The city fell silent.
Not because the battle had ended.
Because everyone had seen it.
The Divine Guardian…
Had bowed.
To Kael.
Even Draven Ashborn stood motionless in the sky.
His golden aura slowly faded.
For the first time since Kael had met him…
The War Throne Holder looked confused.
“No…”
Draven whispered.
“It recognized him.”
Above the city, the Divine Guardian slowly folded its wings.
It wasn’t attacking anymore.
It hovered silently, its silver eyes fixed on Kael.
Like a knight awaiting its king’s command.
Thousands of soldiers lowered their weapons.
Nobody understood what had just happened.
Inside Velkar…
The ground suddenly split apart.
CRAAAAACK!!
A gigantic fissure stretched through the city streets.
Buildings trembled.
Ancient towers leaned dangerously.
People screamed and fled.
From the crack…
Black mist slowly rose.
Cold.
Ancient.
Heavy.
The moment it touched the air…
Every Throne Holder reacted.
Astra took one step back.
Draven tightened his grip on his sword.
The First King’s eyes narrowed.
Evelyn immediately shouted,
“Evacuate the civilians!”
Thousands of soldiers rushed through the streets.
The city had entered full emergency.
Kael stared into the enormous crack.
Something inside it…
Was calling him.
Not with words.
With memories.
Suddenly—
His vision blurred.
The world disappeared.
Darkness.
An endless black ocean stretched before him.
A gigantic palace floated above the sea.
Made entirely of black crystal.
At its center…
A throne.
Larger than mountains.
Empty.
Twelve figures stood around it.
Each surrounded by divine light.
The Gods.
For the first time…
Kael saw them.
Not statues.
Not legends.
Real.
One God stepped forward.
A man wearing a crown of stars.
His voice echoed across eternity.
“If you are seeing this…”
“…then we have already failed.”
“The prison is breaking.”
A woman wrapped in silver flames looked directly toward Kael.
“You must never open the Final Gate.”
Kael wanted to ask questions.
But he couldn’t speak.
The vision continued.
The twelve Gods placed their hands together.
A massive black chain appeared.
It wrapped around something hidden beneath the palace.
Something enormous.
Something alive.
Then—
A scream shook reality itself.
The palace exploded.
The vision shattered.
Kael collapsed to one knee.
He gasped for air.
Blood dripped from his nose.
The First King rushed forward.
“What did you see?”
Kael looked up slowly.
“The Gods…”
Silence.
“They sealed something.”
The First King’s face instantly changed.
“What else?”
Kael closed his eyes.
Trying to remember.
Then—
His pupils shrank.
“There wasn’t twelve.”
Everyone froze.
“What?”
“There were…”
Kael swallowed.
“Thirteen.”
Silence consumed the city.
Even Astra’s calm expression disappeared.
The First King whispered,
“Impossible.”
Before anyone could speak—
A deep laugh echoed from beneath Velkar.
Not evil.
Not loud.
Ancient.
The laughter alone shook the city.
The fissure widened.
Then—
A gigantic stone door slowly rose from beneath the earth.
Hundreds of meters tall.
Covered in forgotten symbols.
At its center…
Thirteen giant keyholes.
Not twelve.
Thirteen.
Kael stared.
The black mark on his arm began glowing violently.
The Thirteenth Throne.
It was reacting.
The First King immediately stepped between Kael and the gate.
“You will not touch it.”
Kael looked confused.
“Why?”
The old king answered without hesitation.
“Because if that gate opens…”
He looked toward the heavens.
“…history ends.”
Suddenly— Get faster updates on g.com.
A silver arrow shot through the air.
WHOOOOOSH!!
It pierced the First King’s shoulder.
Everyone turned.
Standing atop a distant tower…
Was a woman wearing silver armor.
A long white cloak flowed behind her.
Her eyes glowed blue.
She calmly drew another arrow.
Draven’s expression darkened.
“The Hunter…”
The woman smiled.
“I finally found you.”
Kael frowned.
“Who is she?”
Astra answered quietly.
“Seraphine.”
“The strongest human alive.”
Silence.
“She has no Throne.”
Kael blinked.
“No Throne?”
Astra nodded.
“She hunts Throne Holders.”
Without warning—
Seraphine released her second arrow.
It wasn’t aimed at Kael.
It wasn’t aimed at Draven.
It flew directly toward…
The Divine Guardian.
BOOOOOOM!!
The black dragon screamed.
For the first time…
It bled.
Silver blood rained across the city.
Every Throne Holder stared in disbelief.
Draven whispered,
“She actually injured it…”
Even the First King looked shocked.
One ordinary human…
Had wounded a Divine Guardian.
Seraphine lowered her bow.
Then looked directly at Kael.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“I’ve been waiting…”
She drew a final arrow.
“…for the Thirteenth King.”
The sky darkened.
Lightning surrounded her bow.
Kael instinctively stepped forward.
The black mark on his arm burned like fire.
The hidden Throne responded.
The gigantic gate behind him slowly opened…
Just one inch.
From the darkness inside…
A single crimson eye appeared.
Watching.
Smiling.
Waiting.
Then a voice echoed from within the prison.
“One lock has been broken.”
The city shook.
Far beyond the horizon…
Every remaining Throne Holder looked toward Velkar at the exact same moment.
The final war…
Had officially begun.
End of Chapter 14