The gates of Elarion stood before them.
They were enormous.
Two black stone doors rose hundreds of feet into the sky, covered in ancient symbols that Ryu couldn’t understand.
The Elarion Guardians stood on both sides of the road.
Every single one of them was kneeling.
No one spoke.
Even the wind seemed afraid to enter the ruined kingdom.
Ryu slowly walked forward.
The moment he stepped across the ancient boundary—
BOOM!
A wave of energy passed through his body.
[Territory detected.]
[Ancient Kingdom: Elarion.]
[Authority recognized.]
[Welcome, King.]
Ryu stopped.
—Again…
[King’s Authority has been detected.]
[Authority level: Unknown.]
Ryu frowned.
—System, why can’t you analyze it?
[Because the authority does not belong to the current world system.]
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—What does that mean?
Before the system could answer—
The giant gates opened.
CREAAAAAK!
A long corridor appeared beyond them.
Broken buildings stood on both sides.
Ancient statues had fallen to the ground.
Some statues showed humans.
Others showed dragons, elves, dwarves and monsters.
But every statue had one thing in common.
They were all facing the same direction.
Toward the palace.
Ryu looked at them.
—Why are all these statues looking at the palace?
The Grand Guardian answered.
“Because everything in Elarion once belonged to the King.”
Ryu glanced at him.
—Everything?
“Everything.”
Kael looked uneasy.
—That doesn’t sound like a kingdom.
Zerach gave a quiet laugh.
—It wasn’t.
Ryu looked at him.
—Then what was it?
Zerach stared at the palace.
—An empire.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—How powerful was it?
Zerach didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said—
—Powerful enough to make the gods afraid.
Silence.
Ryu looked at the ruined palace.
—And I ruled this place?
The Grand Guardian lowered his head.
“You did.”
Ryu continued walking.
Every step felt strangely familiar.
He passed a broken fountain.
He had seen it before.
A destroyed marketplace.
He remembered standing there.
A massive tower.
He remembered its windows.
Ryu suddenly stopped.
—I’ve been here.
Kael looked at him.
—You remember?
Ryu shook his head.
—Not exactly.
He touched the wall.
—My body remembers.
A faint blue glow spread beneath his hand.
The wall responded.
Ancient writing appeared.
THE KING HAS RETURNED.
Everyone froze.
Zerach’s expression changed.
—That shouldn’t be possible.
Ryu looked at him.
—Why?
—Because the inscription was destroyed three hundred years ago.
Ryu stared at the glowing words.
—Then who restored it?
No one answered.
Suddenly—
A bell rang.
BOOOOOONG!
The sound echoed across the entire kingdom.
Then another bell.
BOOOOOONG!
Then another.
Within seconds, hundreds of bells began ringing throughout Elarion.
The ruins started glowing.
Purple light flowed through the streets.
Broken buildings began rebuilding themselves.
Stone walls rose from the ground.
Ancient bridges repaired themselves.
The entire kingdom was awakening.
The villagers who had followed them stopped in disbelief.
One of them whispered—
—The dead city…
—It’s coming back.
Ryu looked around.
—What’s happening?
The Grand Guardian bowed.
“Elarion is recognizing its King.”
Ryu’s heart began beating faster.
Then the palace doors opened.
A voice echoed through the streets.
“Welcome home.”
Ryu froze.
That voice.
He had heard it before.
Inside the Abyss.
Inside his memories.
He slowly walked toward the palace.
Kael followed.
—Ryu, don’t go alone.
Ryu nodded.
—Stay close.
Zerach remained behind.
Ryu looked at him.
—Aren’t you coming?
Zerach smiled.
—There are some doors that should only be opened by their rightful owner.
Ryu didn’t argue.
He entered the palace.
The doors closed behind him.
BOOM.
Darkness surrounded him.
Then—
Hundreds of blue flames appeared along the walls.
A gigantic hall stretched before him.
At the end stood a throne.
The throne was black.
Two enormous horns curved upward from its back.
Ryu stared at it.
His body suddenly moved on its own.
One step.
Then another.
He walked toward the throne.
Kael whispered—
—Ryu…
Ryu didn’t respond.
The closer he got, the stronger the black mark on his chest became.
Then—
[Warning.]
[King’s Authority is reacting.]
[Unknown memory detected.]
Ryu touched the throne.
Everything disappeared.
He was standing in the same hall.
But three hundred years earlier.
Elarion was alive.
The throne room was filled with people.
Kings.
Generals.
Dragons.
Demon Lords.
Elves.
Even beings Ryu had never seen before.
All of them were kneeling.
And on the throne—
Was Ryu.
But he wasn’t a slime.
He looked human.
Long black hair.
Cold blue eyes.
A black crown.
And a sword resting beside his throne.
Ryu stared at himself.
—That’s me…
A man stepped forward.
He wore a silver mask.
—Your Majesty, the northern kingdoms have fallen.
The old Ryu didn’t react.
—How many survived?
—None.
—Good.
The present Ryu froze.
—What?
The memory continued.
Another man approached.
—Your Majesty, the gods have sent a message.
Old Ryu slowly looked up.
—What do they want?
—They demand that you surrender the Abyssal Core.
Old Ryu smiled.
—Tell them no.
—They said they will destroy Elarion.
Old Ryu stood.
His aura filled the throne room.
—Then let them come.
The memory suddenly changed.
The sky above Elarion was burning.
Dragons fell from the clouds.
Gods descended from the heavens.
Millions of monsters marched toward the city.
And at the center of it all stood the old Ryu.
He raised his hand.
—If this world wants war…
His eyes became completely black.
—Then I will give it one.
The vision shattered.
Ryu returned to the throne room.
He was breathing heavily.
Kael grabbed his shoulder.
—What did you see?
Ryu didn’t answer.
He stared at the throne.
Then he whispered—
—I started a war.
Kael’s eyes widened.
—What?
Ryu looked at him.
—Three hundred years ago…
His voice became colder.
—I declared war against the gods.
Kael slowly stepped backward.
—Ryu…
Suddenly—
CLAP.
CLAP.
CLAP.
Someone began applauding.
Ryu turned.
A figure stood at the end of the hall.
Tall.
Covered in a dark cloak.
His face was hidden.
Kael immediately drew his sword.
—Who are you?
The figure ignored him.
He looked directly at Ryu.
—You’ve finally remembered a little.
Ryu’s aura exploded.
—Who are you?
The figure smiled beneath his hood.
—Someone who served you.
Ryu narrowed his eyes.
—Then remove your hood.
The figure slowly raised his hand.
The hood fell away.
Ryu froze.
The man had silver hair.
One eye was blue.
The other was purple.
And across his face was an ancient scar.
He smiled.
—My King.
Ryu stared at him.
Something inside his soul recognized him.
The man bowed.
—My name is Caelum.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
The black mark on his chest suddenly burned.
[Ancient Guardian recognized.]
[Name: Caelum.]
[Former Position: First General of Elarion.]
[Status: Alive.]
Ryu stared at the system.
—Alive?
Caelum smiled.
—You thought everyone died three hundred years ago.
He stepped closer.
—They didn’t.
Ryu’s expression hardened.
—Then where were you?
Caelum looked toward the throne.
—Waiting.
—For what?
Caelum’s smile disappeared.
—For the day when you would return…
He looked directly into Ryu’s eyes.
—And finish the war you started.
Silence filled the throne room.
Then, deep beneath Elarion—
Something enormous awakened.
A heartbeat echoed through the kingdom.
THUMP.
Ryu looked toward the ground.
THUMP.
Caelum smiled.
THUMP.
—He’s awake.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—Who?
Caelum looked toward the darkness beneath the palace.
—The first enemy your old self could never defeat.
The entire kingdom trembled.
And from beneath the throne came a voice.
“Ryu…”
Ryu froze.
“You finally came back.”
The throne cracked.
A dark hand slowly emerged from beneath it.
And for the first time since returning to Elarion—
Ryu felt genuine fear.
To Be Continued…