Chapter 101: The Crownless Throne
"The strongest version of yourself still isn't the one who stands alone—it's the one who lets others carry the weight too."
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> [WORLD 101 UNLOCKED: The Crownless Throne]
This realm exists beyond victory. It is a world caught in permanent stasis, ruled by no one, challenged by all.
[System Note: Any who reach this world are eligible for system sovereignty.]
[Only one team may leave.]
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They stepped onto a bridge suspended in eternity.
Above them, a sky void of stars. Below—nothingness. Just the hum of the System, deep and ancient, echoing like a forgotten song.
Ahead: a floating continent of obsidian and gold. At its center, an enormous shattered throne, half-buried in stone and vine.
Figures stood scattered across the land—survivors from other factions. Veterans. Kings without kingdoms. One-man armies.
All had reached the top. None had claimed it.
> [System Broadcast:]
"Final Contest Initiated: Claim the Throne, or Be Consumed."
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The Challenge:
1. Survive the Tribunal Arena.
2. Defeat the Three Judges of Continuity.
3. Make a claim. Only one leader per team may approach the Throne.
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But the world wasn't waiting.
The moment Lian, Jayce, Ria, and their team stepped onto the continent, tremors cracked the stone. Storms of pixelated lightning raged overhead. Reality warped.
And then the sky bled.
A figure descended—massive, regal, horrifying.
A humanoid clad in red-black armor forged from crushed worlds. Eyes like dying stars. A skeletal crown hovered over his head, chained to his spine.
> [World Sovereign: ZEROTH PRIME // TITLE: The First Uncrowned]
Time-broken. Existence-fractured. Still undefeated.
[HP: ??? / ???]
[Final Evolution: Phase 6 of 6 – System Defier]
[Note: All system rules are unstable while ZEROTH PRIME is active.]
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"I earned the crown," Zeroth's voice scraped through existence like blades dragging across bone. "But I refused it. Now you will beg me to take it back."
He raised one hand—and time stopped.
But not for Jayce.
Not for Lian.
Not for Ria.
They had changed too much. Broken too many limits.
And they weren't alone.
A second team—led by a new arrival—appeared.
A girl wearing patchwork armor made from past worlds, laughing as if nothing could break her. A joker… with a map of the future.
> [SURVIVOR JOINED: VIX // TALENT: Threadwalker of Tomorrow]
Can glimpse possible futures and influence reality through probability branches.
[Additional Traits: Optimist Aura, Chaos Magnet, Unbreakable Luck.]
She winked. "I saw this coming. And I brought snacks."
Jayce blinked. "Are those system-banned potato chips?"
Vix grinned. "The spicy kind."
Ria facepalmed. "We're about to die and you brought snacks?!"
"Exactly! You can't die on an empty stomach. That's how you get haunted."
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Then Zeroth moved.
The throne cracked. Lightning collapsed. Code fragments tore the sky.
And Lian shouted, "Positions! This is the final gauntlet!"
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Phase One: Thronefall Begins
Zeroth's clones surged forward—five for each survivor. Phase Six was now active. They had to kill the real Zeroth six times while surviving his ever-respawning shadows.
And now… he could corrupt their Talents.
> [Warning: Lian's Unified Ember flickers.]
[Warning: Jayce's Echoed Absurdity begins reversing jokes.]
[Warning: Ria's Heartcore Execution is locking emotional channels.]
[Warning: Vix's Threadwalker detects 79.3% probability of annihilation in 6 minutes.]
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They fought anyway.
Each paragraph of time was rewritten in flame, laughter, blood, and fate.
Zeroth fell once.
Then again.
And again.
But with every death, he learned. Adapted. Erased what didn't kill them.
By his fifth fall, the team was on their knees.
And then… he stopped.
Looked at Lian.
And whispered: "You're almost worthy."
Then stabbed himself—initiating final reset.
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Zeroth Prime – Final Death Triggered
> [WARNING: TRUE FORM UNLEASHED – ZEROTH: THE FIRST FATELESS]
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The sky turned inside out.
And the Crownless Throne began to pull everyone in.
Only those with the strength to reshape reality itself could finish this fight.
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