The Sovereign Pipa had four strings, each possessing a different effect.

As a Three-Star Epic Grade item, its abilities were extremely powerful.

The first string was called Shattering Pluck. It released a concentrated sonic burst in a straight line, with the force scaling according to the amount of mana invested.

The second string was Binding Resonance. A sustained note released an invisible resonance field that anchored targets within range, restricting spatial movement, including teleportation, for as long as the note was maintained.

The third string was Soul Tremor. A plucked chord sent vibrations directly into the spiritual bodies of targets within range, destabilizing active domain effects.

The fourth string was Sovereign's Dirge. A full strum released a sweeping wave of oppressive sound that suppressed all living targets within range, reducing their combat output by twenty percent for thirty seconds.

Michael's finger rested upon the third string. The moment he touched it, he did not hesitate.

TWANG!!!

A deep note echoed across the forest. Immediately, Michael felt a terrifying amount of mana leave his body. His expression changed slightly.

"So expensive?"

The drain was enormous. Normally it would already have been costly, but after battling several Legendary beings, using Law Skills, activating Brutal Rebirth, and exchanging attacks continuously, his mana reserves were far from full. Even someone with Michael's absurd mana pool felt the loss instantly.

The wolf-like creature immediately noticed. Its antlers glowed.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

The entire forest domain responded. Blue-black flames erupted from every tree. Countless pillars of fire shot toward Michael from every direction.

At the same time, the six-eyed deer raised its head. The air trembled. Thousands of droplets appeared above the forest, each one rapidly expanding into spears of compressed water.

KRAAAAAABOOOOOM!!!

The water spears rained downward. Michael immediately moved. His figure blurred through the forest as explosions erupted behind him one after another. Ancient trees collapsed. Flames devoured the landscape. Water spears blasted craters into the earth.

TWANG!!!

Michael plucked the string a second time. The sound spread farther than before. Invisible ripples flowed through the domain.

This time he immediately noticed something. Several nearby trees trembled. The blue-black flames flickered slightly. The suppression pressing down upon him weakened by a tiny amount.

Michael's eyes lit up. It was working. The effect was small, but it was undeniably working.

The wolf-like creature's expression darkened. "Stop him!"

It roared furiously. The six-eyed deer reacted immediately. Its six eyes glowed simultaneously.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

The rivers flowing through the forest suddenly rose into the sky. The water twisted and transformed into enormous dragons. Five. Ten. Twenty. The water dragons roared as they surged toward Michael.

TWANG!!!

Michael plucked the third string. The sound became sharper. The invisible vibrations spread throughout the domain.

KRAAAACK!!!

A tiny crack appeared in the crimson sky above. The surrounding forest trembled violently. The wolf-like creature's eyes widened. The six-eyed deer immediately noticed it as well.

The domain had been damaged.

"A supreme treasure?"

The deer spoke coldly. Neither of them had expected Michael to possess something like this.

The wolf-like creature's killing intent intensified. Michael did not answer. He continued dodging the attacks thrown at him.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

A dragon of water exploded behind him.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

A sea of blue-black fire engulfed the place he had occupied moments earlier.

The domain continuously strengthened the wolf-like creature. Every tree. Every vine. Every flame. Everything within this world obeyed its will. Meanwhile, the deer continuously supported it from the side. Water spears. Water dragons. Water blades. Relentless attacks rained toward Michael.

TWANG!!!

The fourth pluck echoed across the forest. This time the effect was immediate. The invisible sound wave spread through the entire domain.

KRAAAAAACK!!!

A massive crack split open the heavens. Entire sections of forest shook violently. Countless burning leaves fell from the sky. The domain was beginning to destabilize.

The wolf-like creature finally lost its composure. "No!"

Its roar shook the forest. The blue-black flames throughout the domain exploded. Thousands of burning vines erupted from the earth.

The six-eyed deer joined in immediately.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

Entire rivers rose into the air. Thousands of water spears condensed simultaneously. The sky itself disappeared beneath the attacks.

For a brief moment there was nowhere left to dodge.

Michael's expression remained serious as his body flashed through countless attacks. Several water spears grazed his shoulder. A burning vine struck his back. Another attack tore through his robes.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

Michael crashed through several gigantic trees. Fresh blood appeared at the corner of his lips. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Yet when he looked upward, he smiled.

Around him were cracks. They were everywhere. The sky resembled shattered glass. The forest trembled continuously. The flames were becoming unstable. Even the domain's suppression had weakened significantly.

The wolf-like creature and the six-eyed deer both felt panic rising within their hearts.

Domains were not invincible. Once heavily damaged, the backlash would directly affect the owner. At best it would be minor damage that could be ignored. At worst it would be a crippling backlash.

Michael stood up. Blood dripped from his arm. His mana reserves had fallen dramatically.

"This should be enough," he muttered as he reached for the third string again.

The wolf-like creature immediately charged. Its massive body crossed the forest in an instant. Blue-black flames gathered within its jaws.

The six-eyed deer raised all six eyes toward the sky.

KRAAAAABOOOOM!!!

A gigantic ocean suddenly appeared above the forest. Countless water spears condensed within it. Both attacks descended simultaneously.

Michael calmly plucked the third string one final time.

TWAAAAAAAAANG!!!

The sound that erupted was completely different from the previous four. The entire forest froze. The flames froze. The water froze. Even the wind stopped moving.

For a brief moment, absolute silence descended.

Then, KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

The sky shattered. The forest split apart. The burning trees exploded into fragments of light. The rivers suspended in the heavens collapsed. The entire domain broke apart like a shattered mirror.

The wolf-like creature coughed blood instantly. The six-eyed deer staggered backward. Both stared in disbelief.

"No!"

KRAAAAAAAABOOOOOOM!!!

The forest world collapsed completely. The endless darkness of the void returned.

Michael reappeared within the second layer of the void. His robes were torn. His mana reserves were heavily depleted. His body carried multiple injuries.

Yet the grin on his face had never been brighter.