CHAPTER 179: UNBREAKABLE

The title of ’Emperor’ felt heavy. It settled on Nox’s shoulders with a real weight.

The dragon, whose name was Ignis, seemed to sense the change. "The world now recognizes your authority, little Emperor. The other gods will feel it. They will not be pleased."

"Let them be mad," Nox said. "We’re leaving. Ignis, you’re with us."

"I do not ’go’ anywhere, mortal. I am a mountain."

"Not anymore. Your domain is now wherever I tell you it is. You swore an alliance."

"You are an infuriatingly arrogant creature," Ignis rumbled. "Fine. But I will require a tribute of ten thousand gold coins per day for my troubles."

"I’ll give you a share of whatever we loot. That’s the deal."

"...Acceptable."

The journey back to Portentia with a mountain-sized obsidian dragon in tow was conspicuous. They flew. Ignis was a storm of black scales and volcanic smoke, a terrifying statement of power.

When they saw Ignis land in the plains outside the city, the entire army on the walls held its breath. Then they saw Nox, a tiny, armored figure, riding on the dragon’s head.

A cheer erupted, a massive roar for their god-king, their Emperor.

***

The next month was a period of consolidation. With Ignis as their ultimate deterrent, no other pantheon dared to challenge Nox’s territory. The God-War settled into a tense, cold-war stalemate.

Nox used the time. His kingdom, the ’Void Imperium’, expanded. Refugees flocked to his banner. Dwarven smiths and elven mages founded new forges and academies in Portentia.

Nox was building. Creating.

But with his new title came new problems. The Administrator took a more active role.

One evening, a sleek black interface appeared in his vision.

[Designation: Emperor Nox.]

[A new global scenario is being initiated: ’The Shattered Crown’.]

[Objective: The old world has left behind many artifacts of power. Crowns of forgotten kings. Collect them. Re-forge them. Create a crown worthy of a true Emperor.]

’A treasure hunt.’

[Each artifact will grant a significant boost to your faction’s power,] Liona explained. [Control of these artifacts will be the deciding factor in the next phase of the God-War.]

The first artifact’s location appeared on his map. It was in the ruins of his old orphanage.

"Of course," he whispered. "It’s always personal."

He knew he had to go alone.

He found Serian in the new library. "I have to leave for a while. A mission."

"Where are you going?"

"To face a ghost," he said.

***

The orphanage was a blackened, skeletal ruin.

’Liona, scan the area.’

[Analysis: The objective, the ’Crown of the Nameless King’, is located in the sub-basement. The structure is permeated with a high concentration of psychic residue. Expect memory-based constructs.]

’More ghosts. Great.’

He stepped inside. The ruins shifted around him, rebuilding themselves into the orphanage of his memory.

A small boy, his younger self, ran past, chased by bullies. He ignored them.

He reached the Head Matron’s office. The ghost of the severe, cruel woman stood in the doorway. "What is it this time, Number 87?"

"My name is Nox," he said.

"You have no name. You are nothing."

He walked past her into the office. The Crown was on the desk, a simple, twisted circlet of blackened iron.

He reached for it. The moment his fingers touched it, the office dissolved. He was in the ’Quiet Room’, the small, dark closet where they used to lock him.

His younger, broken self was huddled in the corner, crying.

"This is what you are," the Matron’s voice echoed. "A frightened little boy, locked in the dark. This is your truth."

Nox walked over and knelt in front of the small, crying boy. "No," he said, his voice quiet. "It’s not fair."

The memory-Nox looked up, surprised.

"They’re wrong," Nox continued. "You’re not a number. You’re not nothing." He placed a hand on the small boy’s shoulder. "You are not alone in this room."

A faint, golden light emanated from his hand, a small, stubborn warmth that was entirely his own.

The memory-Nox stared at him, and a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.

The closet dissolved.

Nox was back in the Head Matron’s office. The ghost of the Matron was staring at him. "What... what did you do?"

"I forgave him," Nox said.

He looked at the ghost, the embodiment of his childhood pain. The anger and hatred were gone. There was only a quiet pity. "You’re just a sad old woman who was afraid of a little boy."

He reached out and touched her forehead. A pulse of his own, tempered void energy released her. Her form wavered and dissolved into quiet, gray motes of light.

He picked up the Crown of the Nameless King. The cold iron warmed in his hand, the aura of despair replaced by a quiet, resilient strength.

He put the crown on his head, and it dissolved, its power flowing into him.

[Artifact ’The Crown of the Nameless King’ assimilated.]

[Your Willpower has been permanently and significantly increased.]

[New Passive Ability Unlocked: Unbreakable. You are now highly resistant to all forms of mental and emotional manipulation.]

He had not just conquered the dungeon. He had made peace with it. He was no longer just the Void Monarch. He was Nox. And he was finally ready to be a king.

***

Nox returned to Portentia a different man. The change was subtle, a quiet settling of his soul.

"You seem... lighter," Serian said to him.

"Just cleaned out some old baggage," he replied with a small, genuine smile.

But the peace did not last. The God-War was a relentless engine.

Vexia’s scouts brought news. In the north, Odin’s pantheon was at war with the Fae Courts. In the south, the Egyptian Ennead was fighting a demonic incursion. And in the west, Olympus was preparing to break its silence.

"Zeus has gathered his children," Vexia reported. "Ares, Artemis, Apollo, and Athena. They have established a forward operating base on the island of Crete. They are building a weapon. A god-killer."

"Hephaestus’s work," Nox guessed.

"Our spies say the weapon will be complete in one week," Mela added.

"Then we have one week," Nox said. He looked at his council. "Vexia, I need a blueprint of that temple. Mela, I want a full reconnaissance. Elisa, I want the army ready to march."

He turned to Serian. "And I need you to call your sisters."

"My sisters? But I do not know if they are still alive."

"They are," Nox said. "This kingdom we’ve built... it’s a beacon. Sooner or later, they will find it. We just need to speed up the process. Reach out to them. Tell them their sister is calling them to war."

***

Serian stood at the highest point of the crystal spire. She closed her eyes and reached out with her soul.

’Sisters, I am here. And I need you.’

For a moment, there was nothing. Then, a flicker. A distant warmth.

’Serian?’ Vexia’s mental voice was a sharp echo. ’Your signal is... strong.’

’Little sister!’ Elisa’s voice boomed. ’I knew you were still alive! Where are you?!’

"I am in a city called Portentia," she sent back. "Olympus is preparing to attack us."

’We are on the eastern continent,’ Vexia replied. ’Engaged with the Fae. But this changes things. How long do you have?’

"One week," Serian replied.

’Not enough time to move an army,’ Vexia stated. ’But it may be enough time for us.’

’We are coming, little sister,’ Elisa’s voice promised. ’Hold the line. We are coming.’

The connection broke.

Serian opened her eyes. Her family was coming home. And they were bringing a war with them.