Golden light erupted around me in a blinding cascade.One notification after another flooded my vision so rapidly that the semi-transparent windows began overlapping in a messy, unreadable pile across my HUD.Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!"...Seriously?" I muttered, covering my eyes.The endless stream of reward alerts multiplied until they completely blocked my view of the guild hall. I couldn't even finish reading the first system prompt before ten more stacked on top of it."...System," I sighed, waving my hand. "Summarize."For a brief second, every overlapping window froze. Then, with a soft hum, they merged into a single, massive golden interface screen before me.===================================================[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: REWARDS CLAIMED]---------------------------------------------------• Player Experience: Lv. 205 Reached• Skill Benchmark: All Class Skills raised to Lv. 96• Role Advancement: Macrocosm Mage Lv. 152 (Mythical)• Currency Acquired: +700,570 Ridan===

Wyvon's brows knitted together as the Water God's final words echoed repeatedly in his mind.“The chains... have set their eyes on you.”The festive atmosphere of the royal banquet faded into a muted background—the cheerful orchestral melodies, the soft laughter of nobles, and the clinking of crystal flutes sounding distant and surreal. Auxilva's expression had turned unusually solemn, the divine warmth in his eyes replaced by an ancient, quiet dread."...What do you mean by that?" Wyvon asked, keeping his voice low.Auxilva glanced across the grand hall before turning toward his personal guard. "Continue the celebration," he commanded, his voice soft yet carrying an absolute authority that left no room for hesitation. "I shall return shortly."The royal guards bowed deeply. "As you command, Your Majesty."Auxilva shifted his gaze back to Wyvon. "...Follow me."Without waiting for an answer, the Water God turned and walked toward a hidden archway concealed behind the royal throne. Wyv

The massive bronze door swung closed behind them with a deep, reverberating metallic thud that echoed into the silent corridor beyond.Beyond the threshold stretched a long, pristine hallway illuminated only by soft blue mana crystals embedded in the polished stone walls. The atmosphere here was noticeably cooler than in the bustling public library above, and the absolute silence felt almost sacred—a sanctuary where centuries of unwritten history slept.As they walked, Angelica stole another curious glance at the elderly archivist leading them down the long corridor."Grand Archivist Lucien..." she began, her tone light and innocent, "...are you really nine hundred and twenty-three years old?"Lucien offered a gentle smile without slowing his measured pace. "I am indeed, Your Highness. Though, if I am being completely honest with myself... nine centuries feels far too brief." He chuckled softly, his mechanical monocle adjusting with a quiet click. "I have spent the vast majority of my

"I'm pretty sure they let us through because I'm gorgeous. Obviously," Angelica said, retrieving a polished silver mirror from her velvet pouch to nudge a stray hair into place.Alexander didn't look up from his tactical map, letting out a measured sigh. "It’s because our clans maintain a standing alliance with the Lancore Association. The peace treaty grants us open access through their sector gates. Unaffiliated players have to pay out of pocket for every turnstile, gateway, and transit line."I checked my inventory balance and grimaced. He wasn't wrong. Ten minutes ago at the terminal, I’d been forced to surrender a heavy stack of credits for a single pass, while Alexander and Angelica strolled through the light-barriers without spending a single coin.We rode in a high-speed magnetic train suspended over a sprawling metropolis of alloy and glass. Spire-cities hovered in the clear sky, flanked by automated cargo haulers and sleek personal craft cutting through flight lanes like lum

The crisp breeze outside the research facility did little to cool the tension humming against my skin. Overhead, the sky held a pale, steel-gray sheen, reflecting off the damp cobblestones of the courtyard. Every few minutes, a muted, high-frequency screech echoed from the hangar bays behind us—the distinct sound of heavy plasma-arc welders cutting into reinforced titanium alloy.Alexander was still inside. True to form, he hadn't merely requested a standard Valkyrie frame; he was currently supervising a custom overhaul, dictating a laundry list of personal modifications to an increasingly exasperated team of engineers.To pass the time, I blinked twice, triggering my neural interface. A faint optic static rippled across my vision before settling into the familiar translucent light of my HUD. The blue-tinted overlay projected floating text into the air, casting a phantom glow over my boots.=================================================== [Hidden Mission: The Chains of Judgment]