The doors to the Grand Audience Chamber swung open with a resonance that vibrated in Ethan’s marrow. The room was a cathedral of light, with pillars of white marble winding upward like dragons ascending to the heavens. At the far end, seated upon a throne carved from a single block of celestial jade, was a man whose presence felt like a physical weight upon the world.

King Alaric von Dragonia didn’t need a crown to command respect. His eyes, a piercing gold identical to Isabella’s, were cold and calculating, the eyes of a ruler who had maintained a kingdom’s sovereignty through centuries of shadow wars and open slaughter.

"Father!" Isabella called out, her voice shifting instantly.

Ethan watched in silent fascination as the sharp, commanding Major transformed. She practically skipped across the polished floor, her military discipline replaced by the exuberant energy of a daughter returning with a prized trophy.

"Isabella," the King said, his voice a deep rumble. He didn’t move, but his gaze locked onto Ethan like a predator sighting prey. "You return with a salvage report and a... stray. Commander Malphas is already in the war room. Why is this boy here instead of the dungeons?"

"Oh, Father, don’t be so gloomy!" Isabella said, reaching the foot of the throne and clasping her hands behind her back. "He’s not a stray. He’s a miracle! We found him in the heart of that Invictus, chained and tortured in ways that would make even your inquisitors blush. The Crimson Sect didn’t just want him dead; they wanted his soul broken."

King Alaric’s expression didn’t soften. "Many men are tortured by the Crimson Sect, Isabella. That doesn’t make them guests of the crown. It often makes them spies or decoys."

"A spy?" Isabella scoffed, waving a hand dramatically. "He’s a survivor from a fallen world! He personally killed Elder Su’s grandson. He’s the reason that entire expedition went to ruin! If he were a spy, would they have used the Iron Mask of Suppression on him? Would they have sent an Invictus just to ensure he never spoke again?"

She leaned in closer to her father, lowering her voice but keeping it loud enough for Ethan to hear. "I’m not exaggerating, Father. If you don’t believe me, ask Malphas. He saw the wounds. He saw the needles. This boy has more reason to hate the Crimson Sect than anyone in this room. Executing him or throwing him in a dark hole would be a waste of the finest weapon the heavens have dropped in our laps."

Ethan remained perfectly still, his head bowed just enough to show respect but his eyes tracking every movement. He realized Isabella was performing a high-stakes theater. She knew her father was a cautious man who saw threats in every shadow. By playing the role of the excited daughter with a ’new toy,’ she was framing Ethan as an asset rather than a liability—humanizing him before the King’s cold logic could demand his head.

The King remained silent for a long minute, the pressure in the room rising until the air felt like liquid lead. He was measuring Ethan, searching for a flicker of deceit or a hidden seal.

"You survived the Iron Mask," the King said, finally addressing Ethan directly. "A feat that usually leaves men as mindless husks. Tell me, boy... why should I keep a ghost of the Crimson Sect in my halls?"

Ethan looked up, his amethyst eyes meeting the King’s gold without flinching. "Because a ghost has nothing left to lose, Your Majesty. And I have a very long memory."

Isabella beamed, throwing a triumphant look at her father. "See? He’s perfect! He’s handsome, he’s talented, and he’s lived through hell. We can’t just throw him away!"

The King let out a short, tired sigh, the oppressive pressure in the room receding slightly. "He stays. Under your personal supervision, Isabella. If he so much as breathes toward a restricted corridor without your shadow, his life is forfeit. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, Father!" Isabella chirped, turning to wink at Ethan.

Ethan felt the cold sweat on his back begin to dry. He had survived the ocean, the pirates, and the Crimson Sect. Now, he had survived the King. But as he looked at Isabella’s radiant, playful smile, he realized he had just traded one set of chains for another—even if these ones were made of gold and silk.

As they turned to leave, the King’s voice rang out, heavy with a final, chilling warning.

"Isabella, stop."

The Princess paused, her playful demeanor momentarily freezing. King Alaric leaned forward, his golden eyes like two burning suns. "Take him to be registered immediately. If a single breath out of this boy is found to be treacherous, I will not only have him decapitated—I will hold you personally accountable for every drop of blood he spills. He is your responsibility now. Do not let your whims cloud your judgment."

Isabella turned back, a confident, practiced smile returning to her lips. "Of course, Father. I’ll keep an eye on him at all times. He won’t even be able to sneeze without my permission."

The massive ivory doors groaned shut behind them, sealing the King’s heavy aura inside. The moment the latch clicked, Isabella’s military posture vanished. She let out a series of joyful little hops and clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with genuine delight.

"Oh, Ethan! You have no idea how lucky you are!" she chirped, looking as happy as a child who had just won a prize at a fair. "It’s a very good thing my father was in a good mood today, or your head would probably be rolling down those marble steps by now."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his heart still settling from the King’s pressure. "That was him in a good mood?"

"Oh, absolutely," Isabella laughed, leading him down the hallway. "He can be incredibly irrational when it comes to outsiders. Don’t take it personally, though. A few months ago, a Vice-Admiral turned out to be a deep-cover spy for the Crimson Sect. Father was humiliated and frustrated, but he couldn’t just go out and slaughter everyone he suspected. You know how it is—he’s the King, but the smaller noble factions and sects tend to band together to protect themselves from ’royal tyranny.’ He’s been looking for someone to take his anger out on, and you almost fit the bill."

-------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??