Leon stepped through the crystalline archway, his thoughts still echoing with the lessons of the Trial. The memory of his false self—wielding guilt like a weapon—remained vivid in his mind, not as a torment, but as a carved foundation.
The chamber ahead unraveled like the petals of a celestial bloom. The floor shimmered with stardust and liquid silver, while pillars of prismatic crystal spiraled toward a dome painted in dancing constellations. At the center of it all stood a glowing nexus—a platform marked with ancient runes that pulsed in time with the Codex.
His breath caught. This was the Heart of the Temple—the point where all energy lines of the Dominion converged.
"This is only the beginning."
Leon turned to find someone watching him.
She was tall, garbed in a robe of flowing obsidian laced with fractal patterns that shimmered like a black hole reflecting stars. Her eyes were intense, fierce with intelligence, and a faint scar curved along her left cheek.
"I didn't think anyone else survived the early trials," she said, stepping forward. "You must be the newcomer the Temple whispered about."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "And you are?"
"Selira Kaine. Former Arch-Technomancer of the Azurian Federation."
Leon's memories flickered—he recalled her name from the global databanks, one of the few scientists whose work had rivaled his own in the field of theoretical transdimensionality.
"I read your papers on multi-threaded quantum overlap," Leon said cautiously.
Selira smirked. "And you destroyed the world with the Cataclysm Protocol."
Leon flinched.
"Easy," she added, raising a hand. "I'm not here to blame you. If anything, I think you did what many of us were too afraid to try."
She studied him for a moment longer. "I watched you face yourself in the Trial. You didn't break. That matters here."
Leon hesitated, then nodded. "You've completed your Trial, too?"
Selira's expression darkened. "Two of them. Command and Insight. The third—Binding—I failed."
"Failed?"
"They don't all give second chances," she said grimly. "And they always ask the price upfront. Some of us weren't willing to pay."
Leon frowned. "How long have you been here?"
"Time's warped in the Temple. Could be weeks, months. I stopped counting."
Their conversation was cut short as the nexus pulsed again. The Codex hovered in front of Leon, pages flipping rapidly until one shone like sunfire.
Trial Complete: Law of Command (Tier 1: Self)
New Quest Available: The Gate of Ascendancy
Description: Establish an Anchor of Dominion. Prepare to exit the Temple and enter the outer ring of the Cataclysmic Confluence.
Leon exhaled. "Looks like I'm being pushed forward."
Selira nodded. "Then it's time I show you the Anchoring Forge. No one leaves the Temple without forming their Anchor."
The Forge was nestled deep beneath the Temple, through a winding descent into magma-lit caverns where mana condensed into viscous pools. Runes chiseled into obsidian walls flickered with primordial fire.
Massive constructs—part machine, part life—hovered silently, tending to floating slabs of metal, bone, and starlight. Each was a component, Leon soon realized, for the Anchoring process.
Selira guided him to a wide platform covered in concentric circles of sigils. "Here's where you shape your Anchor. Think of it as your Dominion Core. It represents your intent, your will, and the concept you will wield as a foundation."
She stepped back. "The Forge will ask for a memory, a truth, and a choice. Each one will shape your Anchor's properties. Be honest, or the Core will reject you."
Leon placed his hand on the center glyph.
Immediately, heat surged through his veins. Visions danced in his mind—Natalie's laughter, the flash of light that heralded the Protocol's activation, the look in his mother's eyes the last time they spoke.
Memory Registered: The Moment of HesitationTruth Confirmed: You do not seek redemption. You seek transcendence.Choice Imminent: Define your Dominion Concept.
Leon's vision cleared. The Codex burned brightly beside him.
"What concept do you choose?" asked Selira's voice, distorted through the Forge's resonance.
Leon took a slow breath.
"I choose… Resolve. The will to move forward, even through ruin."
The Forge erupted in light. Fire, crystal, and thought fused into a single sigil—a glowing, rotating glyph that hovered in front of Leon's chest. It embedded itself into his sternum with a whisper.
Anchor of Dominion: RESOLVE Created
Dominion Traits Acquired:
Mental Fortitude (Passive): Grants resistance against mental manipulation, illusion, and fear effects. Increases clarity during high-stress or high-mana conditions. Also improves mental stamina and focus over time.
Pressure Wave (Active): Unleashes a concussive burst of Dominion Energy in a radial shockwave. The power scales with Leon's emotional intensity and Anchor resonance. Can disrupt spells, stagger enemies, and momentarily break constructs of lower rank.
Codex Integration: 5.4%
Leon stumbled back, sweat beading on his forehead.
Selira caught him. "Not bad, Veyron. You've just made your first real step."
The cavern trembled slightly.
The Codex floated upward, its pages now projecting a complex map of spiraling dimensional rings.
Beyond the Temple, a storm of realms awaited.
And Leon Veyron was ready to face them.