The Hero's Harem is Trying to Kill Him - Chapter 97 - 98: Crown of Thorns

Chapter 97: Chapter 98: Crown of Thorns

Recap

Kai’s hand moved toward the crown, and the chamber exploded in blinding light. The battlefield, once shattered glass and illusions, froze in a moment of suspense. Velis, Astra, and Lyra were left in suspended chaos, their reflections still warring, their bodies bruised and bloodied. The Queen’s laughter echoed through the chamber, reminding them that power and survival were intertwined—and that every choice carried a price.

Section 1 – Aftermath of the Choice

The light finally dimmed, revealing a hall transformed. Shards of glass hovered midair, trembling. Some fell slowly like raindrops, others seemed to float as if the laws of gravity had been rewritten. Shadows of the wives’ illusions lingered, flickering between real and not, between victory and defeat.

Kai’s reflection no longer stood opposite him—but something deeper had shifted. The crown floated inches above its pedestal, glowing faintly. Whether he had taken it or not remained uncertain to those watching; only his hand’s trembling and the subtle pulse of his aura betrayed the decision he made.

Velis staggered forward, wiping blood from her cheek. “Kai… what did you do?” she demanded, her voice shaking with both fear and hope. Her eyes scanned the crown, searching for the answer in its glow.

Astra’s voice was steadier but no less tense. “He’s changed. And whatever he did… it wasn’t just about us. Something else is here.”

Lyra clenched her fists, glaring at the crown. “He can’t let this happen. We won’t let him!”

The ground quaked as if the chamber itself had sensed the decision, ripples spreading through shards and shadows alike.

Section 2 – Rising Conflict

The Queen’s laughter slithered through the hall, soft and venomous, carrying with it the weight of centuries. “Ah, little king… your choice has only begun to unfold,” she whispered. “The crown is not a gift. It is a test. And tests are never simple.”

Kai’s aura shimmered, revealing a subtle glow that pulled at the very fabric of the chamber. The reflections of the wives flickered violently, as though their own stability depended on his presence. Each heartbeat Kai took sent tremors through the room, bending light and shadow alike.

Velis lunged forward, spear raised, but her steps faltered. Astra moved beside her, flames flickering in response to the pulse of energy radiating from the crown. Lyra’s arrows twirled in the air, deflecting rogue shards of glass that danced unpredictably.

“Whatever power he chose… it’s alive,” Velis whispered, glancing at Astra. “And it’s not just him we have to fight to reach anymore.”

The air thickened. Shadows stretched unnaturally, twisting into shapes that hinted at intelligence, predatory and patient. Every second brought the wives closer to exhaustion, yet the pressure to reach Kai intensified.

Section 3 – Kai’s Struggle

Kai’s chest heaved, sweat mingling with ash and dust from the shattered illusions. He felt the crown’s pull again, subtle but insistent. Its whisper clawed at his mind: Power. Control. Safety. Everything you’ve ever wanted.

But something deeper gnawed at him—a warning buried in instinct, in love, in the memories of battles fought together. The Queen’s influence was not gone; the crown’s promise was not simple. Kai’s mind split between temptation and resistance, each heartbeat a razor’s edge.

Visions flashed before him: Velis kneeling, Astra triumphant, Lyra broken—and then, reversed, cruel, deadly. He could feel the reflections of failure pressing down on him, the weight of the tower itself bending toward the crown’s will.

With a sharp inhale, Kai clenched his fist, suppressing the pull. “No,” he whispered. “Not like this. Not ever.”

Shards of glass exploded around him as if in response. Shadows screamed. The crown’s light flared, pulsing faster, stronger, like it was alive and testing the limits of his will.

Section 4 – The Wives’ Fight

Velis, Astra, and Lyra pressed forward together, fighting not just their reflections but the shifting, predatory energy of the chamber itself. Velis’ spear cut through shadows that lunged like serpents. Astra’s flames burned through glass shards, lighting the hall with molten brilliance. Lyra’s arrows struck precise points of tension, shattering illusions before they could harm.

Each of them risked everything with every breath. The crown’s pull tugged at Kai, but also at the wives, testing their resolve. Every move was met with resistance: shards of mirror turning into blades, fire twisting into blackened smoke, shadows stretching to grab at their limbs.

“Don’t let him fall!” Velis shouted, slicing through her own reflection.

“Keep moving!” Astra barked, flames scorching the nearest shadow.

Lyra’s voice cut across it all: “He’s ours. And we will reach him—no matter what!”

Section 5 – Cliffhanger

The crown’s glow intensified to blinding brilliance. The chamber seemed to bend around it, shards of glass spinning like orbiting moons, shadows writhing and stretching into monstrous forms.

Kai’s hand hovered over the crown again, trembling but unwavering. He had resisted once—but something ancient stirred beneath the hall, reacting to the choice he had made. A presence older than the Queen herself.

The wives’ battle cries mingled with the roar of the chamber, each movement desperate, each strike dangerous. And then…

The ground split open beneath the crown. Shadows erupted like living flames. A figure emerged from the fissure, cloaked in darkness, far older and more terrifying than any illusion or reflection.

Kai’s eyes widened. Velis screamed. Astra and Lyra froze mid-strike.

The figure’s voice rolled through the hall, deep, commanding, and ancient:

“So… the king has chosen. Let us see if he can survive what comes next.”

Light, shadow, and chaos collided in a single moment. And the Chapter ended—leaving everything hanging on the edge of an impossible choice.

🌑 Preview – Chapter 99: The Ancient Verdict

The ground has split, and from the shadows of the fractured hall, an ancient, terrifying figure emerges—older than the Queen, stronger than any illusion, and hungry for judgment. Kai, his wives, and the crown itself stand at the edge of fate, each heartbeat threatening collapse.

Velis, Astra, and Lyra must push through exhaustion, fear, and the pull of the crown to reach him. Every strike, every spell, every arrow becomes a test—not only of strength but of trust, loyalty, and survival.

The figure speaks with a voice that shakes the very foundations of the tower, declaring that Kai’s choice will be weighed against the power of centuries. The battle is no longer only physical—it is a trial of heart, mind, and will.

⚔️ Call-to-Action

The ancient presence has arrived, and the real test begins. Will Kai survive this judgment? Can the wives reach him in time? Or will the crown—and something far older—consume everything they’ve fought for?

👉 Read the next Chapter to witness the clash of mortal will against ancient power, and see if love, courage, and loyalty can bend the fate of kings and queens alike!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by AiKurou