The smoke over Skyvault Citadel hadn't yet cleared when Hikaru received the System's next message.
[Ascension Cycle – Chapter Two Unlocked]
[New Tier Reached: Fractured Tier]
[Warning: Territory rules, faction allegiance, and core mechanics are now altered]
The words pulsed with ominous certainty. Below them, a holographic map of the known world unfurled. Large portions of land that were once greyed out now lit with crimson, deep violet, and shimmering silver overlays. Entire regions had unlocked—and with them, chaos.
Fractured Tier.
Illya read the system prompt aloud. "It says 'Warfront Balance Unstable. All alliances are voided. Players must choose a Dominion.'"
Brant frowned, arms crossed. "What does that even mean?"
Kaela pulled up her own prompt. "Three dominions just became active: The Eternal Sigil, The Crimson Covenant, and The Verdant Axis. Each grants territory, bonuses… but once you choose, you're locked in."
[Dominion Alignment – Time Remaining: 71:59:23]
They had seventy-two hours to decide.
Later that day, the Heartguard assembled in the remains of Skyvault's War Room. All surviving alliance leaders had gathered.
A projection flickered to life in the room's center, showing three ancient emblems.
The Eternal Sigil: Scholars, artificers, and mystics who sought to control the war through knowledge and arcane advancement.The Crimson Covenant: Warriors, warlords, and raiders who sought conquest, bloodshed, and glory.The Verdant Axis: Nomads, survivalists, and beast tamers who aimed to balance chaos with nature's force.
"I don't like this," muttered one guild leader. "This smells like faction warfare dressed up with lore."
Sigrun leaned against a broken wall. "It's more than that. This is the System splitting the playerbase."
Kaela nodded. "Divide and conquer."
Brant huffed. "Or... divide and let us destroy each other."
Over the next 24 hours, the world changed drastically.
Major cities were consumed in zone-wide reboots. Villages vanished from maps. Regions were renamed, reflecting their dominion's influence.
More importantly—PvP rules shifted.
[Fractured Tier PvP Update: Full Combat Enabled Outside Safe Zones. Penalty for Death: Territory Loss, System Memory Loss, Item Breakage]
A storm rolled across the central continent—except it wasn't a weather effect. It was The Null Bloom, a roaming hazard that warped code and corrupted players' stats. Hikaru watched from a safe perch as two rival squads attempted to cross through the Bloom. Neither made it out.
Three days passed faster than they expected. At the final hour, each player's screen dimmed, a voice whispering within the code.
"Choose your Dominion. You will be judged accordingly."
The Heartguard gathered for their final decision.
Kaela was the first to speak. "The Eternal Sigil suits me. Arcane power, strategic growth... it's where I belong."
Illya glanced at her HUD. "I'm drawn to the Verdant Axis. I've always preferred freedom and survival over war."
Brant shrugged. "No surprise here. I'm going Crimson Covenant. Blood and glory. Simple."
They looked at Hikaru.
He hesitated.
He didn't fit neatly into any of them. He fought like a warlord, strategized like a mystic, and relied on raw instincts like a survivor. But he had to choose.
"I'll go with Kaela," Hikaru finally said. "The Eternal Sigil. We need to understand this system before we destroy it."
One by one, their confirmations lit up.
[Player Hikaru has chosen: Eternal Sigil]
[Dominion Initiation in Progress...]
Suddenly, each of them was transported to a unique location—based on their chosen faction.
Hikaru appeared on a floating platform surrounded by inverted spires of blue crystal and rotating monoliths. Arcane lightning danced through the air. Standing before him were three cloaked figures, faces hidden, their voices echoing in unison.
"You who chose knowledge over conquest... welcome to the Chamber of Sigils."
[Dominion Rank: Initiate – Path: Arcana Executor]
[New Class Tree Available: Sigil Binder / Arcanum Architect / Runebreaker]
[Faction Missions Unlocked – Weekly Objectives Will Influence Global Balance]
[Note: Failure to complete Faction Quests may result in rank demotion and territory penalties.]
Kaela appeared beside him moments later. "Well," she said, raising an eyebrow. "No pressure, huh?"
That night, Hikaru received a message. But not through the player inbox. It came directly from the System Root—a forbidden channel players couldn't normally access.
[Message Received: Unknown Protocol Layer]
From: Rendshade
"You chose wrongly, Heartguard. The true Ascension isn't about knowledge or conquest. It's about liberation. We are building something new... and when the third chapter begins, you'll see the truth."
Attached was a single file. A corrupted piece of footage—showing Rendshade deep within a crimson chamber, surrounded by players bearing black sigils over their eyes.
And at the center… a throne built from shattered system fragments.