Chapter 17: The Doctrine of Broken Crowns
"Let them worship. Let them kneel. Every belief feeds me."
— Kael Draven
Chaos Temple – Depths of the Forbidden Sanctuary
Kael stood before the growing altar—a pyramid of cracked tablets, broken Tribunal scripts, and discarded relics that once held absolute authority.
Now, they were fuel.
"Begin the ritual," he ordered.
Fodder lit the black-flame incense.
Ghost Fingers poured liquified belief into the altar.
Cinderlight whispered forgotten hymns backwards.
And Kael watched his aura swell.
[Chaos Aura Absorption: 8,000 → 12,500 → 16,000 Units]
Every follower, every prayer, every tear shed in his name became power.
"You built your heaven on blind obedience," Kael muttered.
"I'll build mine on weaponized reverence."
Elsewhere – Tribunal Sect Archive
Elder Quori opened a scroll.
It glowed.
It whispered Kael's name.
Then the scroll… replaced itself.
"What is this?" she asked.
It was a scripture.
One that hadn't existed a second ago.
It looked Tribunal-approved. It bore the proper seals. It cited laws that were never written.
Yet somehow, it felt realer than doctrine.
"...Doctrine 33 of Silent Sovereignty?"
'Those who seek clarity must first drown in contradiction.'
"What?"
She couldn't stop reading.
System Prompt
[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Cult Doctrine Seeding]
Effect: Kael's false scriptures infect sects through subconscious exposure. Infected followers convert slowly, leaking cultivation to host.]
[Aura Generation Rate: +450/second]
[New Trait: Faith Parasite]
Effect: Extract 1% spiritual essence from any believer even in opposition.]
Kael's Smile
He stood on his balcony as night fell.
Below, hundreds of outer sect disciples prayed. Not to a god. To him.
Not because he forced them.
But because they wanted to.
They felt stronger when they did.
Because his system made it so.
"This is how empires rot," he whispered. "From the inside, under the weight of love."
Tribunal Inner Court – Panic Rising
A dozen elders reported odd behavior.
Sects dreaming of Kael.
Disciples quoting unfamiliar scriptures.
Foundational cultivators manifesting black lotus patterns on their skin.
Elder Varn slammed his jade gavel.
"His cult has breached five realms!"
"Burn every scroll with his name!"
"Outlaw the word Kael!"
But banning his name only made them crave it more.
"The silence made him a myth."
"The myth made him a god."
Back at the Chaos Temple – The New Plan
Kael stood before his core followers.
"You've seen it now," he said.
"The Tribunal is not at war with me."
"It is fleeing from my shadow."
Yue Lin stepped forward.
"Then what's next?"
Kael smiled.
"We give them a miracle they can't burn."
"A scripture embedded in their own law."
"Fodder, forge Doctrine 666."
"Make it sound ancient."
"And Ghost Fingers… slip it into their sacred archives."
Meanwhile: Tribunal Grand Elder's Nightmare
He woke sweating.
In his dream, Kael sat on the Throne of Law.
Surrounded by kneeling Tribunal Elders.
"You judged too long," Dream-Kael said.
"Now it's my turn."
He laughed.
"And I find you guilty of survival."
The Grand Elder screamed awake.
System Notification
[Aura Saturation Approaching Stage 3: Path of Conceptual Dominion Unlocked]
You now influence the fundamental belief structures of minor sects.
They will alter their teachings to match your doctrine.
Effect: Cultivation Flow +600%, Regional Karma Shift: Dark Chaotic]
Final Scene: Kael's Reflection
He looked into the black mirror of the Chaos Temple.
His reflection smiled without him.
"You are no longer a man," the reflection said.
"You are an answer."
Kael touched the glass.
"Good. Then let the world ask harder questions."