The stars were silent again.
But this time, it was not the calm of peace.
It was the hush before a storm.
Kairos stood in the command bridge of the Jade Vulture, the final Key still burning cold in his palm—Mirage. With six Sovereign Keys acquired, he was now closer than any trader had ever been to ascending the Sovereign Path.
Only one Vault remained.
Only one Key.
But the path forward was not hidden.
It was held.
By the enemy.
By the one who claimed to be the last true Sovereign.
The Ashen Sovereign.
And to reach the final Vault… Kairos would have to walk straight into his empire.
The Capital of Ash
Sector: Drakonis Vale.
Coordinates: Redacted.
Known as the Grave Crown—homeworld of the Ashen Sovereign's dominion. A sector bathed in crimson nebulae and defensive fields that bent space around them like mirrors. Nothing entered without permission. Nothing left without a trail of ash.
Kairos stared at the map.
Even the Cartograph shuddered when he zoomed in.
