Chapter 31: Attrition and Sovereignty – The Fifth Seal Cracks

Tower Progress: Floor 4/7Remaining Time for Bonus Clear: 1 Day, 12 HoursUnits Active: 40/40Evolution-ready Units: 8Available RP: 870

[Floor 4: Trial of the False Sovereign] – Boss Arena

As the floor slid open, a spiral arena revealed itself—half colosseum, half throne room. Bone debris littered the circular walls. Statues of broken kings surrounded the field.

Objective:Defeat the False Sovereign – Wraithknight TyrantReinforcements will arrive mid-fightWarning: Boss has multi-phase regeneration

The air turned dense as a black-armored knight, ten feet tall, materialized at the far end. His helmet burned with violet soulflame. In his hand: a corrupted blade made of fused crowns and rusted bones.

"You've no right to command the dead," the tyrant rasped. "Bow… or perish."

Iden's voice was firm. "I am the command."

"Alpha, brace. Mages begin mana cycling. Scouts—eyes for hidden nodes."

The Wraithknight Tyrant dashed forward with impossible speed, slamming his sword into the frontline. One Tank was nearly knocked out of formation—but Skullbreaker blocked the follow-up with a Slam Counter.

"Builders, prep a fallback wall!"Bonewall Active – half the arena sealed for strategic retreat

Mages launched Arcstorm, their damage barely shaving the boss's shield. Then—

CLINK!A statue shattered—revealing a hidden Regret Core.Scout B: "Target found!"

Iden triggered Dominion Pulse—his summons struck as one. Archer volleys pierced the core. Mage chain-bolts fried the exposed heart. The tyrant roared.

The knight knelt… then regrew a new arm of shadow-iron. He threw his sword like a guillotine—decapitating one Scout Skeleton instantly.

Unit Lost: Scout C

Rael gasped. "He's binding to the arena itself."

Nyra: "There—he's feeding on the ruined thrones!"

Another Regret Core pulsed behind a collapsing platform. Builder C threw a rope-latch wall across the gap, giving Scout A a path.

"Focus fire on the thrones!" Iden yelled. "All spellcasters, purge links!"

Mages and Rael combined cast: Sanctum Beam + Arc Javelin– EMP-like burst that broke the siphon

The tyrant's body cracked—then exploded.

Boss Defeated: Wraithknight Tyrant

Loot:– Royal Fragment ×2 (Rare Material)– Crown of Memory Blueprint– 400 RP– Unit Gain Scroll (+1 Summon Capacity)

Iden: Level 12.01 → 12.72Summon Capacity: 40 → 41

8 Summons Ready for Evolution

Arcbolt Seer II, Bone Guardian II, Juggernaut Variant, Shadow Piercer II…

[Floor 5: Trial of Starvation] – Resource Lockdown

As they descended to the next chamber, the environment changed entirely—lush green gave way to ashen stone. This floor resembled a broken village surrounded by invisible walls.

Objective:Survive 30 minutes while gathering food/resource markers.All outside gathering locked.

Warning: Summon abilities cost double stamina.All ambient healing disabled.

"Split into three scavenging squads," Iden said. "Build ration chains and forge points."

Team Echo (led by Rael): located water cores and ancient grains

Team Delta (led by Nyra): recovered wood-bundles and supply caches

Team Alpha (with Iden): defended a glowing furnace altar

One Mage collapsed from overload—exhausted due to drain penalty. Iden reassigned it to standby.

"Forge Masters, build mobile heat stations—Skeletons are slowing from cold."

Meanwhile, Builder A constructed a rapid drying rack system to convert wood markers into fuel buffs. Clever usage of Sanctum Aura by Rael preserved 4 near-collapse units.

"10 minutes remaining. Reassign Warriors to hunting patrol," Iden said.

"Two more food nodes found," Nyra's voice came through the bone-channel.

"Use them to forge basic weapon cores—convert stress into bonus armor."

Total Units Preserved: 39/40Casualties: 1 (Scout C – Floor 4)Efficiency Bonus Earned: +150 RPBlueprint Unlocked: Bone Drying Forge (Support Utility)

Trial Floor 5 ClearedTime Remaining for Bonus Clear: 1 Day, 3 Hours

System Notification:You have reached Floor 6This floor will test all combined formationsWarning: Multiple Threat Vectors Detected

Iden: Level 12.72

Summon Capacity: 41

RP Banked: 1,420

Blueprint Unlocked: Crown of Memory, Bone Drying Forge

Lost Units: 1

8 Units Available for Evolution

Team Morale: High

As the doors to Floor 6 opened, a shrill wind blew through the narrow gate. The air was thick with distortion magic. The skeletons, ever silent, tightened their stances. Even Rael looked tense.

Nyra spoke first. "Whatever's next… isn't going to hold back."

Iden stepped forward, Dominion Pulse ready at his fingertips.

"Neither will we."