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> "In a world where strength defines worth, I was born worthless. But silence… will be my weapon."
Dark clouds choked the sky above Ruin stone District, a forgotten border town in the southern edges of Dragon Country. There were no patrols here. No shelters. Only broken homes, beast attacks, and faction tyranny.
Fifteen-year-old Ling Tianran lay in the mud, blood mixing with the rain. His ribs ached. His lips were split open. But the pain wasn't new.
The ones who did this were from Ironblood Order, a high-ranking faction in the region. They called him a worm. A stray. A disgrace born without a background or cultivation.
They weren't wrong — until today.
As his fingers dug weakly into the cracked earth, he touched something cold… metallic.
A sudden pulse shot through his body. Symbols lit up across his skin in golden lines. His mind was invaded by a cold, emotionless voice:
> [Sovereign's Silent System initializing…]
[Welcome, Ling Tianran. You are now the Hidden Sovereign Candidate.]
[Establishing Faction Seed: Silent Sovereign…]
[System Objective: Build the Supreme Hidden Faction. Equal for All. Feared by All.]
His eyes widened.
A golden mark appeared on his chest — a coiled dragon atop a silent throne. No one else could see it, but Tianran felt its weight.
Then came a flood of notifications:
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> [System Activation Incomplete — Core Energy Required]
Monsters, Demons, and Beasts drop spirit cores upon death.
Collect cores to cultivate and unlock further functions.
Warning: High-tier monsters may possess intelligence, combat techniques, and hidden treasures. Proceed with caution.
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The world had mocked him for being talentless.
Now, it would kneel.
Tianran rose slowly, ignoring the pain. In the shadows of the ruined buildings, a faint growl echoed. From the mist emerged a creature — a Grayfang Hellhound, its eyes glowing red, saliva sizzling as it touched the ground.
A low-tier demon beast.
In this city, most ran from monsters.
Tianran stepped forward.
> "You… will be my first offering."
The Grayfang lunged.
Tianran moved on instinct. A sharp piece of metal — broken sword fragment — slid into his hand. He ducked under the swipe, rolled, and plunged the shard into the beast's neck.
The hound screeched, thrashed… then collapsed.
A blue orb, the size of a marble, floated above the corpse.
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> [Beast Core Acquired — Grade: Tier-1]
[Cultivation Engine Activated]
[Realm: Mortal Core – Early Stage Unlocked]
[Faction Interface Partially Unlocked]
[Faction Members: 0]
[Access Token Creation: Enabled]
[Current Objective: Recruit loyal talents. Rule from the shadows.]
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Tianran's body surged with warmth. Power. Clarity.
From the slums to supremacy… the path had begun.
And no one would see h
im coming.
> "You silenced me once… Now I'll rule in silence."
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[To Be Continued…]
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