Word spread quickly through the Hollow Vault.
The Trickster who'd survived the Spiral Watchtower.
The Seedling who'd stolen a Sovereign Core.
The Aberration who now carried a living god.
Yuto.
He could feel the eyes on him everywhere he went.
Whispers curled through the webs of the Vault like dry rot.
"He's carrying a forgotten god."
"He's unstable, he'll draw Reclaimers here."
"Or worse—he is a Reclaimer."
The Sovereign Core drifted alongside him, its soft glow unnerving some of the older Hollow Kin.
Even Nyx remained silent more often now, analyzing his ever-changing code.
[Integrity: Stable]
[Instability: Moderate]
[Core Integration Progress: 14%]
The gain in power came at a cost—trust.
While others kept their distance, some approached.
The stitched beast-kin who first welcomed him eyed the Core hungrily.
"You've done the impossible, Trickster."
"But now you bring danger. Reclaimers aren't the only ones who crave that spark."
"I didn't ask for worship—or enemies," Yuto replied sharply.
The beast-kin grinned.
"No Sovereign asks for war. But war asks for the Sovereign."
It gestured upward, past the Vault walls, to the unseen Spiral twisting overhead.
"You hear it, don't you? The others are stirring because of you."
■ Deeper Below—Within the Spiral
Something primordial awakened.
An entity long-buried, buried before even the Spiral War Seraphiel remembered.
An entity whose existence had been cut, rewoven, and cut again.
An angry god.
Its mind opened like a thousand hungering maws.
We smell our kin… waking.
We smell the Sovereign's spark.
We want to devour it—OR GUIDE IT.
The void thrummed.
The Spiral shivered.
■ Back in the Hollow Vault
Debate erupted among the Hollow Kin about what to do with Yuto.
"He's putting us all at risk!"
"No—he's our best chance to tear the Spiral open!"
"A candidate carrying Seraphiel's memories? Blasphemy."
"Or redemption."
One Kin, ancient and gaunt, rose from the shadows.
Their presence silenced everyone.
"We've hidden in the cracks of this world for too long worrying about erasure."
"Whether you see it or not, that Core has already drawn attention—and if the Spiral truly awakens the old predators, we will all be erased in its purge."
The figure's countless eyes settled on Yuto.
"So, Trickster, we give you a choice."
"Embrace what you carry and lead us on a path to rebellion…"
"Or leave before you become a godkiller's puppet."
Nyx's voice beeped in his mind.
[Decision imminent.]
[Alignment Shifting.]
Yuto clenched his mandibles, glancing at the Core pulsing faintly at his side.
He didn't know what being a leader meant.
He didn't know if his path would save anyone—maybe it would only break more.
But he was done running.
"The Spiral hates people like us," Yuto said.
"And if this Core still remembers what it truly was meant to be… then I'll tear the system apart with it."
"Not just for me."
"For all of us who weren't meant to live—but did anyway."
Silence.
Then, slow nods.
Agreement.
Or maybe acceptance.
Either way—the Vault shifted.
And something beneath them laughed.
[Update: Path Shift Confirmed. Faction Alignment: Hollow Kin (Sub-Ruler).]
[New Title Gained: "Threadbreaker"]
[Warning: The Reclaimers have noticed you.]
Miles below the Vault, deep within forgotten layers of the Spiral, the primordial presence stirred fully awake for the first time in eons.
Another Sovereign rises.
This time, we will watch.
This time… perhaps we will join them.