The throne room trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The black throne cracked from the center.
A dark hand slowly emerged from beneath it.
Ryu stared at it.
For the first time since becoming a monster…
He felt something he rarely allowed himself to feel.
Fear.
The Shadow Wolf stepped in front of him.
Its fur stood on end.
Kael raised his sword.
—Ryu, stay behind me.
Ryu shook his head.
—No.
He stepped forward.
—Whatever is beneath this throne…
His blue aura ignited.
—I’m facing it myself.
Caelum looked at him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
—Just like before.
Ryu glanced at him.
—You keep saying that.
Caelum’s expression became serious.
—Because you’re forgetting who you were.
Another crack appeared.
CRACK!
The floor beneath the throne collapsed.
A massive wave of darkness erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
Ryu crossed his arms.
The impact pushed him backward.
Kael slammed his sword into the ground to stop himself.
Caelum didn’t move.
The darkness spread across the entire hall.
Then a voice echoed.
“Three hundred years.”
Ryu looked into the darkness.
“Three hundred years since you betrayed me.”
Ryu frowned.
—I don’t know you.
A low laugh came from beneath the throne.
“You don’t remember.”
The dark hand gripped the edge of the broken floor.
Then something enormous began pulling itself upward.
First came its head.
Then its shoulders.
Then the rest of its body.
It was humanoid.
But it was far too large.
Black armor covered its body.
Purple cracks ran across its skin.
Two enormous horns curved from its head.
And in the center of its chest was a glowing purple core.
[Scanning…]
[Analysis initiated.]
[10%…]
[27%…]
[Warning.]
[Analysis failure.]
[Entity classification: Unknown.]
[Threat Level: ???]
Ryu stared at the system.
—Again?
The creature opened its eyes.
Purple light filled the throne room.
It looked directly at Ryu.
Then smiled.
“There you are.”
Ryu raised his hand.
—Who are you?
The creature laughed.
“You truly forgot everything.”
It stepped forward.
The palace shook with every movement.
Caelum lowered his head.
—My King…
Ryu looked at him.
—Tell me.
Caelum’s voice was quiet.
—His name is Morvath.
Ryu repeated the name.
—Morvath.
Caelum nodded.
—The First Abyssal.
Kael’s eyes widened.
—The First Abyssal?
Caelum looked at him.
—The first creature ever born from the Abyss.
Ryu looked at Morvath.
—Then why was he beneath my throne?
Caelum didn’t answer.
Morvath did.
“Because you imprisoned me.”
Ryu froze.
—I did?
Morvath’s smile widened.
“You and I were once allies.”
Ryu’s expression changed.
—Allies?
“Brothers.”
Silence.
Ryu couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Morvath continued.
“We conquered kingdoms together.”
“We destroyed armies.”
“We stood against the gods.”
His voice became darker.
“Until you betrayed me.”
Ryu clenched his fist.
—Why?
Morvath’s smile disappeared.
“Because you chose this world over me.”
Ryu stared at him.
Morvath raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered around his palm.
“You sealed me beneath your throne.”
“Then you erased your own memories.”
“And finally…”
His eyes glowed brighter.
“You died.”
Ryu’s pupils contracted.
—Died?
Caelum nodded.
—Your old body was destroyed.
Ryu looked at his hands.
—Then how did I return?
Caelum looked at the black mark on his chest.
—The Abyss brought you back.
Ryu became silent.
The system suddenly appeared.
[Major Revelation detected.]
[Previous Life Memory: Partially unlocked.]
[New Skill acquired.]
[Skill: Ancient King’s Memory.]
[Effect: Allows fragments of the user’s previous existence to be recovered.]
Ryu stared at the message.
—So I really had another life.
Morvath laughed.
“Not another life.”
Ryu looked at him.
“Your first life.”
Ryu’s expression hardened.
—Then tell me everything.
Morvath smiled.
“I will.”
He raised one finger.
“But first…”
Purple energy exploded from his body.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire throne room shattered.
Kael was thrown through a wall.
Caelum summoned a massive shield.
The Shadow Wolf transformed into its combat form.
Ryu remained standing.
Morvath looked at him.
“Show me how much weaker you’ve become.”
Ryu’s aura exploded.
—You’re going to regret saying that.
Morvath disappeared.
SWOOSH!
Ryu barely blocked the first punch.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact sent him flying across the hall.
Ryu crashed through three walls.
—Ryu!
The Shadow Wolf rushed toward him.
Ryu pushed himself out of the rubble.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
He smiled.
—I’m okay.
Morvath appeared above him.
“Too slow.”
He brought his fist down.
Ryu activated Shadow Step.
SWOOSH!
He disappeared.
The fist destroyed the ground.
Ryu appeared behind Morvath.
—King’s Shadow Claw!
SLASH!
The attack struck Morvath’s back.
But—
Nothing happened.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—What?
Morvath slowly turned.
“That’s it?”
Ryu jumped backward.
Morvath raised his hand.
A purple sphere formed in his palm.
Caelum shouted—
—RYU!
MOVE!
Morvath released it.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The palace exploded.
Smoke covered everything.
Kael struggled to stand.
The Shadow Wolf was buried beneath rubble.
Caelum’s shield was cracked.
Then—
A blue light appeared inside the smoke.
Ryu stepped forward.
His body was covered in wounds.
But his eyes were glowing.
The black mark on his chest had changed.
It was no longer black.
It was purple.
[Warning.]
[Unknown energy has synchronized with the user’s core.]
[Synchronization: 7%.]
Ryu looked at his hands.
A strange purple flame surrounded them.
Morvath smiled.
“There.”
Ryu looked up.
Morvath’s eyes gleamed.
“That’s the power I remember.”
Ryu’s expression became cold.
—Then let’s see if you remember this.
His aura exploded.
Blue.
Black.
Purple.
Three different energies merged around his body.
The entire palace shook.
Kael stared.
—What is happening to him?
Caelum smiled.
—He’s remembering.
Ryu slowly raised his hand.
—Morvath.
The First Abyssal grinned.
“Yes, my King?”
Ryu’s eyes burned.
—I’m not your king.
He stepped forward.
—I’m Ryu.
Morvath laughed.
“Then prove it.”
The two disappeared at the same time.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Their fists collided.
The shockwave shattered every remaining window in Elarion.
Above the palace, the sky turned purple.
And deep inside Ryu’s mind…
A forgotten voice whispered.
“Do not trust Caelum.”
Ryu froze for half a second.
He looked toward the First General.
Caelum was watching him.
Smiling.
But Ryu couldn’t tell…
Whether that smile belonged to an old friend—
Or an enemy who had been waiting three hundred years.
To Be Continued…