Cosmic Lord: The Error Awakens
Chapter 115: The Artifact’s Trial

Chapter 115: The Artifact’s Trial

The hundred-and-ninth dawn bathed Kael El’s Ashen Empire in a fractured golden glow, the continental dominion—a sprawling colossus—humming with an eerie calm. The capital’s skyline soared—bone steel keeps dwarfed by the Golden Colossus, its hundred-meter frame a radiant titan, core pulsing a volatile violet-gold that cast glitching shadows across the plaza. Kael stood in the heart of the capital’s grand archive, a cavernous hall of bone and gold, Stormforged Blade sheathed at his side, shard-pommel humming like a distant storm. EX: Dragonflame Reaver glowed at his hip, Stormhide Armor scorched but polished, the wraiths’ claws and Lyra’s chaos fading in his grazed arm. His flirty smirk wavered, a cool dominance masking a raw dread—the sealed rift, the "Error," and Rhea’s trembling plea burned in his blood. He flexed EX: Gold Dominion, golden veins threading through the archive’s floor, molten and heavy, answering the shard’s restless hum.

Day 109. My blood calms—her secrets rise. His dark eyes gleamed, pride a blazing inferno despite the ache—dozens lost, the blood’s rebellion, the Colossus’s glacial pulse gnawed at his core. My empire’s iron—millions strong, lands vast—but secrets break iron. The Nexus whispered through the hall: "Kael’s reign consumes!" He grinned, jaw tight, arm tingling. Consume? I uncover.

Day 109: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 6 – Continental Lord. Territory Size: Vast. Population: Millions. Food Stock: Thin. Resource Yield: High (Lord’s Blessing). Resources: Vast. Summon Limit: Ample. Territory Lv. 7 Conditions: Reach Greater Power, Global Empire (More Strongholds), Defeat Greater Foe, Immense Wealth, Grand Treasury, Army of Greater Elite, Build Greater Wonder.

Lord Nexus Leaderboard: Kael El reigns, Myra gone, Lyra broken, Gavrin fallen, Sylth dust, others fade.

Kael paced the archive, shard humming as he studied a violet-gold artifact—a jagged obelisk, unearthed beneath the Colossus’s foundation, pulsing with Nexus energy. First place, unchallenged—enemies dust, but his blood stirred, calmer yet heavier, like a storm held at bay. Blood binds secrets. His arm pulsed, the Devourer Blood steady but dense, whispering of origins tied to the rift. Lena’s voice broke the silence, her map spread across a bone table. "Lord, it’s Nexus—older than her, tied to your blood. Subjects call it ’The Devourer’s Heart.’ Keeps soar, gold flows, resources pile endless—food’s tight, days left." Her calm held, but her eyes flicked to the obelisk—fear of its truth.

Thora stomped in, hammer slung, gold dust thick. "Core’s glitching less—obelisk’s doing it. Your blood hums with it—Nexus tech, deep as the rift." Her pride wavered, eyes on the artifact—its pulse matched the Colossus.

Kael’s grin sharpened, hand hovering over the obelisk. "My heart? Let’s crack it open." The shard jolted—vision: the rift, silent, a shadow of the Empress, her voice faint: Devourer, your blood seeks my origin. His blood surged, the archive trembling—her origin? He turned to Drayce, glaive leaning by the door, eyes fierce but worn. "Guard the hall—5,000 elite outside. No threats yet—keep ’em sharp."

Drayce nodded, grip tightening. "Elite’s gold—Colossus fuels ’em, but we’re tense. Obelisk’s quiet—your blood’s not." His voice held a brother’s fire, trust iron—wraith losses lingered.

Veyna slipped in, bow unstrung, wolves pacing. "Wolves smell nothing—east’s silent, capital’s clear. That thing’s Nexus—your blood’s louder than ever." Her hunter’s edge softened, eyes on Kael’s arm—Rhea’s fear echoed.

Kael winked, masking a tremor. "Louder? I’m the storm—let’s hear its truth." He turned to the obelisk, shard humming, the Colossus’s pulse rippling—colder, glitch fading. Her origin—like Rhea’s eyes. "Lena, trace its runes—Thora, prep a ritual—crew, with me."

The archive’s air grew heavy as Thora arranged gold braziers, violet flames flickering, their light dancing on the obelisk’s runes. Elys sparked, lightning dim, her voice sharp. "Kael, it’s Nexus—older than her, tied to your blood. Why now?" Her eyes flicked to the artifact—losses stung.

Rhea stood close, flames soft, hand on Kael’s arm. "It’s you," she said, voice raw. "Rift, blood—’The Error.’ Don’t touch it." Her fear burned, burns faint but aching.

Lyra—his Lyra—tossed a violet spark, smirk faint. "Touch? He’s the prize, ladies—his blood’s the key. Crack it, lover." Her tease wavered, eyes on the obelisk—no echo lingered.

Kael laughed, rough and warm, hand on the shard. "Crack? I dance—its truth’s mine." The obelisk pulsed, violet-gold, his blood answering—Devourer’s Heart. Thora lit the braziers, chanting Nexus runes, the air crackling. Kael stepped forward, EX: Devourer Blood flaring—gold veins surged into the obelisk, his blood humming, Nexus energy clashing. The shard screamed—vision: a void, the rift’s birth, a figure forging the Nexus, his blood at its core. Devourer, you are the Error’s root. His blood roared, pain spiking—veins burned, power swelling, but steady. Root?

He pushed deeper, EX: Gold Dominion binding the obelisk, veins threading its core—runes flared, then dimmed, revealing a truth: his blood forged the Nexus, tied to the rift’s creation, the Empress a mere shadow of its power. The obelisk steadied, its pulse syncing with his—bound, not broken. Kael staggered, blood calming—stronger, but no leap. His veins cooled, the rebellion tamed—for now.

Kael stepped back, chest heaving, turning to Rhea—she stood, eyes fierce but scared. "You’re reckless," she said, voice raw—fear, not anger. He pulled her close, jaw tight. "Truth?"

Lena approached, map glowing, voice steady. "Lord, it’s Nexus—your blood’s its core. Keeps soar, gold flows, resources endless—subjects chant your name." Her eyes flicked to Kael’s arm—raw, steady—then Rhea, burns faint.

Drayce grinned, glaive slung. "No threats—elite’s gold, ready. That thing’s yours—blood’s quiet." His voice held relief, eyes on Rhea—crew’s bond tighter.

Veyna leaned against the wall, wolves calm. "Wolves smell nothing—obelisk’s silent. Your blood’s heavy—stronger than hers." Her smirk softened, eyes on Rhea—losses weighed.

Kael nodded, wincing—power surging, a titan’s might. He faced the obelisk, shard humming, Rhea’s hand on his. "You’re the Error," she said, eyes searching. "Rift, blood—its root."

Kael’s smirk faltered, pulling her close. "Root? I’m gold, Rhea—the rift’s mine." But the truth burned—my blood, the Nexus. He turned to the crew, voice a rough drawl. "Obelisk’s bound, my blood’s calm—game shifts. Thoughts?"

Elys sparked, grim but fierce. "You’re a titan, Kael—your blood’s the Nexus. What’s it mean?" Her lightning dimmed—losses stung.

Lyra—his Lyra—grinned, violet flickering. "Mean? You’re the blade, lover—your blood’s the rift. Claim it." Her tease hid fear—no echo lingered.

Veyna notched an arrow, sharp. "Claim? Capital’s silent—wolves smell nothing. Your blood’s real—watch it." Her gaze lingered on Rhea—hunter’s edge softened.

Thora stomped forward, hammer slung, gold dust thick. "Blood? Core’s steady—obelisk’s tied to it. You’re the Nexus—colder, but stable." Her pride cracked, eyes on the obelisk—pulse calm.

Kael’s grin hardened, gold veins pulsing—EX: Gold Dominion heavier, like a throne’s crown. Error Rift—my blood. The shard hummed—vision: the rift, silent, his blood pulsing, no echo. Blood is root. He blinked back, pulse icy—root or rift? "Lena, study the runes—Thora, guard the obelisk—Veyna, scout—Drayce, rest ’em."

The council lingered, the harem gathering—Elys sparking, Rhea’s warmth fading, Lyra’s violet subdued. Kael waved them closer, voice teasing but strained. "Ladies, my blood’s the Nexus, rift’s mine—game shifts. Truth?"

Rhea’s flames flickered, voice soft. "Truth? Your blood’s the rift—’The Error.’ Choose us, Kael." Her hand trembled—fear raw, burns aching.

Elys nodded, lightning dim. "She’s right—you’re a storm, but storms break. Your blood—don’t let it rule." Her voice shook—losses echoed.

Lyra tossed a violet spark, smirk faint. "Rule? He’s the prize, ladies—his blood’s power. Claim it, lover." Her tease wavered—no echo hit.

Kael laughed, rough and warm, blade spinning. "Claim? I dance—the Nexus is mine." But Rhea’s fear burned—Error Rift, in me? He turned to the obelisk, its pulse steady—Your blood binds. "Thora, dig deeper—Lena, trace its origin—Veyna, eyes out—Drayce, sharpen ’em."

The day waned, forges thundering as keeps rose—strongholds climbing, gold flowing, resources endless. Kael paced the archive, shard humming, the truth heavy—Devourer, your blood. Drayce rallied the elite outside, voice gruff but strong. "Gold’s iron—ready, Lord." His trust blazed—victory held.

Lena scribbled, map glowing, voice steady. "Capital’s mightier—keeps stack, gold’s heavy, lands vast. Rift’s stable—subjects chant, Colossus steadies ’em." Her calm held, eyes on Kael—crew’s worry mirrored Rhea’s.

Rhea stood closer, flames soft, voice low. "You’re not the Error—blood, rift. Choose us, Kael." Her hand tightened, fear raw—burns, grazes, losses.

Kael’s laugh was rough, pulling her close. "Choose? I’m the storm, Rhea—the Nexus bends for you." But her fear burned—Error Rift, in me? He gripped the shard, its song steady, pulse colder—glitchy, whispering: Blood is root... A memory stirred—Vex’s cry: Rift’s end! He smirked into the dusk, gold molten. "End or Nexus—I’m the blade."

By night, the empire stood mightier—keeps soaring, gold heavy, lands vast, resources endless. Kael leaned on the archive’s balcony, shard glowing, the truth heavy—dozens gone, Rhea’s fear heavier. The Colossus pulsed—steady, shadow fading, subjects chanting below. The east was silent—the game shifted. He spun the blade, gold veins flaring. "Nexus or crown—I’m the storm breaking free."

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