The ground shook as the second wave of enemy forces crashed against the Heartland walls.
Siege towers taller than trees rolled forward.
Flame-tipped arrows rained down like a crimson storm.
Summoned beasts — massive war wolves and armored stone boars — charged the gates, howling with bloodlust.
The Sovereign Vanguard held firm —
but the strain showed.
Shields cracked.
Wards flickered.
Breathing grew ragged.
Kaelen stood at the center of the wall, Sovereignblade Astryn dripping with blood and silver light.
His gaze was calm.
Cold.
Unbreakable.
But he knew—
If they didn't turn the tide soon,
even Sovereign will might not be enough.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Defender Morale Decreasing.]
[Enemy Reinforcements Detected: Heavy Beast Units Deployed.]
[Suggestion: Activate Hidden Sovereign Bastion Function.]
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
Hidden function?
He placed his palm flat against the stone ramparts.
The Nexus Core beneath the fortress pulsed in answer.
Old magic stirred —
magic older than kingdoms, older than guilds.
The Sovereign Array
Faint silver lines glowed across the courtyard, along the walls, under the gates.
Ancient runes, long dormant, ignited with living power.
And a choice appeared before Kaelen.
[System Notification]
[Sovereign Array Detected: Heartland Bastion's Cracked-Crown Defense Formation.]
[Effect:
Doubles fortress defense strength.
Creates "Sovereign Fields" that nullify enemy magic inside the walls.
Costs High Sovereign Energy.]
[Activate Now?]
Kaelen didn't hesitate.
He slammed his fist into the heartstone pedestal at the wall's peak.
"Awaken."
"Rise."
"Defy the world with me!"
The Activation
A deafening roar shook the entire fortress.
Silver light exploded outward, forming shimmering barriers of pure Sovereign Will around the walls.
The stones of the Bastion themselves seemed to sing —
a song of defiance, of survival, of unstoppable dreams.
The battered Pathbreakers gasped.
Their broken shields repaired themselves.
Their cracked blades gleamed anew.
Their bodies surged with fresh strength.
The Sovereign Bastion was no longer just a fortress.
It was a living, breathing extension of Kaelen's will.
[System Notification]
[Sovereign Fortress Array Activated.]
[Current Defensive Strength: 145%.]
[All Enemy Magic Inside Walls: Severely Suppressed.]
[Morale Surge: +50%.]
The Turning Point
The Royal Army slammed against the walls again —
but found their spells fizzling into nothing.
Their siege beasts faltered under the radiant suppression.
Their soldiers hesitated —
fear crawling up their spines.
They could feel it now.
This was no rebellion.
This was no common fortress.
This was Sovereignty.
Made real.
Made rage.
Made destiny.
Kaelen's Command
Kaelen raised Sovereignblade Astryn high, the cracked-crown sigil burning brighter than ever.
His voice thundered across the battlefield:
"This is the Heartland of the Uncrowned!"
"This is the dream you cannot break!"
"This is the fortress built with blood, stone, and Sovereign will!"
He pointed Astryn toward the enemy camps.
"If you wish to tear it down —"
"Then come."
"And leave your bones behind."
The Sovereign Vanguard roared in answer.
The Sovereign War had changed.
The world just didn't know it yet.