Chapter 208: Chapter 208 : A catastrophe of ducal rank

Meanwhile inside the Zenith Academy, another event was taking place.

Kyle Celestian found himself in the Spirit Realm.

The place shimmered like a dream—endless skies dyed in flower-like hues, rivers of glowing starlight flowing across emerald meadows, and crystalline trees that whispered with voices of the ancient.

Ethereal beasts soared gracefully—wyverns with translucent wings, unicorns with horns of pure crystal, and dryads blooming like living flowers.

But Kyle’s eyes narrowed, impressed. “At least the view is good,” he muttered.

He gazed at the majestic spirits before him—massive wyverns circling high above, elegant unicorns grazing by silver rivers, and towering treants with eyes like molten gems.

Kyle smirked. “Let’s try bonding with the strongest one.”

But the moment he stepped forward, the spirits recoiled. Every single one of them backed away, trembling. Some growled low, their eyes filled with fear.

Kyle chuckled. “Come on now, it’s not nice to growl at someone without any reason.”

A voice slithered into his mind.

[ This reaction is normal. They can sense it—you’re blessed with the power of Corruption itself. If they bond with you, they too will be corrupted. ]

Kyle tilted his head. “Is that so? Then that’s a problem.”

Suddenly, his gaze snapped southward. His lips curved into a devilish grin. “Ahh… this feeling. Danger. There must be something fun over there.”

He strode forward, but a massive wyvern spirit dropped down in his path, blocking his way.

Kyle raised his hand, and a dark spear of pure corruption coalesced in his palm. The weapon twisted reality around it, its aura of decay so vile that even the Spirit Realm shivered.

“Move,” Kyle whispered.

The wyvernnstill didn’t budge as it was coming towards kyle.

Kyle chuckled “Suit yourself ”

With a flick, the spear shot forward, faster than lightning. It pierced clean through the wyvern spirit’s chest. The beast screamed once before collapsing, its body blackened and corroded, dissolving into ash.

Kyle smirked. “Now that was something fun.”

The other spirits scattered in sheer panic.

Sabrina’s voice rang sharply in his mind. [ You shouldn’t have done that, Kyle! That spirit was one of the protectors of this realm! I’m obscuring your presence from the Spirit Queen for now, but it won’t last long. Do what you came here to do—fast! ]

Kyle chuckled. “Alright, alright. No need to nag.”

In a blur, he vanished southward.

Soon, Kyle reached a place unlike any other in the realm.

The landscape twisted into horror—ashen trees clawed at a dead sky, rivers of black mist slithered like serpents, and gravestones pulsed with ominous light. The air reeked of malice, thick with a suffocating aura of despair.

Kyle’s grin widened. “Well, what the hell is this place? This is where the danger was coming from, no doubt.”

Sabrina’s voice sounded amazed. [ Impossible… I can’t believe you found this place. ]

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Why? What’s wrong?”

[ This… this is where the spirits who strayed from their path—traitors who betrayed the Spirit Queen—were sealed. They are called Dark Spirits. ]

Kyle chuckled darkly. “Sounds wonderful. Perfect for someone like me.”

He spread his perception wide across the graveyard. After a few moments, he smirked. “Found it.”

Sabrina’s voice grew urgent. [ Kyle, be careful. Dark Spirits are uncontrollable. They are the most dangerous kind of spirits. ]

“We’ll see about that,” Kyle said with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

He strode to a massive grave pulsing with ominous energy. It was bound in thick divine chains, radiant light seeping through the cracks.

Kyle knelt, brushing his hand over the chains. His skin burned instantly, sizzling from the divine energy.

“Looks like divinity,” he muttered. Then he laughed. “For someone like me—this is nothing.”

He clenched his fist. “Devour.”

[Skill: Devour — Activated.]

[ Skill devour is in effect ]

The chains writhed, black veins spreading across their radiant surface. One by one, they corroded, turning pitch black before shattering into fragments.

Kyle raised his arm and smashed his fist into the grave.

*BOOM!*

Stone and divine seals shattered, revealing a gaping hole below. Without hesitation, Kyle leapt in.

After a few moments of free fall, he landed heavily on the ground below.

There, suspended in the gloom, he saw it—a man wrapped in countless chains. His body was thin, skeletal almost, as if withered by centuries of torment. Yet his eyes burned with defiance, glowing with endless malice.

He looked human.

Kyle’s grin spread wider. “Well, well… a human-like spirit?”

Sabrina’s voice echoed surprised in his mind. [ That… that’s a Ducal Rank Spirit. ]

Kyle tilted his head. “Spirits have ranks too?”

[ Of course they do, ] Sabrina answered. [ They are divided into six tiers:

1. Lesser Spirit

2. Common Spirit

3. Greater Spirit

4. Elder Spirit

5. Ducal Spirit

6. Divine Spirit

Ducal Spirits are rulers among spirits. They command legions and govern vast regions of the Spirit Realm. They are… powerfull beyond measure among spirits. ]

——-

Kyle’s grin widened as the chained figure fixed him with those burning, tired eyes. ’Perfect,’ he thought. ’Exactly the kind of problem I like.’

He stepped closer until the air around the Ducal Spirit shimmered with cold malice. “Looks like you committed a rather grave crime,” Kyle said casually. “What’s your name?”

The spirit’s voice was a dry rasp, each word like gravel. It watched him for a long beat before answering. “Before i anwer tell me mortal . You’re not a normal one , are you? The malice and power I sense from you… it isn’t ordinary.”

Kyle gave a small, bored sigh saying

” I already know that I’m not ordinary.”

The chained man narrowed his yes at him.

Then taking a deep breath Kyle said.”Fine. Let’s Cut to the chase. You seem powerful. I want to form a bond with you. Will you accept, or not?”

A bitter, incredulous laugh broke from the spirit’s lips. “You amuse me, human. I am still Ducal rank, even in this state. Why should I bow to you? What makes you worthy of being my master?”

Kyle’s hand drifted to the radiant chains. He studied their divine glow for a moment, then he grinned. “What if I free you? Will that prove my worthiness?”

The spirit’s laugh curled into a snarl. “These chains were forged by the Spirit Queen herself—punishment for my crimes.”

“What crimes?” Kyle asked, impatient. The Ducal Spirit spat the answer like acid. “For slaughtering my own—attempting to overthrow her rule. Treason.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Save me the autobiography. I’ve got limited time.

Will you submit to me or not .”

The spirit’s gaze flickered with something like interest. “Very well. Human—show me your strength. Break these chains, and I will form a bond with you, as long as breath remains in me i will serve you as my master.”

Kyle’s grin slid into a feral smile. “Prepare yourself. I’m going to work you to the bone.”

He placed both hands on the nearest chain. Darkness began to crawl up his arms—cold, hungry corruption that licked at the divine light. He whispered the command to his familiar power: “Devour.”

A system prompt blinked in his mind, dry and efficient. [Skill: Devour — Activated.]

[ Skill devour is in effect ]

At first the chains flared with holy fire, searing his palms. The divine energy resisted, a blinding white aura fighting his black corruption. Kyle’s teeth ground. ’These were forged by a queen. Not going to be easy.’

He forced the corruption deeper, teeth clenched, muscles trembling. Sparks of raw, clashing power arced between his hands and the chains. The sound was like iron screaming.

For a long, brutal stretch of moments, nothing gave. Kyle’s arms burned; his lungs tore with effort. Sweat stung his eyes. Each chain seemed to be an entire covenant binding spirit and realm alike.

Kyle bared his teeth and pushed every shred of will into the Devour skill. Darkness flowed like a black tide, gnawing and unraveling the holy links. The chains resisted, screaming with divine echoes, but corruption is not gentle—it chews and corrupts until structure collapses.

With a sound like breaking worlds, the first chain snapped. Kyle roared, pouring the rest of himself into the fight. One by one the links cracked, shuddered, and turned black. He screamed, a raw, animal sound, and the final chain shattered into ash that curled like smoke.

Kyle collapsed backward, breathing ragged, every muscle trembling. His skin smoked where divine light had burned. Around him the air tasted of iron and old sins.

For a long second nothing moved. Then the Ducal Spirit uncoiled, the shackles dropping from his wrists like dead leaves. He stood, massive and ragged, chains falling away to clatter on the dark soil.

A booming voice filled the graveyard, ancient and intolerant it was sabrina. [ Do not attempt any tricks.] The sound hammered into the bones of the spirit. [You are but a spirit. If you harm a single hair on his head, I will descend and slay you myself. ]

The Ducal Spirit trembled visibly, his eyes widening with true terror. ’The boy is under the protection of a Primordial… impossible,’ he thought, voice a broken whisper. ’How—?’

Then a slow smile creased the spirit’s cracked lips. ’If a Primordial watches over him… perhaps binding to this human will not be the ruin I expected.’

Kyle straightened, breath still unsteady, as the spirit rose to its full, imposing height.

The man lowered himself to one knee, the motion deliberate, his spectral form bowing as if shackled by unseen chains. His hollow voice rolled through the chamber, deep and resonant, like echoes in a tomb.

“From this moment forth, I… Silas Lan Varadis… accept.”

He raised his head, eyes like smoldering embers fixing onto Kyle with a stare that felt like riveted iron.

“Speak your name.”

“Kyle Celestian,” Kyle replied, steady and unwavering.

The spirit’s tone darkened, carrying the gravity of a vow etched beyond death itself.

“By the breath that yet binds me, by oath and by will, I swear fealty eternal. From this day, I, Silas Lan Varadis, acknowledge you—Kyle Celestian—as my Master.”

The air trembled, unseen currents shifting, as if even the world itself bore witness to the binding.

A sudden weight settled into Kyle’s chest like a heavy, warm stone—the tactile click of a bond forming.

Kyle felt the spirit’s memories and grudges brush against his mind— the cold brilliance of dominion. It was intoxicating.

Then suddenly the sky tore.

A roar like a thousand avalanches split the air. Cold ran across Kyle’s skin and down his spine. Silas’s body shuddered, and for the first time real urgency cracked his voice. “She has come.”

Kyle’s grin faltered, curiosity and a hint of caution filling him. “Is she—?”

Sabrina’s whisper in his mind was a single, sharp word. [Yes. The Spirit Queen is here.]

All at once the graveyard stilled. The very light seemed to hold its breath as a presence—vast, sovereign, undeniable—swept across the Spirit Realm. Chains that had just broken trembled like fragile things before a storm.

———

A/N:

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