**Chapter 68: Heaven's Judgment Begins**
Lightning cracked across the horizon of the dimension.
Kael stood beneath the storm-forged sky, eyes narrowed against the divine pressure descending upon him. His body trembled, not from fear—but from anticipation. The stored energy within him surged violently, demanding release.
> \[System Alert: Realm Bottleneck Detected — Tribulation Protocol Engaged]
> \[Sunbound Realm → Moonglade Realm Advancement Attempt Registered]
> \[Warning: Success Rate — 37%]
He smirked.
"I've been defying odds since the day this system awakened."
As the heavens opened, a swirl of ethereal clouds formed an eye above the sacred field. From its heart, twelve bolts of multicolored lightning arced outward, coiling like dragons ready to strike.
Selene and Evelyne watched from within the central palace of the dimension. Though Selene could enter and exit freely due to her inheritance, she remained rooted, fists clenched.
"It's started," she murmured.
Evelyne's voice trembled. "This... is heavier than my own Moonglade tribulation."
"I know," Selene whispered. "The heavens have taken a deeper interest in him."
---
**Beyond the Dimension — Mortal World**
Thalaria felt the shift first.
Within the tranquil outpost town where she, Nysera, and Valeria (the Priestess) were regrouping, the skies darkened unnaturally. Thunder rumbled in rhythm with Kael's heartbeat.
"Is this his trial?" Nysera asked, worry laced in her voice.
Valeria stood up from meditation, her eyes glowing faintly. "Yes. He's drawing power from the deepest levels of the dimension... and now, the heavens demand balance."
Thalaria's lightning surged around her instinctively. "He's not facing this alone. I'm going in."
Nysera stopped her with a hand. "If you go, you'll violate the law of the Sacred Pearl."
"But Selene can move freely," Thalaria protested.
"She has a key," Valeria said. "The inheritance granted it."
Thalaria growled low. "Then give me a reason to stay behind while he burns!"
---
**Inside the Dimension — Trial Site**
Kael kneeled, one fist on the ground. The first bolt of divine lightning struck his back—raw, ancient power surging through every cell.
> \[HP: -18,400]
> \[Resilience Passive Activated: Minor Internal Bleeding Prevented]
He rose slowly.
"More."
Three more bolts slammed into him, tossing his body across the obsidian plains. His skin cracked with light, veins pulsing gold and crimson.
> \[Warning: Physical Limits Exceeded — Soul Strain Approaching Critical]
Kael roared back at the storm, activating the full surge of his inner mana.
"COME ON THEN!"
The tribulation responded.
Nine streaks of divine punishment descended at once. Not lightning—this time, fire, wind, ice, shadow, and more. Each element tested a different piece of Kael's soul.
> \[System Boost: Divine Weapon Equipped — Strength and Dexterity +200% (Weapon State: Bound)]
He fought through them. Every breath was pain. Every movement felt like tearing reality.
---
**Selene and Evelyne's Watch — Palace Balcony**
"He's going to die!" Evelyne cried out, trying to leap forward.
Selene stopped her. "No. This is his crucible."
Tears streamed down Evelyne's face. "You said you could enter and leave! Then stop this!"
Selene looked away. "If I break the cycle, he fails. Everything ends here."
Evelyne dropped to her knees. "I should be beside him..."
Selene's voice cracked. "We all should."
---
**Trial Center — Final Phase Initiated**
The clouds pulsed violet. A spear of pure judgment descended.
Kael reached inside himself. Into the bond. He drew power not just from his own will—but from their love.
Selene. Evelyne. Thalaria. Valeria. Nysera.
Each heartbeat fueled the next breath.
The spear slammed down.
> \[System Sync: Harem Bond Active — Shared Resistance (30% Boost)]
> \[HP: 1 → 12,250]
> \[Mana Core: Stabilized]
His roar shattered the air.
The heavens blinked.
And for a moment—just a moment—the judgment faltered.
The storm shattered like glass.
---
**\[System Update]**
> \[Tribulation Passed — Advancement to Moonglade Realm Confirmed]
> \[System Level Increased: 28 → 29]
> \[EXP Remaining: 106,500,000 / 220,800,000]
> \[New Realm Tier: Moonglade 1/9]
> \[New System Feature Unlocked: Heaven's Sigil — Passive Stat Resistance +15% (All Sources)]
Kael collapsed forward, breath ragged but victorious.
Selene appeared beside him a heartbeat later, her arms catching him before he hit the ground.
"You stupid, glorious man," she whispered, tears falling onto his singed skin.
He smiled faintly. "Did I win?"
"You survived. That's more than enough."
---
**STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN**
* System Level: 29
* EXP: 106,500,000 / 220,800,000
* Realm: Moonglade Realm — Tier 1/9
* HP: 42,000 / 42,000
* Mana: 49,200 / 49,200
**Stats (with buffs):**
* Strength: 735 ×2.1 ×2 = **3,087**
* Endurance: 700 ×2.1 = **1,470**
* Willpower: 712 ×2.1 = **1,495**
* Charm: 802 ×2.1 = **1,684**
* Intellect: 610 ×2.1 = **1,281**
* Dexterity: 684 ×2.1 ×2 = **2,869**
**Bonded Wives:**
* Selene (Skyshatter 9/9, Shadow/Moon) — Present *(Inheritance Access)*
* Evelyne (Moonglade 8/9, Ice/Lunar Flame) — Present
* Thalaria (Sunbound 3/9, Lightning) — Outside
* Nysera (Skyshatter 1/9, Blood/Curse) — Outside
* Valeria aka Priestess of Serenthaal (Skyshatter 3/9, Nature/Wind) — Outside
**Pet Panel:**
* Emberfang — Flame Tiger Cub (Tier 3)
* Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
**Cultivation Realms:**
1. Initiate
2. Essence Drawn
3. Veinwoven
4. Soulroot
5. Starforged
6. Sunbound
7. Moonglade ← Current (1/9)
8. Skyshatter
9. Worldpiercer
10. Heaven's Echo
11. Celestiaflame
12. Worldbreaker
13. Eternal Crown
14. Primordial Ascendant → 18. Origin Flame
---
**Skill Log:**
* **Divine Weapon Buff (Equipped):** Increases Strength and Dexterity by 200% while bound. Effect is permanent as long as the weapon remains equipped.
* **Heaven's Sigil (Passive):** +15% resistance to all types of elemental and spiritual damage.
* **Resilience (Passive):** Reduces all physical injury under critical HP by stabilizing internal bleeding. Does not regenerate HP.
* **Harem Bond (Passive):**
* While present in battle: +30% shared stat synergy with each bonded partner.
* When distant: +12% passive stat boost.
---