Single for Eternity
Chapter 90: Sovereign Trials

Chapter 90: Sovereign Trials

Kallias kept blabbering nonsense, even after the crowd had fully subsided. "Dude, that was epic! What were those crimson bursts?!"

His eyes sparkled with intrigue, practically burning a hole through my skull. "What’s your affinity?"

For a brief moment, I toyed with the idea of telling him the truth just to watch him writhe in disbelief. Maybe even in pain, if fate allowed. But I suppressed the urge. As tempting as it was, I had my own questions.

"Are you participating in this trial?" I asked, cutting through his ramble.

He blinked, then grinned like an idiot. "Nah. I already took part in last year’s Sovereign Cup."

I narrowed my eyes. "What was your rank?"

Kallias made a show of thinking intensely, as if trying to recall something ancient. "Rank... one. I won the previous trial."

’So he’s a bigshot,’ I thought.

But the guy didn’t act like one. If anything, he felt more like a comic relief side character than the former champion of a deadly competition.

Trying to keep the conversation grounded, I asked, "What was the reward?"

I added, half-joking, "I hope it wasn’t just glory and fame. That crap’s overrated."

He placed a hand on my shoulder, barely holding in his laughter. "You really are a recluse."

I shoved his hand off, irritated. "How many times are you going to rub that in?"

Kallias pulled an exaggerated face. "Probably a thousand times a thousand."

’Son of a...’

I was genuinely restraining myself from checking his combat ability. Every nerve in my body told me it was a terrible idea. But the guy was just that infuriating.

I let out a sigh. "Another question—who’s stronger, you or Seren?"

His grin dimmed slightly, the edges of his mouth curling with something darker. "Short answer: me. Long answer..."

He paused. "She’s strong. Potentially strong enough..."

"To beat you?" I finished.

"What?! No!" He scoffed, waving his hand like I’d said the most absurd thing in the world. "She’s strong enough to make me take her seriously. That’s all. I’d still win."

’Cocky bastard,’ I mused.

At that point, I tuned him out completely. I didn’t want spoilers for the trial. Why? Simple. I hated spoilers.

’Hey, system,’ I called silently. ’You didn’t buzz like you did when I met Tauriel. Is Seren not a heroine?’

[System: She is... But what would that even matter? You’re hell-bent on being a single fuck.]

[System: I’m pretty sure you’ll win the Sovereign Trial just to ask for a marriage annulment.]

[System: Besides, anyone with a functioning brain cell can tell Seren’s a heroine.]

’What’s with the salt, dude? What did I even do to you?’

[System: You really don’t know?!]

’Nope.’

[System: Then keep being a dense guy.]

I gasped inwardly. ’Wait... do you have a crush on me? Is my sheer handsomeness too much for even code to handle?’

[System: ...]

[System: YOU FUCKER!!!]

What followed was a string of high-tier curses from the irritated piece of software. As a decent person, I chose to ignore them.

While I was mentally sparring with the system, Kallias suddenly stood, his demeanor shifting entirely.

His smile vanished, replaced with steely seriousness. "I guess it’s time for you to go."

He glanced back at me. "Hope you survive..."

That brief sentence, delivered with chilling sincerity, made my spine tingle. But I didn’t show it. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

My history with opponents wasn’t exactly flattering. They always ended up leagues beyond my level.

First, a cursed manticore. Then a demonic spider lord. And who could forget the literal god?

’You fucking admins,’ I thought bitterly. ’Lower my difficulty settings already!’

Now, I was about to enter a trial heralded by the number one from last year as something truly terrifying.

While I was lamenting the comedy that was my life, the announcer returned. The same man with golden hair and commanding violet eyes.

"Attention, everyone!" he boomed. Like a switch had flipped, the entire room fell silent, all eyes drawn to him.

He lifted a single finger, and a shimmering, translucent portal of bluish light formed mid-air, vibrating with a low hum.

"Each individual listed on the golden board shall step through this portal one by one."

As if on cue, the same glowing scoreboard from earlier appeared again, displaying the hundred names of the selected Sovereigns.

"You shall all be transported to the Sovereign’s Cup," he continued, "a sealed realm where the yearly trials take place."

He paused dramatically, sweeping his gaze across the gathered crowd.

"There, you will face harsh conditions, battle beasts of ascending difficulty, and most importantly... survive each other."

Survive each other...

That single phrase changed everything.

This wasn’t just a survival trial.

This was a battlefield.

The announcer’s voice echoed in the hall like a hammer against iron.

"Survive against each other."

Those four words sent an audible ripple of tension through the air. Whispered murmurs surged through the sea of nobles and prodigies, once buzzing with opulence and idle chatter, now seized with an undercurrent of caution—maybe even fear.

I leaned back slightly, my fingers unconsciously brushing over the edge of the seat as I narrowed my eyes at the portal, still pulsing with cerulean light like a living, breathing entity.

Kallias, who had been all jokes and smiles until a moment ago, wore a hardened expression. He didn’t speak, just gave me a sidelong glance before clapping my shoulder.

"You’ll be fine," he said, voice steady. "You’ve got that stupid ’main character energy from my favourite novels.’"

"...That what now?"

"Never mind," he smirked. "Just don’t die. I’d hate to lose someone this entertaining."

With that, he began walking off toward the exit, disappearing into the crowd like a ripple vanishing in still water.

I stood up, fixing my collar slightly, my expression unreadable.

[System: You do realize what this means, right?]

’Trial by combat... kill or be killed. Survival of the fittest.’

[System: And you, my dense little disappointment, are ranked somewhere in the 60s.]

’Yeah, I noticed.’

I rolled my shoulders slowly, letting the tension bleed out, even if momentarily. My crimson eyes reflected the portal’s shimmer, and just for a second, the scent of iron and smoke haunted my nostrils—a memory from the Manticore’s den, the venomous forest, the corrupted town, and Ness’s scream.

This trial... wouldn’t be different.

If anything, it might be worse.

My feet carried me toward the portal, step by step, as if the air had thickened. Eyes turned toward me—some with interest, others with disdain. Whispers danced behind palms. I ignored them all.

Let them underestimate me.

Let them assume I was still the "fat, isolated, weak" Einar Sanguis.

I didn’t need to announce my return.

I’d let the battlefield do the talking.

One of the participants stepped forward and touched the portal. Their body dissolved into particles of starlight before vanishing.

One after another, the young sovereigns walked through, disappearing into the unknown.

Then came my turn.

As I approached the portal, a familiar presence brushed past me.

Silvery white hair like moonlight. Crimson eyes that could stare through the veil of reality. Graceful steps, each one carrying an unseen weight.

Miss Seren Album.

Our eyes locked briefly. She gave me the barest of nods—acknowledgement, not greeting.

I returned the gesture with one of my own, more instinct than intent. There was no warmth, no recognition of friendship. Just two potential enemies sizing one another.

She stepped into the portal, disappearing in a halo of ethereal light.

I followed seconds later.

And the world twisted.

...

The moment I opened my eyes, I was falling.

No—descending.

The sky above me was black, painted with streaks of green lightning and dying stars. Below was a fragmented continent, floating landmasses bathed in eerie glows, linked by spiraling trails of mist.

I landed softly, another system buzzed in my head.

[Sovereign Trail: Welcome to the Sovereigns’ Cup.]

[Sovereign Trial: Initializing Realm Parameters... done.]

[Sovereign Trial: Objective: Survive. Secondary Objective: Eliminate opponents. Bonus Objective: Earn Points by defeating higher-ranked entities.]

[Sovereign Trial: Current Rank: 61st out of 100.]

[Sovereign Trial: Points: 0]

’Ok...hmmm...alright.’

I looked around.

The landscape was a ruin of ancient temples, broken towers and moss-covered altars. The air was thick with aether, wild and untamed, like a storm waiting to be unleashed. Cracks split the earth, and darkened vines pulsed with life, wrapping around statues of forgotten deities.

In the distance, I could hear a scream.

Then another.

The game had already begun.

I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar hum of power circulate within me.

The Nascent Rift Core in my chest pulsed faintly—and so did the Symbiote living in me.

With careful steps, I began moving forward, navigating the ruined structures. I needed a vantage point, and more importantly—I needed information.

Who was near me?

Where were the high-rank targets?

And most critically—where the hell was Seren?

Because if System’s offhanded comments were anything to go by, she wasn’t just a normal heroine.

She was someone the trial should be designed for.

And somehow, I was tangled in it now.

’Again... thanks, fate. You bastard.’

As I crept toward an overgrown staircase leading to a crumbled tower, I heard rustling.

Then... a voice.

"Found you."

I spun around—and saw a boy with jade hair and twin scimitars, both dripping with poison. His eyes gleamed with madness, and blood smeared his jaw.

"Rank 63," he hissed, licking his lips. "That’s three points for me."

I tilted my head.

"Yeah? I was just thinking the same."

He lunged.

And the real trial began.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.