Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 22 - : The Sovereign’s Offer

Sai's breath came slow and steady as he faced the figure before him. The Forgotten Sovereign, as his system had labeled him, exuded a pressure unlike anything Sai had encountered. His silver eyes glowed with an ancient, almost sorrowful weight, and the air around him crackled with unseen energy.

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The chains that had once bound the massive stone door now lay shattered at the Sovereign's feet. The ruins of Evernight seemed to hold their breath.

"A choice must be made."

Sai's system's words echoed in his mind.

The Sovereign studied Sai in silence for a long moment before speaking.

"You are unlike the others who have entered these Lost Gates. The fools who seek power without understanding the cost." His voice was low, resonating deep within Sai's chest.

Sai tightened his grip on his daggers, still charged with Phantom Edge. He wasn't about to let his guard down—not yet.

"What are you?" he asked cautiously.

The Sovereign tilted his head slightly. "A relic of a forgotten age. One of the last remnants of a war fought beyond mortal understanding."

Sai frowned. "A war?"

"A war between those who sought to control the fabric of reality... and those who sought to keep it sealed."

His words sent a chill through Sai. He thought back to the Hidden Order, the secretive group that hunted anyone who tampered with Lost Gates. Could they be the inheritors of this ancient conflict?

"Tell me, hunter." The Sovereign took a step forward, the very air vibrating with his movement. "Why do you open the gates that were meant to stay closed?"

Sai hesitated.

He had no grand purpose, no noble mission. At first, it had just been about survival—gaining strength in a world where he was barely scraping by. But now...

He thought about the strange artifacts, the unnatural forces that seemed determined to keep these gates shut. The World Dungeon Association, the Hunter Guilds, the Hidden Order—all of them were connected.

And then, there was the deeper question: Who had sealed these Lost Gates in the first place?

"I don't know," Sai admitted. "But I want to find out the truth."

The Sovereign's expression remained unreadable. Then, to Sai's surprise, a faint, humorless smile crossed his lips.

"Truth..." He exhaled. "A dangerous pursuit. But perhaps you are different."

The ruins trembled again, but this time, it was not an attack. The blue glyphs along the walls flickered as if responding to the Sovereign's will. The very dungeon was shifting.

"You stand at a crossroads, hunter." The Sovereign raised a hand, and a small, pulsating orb of silver light appeared between his fingers.

[Abyssal Choice Unlocked]

1. Accept the Sovereign's Blessing. Gain access to forbidden knowledge and power beyond mortal reach.

2. Reject his offer. Preserve the balance and continue as you are.

Sai's system flared with warnings, the interface glowing an ominous red.

[Warning: This choice will alter your fate irreversibly.]

Sai's fingers twitched. His instincts screamed at him that this was not an offer to be taken lightly.

"What happens if I accept?" he asked.

The Sovereign regarded him carefully. "You will gain knowledge lost to time. Power that surpasses even the strongest hunters. But..." His silver eyes darkened. "You will no longer walk among them as one of their own."

That was the catch. Sai wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but he understood the implication—this power would change him in a way that made returning to a normal hunter's life impossible.

"And if I refuse?"

"You remain bound to the laws of this world. The Lost Gates will continue to open before you, but you will walk a path of resistance. Those who sealed these gates will come for you. And they will not stop."

Sai exhaled slowly.

Both paths had their dangers. If he accepted, he would become something... more, but at what cost? If he refused, he would continue fighting, hunted by forces beyond his understanding.

His mind raced.

The Hidden Order had already marked him. The Hunter Guilds were watching him. The World Dungeon Association likely knew more than they let on.

The easy choice was to refuse. To keep moving forward as he had been.

But easy choices rarely led to the truth.

Sai took a deep breath.

"I accept."

The moment the words left his lips, the silver orb pulsed violently.

[You have chosen to embrace the Forgotten Sovereign's power.]

[Initiating Abyssal Integration.]

Pain.

It was as if his very soul was being rewritten. His body convulsed, his vision blurred, and an overwhelming flood of knowledge crashed into his mind.

He saw glimpses of the past—ancient hunters battling monstrous beings beyond comprehension, entire civilizations erased from existence, a great war fought over the fate of reality itself.

And at the center of it all—the Lost Gates.

Not mere dungeons, but remnants of a severed timeline, sealed away to prevent catastrophe.

Sai fell to his knees, gripping his head as the visions overwhelmed him.

The Sovereign's voice echoed through the chaos.

"You have taken the first step. Now, you must endure."

The ruins around him shook violently. The glyphs flared brighter, then shattered completely.

Sai gasped for air as the pain finally subsided.

[Abyssal Integration Complete.]

New Title Acquired: Heir of the Forgotten Sovereign.

New Ability Acquired: Abyssal Insight.

Sai's hands trembled as he checked his interface.

[Abyssal Insight: Your perception of reality has expanded. You can now glimpse hidden truths within the Lost Gates, including traces of the past and anomalies in time.]

He slowly pushed himself to his feet, his body feeling... different. Stronger. Lighter. But also—changed.

The Sovereign observed him with a satisfied nod.

"You are no longer merely a hunter. You are a successor to the lost lineage. Your fate is now intertwined with the Abyss."

Sai clenched his fists. He had expected power, but this was more than that. This was knowledge—knowledge that altered everything he thought he knew.

He exhaled sharply.

"So... what happens now?"

The Sovereign turned, gazing toward the ruins.

"Now, you must prepare. The ones who sealed the gates will sense this change. They will come for you. And when they do..." His silver eyes met Sai's. "You must be ready to fight back."

A cold shiver ran down Sai's spine.

He had taken the first step.

But now, the true battle was about to begin.

To Be Continued...