The throne room trembled.
The golden figure stood before Kael, surrounded by seven enormous wings of light.
Even the False Sovereign looked terrified.
Kael slowly raised his sword.
"Who are you?"
The figure smiled.
"You've forgotten me."
He removed his golden helmet.
An ancient face appeared beneath it.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Something about him felt familiar.
Then the system appeared.
> **[Target Analysis Failed.]**
>
> **[Warning: Target exists beyond current system authority.]**
>
> **[Classification: Unknown.]**
Kael's expression became serious.
The figure noticed.
"Even your precious system cannot identify me."
Kael didn't answer.
The man smiled.
"Of course it can't."
He stepped forward.
"I am the one who created it."
Silence.
Kael's eyes widened.
"The system?"
The man nodded.
"Not exactly the version you possess."
He looked at Kael's chest.
"The Eternal Sovereign System was originally designed for you."
Kael's mind raced.
"So you know everything about it."
"I know its purpose."
"What purpose?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"To make you strong enough to kill me."
Seraphine immediately stepped between them.
"Kael, don't listen to him."
The golden figure looked at her.
"Still loyal after all these years?"
Seraphine's grip tightened.
"You don't deserve to speak his name."
"Interesting."
He looked toward Kael.
"She still hasn't told you everything."
Kael glanced at Seraphine.
"What is he talking about?"
She remained silent.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Seraphine."
She finally spoke.
"The system wasn't created by him."
The golden figure smiled.
"Half-truth."
Seraphine ignored him.
"It was created by the Sovereign himself."
Kael stared at her.
"By me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you knew you would lose."
Kael slowly lowered his sword.
Seraphine continued.
"Before the final battle, you split your power into several pieces."
"Your memories."
"Your authority."
"Your Voidheart."
"And the system."
Kael touched his chest.
"The system is one of my fragments."
Seraphine nodded.
"And that's why it has been guiding you toward your old power."
The golden man laughed.
"Guiding you toward your death."
Kael looked at him.
"Why?"
The man's expression became cold.
"Because your power is the only thing capable of destroying the Celestial Order."
"And you're part of that order?"
"No."
He spread his wings.
"I am above it."
The throne room fell silent.
"I am **Aetherion**."
"The First Celestial."
"The one who existed before Heaven had a name."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Then why didn't you kill me ten thousand years ago?"
Aetherion smiled.
"Because I couldn't."
Kael's expression changed.
"You were stronger."
"I was."
"Then why?"
Aetherion's eyes became cold.
"Because you were not alone."
Kael immediately understood.
"Eclipse."
Aetherion nodded.
"And Seraphine."
Seraphine stepped forward.
"Enough."
Aetherion looked at her.
"You helped him hide his soul."
"You helped him escape."
"And together, you nearly destroyed Heaven."
Kael looked at Seraphine.
"You knew all of this?"
"I remembered."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your memories were sealed for a reason."
Aetherion interrupted.
"She was protecting you."
Kael looked at him.
"From you?"
"No."
Aetherion smiled.
"From yourself."
The False Sovereign suddenly coughed.
Kael turned toward him.
The golden spear remained embedded in his chest.
"Why did you help me?"
The False Sovereign looked at Kael.
"Because..."
He struggled to breathe.
"...I was created from you."
His eyes softened.
"I may have ruled using your name."
"I may have stolen your throne."
"But I never wanted you dead."
Kael stared at him.
The stranger smiled weakly.
"Remember this."
"I wasn't your enemy."
"I was the part of you that Heaven couldn't control."
His body began dissolving into golden particles.
Kael reached forward.
"Wait."
The False Sovereign smiled.
"Take it."
A black crystal appeared in his hand.
"Your authority."
Kael caught it.
The moment he touched it—
**BOOM!**
A massive surge of energy entered his body.
The system appeared.
> **[Sovereign Authority acquired.]**
>
> **Authority: 31% → 47%**
>
> **Memory synchronization increased.**
>
> **New skill unlocked.**
>
> ### **Eternal Severance**
>
> Allows the host to sever spiritual contracts, seals, and divine bindings.
The False Sovereign disappeared.
Only his dark crown remained.
Kael picked it up.
Aetherion watched silently.
"You've recovered nearly half your authority."
Kael looked at him.
"And you're still standing."
Aetherion smiled.
"Yes."
Kael raised his sword.
"Then let's fix that."
Aetherion raised one finger.
The entire throne room froze.
Kael couldn't move.
Neither could Lyra.
Neither could Seraphine.
Even the air had stopped.
Aetherion walked toward Kael.
"You are powerful."
"But you're still incomplete."
Kael struggled against the invisible force.
Aetherion placed two fingers against Kael's forehead.
"Let me show you the truth."
A flood of memories entered Kael's mind.
He saw the final battle.
The Celestial Court wasn't attacking him.
They were running.
Behind them was something enormous.
A darkness beyond the stars.
A force that consumed entire dimensions.
Kael and Aetherion stood together.
Not as enemies.
As allies.
Kael heard himself say:
**"If we don't seal it, everything dies."**
Aetherion answered:
**"Then we'll need to sacrifice your soul."**
Kael smiled.
**"Do it."**
The memory shattered.
Kael opened his eyes.
Aetherion stood before him.
Kael whispered:
"You weren't my enemy."
Aetherion nodded.
"Not originally."
"Then what happened?"
Aetherion looked toward the sky.
"Your soul was divided."
"The Abyss entered."
"And you forgot."
Kael's expression changed.
"The Abyssal Heart."
Aetherion shook his head.
"No."
He looked directly at Kael.
"Eclipse is not the Abyss."
Kael froze.
"Then what is Eclipse?"
Aetherion's answer was barely a whisper.
"Your prison."
The room went silent.
Kael's system flashed violently.
> **[CRITICAL MEMORY ERROR]**
>
> **[Forbidden truth detected.]**
>
> **[Sovereign Authority: 47%]**
>
> **[Threshold reached.]**
>
> **[Attempting full memory restoration...]**
Kael's eyes widened.
The world around him disappeared.
A final memory surfaced.
He saw himself standing before Eclipse.
But Eclipse wasn't a monster.
It was a vast black gate.
And behind that gate—
something was sleeping.
Kael had placed his hand upon it.
Then he heard his own voice.
**"If I ever lose control..."**
**"Eclipse, seal me."**
The memory ended.
Kael opened his eyes.
His face had gone pale.
Aetherion watched him.
"Now you understand."
Kael looked toward the darkness beneath Elaris.
"No."
His sword began glowing with black and silver light.
"I understand only one thing."
He looked at Aetherion.
"You've been lying to me too."
Aetherion's smile disappeared.
Kael's system displayed one final message:
> **[Sovereign Authority: 50%]**
>
> **[True Sovereign Mode unlocked.]**
>
> **[Primary Objective Updated:]**
>
> ### **Discover Why the Eternal Sovereign Sealed Himself**
Kael raised his sword.
The throne behind him began to glow.
And somewhere deep within the Abyss—
Eclipse opened its eyes.
**To be continued...**