Chapter 2689: Story 2690: The Eye Beyond Worlds

The crimson eye opened completely.

Worlds beneath its gaze stopped moving.

Kael stood in darkness.

The stranger remained kneeling.

“Brother,” he whispered.

Kael tightened his grip.

“What did you awaken?”

The stranger looked upward.

“Not what.”

“Then what?”

“Who.”

The crimson eye blinked.

Kael saw worlds floating inside it.

Cities, kingdoms, dead planets.

Connected by silver threads.

Every thread led toward him.

“They are connected to my soul.”

The stranger nodded.

“They were.”

A voice thundered from the crimson eye.

“Elarion.”

“Show yourself.”

“I have no body.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because you are my body.”

The stranger stood.

“Do not listen!”

The eye laughed.

“You still protect him.”

“Yes.”

“You always failed.”

The stranger’s crimson eyes flashed.

“I will not fail again.”

Darkness exploded.

The stranger was thrown across the realm.

“Brother!”

Kael rushed toward him.

A black hand emerged from the eye.

It struck Kael.

He crashed against the white throne.

His sword flew from his hand.

The ninth heart inside his chest began beating violently.

The white heart appeared.

Lena’s face emerged within it.

“Kael!”

“I hear you!”

“You must wake Azael!”

“Where is he?”

“Inside the First Soul!”

“How do I reach him?”

Lena looked frightened.

“Become what you were.”

Kael stared at her.

“Elarion?”

“No.”

Her voice became a whisper.

“Before Elarion.”

The ninth heart stopped.

Silence filled the realm.

Kael closed his eyes.

Something ancient moved through his memories.

A name appeared.

Not Elarion.

Not Azrael.

Not Kael.

A name before sound.

The crimson eye screamed.

“NO!”

Kael opened his eyes.

White light poured from them.

The stranger stared.

“You remembered.”

Kael raised his hand.

The darkness obeyed.

The crimson eye began retreating.

“You cannot command me!”

Kael’s voice was no longer entirely human.

“I do not command you.”

Worlds trembled.

“I remember you.”

The eye cracked.

Behind it appeared an endless black ocean.

Something enormous moved beneath its surface.

Kael looked at the stranger.

“What is beneath it?”

The stranger shook his head.

“The place where the first enemy sleeps.”

Kael lifted his sword.

“Then we wake it.”

“No!”

The stranger stepped forward.

“If you awaken it, every memory will return.”

Kael stared into the crimson eye.

“Then let them return.”

The throne dissolved.

Azael appeared inside the First Soul.

Elias stood beside him.

Lena reached toward them.

The fifth and sixth children emerged.

The Forgotten Child appeared last.

Eight figures surrounded Kael.

Then a ninth light appeared.

The crimson-eyed stranger looked at it.

“The circle is complete.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Open the way.”

The stranger smiled.

For the first time, he looked afraid.

Behind them, the crimson eye split apart.

Beyond it stood a colossal black door.

Something on the other side began knocking.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a voice spoke from beyond creation.

“Elarion.”

Kael stepped toward the door.

The voice whispered,

“Come and meet your first enemy.”

Kael reached for the handle.

And the door opened.