Chapter 9: Pridefall – Crown Me or Kill Me
Volume 1: Lustbound Ascension Final Sin-Tier Arc Begins
> [Harem Count: 5]
[Sin Tiers Cleared: 5/7 – Sloth, Envy, Wrath, Greed, Personal Lust Trial]
[Current Tier: Pride]
[System Stability: Surging toward Anomaly]
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1. The Throne of Mirrors
The next arena was nothing but a void of stars and glass.
No gold. No demons. No welcome.
Only... me.
A mirror version of me sat on an obsidian throne, draped in silver robes.
"Welcome, Kairo," he said. "Welcome to the final gatekeeper."
Seraphina frowned. "Another copy?"
Elyria: "No. This is your true reflection. The pride you buried."
System Pinged:
> [Final Gate Challenge – Tier of Pride Initiated] [Objective: Defeat the Crowned You OR Accept Him]
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2. Battle of Ideals
Crowned Kairo rose.
"I am what you were always meant to be—absolute. Ruler of all gods and demons. No heart, no weakness."
He snapped.
Lightning shaped like my regrets split the void.
I charged.
So did he.
We clashed—every blow echoing with memories.
Me kissing Elyria under fire.
Him sacrificing her for power.
Seraphina shielding my soul.
His version impaling her.
He whispered, "You'd be unstoppable alone."
I replied, "But I'd be empty."
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3. Intervention of the Harem
Lilix dove in first.
Claws met silver blades.
"He's lying!" she growled. "You need us."
Seraphina: "Power without love is a prison."
Elyria sang a note that shattered mirrors.
Rhyssara drew blood with her shadow-scythe.
But Crowned Me laughed.
"You've infected them. Made them less. Just as you made yourself weak."
The throne turned to a blade. He stabbed me.
I bled.
But instead of falling—I laughed.
"Thanks. Needed the motivation."
> [Lustcore Ascension Triggered – Overdrive Mode Unlocked] [Unity Factor: 72% – Harem Resonance at Critical]
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4. Crown Breaker
My body burned with every sin I'd endured.
Sloth made me patient. Envy made me honest. Wrath made me relentless. Greed made me humble. Lust made me alive.
I threw down my weapons.
"I don't need to kill you. I just need to accept you."
He froze.
"I forgive you," I said.
"You're part of me."
And then…
He shattered.
The crown crumbled.
The void became light.
> [Pride Tier Cleared – Identity Complete] [Title Unlocked: King of Dualities – The Crownless Crowned]
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5. Ascension
The System glitched.
Then rebooted.
> [Congratulations, Kairo. You have Cleared 6 of 7 Sin Tiers.] [Only One Remains: The Final Trial – Lust Itself]
The girls gathered around me, glowing.
Lilix: "You did it."
Seraphina: "You're whole."
Rhyssara: "Now comes the real test."
Elyria: "Are you ready to love... without breaking?"
I looked at them.
"No. But I will be."
Above us, the skies parted.
A stairway of red velvet and starlight descended.
A whisper echoed:
"Come, Lustborn. Face your origin."
> [End of Volume 1: Lustbound Ascension] [Next: Volume 2 – The Origin Lustcore: Harem of the End]