The Imperial Palace stood proudly at the center of the empire.
Golden pillars stretched toward the heavens, and crimson banners bearing the imperial crest hung from every wall.
At the end of the grand hall sat the Emperor.
Silent.
Motionless.
His gaze remained fixed on the palace gates.
Soon, two familiar figures entered.
KING and Shadow.
The guards immediately lowered their weapons and bowed.
“Greetings, Princes.” The twins nodded politely as they walked through the hall.
Their footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
When they reached the throne, they stopped.
“Father.” Shadow spoke first.
“You called for us?” KING tilted his head.
“Is there something you wanted to tell us?” The Emperor stared at them.
For a brief moment, something flashed across his eyes.
Sadness.
Regret.
Love.
Yet it disappeared so quickly neither twin noticed.
Finally, he spoke.
“Go spend time with your mothers.” The brothers exchanged a glance.
“That’s all?” KING asked.
“Yes.” The Emperor nodded.
“Go.” “Okay.” The twins turned and left the throne room.
As their figures disappeared beyond the doorway, the Emperor’s expression darkened.
His fists slowly tightened.
“They’ve entered this universe.” The thought echoed within his mind.
“And every world they touch turns to ash.” His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
Planet after planet had already fallen.
Entire civilizations erased.
Millions dead.
And now…
They were coming here.
To his world.
To his family.
“I don’t have much time.” The Emperor lowered his head.
“It is finally time to fulfill my promise.” Deep beneath the palace.
Far below the foundations of the empire.
A hidden chamber existed.
A place known only to the Emperor.
The room was completely dark except for a single object resting at its center.
A glowing sphere.
Its pale light illuminated the entire chamber.
The Emperor slowly approached.
The sphere immediately reacted.
“You are running out of time.” Its voice echoed throughout the room.
“They are close.” The Emperor remained silent.
“The heirs must receive what belongs to them.” The sphere’s glow intensified.
“You promised.” Silence.
The Emperor looked toward a massive stone door located at the far end of the chamber.
Ancient symbols covered its surface.
Symbols no one in the empire could read.
For several moments he simply stared.
Then he whispered: “I know.” Meanwhile…
Inside the royal dining hall.
Laughter echoed throughout the room.
Servants stood silently along the walls while the royal family enjoyed breakfast.
Maria and Marina sat beside the twins.
The servants occasionally exchanged confused looks.
Every servant in the palace shared the same question.
KING and Shadow were twins.
So why did they have two mothers?
No one dared ask.
It was one of the empire’s greatest mysteries.
Maria smiled warmly.
“Eat more.” KING immediately grabbed another piece of bread.
Shadow simply continued eating.
For a while, everything seemed normal.
Peaceful.
Then Marina suddenly asked: “KING.” “Shadow.” The twins looked up.
“What would you do…” Her voice softened.
“If one day your father and mothers weren’t by your side anymore?” The dining hall became quiet.
Even the servants froze.
The twins immediately answered.
At the exact same moment.
“That won’t happen.” Everyone blinked.
Neither brother hesitated.
Neither needed time to think.
“We won’t allow it.” Shadow’s voice remained calm.
“No one will take you from us.” KING nodded.
“We’ll become strong enough to protect everyone.” The two mothers froze.
For a brief second, surprise appeared on their faces.
Then both smiled.
A genuine smile.
Maria gently patted KING’s head.
“Okay.” Marina laughed softly.
“We’re not going anywhere.” The twins simply nodded.
Satisfied.
Yet neither mother could stop the sadness hidden behind their smiles.
Because they already knew the truth.
That night…
Rain quietly fell outside the palace.
Inside a private chamber, the Emperor stood before Maria and Marina.
The atmosphere was heavy.
No one spoke for a long time.
Finally, the Emperor broke the silence.
“Tomorrow.” His voice sounded tired.
“I’ll tell them everything.” Maria lowered her head.
Marina looked away.
“And then…” The Emperor closed his eyes.
“They must leave.” The room fell silent.
Maria clenched her hands.
“There has to be another way.” Marina nodded.
“We don’t want them to go.” The Emperor’s jaw tightened.
Neither did he.
They were his sons.
His family.
His reason for living.
Yet…
“There is no other choice.” His voice cracked slightly.
“If they stay…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Everyone already understood.
The room felt suffocating.
Finally, Maria spoke.
“Okay.” Marina nodded slowly.
“Okay.” The Emperor looked at both of them.
For the first time that night…
His eyes showed pain.
“I’m sorry.” Meanwhile…
Inside the twins’ room.
Moonlight entered through the window.
Shadow sat beside the bed.
KING lay staring at the ceiling.
Neither could sleep.
After several minutes, Shadow finally spoke.
“KING.” “Hm?” “Do you feel it too?” KING immediately understood.
“Yeah.” Silence.
An uncomfortable feeling lingered in the air.
Like a storm waiting to arrive.
“Something feels wrong.” Shadow nodded.
“Tomorrow.” “Something will happen tomorrow.” Neither knew why.
Neither knew how.
Yet they were certain.
The feeling wouldn’t disappear.
After a while, Shadow spoke again.
“Isn’t it strange?” “What?” “The way we understand each other.” KING thought for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
“Yeah.” He sat up.
“It’s like…” He searched for the right words.
“A universe full of emptiness.” Shadow nodded.
KING continued.
“But whenever the smallest feeling appears…” He raised a finger.
“Even something as tiny as an ant.” “We both notice it immediately.” Shadow looked toward the night sky.
“Because there is nothing else inside us.” KING laughed quietly.
“Exactly.” The two brothers remained silent.
Feeling the same uneasiness.
The same invisible pressure.
Then KING lay down.
“We should sleep.” Shadow nodded.
“Yeah.” Neither knew it would be the final peaceful night of their lives.
The next morning.
BANG!
The door exploded open.
Shadow instantly opened his eyes.
KING jumped from his bed.
Standing in the doorway was Uncle Ren.
Blood covered his armor.
His breathing was ragged.
One arm hung uselessly by his side.
The twins froze.
They had never seen him like this.
“Uncle Ren?” KING stepped forward.
“What happened?” Ren didn’t answer.
“Get up.” His voice was desperate.
“Now.” Shadow’s eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
The twins quickly followed him.
The moment they stepped outside…
They stopped.
The world beyond the palace was burning.
Not part of it.
Not the capital.
The entire world.
Cities burned.
Mountain collapsed.
The sky itself seemed to be on fire.
Millions screamed in the distance.
Ash felt like snow.
For the first time in their lives…
KING and Shadow stood frozen.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
The world they had known since birth was gone.
The cities were burning.
The skies were collapsing.
The screams of millions echoed across the horizon.
And for the first time ever…
The strange uneasiness they had felt the entire night finally had a reason.
Something terrible had arrived.
And it had come for their world.
End of Chapter 2 “Far beyond the burning horizon, the beings responsible for the destruction watched in silence…
and one of them smiled.”