BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The collision between Ryu and Morvath shook the entire palace.
Ryu was thrown backward.
He landed on one knee, his hand pressed against the stone floor.
Morvath stood several meters away.
Not a single scratch was visible on his body.
Ryu slowly stood.
—You’re stronger than I expected.
Morvath smiled.
—And you’re weaker than I remember.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—Then I’ll have to change that.
Blue energy exploded from his body.
[Skill Evolution detected.]
[Shadow Step has evolved.]
[New Skill acquired: King’s Shadow Step.]
Ryu disappeared.
SWOOSH!
Morvath looked around.
Nothing.
Then—
BOOM!
Ryu appeared above him.
—King’s Shadow Claw!
A gigantic blue-black claw descended.
Morvath crossed his arms.
CRAAAAASH!
The floor beneath him shattered.
For the first time—
Morvath was pushed backward.
Ryu landed.
—Got you.
Morvath looked at his arm.
A thin cut had appeared.
Purple blood slowly dripped from it.
Morvath stared at the blood.
Then he smiled.
—Beautiful.
Ryu frowned.
—What’s beautiful?
—Your growth.
Morvath’s eyes glowed.
—Even after losing your memories, your instincts remained.
Ryu raised his hand.
—I’m not interested in hearing about my old self.
Morvath laughed.
—That’s exactly why you’re dangerous.
Suddenly—
A sword struck between them.
CLANG!
Caelum stood there.
—Enough.
Ryu looked at him.
—Caelum?
Caelum faced Morvath.
—You won’t touch the King again.
Morvath’s expression darkened.
—You still protect him?
Caelum tightened his grip.
—Until my last breath.
Morvath laughed.
—You said the same thing three hundred years ago.
Caelum froze.
Ryu noticed.
—What happened three hundred years ago?
Neither answered.
Ryu looked between them.
—Tell me.
Morvath smiled.
—Ask your precious First General.
Caelum’s eyes narrowed.
—Don’t listen to him.
Ryu’s expression became cold.
—Why?
Caelum looked at him.
—Because he wants you to doubt everyone around you.
Ryu remained silent.
Then the voice returned inside his mind.
Do not trust Caelum.
Ryu looked at him.
Caelum noticed.
—What is it?
Ryu shook his head.
—Nothing.
But he didn’t believe himself.
Suddenly—
The entire palace trembled.
A massive crack opened beneath the throne.
Morvath looked down.
His smile disappeared.
—No…
Ryu noticed his reaction.
—What?
Morvath stepped backward.
—Someone is coming.
Kael looked toward the crack.
—Another enemy?
Morvath shook his head.
—Worse.
The black mark on Ryu’s chest suddenly burned.
[Emergency Warning.]
[External entity detected.]
[Energy signature matches the Abyssal Gate.]
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—The Abyss?
A purple hand emerged from the crack.
Then another.
Something was climbing upward.
Morvath looked at Ryu.
—Your return has awakened too many things.
Ryu prepared himself.
—Then I’ll deal with them.
Morvath laughed.
—That’s the Ryu I remember.
Ryu glanced at him.
—Stop calling me that.
Morvath smiled.
—You may deny your past…
His eyes became cold.
—But your past will never deny you.
The creature finally emerged.
It was small.
Almost human.
A young girl with long silver hair.
She wore a black dress.
Her bare feet never touched the ground.
Purple markings covered her arms.
She slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were completely white.
Kael froze.
—What is that?
Caelum’s face became pale.
—No…
Ryu looked at him.
—You know her?
Caelum whispered—
—Everyone in Elarion knows her.
The girl smiled.
—It’s been a long time.
Her voice was soft.
Almost innocent.
Then she looked directly at Ryu.
—Big brother.
Ryu froze.
—What?
The girl smiled wider.
—You really don’t remember me?
Ryu’s heart began pounding.
Morvath suddenly became serious.
—Ryu…
—What?
Morvath pointed at the girl.
—She was the reason you erased your memories.
Silence.
Ryu stared at the girl.
—Who are you?
The girl tilted her head.
Then she answered:
—My name is Lyra.
She smiled.
—And I’m your little sister.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
The system immediately activated.
[Unknown relation detected.]
[Bloodline connection…]
[Analysis failed.]
[Warning.]
[Target cannot be classified as human, monster, god, or Abyssal entity.]
Ryu stepped backward.
—My sister?
Lyra nodded.
—Yes.
She slowly walked toward him.
—But you shouldn’t have come back yet.
Ryu’s aura rose.
—Why?
Lyra’s smile disappeared.
—Because the moment you returned…
The entire kingdom went dark.
—They found you.
Ryu looked toward the ceiling.
Something enormous moved beyond the clouds.
Kael raised his sword.
—Who found him?
Lyra looked upward.
Her eyes turned purple.
—The Seven Thrones.
Ryu frowned.
—The Seven Thrones?
Morvath’s expression became grim.
—The rulers who destroyed Elarion.
Ryu looked at him.
—Gods?
Morvath shook his head.
—No.
He looked toward the dark sky.
—Something older.
Seven enormous purple symbols appeared above Elarion.
The entire kingdom trembled.
The Elarion Guardians suddenly fell to their knees.
Caelum looked terrified.
Ryu stared at the symbols.
—What are they?
Lyra whispered—
—The seven beings who were waiting for your return.
One by one, seven voices echoed across the sky.
“The King has returned.”
“The seal is broken.”
“The Abyss has awakened.”
“Elarion remembers.”
“The war begins again.”
“The traitor has returned.”
Then the final voice spoke.
“And this time…”
The sky split apart.
“…he will not survive.”
Ryu looked upward.
His blue eyes burned.
—Then let them come.
His aura exploded across Elarion.
For the first time, Ryu wasn’t fighting to discover his past.
He was fighting because something inside him had begun to awaken.
And deep within his soul—
A second pair of blue eyes opened.
Watching.
Waiting.
Remembering.
To Be Continued…