---
The Dominion Plane pulsed like a living heart.
Jayden stood before the Abyss Root Throne, surrounded by silent watchers — newly formed Living Shadows that knelt in reverence.
But he wasn't looking at them.
He was focused on the system panel floating in front of him:
---
[Throne Command: Summon Elite Shadowborn]
> Status: Ready
Type: Custom Construct — "General-Class"
Input Parameters: Intelligence, Loyalty, Adaptive Combat, Autonomous Decision-Making
Soul Core Required: 1 Echo Core (High-Tier or above)
---
Jayden reached into his system inventory and pulled out the crystalized Echo Core from the feral Nullborn leader he'd absorbed earlier.
A jagged, pulsing shard of chaotic energy.
> "System," he whispered, "Create my first general."
---
[Initiating Summoning Ritual]
> Soul Core Accepted.
Shadow Matrix Forming...
Name Your Construct.
Jayden paused, then answered:
> "Kairo."
A vortex of shadow erupted from the ground before the throne, swirling violently as if the realm itself was birthing a weapon.
---
But before the summoning could stabilize—
The air split.
A silent ripple sliced through the domain like glass breaking underwater.
The Living Shadows around Jayden staggered.
---
[Warning: External Domain Breach Detected!]
> Intruder Identified: Thronebearer Classification — "Silent King"
Threat Level: Severe
System Override Attempt In Progress
---
Jayden turned sharply — and there he was.
A towering figure in a tattered cloak of stitched shadow-flesh, wearing a crown of rusted iron and silence.
His face was wrapped in bandages, but his presence thundered wordlessly into Jayden's mind.
> "Unworthy."
---
"Who the hell—?" Jayden whispered, stepping in front of the still-forming construct.
---
[System Combat Protocol Engaged]
> Opponent: Silent King
Throne-Class: Forgotten Monarch of the Sixth Gate
Abilities Detected: Deathbind Chains, Silence Field, Echo Drain Aura
---
The Silent King moved without motion, suddenly standing before Jayden, inches away.
Jayden barely raised a hand before—
CLANG!!
Chains lashed out from beneath the King's cloak — Jayden blocked with a burst of Dominion Aura, shattering the floor of the realm around him.
But the King didn't flinch. He raised one skeletal finger toward the unstable summoning vortex behind Jayden.
Jayden's blood turned cold.
> "He's going for Kairo—!"
---
Jayden threw everything into a command:
> "Protect the Core!"
Ten Living Shadows lunged in sync, shielding the forming general.
The Silent King raised his palm.
And the world went mute.
---
[Echo Drain Aura Activated]
> All minor Echo constructs within 100m begin disintegration.
Jayden gritted his teeth as his soldiers began fading.
"No," he growled. "You don't get to erase my kingdom!"
He dove forward, activating Void Construct Tier I, pulling up his shadow-blade guardian to strike—
But it failed to land.
The King turned with inhuman speed and gripped Jayden by the face, slamming him into the realm floor.
---
[HP -14%]
[System Error: Mental Suppression Incoming]
But just as the King's aura began crushing Jayden's mind—
The summoning vortex screamed.
The ritual completed.
The shadows exploded outward—
And a figure stepped forth.
---
He was tall. Lean but armored in fractalized obsidian plates. One glowing, curved blade extended from his right arm. His face was hidden beneath a bone-white helm etched with Jayden's crest.
He knelt immediately before Jayden, one hand to the ground.
> "I am Kairo, General of Abyss Root. My allegiance is eternal."
---
[Elite Shadowborn "Kairo" — Summoned]
> Class: Dominion General — Rank I
Traits: Adaptive, Soul-Bound, Monarch Resonant
Abilities:
Shadowmeld Step
Blade of Null Reversal
Protective Echo Mark
Sacrificial Core Link (25% damage absorption for Master)
---
The Silent King turned, reacting for the first time.
Kairo rose.
And struck.
---
The two collided with enough force to rupture the plane.
Jayden coughed blood, staggering to his feet.
"Kairo—"
> "Focus on stabilizing your Throne Nexus, my King," Kairo said through the link.
"Let me hold this bastard."
Jayden activated the Throne interface—
A surge of Dominion energy restored his aura.
And finally, he roared:
> "System! Engage all defenses! Collapse outer nodes! This domain belongs to me!"
---
[Abyss Root Stabilizing…]
> Silent King containment successful.
Opponent ejected.
Domain Purge complete.
Kairo's loyalty: MAXIMUM.
---
The Silent King vanished in a tearing scream, leaving behind a single cracked echo shard.
Jayden fell to one knee.
He'd done it.
He hadn't just fought…
He'd ruled.
---
[System Achievement Unlocked]
> "First Clash of Thrones"
You have defended your Domain from a foreign Monarch-class invader.
Your legend has begun.
---
Kairo stood beside him silently.
Jayden looked up at his creation — no, his general.
"We have work to do."