"That thing from before?"
Maelthorak froze for a second, his eyes narrowing. "You mean the Kirin egg from the Stellamaris Kingdom? Something’s changed? What happened?"
"The intel’s real. It’s a living Crimson Ultimate Hero," Kairos said slowly.
"A living Crimson Ultimate Hero?"
Maelthorak’s brow furrowed. "You’re not talking about those two little Green Dragons, are you? I already know about them..."
Kairos gave a bitter smile before Maelthorak could finish. "No, I’m talking about that Kirin egg—it’s hatched. It’s become a living Crimson Ultimate Hero. Word just came in from the Storm Kingdom. The egg was hatched by the Lord of Emerald Castle..."
"What did you just say?"
"It... it’s already hatched?!"
Maelthorak stammered, then his face darkened in an instant—ashen and stormy.
Even his voice cracked with frustration and disbelief.
He’d pinned all his hopes of healing—of returning to his peak—on that egg. And now this?
It’s already hatched?
Then what the hell was he supposed to do about his injuries?
What, go kill a living Crimson Ultimate Hero of the Kirin race?
Yeah, right. Like he had the guts for that...
Killing one of his own kind was already a massive taboo. But doing it to steal the Primordial Force of another Crimson Ultimate Hero? That was a taboo among taboos.
He had no doubt—if he even tried something like that, the top elders of the Kirin race would tear him apart alive.
So now he was stuck—furious, teeth clenched, but completely powerless.
Kairos, the Naga Swordmaster, hesitated as he watched Maelthorak seethe. Then, gritting his teeth, he finally spoke.
"Lord Maelthorak... I might have an idea."
Maelthorak’s eyes narrowed again, his gaze sharp as a blade. "What are you trying to say? Don’t tell me you’re suggesting I go after the living Crimson Ultimate Hero? Do you even understand what that would cost?"
Kairos hesitated, then said, "But Sea King Maelthorak, if you let this chance slip by, who knows how long you’ll have to wait for another? Or if there’ll even be another chance at all!"
Maelthorak’s pupils contracted. He fell silent.
After a long pause, he locked eyes with Kairos and said coldly, "Kairos, whatever it is you’re trying to say—just spit it out already."
If it had been anyone else, Maelthorak would’ve lost his temper by now. This was a matter between Kirin—internal business. Outsiders had no right to even bring it up.
But Kairos wasn’t just anyone. He’d been Maelthorak’s right hand for over thirty thousand years. Trusted. Loyal. Family.
That was the only reason Maelthorak was still listening.
"Sea King Maelthorak, I know killing one of our own is forbidden. If word got out, the consequences would be catastrophic. But these aren’t normal times!" Kairos said, his voice rising with urgency.
"During the faction wars, even at your peak, things weren’t exactly safe. And now? With your current strength... forgive me for saying this, but if you go into battle , you might not make it out alive!"
The word "death" hit Maelthorak like a slap.
He threw his head back and let out a furious roar that shook the entire deep sea around them. The water trembled with the force of it.
Then he turned back to Kairos, eyes dark and voice low, like thunder rumbling in the depths.
"Y-Yes..." Kairos’s heart was pounding, sweat beading on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and pushed on. "Sea King Maelthorak, I believe we should strike now—before that Kirin Crimson Ultimate Hero from Emerald Castle draws too much attention. Hit first, gain the upper hand." Latest content published on novel·fıre·net
"And besides, it’s not like you have to kill him to get what you need. You could subdue him—make him submit—and then use the Primordial Force inside him to heal yourself."
"If he refuses to cooperate... then we go with the last resort—kill him."
The moment those words left his mouth, Maelthorak’s eyes lit up. He sat up straighter, excitement flashing across his face. "That’s right! Why didn’t I think of that?!"
After all, what he needed wasn’t the hero himself—it was the Primordial Force inside him. Now that the egg had hatched, there was no need to destroy the new Crimson Ultimate Hero outright. If he could bring the kid under control, he could tap into that power and use it to heal his own wounds.
Sure, doing that would leave the hero’s core power weakened for a long time—maybe even cause a drop in Tier—but hey, better that than being dead, right?
As long as he didn’t kill the kid, the consequences wouldn’t be too severe.
And this plan? It suited him just fine.
With that thought, he turned sharply to Kairos. "Do you know where they are now?"
"Yes. Last report placed them in the Gemspire Kingdom."
"Gemspire Kingdom..." Maelthorak’s eyes gleamed. He didn’t hesitate. "Kairos, forget the frontlines. I want you to go to Gemspire personally—right now. Deliver my command to the Lord of Emerald Castle. Tell him to hand over the contract binding that Kirin Crimson Ultimate Hero. Whatever he wants in return, if I can give it, it’s his. No limits."
"But if he dares refuse—bring him back by force."
As he spoke, Maelthorak pulled out a shimmering silver chain.
A chilling, eerie aura of soul-binding power radiated from it—oppressive, unnatural.
This wasn’t just any artifact. It was a Strategic Artifact. And not just any level—it was a top-tier Level 4 Strategic Artifact.
A name that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who’d ever heard of it in the world of Glory Lords X.
Because in this world, when a Hero Unit or even a regular unit dies, their soul doesn’t just vanish. The world’s laws guide it back to its bound Creature Dwelling or Hero Altar, allowing for resurrection.
But the Soulbind Shackles? They intercept that process. They trap the soul before it can return—locking it in place. No resurrection. No escape. The soul becomes a prisoner, stuck in limbo, completely at the mercy of whoever holds the shackles.
And it was exactly why the Necropolis faction—the undead—was so feared. So hated. So avoided.
Because the Soulbind Shackles were their creation.
Legend had it that the true Soulbind Shackles were a Level 5 Strategic Artifact—a divine-tier weapon. That version could even trap the souls of Mythic Units and high-Tier Crimson Ultimate Heroes.
That’s how insane it was.
The one Maelthorak held now was a Level 4 version—not quite as monstrous, and not strong enough to bind a Crimson Ultimate Hero directly—but against anyone below that level? It was foolproof. One hundred percent effective.
Which meant Maelthorak wasn’t planning to go after the Crimson Ultimate Hero head-on.
No, he was smarter than that.
He was aiming for Ethan—the Lord of Emerald Castle.
He didn’t believe Ethan was a Crimson Ultimate Hero himself. And if he wasn’t, then the Level 4 Soulbind Shackles would work just fine.
Once Ethan was captured, the rest would fall into place. That Kirin Hero? Bound by contract. And contracts weren’t just words—they were law. Even a Crimson Ultimate Hero couldn’t break one easily.
Once Ethan was in chains, the Kirin would have no choice but to obey.
That Primordial Force would be his.