debuff – Minor]

Timer Remaining: 53:20

Then the Boneveil Stalker emerged behind Nyx, whispering curses in a tongue Ren didn't understand.

[Enemy Skill Detected: Hauntbind – Severs Sync Threads]

Status: Imminent Beast-Tamer Separation Risk

"NO."

Ren grabbed the Upgrade Core from his inventory.

"Activate! Override system lock!"

[System Upgrade Core Used!]

Codex Tier II Unlocked

Trait Branch Access: GRANTED

Sync Anchor Protocol: Reinforced

New Skill Available: Bond Lock – Last Link Hold

Effect: Prevents severance of Beast-Tamer bond for 10 seconds

Time slowed.

The Boneveil Stalker lunged with a whispering claw—

—but Ren stood, hand on his mark, shouting:

"BOND LOCK—NOW!"

Light flared from his palm, a spiraling seal binding Nyx to him.

The Boneveil's strike passed through harmlessly.

[Bond Severance Prevented]

Sync: 63% → 70%

Echo Hostility Decreased: -5%

Passive Stat Bonus Gained: "Soul-Tethered"

Then came the Echo Nyx.

It moved like a god of shadows, crossing the field in blinks of pure speed. Its claws slashed the air with wind-pressure, its tails split into spears of void.

It struck the real Nyx—and for a moment, they mirrored each other in the air.

But Ren could see it now.

The Echo moved alone. With power—but no bond.

His Nyx moved like breath.

Like instinct and memory, fused.

"Shadowstep Chain—Counter in Pattern V."

"Voidfang Strike—interrupt his rhythm!"

"Follow-through: Tail Spiral Rend!"

[Command Chain Execution: 3x Combo Triggered]

Execution Efficiency: 94%

[Hit Confirmed – Echo Beast Core Fractured]

[Trial Echo: Destroyed]

The false Nyx shattered into shards of void.

And the Realm began to collapse.

[Trial Complete!]

– Codex Tree Branch 1 Unlocked: "Specter Bloodline Access"

– Evolution Slot Updated

– Sovereign Legacy Fragment Obtained (1/3)

– Passive Unlocked: Nyx – "Ghostblood Survivor"

– Reward: Special Beast Egg (???)

Return to Reality – Outer Sanctum

The Trial Gate collapsed behind them as Ren and Nyx reappeared beneath the cliff.

Steam rose from their bodies. Energy crackled around Ren's fingertips.

He checked his System Panel.

[Codex: Beast Code – Eternal Sovereign Lineage]

Rank: Tier II (Fragmented)

Bonded Beast(s):

– Nyx (Voidfang)

Class: Shadow/Wild Soul

Evolution Path (Active): Specter-Type Bloodline

Status: Eligible for Mutation Upgrade

Ren smiled faintly.

"We're just getting started."

But above them, unseen in the sky—

A new pair of eyes opened.

And watched.

End of Chapter 14