Chapter 2680: Story 2681: The Awakening

“Awaken.”

The voice thundered through Kael’s heart.

His body lifted from the ground.

White fire erupted from his chest, spreading across his arms and face like living lightning. The darkness recoiled.

Azael stared at him.

Kael opened his eyes.

They were silver.

The black chains surrounding the white eye began breaking.

One.

“Elarion has awakened.”

Kael looked at his hands.

“I remember.”

Azael raised his sword.

“Then remember me.”

Kael turned toward him.

“I remember everything.”

The darkness shook.

Memories flooded between the brothers.

Two children beneath the white tree.

Two hands touching.

Two hearts beating together.

Then a blade of black light descended between them.

Kael screamed.

Their blood separated.

Their souls were torn apart.

The First Soul shattered into countless fragments.

Kael fell to his knees.

“We were one.”

Azael lowered his weapon.

“Yes.”

“Who separated us?”

Azael looked toward the throne.

“The King.”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“Which king?”

“The one before all kings.”

The silver-eyed figure suddenly spoke.

“No. That is only half the truth.”

Azael turned.

“You lied to him.”

“I protected him.”

“You stole his heart.”

“To save his soul.”

Kael stood.

The word shook the realm.

Both figures became silent.

Kael walked toward the black throne.

Every step created waves of white fire.

“Show me the truth.”

The throne opened.

Inside was not darkness.

It was a world.

A dead kingdom stretched beneath a crimson sun.

Millions of bodies covered the ground.

At the center stood a colossal gate.

Kael recognized it immediately.

The same gate from his oldest memory.

But this time, he saw what stood before it.

Eight children.

Lena.

Elias.

Azael.

The fifth child.

The sixth child.

The Forgotten Child.

The First Father.

And Elarion.

But there was someone else.

A ninth shadow stood behind them.

Kael stared.

“Ninth...”

The silver-eyed figure whispered, “Impossible.”

Azael stepped closer.

“I remember that shadow.”

Kael turned.

“Who was it?”

Azael’s face became pale.

“The one who taught the King to fear you.”

The ninth shadow raised its head.

Two white eyes opened.

Then another.

And another.

Kael felt something ancient moving inside his soul.

The shadow spoke.

“You finally remember me.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Name yourself.”

The shadow smiled.

“I had many names.”

The dead kingdom began collapsing.

“Enemy.”

“Father.”

“Creator.”

“Prisoner.”

Each word shook the gate.

Kael’s silver eyes narrowed.

“You are the thing before the First Soul.”

The shadow laughed.

“No.”

The gate behind it opened slightly.

“I am what existed before the thing that existed before the First Soul.”

Azael stepped backward.

“That is impossible.”

The shadow looked directly at Kael.

“Nothing is impossible for the door.”

Kael felt the white fire inside him growing.

The voice continued.

“Your awakening has begun.”

The gate opened wider.

Beyond it stood countless worlds, all trembling.

And from every world came the same whisper.

“Elarion.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Then let them remember.”

The white fire exploded.

And somewhere beyond the worlds, the First Soul opened its eyes.