The ancient bells reverberating across the world continued to echo through the heavens with terrifying persistence, their abyssal resonance spreading across kingdoms, sacred temples, cursed wastelands, and oceans untouched by civilization, while countless individuals capable of sensing mana or spiritual disturbances abruptly raised their heads toward the darkening sky with expressions filled by disbelief and dread.
Within the holiest sanctuary of the Solaris Theocracy, priests collapsed to their knees as enormous cracks spread across the gigantic golden statue of the Sun Saint standing at the center of the cathedral, while sacred flames that had supposedly burned uninterrupted for over two thousand years extinguished themselves instantly.
Far beyond the northern continents, deep inside the frozen ruins of the forgotten kingdom known as Nerath, ancient coffins buried beneath glaciers began trembling violently from within.
And inside the abyss hidden beneath Valthorin—
Kael could no longer hear his own heartbeat.
The overwhelming darkness pouring from the obelisk wrapped itself around him like living mist, crawling slowly across his body while fragmented visions continued assaulting his mind with increasing intensity.
He saw burning stars collapsing into infinite voids.
He saw armies composed of creatures beyond mortal comprehension kneeling before a black throne suspended within endless space.
And above all—
He saw a figure sitting upon that throne.
A king draped in darkness.
His face hidden beneath shadows.
Yet Kael already knew who it was before the vision fully revealed itself.
Because the king…
was him.
"No…" Kael whispered weakly, staggering backward as agony surged through every nerve in his body. "This can't be real…"
The gigantic Abyssal Sentinels remained kneeling motionlessly around the obelisk, their colossal armored forms resembling silent guardians awaiting the command of a forgotten emperor returned from death itself.
Then one of them finally moved.
The enormous entity slowly lowered its head further before speaking in a deep voice that sounded like mountains grinding against one another.
"The Sovereign has awakened."
The words instantly caused the chamber to tremble.
Seraphine's expression paled.
For the first time since Kael had met her, genuine fear appeared within her crimson eyes without restraint.
"That title…" she murmured quietly. "It should not exist anymore."
Kael forced himself to stand upright despite the violent pressure crushing against his body.
"What are they talking about?" he demanded, his voice rough with confusion and rising anger. "What am I?"
Seraphine remained silent for several moments.
The hesitation alone terrified him more than any answer could have.
Finally, she spoke.
"Long before the modern kingdoms existed… before humanity ruled the continents… there was another era."
Her voice echoed softly through the abyssal chamber while the crimson symbols upon the obelisk continued pulsing like a living heart.
"An era ruled by beings known as the Celestial Sovereigns."
Kael listened silently.
"They were not gods," Seraphine continued, "though mortals worshipped them as such. They controlled concepts beyond ordinary magic—space, death, memory, fate itself. Entire civilizations rose and fell according to their will."
The darkness surrounding the obelisk intensified.
"But eventually," she whispered, "one Sovereign betrayed the others."
At those words, the visions inside Kael's mind suddenly intensified violently.
A war.
An endless cosmic battlefield stretching across shattered worlds.
Black flames consuming entire stars.
And at the center of it all—
A lone figure wielding darkness against countless celestial armies.
"The Final Eclipse," Seraphine said quietly.
Kael's breathing stopped.
"That Sovereign attempted to devour the power of every other Celestial Throne. He nearly destroyed existence itself before the remaining Sovereigns sealed him beyond reality."
The chamber grew silent once more.
Then Kael asked the question he already feared knowing the answer to.
"And you think… I'm connected to him?"
Seraphine slowly lowered her eyes.
"I was hoping I was wrong."
Before Kael could respond—
BOOOOOOM.
A deafening explosion erupted above them.
The ceiling of the abyssal chamber shook violently as enormous fragments of black stone collapsed downward from the darkness overhead.
The Sentinels immediately rose from their kneeling positions.
An overwhelming aura descended upon the chamber.
Cold.
Sharp.
Murderous.
Then a voice echoed from above.
"So the seal truly has weakened…"
A figure emerged slowly through the collapsing darkness, descending toward the platform while countless strands of silver light spiraled around him like chains forged from moonlight itself.
He wore white armor covered in ancient runes, and behind him floated twelve luminous swords radiating enough power to distort the surrounding space merely through their presence alone.
Seraphine's expression immediately darkened.
"Him already…?"
The newcomer's piercing golden eyes locked directly onto Kael.
Not with curiosity.
Not with uncertainty.
But with absolute killing intent.
"The Heir of Eclipse," the armored man declared coldly. "By decree of the Celestial Accord… you will die here."