CHAPTER 258: A CROWN OF MIDNIGHT AND WINE

The night over Dominion Sanctum was a breathtaking tapestry of stillness, draped in velvet skies and sprinkled with jeweled stars.

The aurora above danced gently, rippling in molten gold and frozen violet hues.

Below, the estate lay in peaceful slumber, blissfully unaware that its sovereign was wide awake on the highest balcony of the Main Palace.

Arthur reclined alone in the serene embrace of his master suite’s outer balcony, wrapped in a nebula-black robe that shimmered softly under the ambient light, its fabric speckled like a starlit sky.

A silver glass filled with deep crimson wine rested between his fingers, catching flickers of moonlight.

His other arm draped casually against the recliner, revealing a muscular torso beneath the open robe’s chest line.

Fresh-washed strands clung to his temples, tracing the angles of a jawline carved from calm authority.

Yet despite this luxurious setting, Arthur’s thoughts were far from tranquil.

They drifted back to their arrival in Varenya, the airport where he was met not with warm greetings but an avalanche of startling notification panels.

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FLASHBACK - A FEW HOURS EARLIER.

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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Ding! Hidden Mission: "Bring the Osborn Family to new territory" Completed!]

[Reward Distribution has been Initiated.]

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: DYNASTY MODE ACTIVATED.]

[Dynasty Halo Unlocked: Legacy of Dominion - All family members receive +30% growth efficiency and physical enhancement; +20% resistance to mental attacks; +10% influence per industry dominance.]

[Reward 1: 550 Trillion Unicreds deposited into Dynasty Vault.]

[Reward 2: Treasured Relic: Map of the Vanished Tomb (Classical Age Artifact).]

[Reward 3: Global Risk Alert: Future Pandemic - A deadly virus targeting the Human Gene System is projected to emerge in 3 months. Continent of Origin: Verdania. Projected Fatalities: 20 Billion.]

[Reward 4: Enhanced Territory Scan Function – Unlocks deep-world satellite mapping for hidden ruins in Noctis.]

[Reward 5: System Insight Chip - Grants hidden knowledge of a future economic collapse in the Southern Federated Alliance, enabling early capital positioning.]

Arthur had maintained his composure at the airport as those screens flashed before him, but their weight never left his mind. Wealth? Right now, it felt trivial compared to what lay ahead.

The system insight chip intrigued him deeply; however, it was the relic and that ominous warning about a genetic pandemic that truly gnawed at him.

He took a slow sip of wine, the glass glinting like blood beneath the moon. Then he murmured, "Evolon."

A gentle pulse shimmered beside him as Evolon materialized, a semi-transparent figure formed from bluish cubes.

Its expressionless visage blinked once, warmth glowing faintly from its eyes.

"Yes, Patriarch?"

Arthur reached into his robe and retrieved the relic, a palm-sized square of aged metal etched with dense script and uneven crystalline lines that flickered softly in the moonlight.

"Scan this. Decode everything."

Evolon’s expression remained unchanged, but the atmosphere crackled with a palpable tension. Streams of blue light erupted from its irises as it began analyzing the artifact before them.

"Scanning... Processing ancient encryption matrix... Language: Classical Panterran, a derivative of Pre-Epoch glyph clusters. Cross-referencing known syntax..."

A brief pause.

"Decryption complete."

Dozens of holographic screens blossomed around Arthur like fireflies illuminating a midnight garden.

At the center was an expansive topographic scan of ancient terrains, layered with landmarks from civilizations long extinct. Deep sapphire symbols glowed softly, revealing imperial sigils that had faded into obscurity for modern scholars.

"This, Patriarch," Evolon began, its voice taking on an unusually solemn tone, "is the Tomb Map of Emperor Vaerion VII of the Azurian Empire."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "The Azurian Empire? I’ve heard the name but never delved deeper."

Evolon nodded. With a subtle hum, it shifted the displays.

Ancient texts scrolled by, reconstructed murals came alive with color, restored footage captured ruins long forgotten, and echoes of an empire swallowed by time.

"Over 1,200 years ago," Evolon continued, "the Azurian Empire arose in the sapphire-rimmed highlands of Northern Aurelia. The region was once fractured by tribal warfare until Emperor Vallion I united them but it was his descendant, Emperor Vaerion VII, who defined the empire’s legacy."

Arthur leaned forward as a silver-eyed emperor clad in storm-forged armor filled the screen.

"Vaerion VII," Evolon said gravely, "was born amidst decay. By fifteen, he led border campaigns. At eighteen, he executed 1223 nobles in one night during what history would call The Sapphire Purge."

Arthur blinked. "Wait... he executed 123 nobles? In one night?"

"Yes," Evolon confirmed. "He centralized power and revamped military strategy with a five-layer shock division model while mobilizing an economy geared for total war."

The screens flashed through conquest after conquest: Continental Conquests

The Aurelia Campaign (687–695): Unified the continent by overthrowing seven kingdoms including the Aegis District and Neo-Luminara.

The Verdania Expansion (697–711): Constructed naval fortresses and conquered half of Verdania while defeating the Ivaryan House of Gold.

"He was a warstorm," Evolon added. "But also a scholar."

Arthur crossed one leg over the other. "And yet... power consumed him."

"Indeed. In 717, a mystery unfolded. Vaerion returned from a secret expedition into the Southern Wildlands and vanished days later. His body, his court, his tomb... all gone."

The screens dimmed, leaving one glowing glyph etched in gold.

"Until now," Evolon said.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "And this map leads to that tomb?"

"Yes, Patriarch. Based on reconstructed trajectories and energy echoes buried beneath the southern ridge of Aurelia, I estimate a 96.4% probability that the tomb lies beneath the shattered ruins of Azurian capital: Vel-Arcturus,now the undulating Ayzion Mountain Range."

Arthur’s eyes lit up. "And what lies inside?"

Evolon’s tone deepened. "According to records, when Vaerion disappeared, so did the entire treasury of the Empire."

A grin crept across Arthur’s face. "So the entire Azurian treasury might be hidden there?"

He chuckled softly. "Hehehehe. System... you truly are too good to me."

The projection zoomed in on a sigil resembling a locked neural circuit,a riddle waiting to be solved.

"And there’s a Riddle-Lock keyed to Azurian royal blood and history," Evolon added. "Some believe Vaerion held an immense secret; the technology he introduced was far beyond his era."

Arthur studied the sigil, then took another sip of wine lost in thought when he heard what Evolon said while muttering under his breath. "Was he someone like me? Or...is he..?"

A sudden flashed through his mind but he quickly pushed that thought aside but his suspicions is still there as he felt this is not as simple as it seems.

"So, I either awaken an empire or die in a gilded tomb."

Evolon’s lips almost curled into a smile. "A poetic way to put it."

The wind swept gently across the Sanctum.

Arthur stood in contemplation beneath the starlit sky, the whole world asleep beneath him.

"Prepare a research team," he finally said. "Scan the entire Ayzion Mountain Range and begin translating all Azurian texts. Also contact Gunnar, Ethan, Jax, and Malik. They’re coming with me."

"Already in progress, Patriarch."

Arthur swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze sharp and focused. "Yeah! Evolon... show me what Vaerion looked like."

For a brief moment, Evolon hesitated, its usually seamless processing faltering in a way that Arthur rarely witnessed.

"Attempting visual reconstruction... accessing mural fragments... recovering busts... analyzing residual aura scans..."

Suddenly, a blurred figure materialized mid-air.

The image flickered, marred by the ravages of time, war, and centuries of decay. Cracks spider-webbed across the cheek of the figure; the crown above its brow was shattered.

But those eyes..oh, those eyes! Even through the distortion, they seemed to burn with an intensity that pierced through Arthur’s very soul.

Leaning forward slowly, something twisted deep within his chest. "Why... does this feel so familiar?"

His heart raced as he stared at the spectral visage,a powerful wave of déjà vu crashed over him like thunder on a stormy night.

"I’ve seen this face before... but where?"

Frustration etched itself onto his features as he frowned deeply.

No matter how hard he tried to grasp that fleeting memory, it danced just out of reach.

He continued to focus on the image, yet every attempt only revealed more blurriness,Evolon’s advanced reconstruction had hit its limits.

"I’m sorry, Patriarch," Evolon said gently. "I cannot recover the full image."

Arthur whispered under his breath, more to himself than to Evolon:

"Who the hell... were you?"

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Ok guys we are closer to 100 Golden Tickets with only 12 Golden Tickets left till we hit 100.

Continue to cast your votes as the 3-day mass release of 5 Chapters is waiting.

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Author’s Note:

The legacy of the Azurian Empire is only beginning to unfold... but perhaps you, reader, can help shape what lies buried beneath the sands of time.

Do you have a compelling idea, lost relic, forgotten king, or a mysterious ruin you think could exist in this world?

Drop your thoughts, lore ideas, or historical fragments in the comments, whether it’s about ancient empires, future countries, secret bloodlines, or strange tech from the Classical Age.

Or in join my discord sever to share your true thoughts: .gg/TMFbQm3BTv

Let’s build Panterra together.. one secret at a time.