Silence lingered long after Nox's image disappeared.
No one in the Hall of Stars moved.
Even the Harbinger's systems had fallen quiet.
Kael broke the silence.
"He said he isn't our enemy."
Caelum frowned.
"After everything the Devourers have done... how can that be true?"
Aetherion closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"But Nox never lied."
The room turned toward him.
"You knew him?" Lyra asked.
Aetherion nodded slowly.
"Once."
The ancient star map awakened.
Instead of showing galaxies...
It showed only darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
"There was a time before stars."
"Before worlds."
"Before the Seven Thrones."
A tiny spark appeared within the darkness.
"It was called the First Light."
More sparks followed.
The universe was born.
Stars ignited.
Galaxies spread across the endless void.
Life blossomed.
"It should have lasted forever."
The image suddenly distorted.
A massive crack tore through reality itself.
From beyond it came a shadow deeper than darkness.
Not Nox.
Something else.
It had no shape.
No face.
Only an endless void that swallowed the light around it.
Every person in the Hall felt a chill.
"What... is that?" Kael whispered.
Aetherion's voice trembled.
"We never gave it a name."
"We couldn't."
"To know its true name was to lose yourself."
The vision shifted again.
Nox appeared.
Not as a conqueror...
But as a lone warrior.
He stood before the endless darkness with a black blade in his hands.
"He fought it," Arion whispered.
Aetherion nodded.
"For ages beyond memory."
"He held the darkness back alone."
The Hall fell silent.
"Then why did he become the First Devourer?" Seraphine asked.
"Because no one can fight infinity forever."
The vision showed Nox falling to one knee.
Darkness seeped into his armor.
Into his body.
Into his soul.
"He chose to contain part of it within himself."
"He believed he could control it."
Kael lowered his head.
"But it changed him."
"Yes."
"He became the first Devourer..."
"...so the universe could survive."
The vision faded.
No one spoke.
Everything they believed had been overturned.
Suddenly, the Hall shook violently.
A blinding silver beam pierced the heavens above the First World.
The clouds split apart.
A gateway of pure white light slowly opened.
Unlike the crimson portals of the Devourers...
This one radiated peace.
A voice echoed from within.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Emotionless.
"The Final Heir has been located."
"Judgment Protocol initiated."
Aetherion's face lost all color.
"No..."
Kael looked toward the sky.
"What is it?"
Aetherion whispered only two words.
"The Architects."
From the silver gateway...
A colossal figure of living light took its first step into the universe.
The beings who had existed before the Thrones...
Before the Devourers...
Had finally returned.