Omega Ascension System[BL]-Chapter 297: _The Crystal’s Call

Kyren’s POV

*****

"Excuse me?" The Rogue King almost couldn’t believe his ears.

Almost.

Throughout the centuries, his Dukes have proven difficult in more ways than one. But this?

"I know how it sounds, my Lord." Onika kept a straight face, her holographic image not flickering for even a second. "But at this point, it seems—"

"Like a futile mission." Kyren cut her short. "Because that’s exactly what it is." He paused, scanning his eyes through all their faces.

They seemed puzzled. Like they’d expected an entirely different reaction from him.

Well, too bad.

"Listen to yourselves speak." He went on, placing his hands firmly on his desk. Lucian sat there silently, looking between him and the crimson holograms. "You want us to hand over a crystal of Divine origins to our enemies? The same ones who’ve recently made it their mission to exterminate us Rogues?"

Duke Talmar—the same burly one who had confronted him in the desert earlier today—cleared his throat. "From what we know, their main target is the Divine Crystal. It makes sense. They’re the ones who experimented on it and caused the Blight."

Kyren barely managed a sarcastic smile. "Your words are thicker than the blood running into your brain."

Talmar’s jaw clenched. "You—"

"I seem to be the only sane one here." Kyren sneered. He’d had just about enough. "My answer is final: No. Besides, even if I wanted to give them the crystal—how do you propose we do that without triggering another explosion that would destroy us all this time?"

Varos, slim but sharp in his words, chimed swiftly. "We could strike a deal with the Arcadians. Let them come in and mine the Crystal out."

So much for the moron being "sharp".

Kyren turned his head away from them, grabbing his wine glass. After downing all of it in one gulp, his eyes focused on them just in time for Onika to comment.

"My Lord... If what our experts say is correct and someone or something is triggering the crystal’s reactions from afar," she started, her expression and tone solemn. "Doesn’t that make us sitting ducks? The Divine energy’s corruption is spreading. It’s slow but it’s only the beginning."

Silence.

The Rogue King didn’t say anything to all of that.

How could he explain that the crystal’s reactions might somehow be linked to his little flame and a random omega who turned out to be a lost prince?

His Dukes have always sniffed out any sign of weakness from him. He wouldn’t give them that victory now or ever. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Until I’ve figured out the true ’triggers’ of the crystal." He blurted, drumming his fingers on his desk. "I will make no comment on this. I’ll have the palace tech experts contain the energy leak before it can reach the capital city."

He sat down, crossing one leg on top of the other. No more sounds, words. Nothing.

Just an awkward silence that soon made the Dukes log off the call one by one.

"Very well, my Lord." Onika was the last to remain, bowing slightly.

She’s been trying to get in his good graces ever since her monumental incompetence during the first attack on Gravethorn City. Sadly for her, Kyren didn’t care.

After a couple of seconds, her hologram blinked out as well, leaving the Rogue King and Alpha Prince alone. In the quiet of the study room.

"Wow." Lucian broke the silence, blowing out a breath. "And I thought meetings with my council of fangs and the Eastern Wolves were stressful."

Kyren didn’t say anything. He just stared into the darkness of the study, watching the crimson lights illuminating some corners flicker.

Then, "Something feels off."

Lucian arched a brow, brushing something off his sleeve. "I think that’s been established for ages at this point."

Kyren went into thought, analysing things.

First, the timeline of when the Divine crystal exploded. They’d barely touched down from Arcadia when it happened. Not a day later. Not even an hour before.

But within that very hour.

Coincidence? Maybe. Or, their coming back triggered something.

"We need to find Elian and Sylas." Kyren got on his feet again, voice tense. "I have a bad feeling. And whatever Elian found out in his vision during brunch? It might be the key to helping us crack this mystery."

He placed a hand on his head, attempting a telepathic reach out to Elian through the mate bond. ’Little flame. Can you hear me?’

There was a short silence. And then—

’Kyren.’

’Where are you? Are you ready to talk now?’ the Rogue king asked. ’Lucian and I are coming to you.’

Another short break, except this time it felt like the telepathic connection was faltering.

His brows creased. ’Elian? W—’

’We’re outside.’ Elian’s mental voice was faint now. ’Sylas and I. We discovered something. A possible explanation for why the crystal reacted the way it did.’

Kyren’s mind sharpened instantly.

’Where outside?’ he demanded.

But before Elian could respond, the voice in his head twisted—like someone had grabbed the bond with filthy fingers and snapped it sideways.

A static crackle tore through Kyren’s skull. Lucian flinched at the same time, clutching his temple.

Then—

Silence.

A cold, ugly one.

Kyren’s eyes widened. "Something interfered with the bond."

"Divine energy?" Lucian asked, already rising.

"Or someone trying to hijack it." Kyren didn’t waste more breath. With a swipe of his fingers, he carved a portal open—jagged and crimson-edged. "Move."

Lucian didn’t hesitate. They hurled themselves through.

.

.

The moment their boots hit red sand, Kyren’s heart dove into his stomach.

Elian and Sylas stood exactly where they weren’t supposed to be—right at the edge of the massive excavation crater. And the crater... gods. It had changed.

Cracks splintered across the sand like lightning frozen in the earth. Silver threads pulsed through each fissure, leaking soft wisps of divine energy that shimmered like smoke. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet.

"Elian!" Kyren barked.

His little flame flinched and spun around—wide-eyed, worried, glowing faintly like someone had dusted him in moonlight.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kyren strode right up to him, jaw tight enough to crack. "Sylas lit up like a damn divine lantern last time we were here. The crystal is unstable—"

"I know," Elian breathed.

"Clearly, you don’t." Kyren’s voice cracked like a whip.

Elian swallowed hard. "Kyren, I needed to come. I saw something."

Lucian, still scanning the trembling crater, snapped, "Can you two not do the dramatic reveal at the mouth of an exploding divine artefact?"

Elian dragged in a breath—steadying himself. "Fine. Then listen fast. Because this is bigger than all of us."

Kyren didn’t like the tone. Didn’t like the look. Didn’t like the faint shimmer clinging to Elian’s irises.

"Talk," he ordered.

Elian’s gaze flicked toward Sylas. "I figured out why the divine crystal reacts as it does."

Kyren raised a brow. "Enlighten us."

"Elian," Lucian added, tension growing, "what did you see?"

Elian’s voice softened—almost fragile. "My soul... isn’t mine. Not fully."

Kyren stiffened at that.

Sylas lowered his head slightly, nothing but fear and sympathy shadowing his face.

Elian continued, "My soul is a fragment of the Divine Crystal. The crystal is the Moon Goddess’s dead essence. I’m carrying a piece of a dead deity inside me."

Kyren blinked—once. Then twice. Then a third time. "...Come again?"

Elian pushed on, the words tumbling now. "As we already know, Sylas was experimented on with the crystal’s divine energy. I was born from it. That means both of us—Sylas and I—are connected to the crystal by default."

Lucian stepped forward, hands clenched. "Elian... what are you planning?"

Elian turned fully toward the crater.

"I feel it calling," he whispered. "Just like Sylas. The same pull. The same pressure. So if Amara wants to use me to control the crystal—then I’m going to beat her to it."

Kyren’s blood froze.

"Elian. Step away from the edge."

But Elian didn’t move.

Kyren’s tone dropped into lethal territory. "I swear on every god buried or alive, if you climb into that crater—"

He didn’t get to finish.

A sound—like glass screaming—ripped through the air.

The cracks in the earth split open wider, spilling torrents of silver divine energy upward like geysers. The crater glowed—a violent, blinding heartbeat of the goddess’s lingering power.

"Get back!" Lucian roared.

But it was too late.

The ground shuddered, and the divine energy surged outward—rolling across the desert like a wave of living starlight. Wherever it touched, dry red sand erupted into bursts of green.

Vines, blossoms, trees, grass and flowers bloomed in seconds, devouring the barren wasteland.

The Dark Lands capital—a graveyard of dust—was suddenly alive.

Kyren’s jaw fell open.

"How—" Lucian breathed, eyes wide.

The Rogue king’s gaze snapped to Elian.

His little flame staggered once, bracing himself... but he didn’t fall.

His hair, once blonde white, now shimmered at the ends... streaked with glowing silver like threads of moonlight woven through.

Kyren took a step forward, voice rough. "Elian... your hair."

Elian lifted trembling fingers to it—eyes widening at the glow.

"I told you," he whispered. "The crystal is calling."

"And you’re answering," Kyren muttered, stunned.

Before any of them could process the miracle unfolding around them—the earth rumbled again.

Harder this time.

Like something ancient was waking beneath their feet.