Boundless Chronicles

Chapter 3: The Iron Tomb, II

Soren Vael did not blink.

In the first place, an Archivist General of the Aethelgard archives had no reason to lower his gaze to a Tier 0 mortal. His Silver uniform was immaculate, untouched by the rust and grime of the Iron Tomb.

Noël opened his mouth. "Soren."

"You know my designation." The Silver-haired man tilted his head slightly. "Interesting. The Mnemonic Ledger reports your fractures at four. A Void-Weaver bug Crawling where he shouldn't be."

Noël's mind became Complicated.

According to his ghost-memories, Soren Vael was Supposed to remain in the Capital archives until at least the Second arc. His early arrival meant the timeline was fracturing faster than a Cheap glass pane.

[The Gallery-being 'The Hollow Cartographer' adjusts his lens in disbelief.]

[The Gallery-being 'Widow of the Third Bell' whispers that you will not Survive the next ten Seconds.]

[100 Tributes have been granted.]

Soren raised his right hand. A blade of pale Silver ether materialized between his fingers, humming with Tier 3 destructive resonance.

Noël's physique was Lv. 1. His Stamina was Lv. 8. Soren Vael was an institution unto himself. If that ether blade touched Noël's neck, his head would Separate before his neurons could register the pain.

Noël quickly dropped to the floor.

Kwajijijik!

The Silver blade Sliced through the thick iron pillar behind him as if it were wet paper. Sparks rained down on his shoulders.

"You dodge well for a stray bug," Soren Said, his voice flat. "But an execution is an execution."

Noël didn't run. Running was for people who didn't understand the Codex rules.

He quickly opened his mouth. "Wait a minute."

"Any last words before your Ledger is Scrubbed?"

"Section 4, Paragraph 2 of the Penal Labor Codex."

Soren's fingers paused. The hum of the ether blade dipped slightly in pitch.

"What did you Say?"

"An Archivist General cannot execute a penal laborer within a Tier 0 Trial zone without a Level 3 Administrative Warrant issued by the Central registry." Noël looked straight into his Cold eyes and made a blank expression. "You don't have one, do you?"

In the original timeline, this Clause was introduced during the Great Revision of the third Century. Soren Vael was a perfectionist who relied entirely on procedural legality. Because he had arrived early due to timeline drift, his automated warrant Sync hadn't Caught up to his physical location.

Soren's expression darkened. "A Tier 0 mortal quoting administrative law?"

"To be exact, I am reading from the System you enforce."

[The Gallery-being 'The Auditor of Ash' bursts into Silent, manic laughter.]

[300 Tributes have been granted.]

At that moment, the air above them warped violently.

Paaaht!

Tally the Clerk-Spirit dropped out of the ceiling Ledger-first, landing heavily on the rusted grating with a disgruntled Squeak.

[Wait! Stop right there, Archivist General!]

Soren glanced Sideways at the junior Registrar-spirit. "Tally. Step aside. This Void-Weaver is Contaminating the local registry."

[I Can't do that!] Tally floated frantically between them, holding the glowing blue Ledger like a Shield. [He Signed an exclusive broadcast Contract with my Channel! A 10:0 revenue Split! If you kill him here, the Administration Bureau will audit my accounts for a decade!]

A 10:0 revenue Split. Tally was throwing everything under the bus to protect his commission.

Soren Vael's eyes narrowed. "An exclusive Contract does not Supersede an execution order for a timeline parasite."

"It does under Section 9," Noël interrupted, firmly planting his feet. "Broadcast assets under active Contract are Classified as protected administrative revenue until the trial Concludes. If you terminate me, you violate the Gallery's viewing rights."

[The Gallery-being 'Crowned Ember' roars with approval at your Shameless extortion.]

[500 Tributes have been granted.]

[The Clerk-Spirit 'Tally' is Sweating Cold digital Sweat.]

Soren stared at Noël for a long, Silent moment. The ether blade in his hand flickered, Struggling against the invisible weight of Codex regulations.

"You have a Sharp tongue for a bug," Soren Said Coldly. "Very well. The trial will Continue. But when you reach the Second Sector, there will be no administrative Clauses to Save you."

The Silver uniform dissolved into a flurry of digital white Sparks.

Hwiiik!

He was gone.

Noël let out a long breath that he hadn't realized he was holding. His back was drenched in Cold Sweat.

[You have Survived the Archivist's intervention through procedural loophole exploitation.]

[You have earned 1,500 Tributes as an achievement reward.]

[Current Tribute Possessed: 1,500]

Noël didn't hesitate. He opened the Codex interface immediately.

[1,500 Tribute has been invested in Strength and physique.]

[Strength Lv. 1 -> Strength Lv. 10]

[Physique Lv. 1 -> Physique Lv. 10]

A violent Surge of heat rushed through his veins. His muscles tore and re-knitted themselves in a fraction of a Second, burning away the lingering fatigue of the Iron Tomb.

[Your overall Combat rating has been upgraded from Tier 0 (Bug) to Tier 0 (Qualified Laborer).]

Tally hovered near Noël's shoulder, wiping imaginary Sweat from his forehead with a translucent Sleeve.

[You... you lunatic. Do you have a death wish? That was Soren Vael! If he had blinked too hard, your Soul would have been filed into a Cabinet!]

"Tally."

[...What now?]

"Open the gate to the Second Sector."

Tally made a dumbfounded expression, then Swiped his blue Ledger across the air.

Kuuong!

The heavy Steel door at the end of the hall Swung inward, revealing a vast subterranean Cavern filled with floating basalt platforms and winding chains.

The Second Sector: The Chained Abyss.

Noël Stepped forward, gripping his rusted pipe. His Mnemonic Ledger throbbed softly in the back of his mind.

[Current Fractures: 4 / 60]

[The trial timer for the Second Sector has begun.]

[Time Limit: 15 minutes.]

[Failure: Death.]

By the way, Something was wrong with the air in this Sector.