Absolute Sovereignty
Chapter 43: How Far He’s Come....

Chapter 43: How Far He’s Come....

Steam curled and wreathed around Kaelen, rising from the surface of the hot water in the large, claw-footed bathtub.

The scent of herbs and oils, a futile attempt to mask the lingering metallic tang of blood that clung to his skin, filled the air.

The battle was over, the Crimson Hand shattered, their leader now a soul slave bound to his will. Victory was his, but the taste was ashen, bitter, the whispers a mocking chorus in his ears, demanding, chanting, begging for more.

More.

He closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the scalding water, seeking solace, a moment of respite from the relentless demands of leadership, from the gnawing hunger of the Voidwell.

The heat soothed his aching muscles, but it did little to quell the turmoil within him, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of memories, strategies, and the ever-present whispers of the darkness that now resided within him.

He reached out, his fingers tracing the sigils that etched beneath his skin, a constant, physical reminder of the power he now wielded, and with every new touch the memories felt more distant, his old reality like a dream slowly fading.

’Show me’, he commanded the System, his voice a silent thought, a command that echoed not in the room, but within the confines of his own mind. ’Show me everything.’

The System interface flickered into existence, a cool blue light against the backdrop of his closed eyelids.

Lines of text, sharp and precise, scrolled across his vision, a detailed inventory of his abilities, his progress, his corruption:

[Soulcraft Stage: Revenant (Tier 3)]

Abilities: Soul Sight, Earthsense, Soul Drain (Passive), Shadow Cloak, Soul Siphon, Shadow Meld, Shadow Step.

Soulbound Network:

Silent Guard (Level 6): 36 Soulbound

Commander Lyra (Level 3): 1 Soulbound (Tier 4)

Soul Slave: Red (Tier 4)

Voidwell Stages:

Husk (Tier 1): Initial stage, grants basic soul absorption and sensory enhancements. Focus is on individual power growth.

Shade (Tier 2): Enhanced soul absorption, improved stealth and mobility.

Revenant (Tier 3)<current>: Control over multiple souls, increased power, and access to more potent abilities. Focus expands to include the manipulation of life force and the formation of soulbound networks.

Voidspire (Tier 4): Command over armies of soulbound, reality-warping abilities. Focus becomes domination and control over large areas.

Eclipseborn (Tier 5): Near-absolute power, capable of reshaping reality. Risk of becoming a puppet of the Voidwell.

Soulbound vs. Soulslave:

Soulbound: Loyal warriors whose lives are linked to the host. They share a portion of the host’s power and abilities, and their souls are connected, forming a network. Their strength grows through shared essence, and they slowly begin to lose themselves, becoming extensions of their host’s will.

Soulslave: Individuals completely subservient to the host, their free will and identity suppressed. They retain their skills and knowledge but are bound by an unbreakable oath of loyalty. They are tools to be wielded, weapons to be deployed.

Corruption Level: 28.8%

Effects: Increased ruthlessness, emotional detachment, memory loss, heightened senses, enhanced physical abilities.

System Functions:

Provides information, guidance, and warnings related to Soulcraft.

Monitors corruption levels and suggests mitigation strategies.

Grants rewards and unlocks new abilities based on progress.

Offers limited control over the Voidwell’s influence.

Has its own agenda...

Kaelen focused on the last point, his brow furrowing.

The System. A constant presence, a voice in his head that offered guidance, warnings, and... rewards.

It had been instrumental in his rise to power, granting him access to the Voidwell’s power, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just a helpful guide.

There was something... else there.

A hidden agenda, a purpose he couldn’t quite grasp. His old reality carried a similar burden, a System that was meant to both empower him, and manipulate him, and now he had two whispers in his head, pulling him in two different directions, two distinct paths leading to the same outcome.

He could remember more now, from the first timeline, of the various times he had attempted to utilize the system, how its commands would seem contradictory, its rewards helpful for what it was, but somehow never enough.

Each gain felt more like a debt, a promise made to the very nature of it, and yet, there was never a mention of how those debts must be repaid, at least not until it was nearly far too late to do anything about it, if he could ever even do anything about it.

He had been so sure that his knowledge from the first time would be enough for this present, a clear way of knowing how to proceed and act, and yet, somehow, he had managed to veer so far off the path that nothing seemed remotely familiar, even if those memories have barely faded.

He was a Revenant, a master of souls, a wielder of forbidden magic.

He commanded an army of soulbound warriors, and soon a network of spies and assassins spread throughout the Dominion.

He had bent the Crimson Hand to his will, turning a lawless band of criminals into a weapon to be wielded against his enemies.

He was powerful. Dangerous.

But the power came at a cost. The whispers reminded him again of those he had left behind, as now he had no recollection of her face.

He no longer knew his sister’s face.

He opened his eyes, the steam stinging his face.

The water had cooled, the herbs and oils losing their scent, and all that was left was the smell of him.

The blood, the dirt, and the ever-present, metallic tang of corruption, the whispers telling him to not give up.

He rose from the tub, the water cascading off his body, and wrapping a towel around his waist, he stood before the mirror, his gaze meeting his own.

He barely recognized the face that stared back at him.

The eyes, once filled with warmth and humor, were now cold and hard, like chips of obsidian.

The lines around his mouth were deeper, etched by the weight of his decisions, the burden he carried, the mark of the monster he was becoming.

He could almost feel something else looking back, as if what stared back was no longer him, but some mockery of what he had once been.

"It’s time," the Voidwell whispered, its voice a seductive caress against his mind. "Embrace the darkness, Kaelen. Let it consume you. Become... more. Become what you were meant to be.""

Kaelen closed his eyes, his jaw clenching against the whispers.

He knew the path that lay ahead, the terrible truth that awaited him at the end of this journey.

He had walked it before. He had seen the abyss. And he had fallen into it. But this time... this time would be different.

"Wouldn’t it?"

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