CHAPTER 123: HOLLOW CROWN VERDICT

Chapter 121: Hollow Crown Verdict

Ethan shifted Lirael gently in his arms. Her breathing was faint, her head resting against his chest, when suddenly—

Crack.

His heart skipped a beat as a faint line split across her arm, glowing with blinding white light. Then another. And another. Soon, her whole body was laced with spiderweb-like fractures, each one pulsing as though something inside her was trying to burst free.

"W–what the hell—Lirael?!" Ethan’s eyes widened as panic kicked in. His instincts screamed danger, but there was no heat nor pain radiating from her. Instead... it felt alive and divine.

He immediately summoned his system interface with a wave of thought, his voice tight.

"System, status check!"

The familiar translucent blue window shimmered before his eyes.

[Subject: Lirael Vaerune]

Current State — Evolving to higher race (Dormant bloodline awakening)

"...Evolving?" Ethan muttered, almost breathless. "Wait, she was just an elf... so that means—" His lips curled into a crooked grin. "A High Elf? Heh, damn... she’s going to be even more beautiful, isn’t she? Lucky me."

The cracks spread wider, covering every inch of her slender body. The light grew so intense he had to squint, feeling like he was holding a star in his arms. Then—suddenly—it all collapsed inward, like glass shattering in reverse. The brilliance folded back into her, sinking beneath her skin.

And then, silence.

When the glow vanished, Ethan found himself staring at her anew. His chest tightened.

Her once-deep azure hair had lightened several shades, now shimmering like crystal-blue threads, catching the faintest glimmer of light. Her porcelain skin was impossibly smooth, glowing faintly as though lit from within. Her lips, fuller and softer than before, seemed sculpted to perfection, and even the small, delicate curve of her hands felt divine.

Despite wearing the same simple maid uniform, she looked nothing less than otherworldly. An angel veiled in mortal garb. Ethan swallowed hard, a dry chuckle escaping him.

"...I knew you were beautiful, Lirael. But this? This is unfair."

He steadied himself and pulled up her new status screen.

---

[Status Window — Subject: Lirael Vaerune]

Designation — Servant

Age — 122

Race — Elf → High Elf (Awakened) (Abyssal Oceania Sovereign High-Elf — Bloodline Dormant → Bloodline Awakened)

Title — None

Talent — "Indomitable Tide" (Shared)

Level: 10 — (7,742 / 117,353)

Class — Aqualith Sniper

Aqualith Sniper- A rare class that blends archery with the essence of water, the Aqualith Sniper is renowned for near-perfect accuracy across impossible distances. Their arrows move sharp and smooth like flowing currents, striking true even through mist or storm. With heightened water affinity, they draw on the element for fluid movement, endless stamina, and precision that borders on supernatural.

An Aqualith Sniper’s mastery extends beneath the waves—arrows glide unhindered through water, and the user can breathe and fight freely underwater. When standing near rivers, lakes, or rain, their shots gain extra piercing force, making them deadly predators wherever water flows.

Perks - 15% Boost in all stats, additionally 40% boost in Agility and Mana [100% Boost in agility when in contact with water(underwater, rain, standing over water with feet submerged)]

Attributes

STR — 18.5 → 2.0

VIT — 26.0 → 2.5

CON — 24.0 → 2.5

AGI — 25.5 → 2.5

STA — 24.0 → 2.5

INT — 30.0 → 3.0

MANA — 22.0 → 2.0

Unassigned Stat Points: 93 (20)

Skills:

[Soulweaving](Race Exclusive Skill) – Ability to entwine mana with allies, strengthening soul bonds; can share buffs, distribute mana, or synchronize spells with partners.

Class Skills:

[Current Sense] – Detects disturbances in air or water currents, making it nearly impossible for enemies to sneak up.

[Moonflow Volley] – Fires a barrage of arrows infused with lunar-water mana, each splitting mid-flight into smaller shards of water, raining down on enemies.

[Ocean’s Eye] – Shots infused with the force of gathered water mana; once released, the arrow bends its path like flowing water, curving around obstacles to strike the target with devastating precision.

---

Ethan blinked, rubbed his eyes, then checked again. "...What?!" His voice cracked. "Her stats—dropped?!"

He leaned closer to her screen, eyes darting across the numbers. "From this... to that? That doesn’t make sense. Did the evolution reset her body? Did it... compress her foundation?"

His fingers hovered over her cheek, brushing a strand of her lighter hair aside. Her skin felt softer than silk, cooler than morning dew, and yet he could feel mana thrumming faintly underneath, like the ocean hiding its true depth.

Ethan’s jaw tightened as he stared at the strange numbers on the interface. His gut screamed that something wasn’t right.

"System," he snapped, "explain. Why the hell have her stats been reduced?!"

The screen shimmered, then the familiar mechanical voice filled his mind.

[Response: Individual Lirael Vaerune’s attributes have not been reduced. They are displayed relative to her new racial framework.]

Ethan’s brow furrowed. "...What?"

[Clarification: Her previous values have been recalibrated to match the standard of her evolved race which happened to be 10 times stronger than average. The power she possessed before remains intact. However, compared to the higher threshold of her current form, the displayed numbers appear lower. This is a matter of scaling.]

[Note: Level-up stat allocation has increased from 4 per level to 10 per level. In addition, points equivalent to her prior growth have been returned as unassigned stat points. Bonus points have been granted as compensation for consumed attributes during racial awakening.]

Ethan froze, rereading the lines. His mouth hung open.

"...So she’s not weaker. She’s actually stronger. And she’ll grow even faster now?"

[Confirmation: Affirmative. The potential of Subject Lirael Vaerune has multiplied.]

Ethan let out a low whistle, a grin tugging at his lips. "Damn... so she’s a monster in disguise now. My monster."

He looked down at her, still resting in his arms. Her new features almost radiated serenity—blue hair faintly glowing as if kissed by moonlight, skin smooth like carved ivory. The faint rise and fall of her chest was the only sign of life, yet the aura clinging to her was undeniable—calm, oceanic, yet infinite in depth.

Just as he brushed his thumb across her cheek, her eyelashes trembled.

"...Lirael?" he whispered, leaning closer.

Her eyes fluttered open—deeper, clearer, a shade of blue that seemed to carry the entire sea within them. For a moment, she looked dazed, gaze unfocused, then slowly she locked onto him.

"...Ethan?" Her voice was softer than before, almost melodic, sending a ripple of warmth through his chest.

Ethan exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"

Her brows knitted faintly. "Scared...? I..." She paused, looking at her own hand. Her fingers trembled as if sensing something strange, then she pulled them back against her chest. "I feel... different."

"Different, huh?" Ethan smirked, though his voice softened. "Try more beautiful... and a hell of a lot more powerful."

A faint blush touched her porcelain cheeks. She shifted uncomfortably in his hold but didn’t pull away. "...You always say such things so casually."

He chuckled, brushing her hair back. "Not casual this time. You’ve changed, Lirael. You’ve awakened."

Her eyes widened slightly, lips parting. "...Awakened? What do you mean—?"

Ethan only smiled, tapping her nose lightly. "Don’t worry. I’ll explain. For now... just rest. You’ll need it. The ocean inside you is only just starting to stir."

Her gaze lingered on him, caught between confusion and trust, before finally closing again, her breathing steadying as exhaustion overtook her. Ethan held her close, his grin fading into a thoughtful frown.

"...A High Elf Sovereign, huh?

Just as Ethan settled into the moment, holding Lirael close, another sharp chime split through his head.

Ding!

[System Notice: It has been detected that subordinate "Lirael Vaerune" has attained a higher form and now surpasses the Host. Such absurdity is not permitted under the Hollow Crown System.]

[Correction Protocol: A Master must always exceed their subordinate to provide for them. Host will therefore undergo forced evolution to a higher form.]

[Warning: Since Host possesses no prior foundation for his race’s ascension, current form will be dismantled and reconstructed. This process will induce extreme levels of pain. Host is advised to brace accordingly.]

Ethan blinked at the screen. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "...Wait. What?"

He jabbed a finger at the glowing panel, as if it had personally insulted him. "Subordinate? What subordinate, wasn’t she designated as my servant?" He glanced at Lirael, then back at the screen. "And what’s this about breaking me down? Am I some kind of chemical compound now?!"

The system remained mercilessly silent.

"...And what pain?! You can’t just—"

"Ethan?" Lirael tilted her head, confusion painted across her flawless new features. "What are you blabbering about? You look pale."

Before Ethan could answer, his words strangled in his throat. A faint crackling sound rippled across his skin, and his body began to glow white—thin fractures splitting across his arms, chest, and face just as they had on hers moments ago.

"...No. No, no, no. Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me—"

Pain hit him like a tidal wave. His muscles clenched so violently his body arched against his will. It felt as though every bone in him was being pulverized into dust, then re-forged in fire, only to be shattered again.

"GhhHHHHaaA—!" The scream tore from his throat, raw and ragged.

"Ethan!" Lirael’s voice broke, her hands clutching his arm. Her widened eyes reflected the web of luminous cracks crawling across his body. "What’s happening to you?! Stop—make it stop!"

He wanted to answer, to crack a joke and tell her he’d been through worse. But no words would come—only guttural cries as his body twisted, reshaped, the light bursting out of him in unstable flares.

His vision blurred, the edges of the world dissolving into white. In the back of his mind, he heard the System’s flat, clinical tone—mockingly calm amidst the agony.

[Reconstruction commencing...]

[Breaking Host down to base essence...]

[Warning: Pain tolerance exceeded. Proceeding regardless.]

"...Y-you... sys—" Ethan barely forced out before another wave crushed him, tearing his words into silence.

To Lirael, it looked as though Ethan was dissolving, his very form flickering between fragments of light and shadow. Her grip on him faded as if catching water, her heart thundering.

"No... please, Ethan! not like this...don’t go!!"

The room became blinding, Ethan’s silhouette vanishing into the radiance.

Just as he was dissappearing he spoke.

"W-wait for...me...I will be..gahh...back!!"

"Ethan!"

And then—

Shatter.

The light consumed everything.