Tucked within the dense cradle of the Withered Vale, where the trees whispered secrets older than kingdoms, a faint magical pulse throbbed beneath the soil. Stones, cracked and etched with runes, rose like ribs from the earth—remnants of an ancient pact between mages and the world's primordial mana.
This was no ordinary throne domain.
This was a Covenant Sigil Site, and Team Beta had arrived to unlock its truths.
"It's different from the Frost Crypt," Rael whispered. "It feels... alive."
Nyra narrowed her eyes as her familiar—a sleek, shadow-feathered raptor named Veralis—let out a low screech.
"And watching us."
The entrance stood sealed behind three stone gates, each with a glowing glyph and a single inscription:
"Blood, Mind, and Bond."
Rael – Healing-Aura Core + Passive Skill: Sanctum Pulse (evolved version)
Nyra – Scout/Assassin Class with evolved mobility and cloaking skills
Kaelis – The necromancer survivor, commanding two undead shadow beasts
Veralis & Mithin – Rael and Nyra's evolved familiars
Veralis: [Moonrazor Plume Drake], capable of mana-infused piercing strikes and illusions
Mithin: [Vineheart Siren-Fox], supportive and toxic terrain specialist
Supporting summons:
4 Shadow Scouts
2 Bone Mages (Kaelis' raised)
A pool of red mana surged as the first gate lit up.
"Combat trial," Nyra muttered.
Suddenly, spectral warriors, echoing the First War of Mages, burst from the ancient cracks. No words. No honor. Just fury.
10 Arcblade Wraiths
2 Mana Cursed Golems
1 Arc-Knight Shade
"Cover Rael!" Nyra ordered, vanishing into shadow.
Rael unleashed a double Sanctum Pulse—the limit of her upgraded weekly use. Blue-white radiance exploded, empowering her allies and purging corrupted magic. Veralis dove like a bolt of silver lightning, tearing through a wraith with terrifying precision.
Mithin, hidden in thick vines, choked the Golem in layers of poisonous roots.
Kaelis's undead moved with grim synergy, his mental connection enhancing coordination. His Black Spine Howler tore down the Arc-Knight's barrier.
"You do not command my undead," he murmured to the ghosts of the past, "But I command your bones."
Victory followed.
SYSTEM: TRIAL COMPLETE – BLOOD GATE OPENEDLoot: Mana-imbued Weapon Core ×1, Arcanist Bone Sigil ×2
Before them now floated five cubes, rotating in sync, each glowing with a rune.
"We must rotate and align them," Rael said. "Each rotation creates a word in the Ancient Tongue."
They had 3 minutes before failure.
Nyra leapt into the air, dancing across glyphs, while Rael channeled her mind-reading passive—Echo of Harmony, recently unlocked—to intuit the proper sequence.
Time ticked.Sudden glyph explosion—Nyra took minor damage.Kaelis deciphered the final word using a necromantic rune-link.Together, they aligned it just in time.
System: Mind Gate OpenedBonus: Puzzle Rank S – Bonus Mana Tablet ×1
The final chamber was silent. In its center was a living magical construct—a semi-formed elemental beast of dual nature: Light and Shadow.
It gazed into Rael and Nyra's souls.
"To pass," a voice echoed, "You must either destroy... or bind."
Nyra hesitated.
"Veralis can speak with it," she whispered. "Maybe we don't need to fight."
Rael, heart thudding, stepped forward. She placed her hand on her chest—channeling her sanctum energy outward, synchronizing with the frequency of the beast's mana.
Veralis echoed her bond call. Mithin added a melodic hum.
And the creature… knelt.
SYSTEM: Pact InitiatedFamiliar Fusion Granted – "Eclipsed Dualborn"▸ New Form: Lunashade Symbiote – can bond with one familiar each, unlocking shared ultimate skill.▸ Cooldown: 10 days.▸ Buff: Dual Affinity – both familiars gain resistance to Light/Shadow skills.
As the final gate vanished, a radiant circle of magic unfurled. In its center sat a low throne, not made of metal—but woven from light and rune-etched crystal.
SYSTEM: COVENANT THRONE CLAIMED▸ Buff Unlocked: Arcane Channeling Efficiency +15%▸ Bond Limit Raised for Summon-Based Users▸ Covenant Sigil Library Added to Sanctum Archive
Throne Count – 3/3 AcquiredThrone Integration System Unlocked
Alliance Bonus Activated: "Mana Concordance"– All alliance cities gain +10% resource crafting speed– Shared research pool for arcane-based items now live
Throne Integration Initiated▸ Connecting: Bonefire Throne + Frost Crypt Throne + Covenant Sigil Throne▸ Duration: 12 Hours▸ Unlock: Passive Global Buff Tree
Warning: All major powers are now alerted to your throne integration. Prepare for interference.
As the dust settled and they prepared to return, Rael looked up into the glowing moonlight.
"I didn't think I'd bond with something again," she said softly, holding Mithin close.
Nyra smirked, stretching.
"And I didn't think I'd find my strength in kindness. Guess Iden's madness is rubbing off on us."
"Madness or leadership?" Kaelis said. "He makes people believe they can stand."
And with three thrones claimed, the world itself had just begun to turn its eyes toward Sanctum.