Inside the imperial court, King Virendra sat upon his obsidian throne, eyes narrowed in deep contemplation. The royal astrologers had predicted an unprecedented fluctuation in the empire's spiritual energy — one strong enough to make even the celestial monitors twitch with interest.
He knew something had happened.
"What did the formation masters report?" the king asked, his voice calm but cold.
"They said a forbidden seal was broken beneath the Ancestor's Tomb," General Varun replied, his head bowed. "But none dared go further."
Virendra's fingers tapped against the carved armrest, slowly and rhythmically. "Only one of my sons could've done that."
He didn't name names, but everyone in the hall had the same thought.
Priyanshu.
The youngest. The one most overlooked. The one whose temperament had changed… and whose aura now felt unnaturally deep.
Virendra dismissed the court with a wave. Once alone, he pressed a rune on his throne, and a section of the wall behind him shifted. From the shadows, a cloaked figure stepped forward — face obscured, robe marked with a blood moon.
"You called, Your Majesty," the figure whispered.
"The Masked Informant… I want you to investigate my third son. From the shadows. Watch every step he takes. If he is walking the path I fear… eliminate him before he becomes a threat."
The masked figure chuckled darkly.
"If he is what I suspect he is," the king added, his voice dropping lower, "he might already be beyond you."
Meanwhile, Priyanshu was basking in the chaotic peace after absorbing the Soul Scripture of Heaven and Hell. His spiritual realm now looked like a surreal painting — one half lit by golden lotuses, the other shrouded in purple demonic mist.
[System Message: Your domain has expanded. Passive effect unlocked – Dual Fate Aura: Allies near you gain random blessings or curses based on your current karma alignment.]
He smirked. "I can bless my harem or curse my enemies. Now that's what I call balance."
Just then, a flicker of movement caught his attention. A bird made entirely of smoke perched on his windowsill.
A message spell.
He touched its beak, and the voice of one of his network agents whispered:
"The King grows suspicious. The Masked Informant has been unleashed. Caution advised, master."
His eyes glinted.
"So, the old man's finally trying to play chess. Good. I've been bored."
He stood up, cracking his neck, and summoned his masked persona — the one his shadow organization knew as Void Monarch.
If the King wanted a game, Priyanshu would give him one.
But not on the board.
He'd control the board itself.