The world seemed to stop.
The massive eye beyond the rift stared down at the valley, carrying an ancient hatred that had existed before human history.
Every creature within thousands of miles felt the pressure.
Mountains cracked.
Rivers changed their course.
The sky itself trembled.
Kael stood unmoving.
The Primordial Beast's shadow behind him grew larger, facing the unknown existence beyond the rift.
"You know me?"
Kael's voice echoed across the valley.
The Void Monarch laughed.
A sound that shook reality itself.
"Know you?"
"I have watched every Sovereign born after the First."
"I watched them gain power."
"I watched them lose themselves."
The eye narrowed.
"And now..."
"I finally see one who may actually succeed."
The Abyssal Fenrir growled.
"Do not listen to its words, Kael."
"The Void Monarch is a master of corruption."
The Void Monarch ignored the Fenrir.
"Your ancient beast has hidden the truth from you."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What truth?"
The Primordial Beast inside him remained silent.
That alone gave Kael the answer.
Something was being hidden.
The Void Monarch continued.
"The Beast Sovereign inheritance was not created by the First Sovereign."
"It was taken."
The valley became silent.
Kael looked inside himself.
The golden energy of the Sovereign power flickered.
"Taken from where?"
The Void Monarch smiled.
"From us."
A wave of disbelief spread through everyone.
Lyra stepped back.
"Impossible..."
The Void Hunter who had fought Kael earlier looked at the rift with anger.
"You are lying."
The Void Monarch laughed.
"Still loyal after all these years?"
"You were always a failed creation."
The hunter clenched his fists.
Kael noticed.
"You know this is true."
The hunter remained silent.
That silence confirmed everything.
Kael looked toward the Primordial Beast.
"Tell me."
For a long moment, there was no response.
Then...
"The power was originally created from the core of the Void."
Kael's expression changed.
"The Void?"
"Yes."
"The First Sovereign used the enemy's power against them."
The Primordial Beast's voice became heavier.
"But every power has a price."
The Void Monarch spoke again.
"And that price is you."
The rift began expanding.
A portion of the Void Monarch's body started emerging.
A massive black arm covered with ancient markings reached through the sky.
The pressure forced even Kael to step back.
"This world was protected by a seal."
The Void Monarch said.
"And you..."
"You are the key that breaks it."
Kael looked at his hands.
The same power that protected him...
Could destroy everything.
The thought would have frightened him before.
But now he understood.
Power itself was never good or evil.
Only the person who controlled it decided its purpose.
Kael raised his head.
"You waited thousands of years for this moment."
The Void Monarch smiled.
"Yes."
"Because when the final Sovereign awakens..."
"The Void returns."
Kael's eyes burned with golden flames.
"Then I will be the one who decides what happens next."
The Primordial Beast roared.
The entire world shook.
For the first time, the Void Monarch became serious.
"You have courage."
"But courage alone cannot defeat eternity."
Kael stepped forward.
"Then I will surpass eternity."
The Abyssal Fenrir stood beside him.
The Void Hunter raised his weapon again.
And slowly...
Every beast in the ancient forest appeared.
Thousands of creatures.
All bowing toward Kael.
The new Beast Sovereign had been recognized.
The final war had begun.
But before the battle...
The Void Monarch revealed its final words.
"Come, Sovereign."
"Enter the Void."
"Learn the truth of your origin."
"Or watch this world disappear."