The rain-soaked alley of Haizhou was a fading echo as Wei Chen's world dissolved into a void of screaming stars. His body burned, the Ebon Star Mandate pulsing like a second heartbeat, threatening to unravel him. When reality reformed, he stood on a platform of polished black crystal, suspended in a vast expanse of twinkling darkness. The Starlit Abyss stretched endlessly around him, a sci-fi cosmos where floating citadels glowed like lanterns, their surfaces etched with coiling dragons and qilin. Nebulae swirled in hues of jade and crimson, and sleek, mechanical phoenixes patrolled the void, their eyes scanning with cold precision. The air hummed with the electric tang of qi-infused technology, and Wei Chen's obsidian robe, now threaded with silver veins, shimmered under the starlight.
His guandao, heavier now, pulsed with dark qi, and the Cosmic System's interface flickered in his vision, unyielding as ever:
World 3: Starlit Abyss
Role: Void Tyrant
Objective: Seize control of the Celestial Array to stabilize the narrative.
System Status: Active. Power Level: Mortal (Tier 2).
Skills: Nether Lotus Strike (Tier 1), Shadow Lotus Barrage (Tier 2), Ebon Lotus Aura (Passive, +15% qi regeneration).
Ebon Star Mandate: Dormant (10% awakened).
Risk: Uncontrolled activation may destabilize the world or wielder.
Celestial Trial Imminent: Defeat the Guardian of the Array to assert dominance.
"Void Tyrant," Wei Chen muttered, gripping the guandao. "Sounds like a promotion, but feels like a death sentence."
The system pinged: Narrative Stability: 52%. Seize the Celestial Array within 300 breaths to prevent collapse.
He scanned the platform, its edges dropping into the starry void. The Celestial Array—a massive, rotating sphere of jade and steel, pulsing with qi—floated in the distance, guarded by hovering drones shaped like miniature dragons. The weight of his role pressed down harder than ever. In the Shattered Jade Empire, he'd been a Demon Lord; in the Crimson Phoenix Dynasty, a Betrayer. Now, a Tyrant? The Ebon Star Mandate churned in his chest, its chaotic whispers growing louder, tempting him to unleash it. He pushed the urge down, remembering Tian Zhi's warning: It will control you.
A hum filled the air, and a figure materialized on the platform—a man in sleek, silver armor etched with phoenix feathers, his long hair tied with a jade clasp. He wielded a guandao of his own, its blade crackling with starlight qi. His eyes glowed with the cold resolve of a cultivator at least two tiers above Wei Chen's Mortal rank.
"You dare invade the Starlit Abyss, Void Tyrant?" the man said, his voice resonating like a celestial chime. "I am Zhao Xing, Guardian of the Celestial Array. Your corruption ends here."
Wei Chen's stomach twisted. Zhao Xing's qi was a supernova compared to his own flickering spark. The system flashed:
Celestial Trial Initiated:
Opponent: Zhao Xing, Guardian of the Celestial Array (Tier 4)
Victory Condition: Defeat or SubdueFailure Condition: Death or Narrative CollapseWarning: Narrative stability at 48%. Mandate instability at 12%.
"Another day, another hero trying to kill me," Wei Chen said, forcing a smirk. "Can't we just negotiate?"
Zhao Xing's guandao spun, and a wave of starlight qi slashed across the platform. Wei Chen dove, the attack shattering the crystal behind him into glittering dust. He countered with a Nether Lotus Strike, black petals swirling toward Zhao Xing, but the guardian deflected with a burst of light, barely flinching.
System Notification: Attack ineffective. Opponent's qi density exceeds current output. Utilize Shadow Lotus Barrage for multi-angle assault.
Wei Chen cursed, dodging another starlight slash that singed his robe. The Mandate's heat surged, and the platform trembled, as if the void itself sensed its power. "Stay down," he growled at the chaotic force within him, focusing on the system's guidance. He unleashed a Shadow Lotus Barrage, a flurry of dark qi petals striking from multiple angles. Zhao Xing blocked most, but a few grazed his armor, leaving faint cracks.
"You wield forbidden power," Zhao Xing said, eyes narrowing. "The Ebon Star Mandate? You'll doom us all!"
"I'm trying to save you!" Wei Chen shouted, parrying a thrust that nearly cleaved him in two. The system highlighted Zhao Xing's patterns: a slight delay in his spins, a tendency to overextend. Wei Chen's Ebon Lotus Aura kept his qi flowing, but he was burning through it fast. The Mandate's whispers grew louder, promising strength to crush Zhao Xing in an instant. He resisted, sweat beading on his brow.
The fight danced across the platform, crystal shards flying as their guandaos clashed. Zhao Xing's attacks were precise, his qi a torrent of starlight, but Wei Chen's desperation—honed in Haizhou's alleys—made him unpredictable. The system fed him openings, and he struck with another Barrage, cracking Zhao Xing's pauldron. The guardian staggered, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"A mortal shouldn't match me," Zhao Xing said, his voice tinged with respect. "What drives you, Tyrant?"
"Survival," Wei Chen panted, dodging a qi-infused strike that scorched the platform. "And maybe a chance to not be nothing."
The Mandate flared, and a shadow pulsed from Wei Chen, dimming the stars above. The platform cracked, and Zhao Xing hesitated, sensing the chaos. Wei Chen seized the moment, channeling his pain—years of hunger, rejection, and now this endless cosmic game—into a final Shadow Lotus Barrage. The dark qi overwhelmed Zhao Xing's defenses, knocking his guandao aside. Wei Chen lunged, pinning him against the platform's edge, blade at his throat.
"Yield," Wei Chen said, chest heaving. "I don't want to kill you."
Zhao Xing's eyes searched his, a flicker of doubt softening his resolve. "You spare me… why?"
"Because I'm not the monster you think," Wei Chen said. "This world's breaking, and I'm the only one holding it together."
The system chimed: Celestial Trial Complete. Zhao Xing Subdued. Narrative Stability Restored: 80%.
The Starlit Abyss faded, and Wei Chen was back in Haizhou's alley, rain soaking his robe. The Mandate's heat simmered, a restless beast barely contained. Tian Zhi appeared, her crimson robes untouched by the downpour.
"You wield the Mandate with restraint," she said, her veiled gaze piercing. "But each world strengthens it—and you."
Wei Chen glared, wiping rain from his face. "And what about the people I'm fighting? Luo Yan, Feng Liyue, Zhao Xing—they deserve better than being pawns in your game."
Tian Zhi's voice was cold. "They are threads in the loom, as are you. Weave them wisely, or all will unravel."
The system flashed:
Power Level Increased: Mortal (Tier 2.5). New Skill Unlocked: Void Lotus Pulse (Tier 2). Channel Mandate for area-of-effect dark qi.
Mandate Status: Dormant (12% awakened).
Next World: Jade Serpent Realm (Fantasy). Role: Serpent King.
Wei Chen's heart pounded. The faces of Luo Yan, Feng Liyue, and now Zhao Xing lingered—each a hero he'd subdued, each a potential ally or more. The Mandate's power was growing, but so was its danger. He was still far from invincible, but for the first time, he felt the stirrings of a purpose beyond survival—a chance to redefine the demon he was forced to be.