The Gate shook violently.
Cracks raced across the sky like lightning trapped inside glass.
Every tremor sent waves through the shattered battlefield, forcing broken weapons to rattle against one another.
The sanctuary created by the Spear King had collapsed, leaving only scattered fragments of ancient runes drifting through the air before fading into nothing.
Silence lasted only a heartbeat.
Then Ash screamed.
Unlike the cries of ordinary creatures, the voice of a shadow soldier carried directly into Ethan’s mind.
Not pain.
Fear.
Ethan spun toward him.
Ash lay against the broken remains of the Legion Vault, his body flickering uncontrollably.
Large portions of his shadow form had simply disappeared, dissolving into black mist before reforming and vanishing again.
The shattered remains of his sword lay beside him, its blade already crumbling into dust.
The masked intruder’s single strike had nearly erased him.
“Ash!” Without thinking, Ethan rushed forward.
The system appeared immediately.
[Shadow Soldier: Ash] Status: Critical Integrity: 18% Warning: Shadow Core Destabilizing.
Estimated Time Until Dissolution: 04:52.
“Damn it…” Ash looked up through the cracked visor of his helmet.
“My…
King…” “Don’t talk.” “It has…
been an honor…” “I said don’t talk.” The soldier actually managed to laugh.
“I appear…
to be dying.” “You’ve been dead once already.” “There are…
apparently…
degrees.” Despite everything, Ethan almost smiled.
Captain Reyes dropped beside him, quickly checking the battlefield instead of Ash.
“The masked thing isn’t moving.” Ethan looked up.
The intruder still knelt exactly where Sovereign Command had forced it.
Its body trembled as invisible pressure crushed it toward the ground.
Yet something was changing.
Tiny cracks spread across the white mask.
Black mist leaked from those fractures like smoke escaping from a sealed prison.
Azrakel watched carefully.
“It is adapting.” “I thought the command worked.” “It did.” The emperor’s expression remained calm.
“But no authority is absolute.” Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?” “It means your power has limits.” Those words should have been disappointing.
Instead…
They reassured him.
For the first time since awakening, one of his abilities wasn’t infinitely powerful.
It had boundaries.
Boundaries could be understood.
They could be mastered.
“How long?” Azrakel’s golden eyes narrowed.
“A minute.” “Maybe two.” The masked figure slowly lifted one finger from the ground.
The earth beneath it exploded.
Captain Reyes swore under her breath.
“It’s getting up.” “Not yet.” Azrakel raised one of his six weapons.
Golden light erupted around the battlefield.
Thousands of spectral chains emerged from empty space, wrapping around the intruder’s body.
Unlike the command Ethan had issued…
These chains were old.
Ancient.
Each carried symbols Ethan couldn’t read.
The masked figure stopped moving again.
Azrakel lowered his weapon.
“I can delay it.” “But not destroy it.” “No.” “Can anything?” The emperor remained silent.
That answered the question well enough.
— Ethan looked back toward Ash.
The soldier’s form had become even fainter.
Pieces of his armor drifted away like ash carried on the wind.
“Ash.” “My King.” “You aren’t dying.” “I appreciate…
the optimism.” “It isn’t optimism.” Ethan glanced toward the Ring now fused around his finger.
The black metal had stopped hurting.
Instead, it felt…
Comfortable.
Like it had always belonged there.
The system quietly produced another notification.
[Legion Artifact Recognized.] Ring of the First Commander Synchronization: 3% Primary Authority Unlocked Sovereign Command Secondary Functions Locked Ethan focused on the words.
Immediately, more information appeared.
Not system text.
Instinct.
Knowledge flowed into his mind as though he had always known it.
The Ring was never designed for battle.
It was designed for leadership.
For maintaining an army.
For strengthening soldiers.
For sharing power.
His eyes widened.
“Ash.” “Yes…” “I think I can help.” Captain Reyes immediately stood.
“Then do it.” “I don’t actually know how.” Sarah sighed.
“That seems to happen to you a lot.” “It really does.” The shadow beneath Ethan’s feet stirred.
“…Touch.” “What?” “The ring.” “To Ash?” “…Yes.” Simple enough.
Ethan knelt beside the fading knight.
“I’m going to try something.” Ash managed a weak nod.
“If it fails…” “It won’t.” “You sound…
confident.” “I’m lying.” “…Good.” Carefully, Ethan placed the hand wearing the ring against the center of Ash’s cracked breastplate.
Nothing happened.
For three long seconds…
Nothing.
Then the ring grew warm.
The black metal pulsed once.
A thread of darkness emerged from it.
Unlike the violent shadows Ethan had seen before, this thread moved gently.
Like flowing water.
It entered the cracks in Ash’s armor.
The effect was immediate.
The dissolving stopped.
The drifting fragments of shadow reversed direction, returning to his body.
The shattered breastplate slowly repaired itself.
His breathing steadied.
The system chimed.
[Legion Maintenance Activated.] Shadow Soldier Integrity Restored to 37%.
Shadow Energy Consumed: 46%.
Ethan nearly collapsed.
A wave of exhaustion washed through him so suddenly that he had to brace himself against the ground.
Captain Reyes caught his shoulder.
“You okay?” “I suddenly understand why commanders stay behind the front lines.” The system added another message.
Insufficient Shadow Energy.
Further repairs unavailable.
Ash slowly stood.
His armor remained damaged, but no longer looked as though it would fall apart.
He lowered himself onto one knee.
“My life belongs to you.” Ethan sighed.
“We’re still workshopping the speeches.” Ash tilted his head.
“I thought that one was rather good.” “It was too dramatic.” “I can make it more dramatic.” “Please don’t.” For the first time since entering the Bronze Gate…
Everyone smiled.
Even Azrakel allowed the faintest hint of amusement to cross his ancient face.
Then— CRACK.
The sound echoed across the battlefield.
Everyone turned.
One of Azrakel’s golden chains had just snapped.
The masked intruder slowly lifted its head.
Behind the cracked white mask…
The single black eye opened once more.
This time…
It wasn’t looking at Ethan.
It was looking at the Ring.
And for the first time…
The impossible creature showed unmistakable emotion.
Recognition.
It whispered one sentence.
“So…
the First Commander truly chose you.” The second chain shattered.
The Gate trembled violently.
Far above them, the crimson sky split open from horizon to horizon.
The Bronze Gate had begun its final collapse.
____________ The crack in the sky widened.
Unlike the fractures that had appeared earlier, this one did not stop.
It spread from one end of the Bronze Gate to the other, tearing through crimson clouds and ancient stars alike.
Chunks of the false sky broke away, dissolving into countless particles of light before vanishing into nothingness.
The System reacted immediately.
[WARNING.] [Bronze Gate #7713 has entered Terminal Collapse.] [Time Remaining: 00:14:37.] [All surviving entities will be forcibly expelled upon Gate destruction.] The battlefield trembled beneath their feet.
The giant skeletal guardians surrounding the Legion Vault slowly lowered their weapons.
One after another, they knelt before Azrakel.
The Last Emperor remained perfectly still.
“So…” Ethan said, catching his breath.
“This place is really ending.” Azrakel nodded.
“It completed its purpose long ago.” “And what purpose was that?” “To wait.” The answer was simple.
Painfully simple.
“For me?” “For the heir.” Ethan glanced at the Ring fused around his finger.
“I don’t feel much like an heir.” “No heir ever does.” Ash slowly walked to Ethan’s side.
Although his armor remained cracked, his movements had become steady once again.
“My King.” Ethan sighed.
“I suppose I’m never getting rid of that title.” “No.” “I was afraid you’d say that.” Ash’s eyes glowed a little brighter.
“It is an honorable burden.” “I was hoping for ‘temporary inconvenience.'” Sarah couldn’t help laughing.
“You know, I imagined ancient shadow knights would be a lot more intimidating.” Ash looked at her.
“I can become more intimidating.” “…Please don’t.” — A deafening explosion interrupted them.
The masked intruder had shattered another of Azrakel’s chains.
Golden fragments scattered across the battlefield like broken glass.
The pressure holding the creature weakened noticeably.
Captain Reyes immediately raised her pistol.
“It’s breaking free.” “I know,” Azrakel replied calmly.
“Can you stop it?” “For a little longer.” The emperor raised another hand.
The remaining chains tightened around the masked figure.
The creature merely tilted its head.
“You delay the inevitable.” Its voice echoed from everywhere at once.
“You delayed the end of your universe.” Azrakel’s expression remained unreadable.
“I bought hope.” “You bought time.” “Sometimes they are the same.” For several long seconds neither moved.
Then the masked figure laughed.
A cold, hollow sound.
“I wondered what kind of person the First Commander would choose.” Its black eye shifted toward Ethan.
“I expected more.” Ethan folded his arms.
“That makes two of us.” Captain Reyes shot him an incredulous look.
“You’re joking now?” “If I stop joking, I’ll start panicking.” “…Fair.” — The creature slowly stood.
Not completely.
Just enough to prove that Sovereign Command was no longer fully restraining it.
Dark mist poured from beneath its cloak.
Where the mist touched the ground, the ancient stone dissolved into black sand.
The System attempted another scan.
[Scanning…] [Identity Unknown.] [Authority Conflict Detected.] [Recommendation: Retreat.] Ethan blinked.
“The System can recommend retreat?” Sarah frowned.
“I actually appreciate the honesty.” The masked figure extended one hand toward Ethan.
“I did not come to kill you.” “No?” “No.” Its voice became strangely gentle.
“I came to see whether the prison still held.” Silence.
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“I don’t like being called a prison.” “You shouldn’t.” Another chain snapped.
“But that does not make it false.” — Azrakel stepped between them.
Golden light surrounded the emperor.
For the first time since awakening, he radiated the authority of the ruler he once had been.
Every remaining guardian struck the ground with its weapon.
The entire battlefield answered.
“You will not take another step.” The masked figure regarded him quietly.
“You cannot defeat me.” “No.” “But I can deny you.” For several heartbeats, neither ancient being moved.
Finally, the masked figure lowered its hand.
“I have seen enough.” Ethan frowned.
“That’s it?” “You carry the Ring.” Its black eye lingered on Ethan’s finger.
“You protected your soldier instead of pursuing power.” Ash straightened unconsciously.
“And…” The creature paused.
“You refused to speak the word.” The atmosphere grew heavier.
“Devour,” it whispered.
The shadows around Ethan shivered.
The silver-eyed shadow beneath his feet stirred restlessly.
“You could have ended our battle.” “I know.” “You chose restraint.” “I did.” “Interesting.” The creature sounded almost…
pleased.
“I will report this.” “Report to who?” Ethan demanded.
The masked figure said nothing.
Its body slowly dissolved into drifting black mist.
Only the cracked white mask remained visible for a moment longer.
Just before disappearing completely, it spoke one final sentence.
“When the other Hunters awaken…” Its eye met Ethan’s.
“…run.” Then it vanished.
Not with light.
Not with teleportation.
It simply…
Stopped existing.
— The battlefield became quiet once again.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Captain Reyes finally lowered her pistol.
“I hate mysterious people.” Sarah nodded vigorously.
“They never answer simple questions.” Azrakel remained staring at the place where the intruder had disappeared.
His expression had become unusually grim.
“You should.” Ethan looked toward him.
“What did it mean?” “The Hunters.” Azrakel closed his eyes.
“I had prayed they would never awaken.” “Who are they?” The emperor was silent long enough that Ethan wondered if he intended to answer at all.
Finally— “They were never gods.” “They were never monsters.” “They were created for only one purpose.” He opened his eyes.
“To hunt the Hunger across every universe.” The words settled heavily over the battlefield.
Captain Reyes slowly exhaled.
“And now…” “They know where you are.” — Another violent tremor shook the Gate.
Large sections of the distant landscape simply disappeared.
Mountains collapsed into streams of light.
Ancient ruins dissolved into dust.
The world itself was unraveling.
The System displayed another warning.
[Gate Integrity: 4%.] [Immediate evacuation recommended.] The Spear King walked toward Ethan.
His blue flames had faded considerably.
“I cannot leave.” Ethan already knew.
Even so, hearing it aloud hurt.
“There has to be another way.” “There is not.” Ash lowered his head.
The remaining guardians silently followed suit.
The Spear King smiled faintly.
“I have waited thousands of years.” His gaze drifted toward the Legion Vault.
“I feared the heir would never arrive.” He looked back at Ethan.
“I was wrong.” Before Ethan could respond, the ancient king removed the weathered spear from his back.
It no longer looked broken.
It looked magnificent.
Its silver blade reflected the crimson sky, while ancient runes glowed softly along the shaft.
He held it out with both hands.
“This belongs to the Shadow Legion.” Ethan hesitated.
“I can’t take your weapon.” “You misunderstand.” The Spear King’s smile became warmer.
“It was never mine.” The moment Ethan accepted the spear, the System erupted with notifications.
[Legendary Weapon Acquired.] [Spear of the First Vanguard.] [Synchronization: 1%.] [Current State: Sealed.] [Requirement for Full Release: Worthiness.] Ethan stared at the weapon.
“So even my equipment thinks I have to earn it.” Sarah grinned.
“At least it’s honest.” The Spear King laughed softly.
“It will grow with you.” He stepped back.
“And one day…” The ancient warrior lowered himself onto one knee.
“…return this spear to the battlefield where the Legion gathers once more.” Ethan tightened his grip around the weapon.
“I will.” The Spear King closed his eyes.
“I believe you.” The world cracked again.
This time…
The light swallowed everything.
The Bronze Gate had reached its end.
End of Chapter 13