Dawn broke over the Crimson Palace, spilling red-gold light over polished black stone and gilded spires. Yu Zhen had just woken in his private courtyard quarters, the early light painting his silver hair like molten metal. He was calm, but the System already whispered warnings:
[ALERT: HIGH-RISK EVENT DETECTED]
[Emperor's Interest: Engaged]
[Lian Xuan Instincts: Maximum alert]
He shivered slightly.
The Emperor of the Crimson Empire rarely took personal interest in an Omega — rare or not. And if the Emperor did, the situation was usually deadly.
The Royal Decree
At the main palace hall, a golden proclamation burned with imperial magic:
"All who harbor the rare Omega Yu Zhen shall surrender him to the throne immediately. Disobedience will be treated as high treason."
The hall trembled with whispers. Soldiers stiffened. Officers exchanged nervous glances.
In Yu Zhen's courtyard, Lian Xuan's aura darkened instantly.
[WARNING: JEALOUSY SPIKE 98%]
[INSTINCTS: OVERFLOWING]
[ACTION RECOMMENDED: PROTECT USER]
Without a word, he strode toward the entrance, black coat flaring like shadowed fire. Guards parted instinctively. One misstepped and nearly blocked his path — he didn't flinch. He simply stared, golden eyes glinting with lethal intensity.
"This Omega is under my protection," he said, voice cold enough to cut steel."Anyone who questions it… will die."
Yu Zhen watched, pulse tight. This alpha… every move screamed possession. But not once did he touch him. Just being near was enough.
The Emperor's Challenge
By midday, imperial envoys arrived — four horsemen in gleaming crimson armor, carrying a decree of arrest and threats. Their leader stepped forward and bowed formally, hiding the unease in his eyes.
"General Lian Xuan," he intoned, "the Emperor commands the surrender of the rare Omega Yu Zhen."
Lian Xuan didn't blink.He slowly raised a single hand.
"I will not hand him over," he said. Calm. Precise. Terrifying.
The envoy stiffened. "General, this is treason—"
"Then let us see whose loyalty the throne values more," Lian Xuan interrupted, stepping closer to Yu Zhen. The golden aura surrounding him pulsed like wildfire. "But I warn you—if one hair on his head is harmed, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Yu Zhen felt the heat of his body — not the literal temperature, but the raw dominance, the overwhelming instinct that screamed he belongs to me. It made his stomach tighten and his heart thump painfully.
The System chimed:
[INSTINCT SYNC: 65%]
[ALPHA POSSESSIVENESS: MAX]
[USER SAFETY: HIGHLY GUARDED]
Political Danger
The envoy tried a bluff. "General, the Emperor has decreed—"
"I do not answer to the throne in matters of this Omega's safety," Lian Xuan said coldly. His voice dropped lower, commanding. "…And I do not tolerate threats to him."
A sharp wind stirred. Guards shivered. Even the envoy felt the heat radiating from Lian Xuan like it could burn through stone. His aura was no longer human — it was primal, raw, protective, dangerous.
Yu Zhen's heart raced. He had lived lifetimes in danger, yet he had never known fear mixed with desire like this.
"General…" he whispered softly. "You'll—anger the Emperor."
Lian Xuan's eyes snapped to his face."I will anger anyone who dares touch you."He stepped closer, shoulder brushing against Yu Zhen's. The closeness sent a shiver down his spine."You are mine."
It was a statement. Not a question. Not a claim.An instinctual law.
The First Fragment Awakens
As the threat escalated, Yu Zhen's chest began to glow faintly, silver light pulsing like a heartbeat. The System alerted:
[MEMORY FRAGMENT DETECTED — FRAGMENT 1 AWAKENING]
[OBJECTIVE UPDATED: Protect User from External Threats]
[REWARD: TEMPORARY INSTINCTUAL SYNC + PROTECTION BONUS]
Yu Zhen blinked, startled, feeling something ancient stir deep in his soul — a fragment of memory from another life, another world, of Lian Xuan protecting him fiercely, holding him in arms that spanned lifetimes.
He looked up. Lian Xuan was watching him — not noticing the light, but noticing him.
The System whispered:
[ALERT: TARGET AWARENESS INCREASED]
[JEALOUSY LEVEL: MAX]
[PROTECTIVE INSTINCT: TRIGGERED]
Yu Zhen's pulse quickened, but he knew one thing:
No matter the Emperor, no matter the politics, no matter the danger… Lian Xuan would not let anyone take him.
And instinctively… he would not let anyone take him from Lian Xuan.