The crimson eye blinked.
Once.
The entire world trembled.
The massive gate beneath Velkar groaned as ancient chains stretched against impossible force.
CLANG!
One of the thirteen black chains snapped.
The sound echoed across the continent.
Every Throne Holder felt it.
Far to the west…
A woman sat upon a throne of mirrors.
The Knowledge Throne Holder.
Selene Veritas.
She looked up from an ancient book.
A single page turned by itself.
Her expression darkened.
“So…”
She whispered.
“The Thirteenth Lock has begun to break.”
She closed the book.
For the first time in centuries…
She stood.
Back in Velkar…
The crimson eye disappeared.
The gate fell silent.
But the black mark on Kael’s arm continued burning.
His heartbeat became heavier.
Slower.
As if another heart had begun beating inside his chest.
The First King immediately grabbed Kael’s wrist.
“Do not listen to that voice.”
Kael frowned.
“What voice?”
The old king’s eyes widened.
“You can’t hear it?”
Kael remained silent.
Because he could.
A whisper.
Soft.
Gentle.
Almost comforting.
“Come home…”
Again.
“My King…”
The voice didn’t sound evil.
It sounded…
Lonely.
BOOM!!
The Divine Guardian crashed into the ground.
Its enormous body destroyed half the city wall.
Silver blood flowed like rivers.
Seraphine slowly lowered her bow.
The legendary hunter smiled.
“I finally made you bleed.”
The Guardian stared at her.
Its silver eyes glowed brighter.
Then—
It spoke.
Not with words.
Inside everyone’s minds. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Protect… the King…”
Silence.
Every soldier froze.
Even Draven looked shocked.
The Guardian wasn’t protecting the prison.
It was protecting…
Kael.
Draven landed beside Kael.
His massive sword rested on his shoulder.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Kael looked at him.
“About what?”
“You aren’t the greatest threat anymore.”
Draven turned toward the ancient gate.
“Whatever is behind that door…”
“…is.”
Suddenly—
The city alarms changed.
Instead of warning bells…
A mechanical voice echoed across Velkar.
WARNING.
TWELVE HIGH-LEVEL SIGNATURES DETECTED.
ALL THRONE HOLDERS APPROACHING.
Silence.
Kael looked toward Evelyn.
“What does that mean?”
The scientist’s mechanical eyes flickered.
“It means…”
She swallowed.
“…they’re all coming.”
Not one.
Not three.
All of them.
The remaining Throne Holders had finally begun moving.
The sky changed.
To the east—
Golden light.
To the west—
Crimson flames.
To the north—
Silver mist.
To the south—
A sea of black clouds.
Each direction carried an overwhelming presence.
One after another.
The Thrones were awakening.
The real war…
Was finally beginning.
The First King slowly walked toward the cracked gate.
His expression had become colder than ever before.
Draven frowned.
“What are you doing?”
The old king didn’t answer.
Instead…
For the first time…
Everyone saw his hands.
Ancient black chains were wrapped around both arms.
The same chains sealing the gate.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“No…”
The First King smiled sadly.
“You finally noticed.”
The priest stepped backward.
“Those chains…”
The First King nodded.
“I was never guarding the Death Throne.”
Silence.
“I was guarding this prison.”
Kael felt his heart stop.
“What?”
The old king looked toward the gate.
Then quietly confessed the truth.
“I was never its king.”
The world became silent.
Draven slowly lowered his sword.
Even Astra looked genuinely surprised.
Kael couldn’t breathe.
“If you’re not the First King…”
The old man closed his eyes.
Then spoke the sentence that shattered everything.
“I was the First Prisoner.”
The crimson eye appeared again.
This time…
It wasn’t alone.
A second eye slowly opened beside it.
Then a third.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Millions.
An endless sea of crimson eyes stared through the narrow opening of the gate.
Watching.
Smiling.
Waiting.
The whispers became louder.
“Open…”
“Open…”
“Open…”
Kael instinctively stepped backward.
For the first time…
He felt true fear.
Not of death.
Not of the Throne Holders.
But of whatever was waiting behind that gate.
Far beyond the stars…
In a place where even the gods no longer existed…
A gigantic throne slowly cracked.
A shadow opened its eyes.
Its voice echoed across the universe.
“The Thirteenth Heir has awakened.”
A slow smile spread across the darkness.
“Bring him to me.”
End of Chapter 15