The First Palace opened.
A wave of ancient energy swept across the Primordial Realm.
Every Primordial stopped moving.
Even Veyra's expression changed.
Kael stood at the center of the storm, sword in hand.
His system remained silent.
For the first time since his journey began, he was completely alone without its guidance.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Fine."
He raised his sword.
"I'll do this myself."
### The Voice of Creation
The enormous presence inside the palace spoke again.
**"SON OF AREN."**
Kael looked toward the darkness.
"My name is Kael."
**"YOU CARRY HIS SOUL."**
Kael frowned.
"Where is he?"
Silence.
Then:
**"WITHIN YOU."**
Kael froze.
His mother stepped forward.
"No..."
The First Will continued.
**"AREN DID NOT DIE."**
**"HE DIVIDED HIS SOUL."**
**"ONE HALF ENTERED THE ABYSS."**
**"THE OTHER HALF ENTERED YOU."**
Kael's mind went blank.
His father had been inside him all along.
The memories.
The strength.
The strange familiarity with the Void.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Veyra laughed.
"Now you understand."
Kael turned toward him.
"You knew."
"Of course."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because watching you discover it was more entertaining."
Kael's eyes became cold.
"Then I'll make sure you don't enjoy the next part."
The First Will suddenly released a pulse.
**BOOM!**
Kael was thrown backward.
Seraphine caught him.
"Kael!"
"I'm fine."
He stood.
His mother looked at him.
"Your father's soul is awakening."
Kael felt something deep within his chest.
A second heartbeat.
**THUMP.**
Then another.
**THUMP.**
A voice whispered inside his mind.
*"Kael."*
He froze.
"Father?"
*"You've grown."*
Kael closed his eyes.
For the first time, he heard his father's voice clearly.
*"I'm sorry."*
Kael's eyes became wet.
"You left me."
*"I know."*
"You left Mother."
*"I know."*
"You left everything."
Silence.
*"I had no choice."*
Kael clenched his fist.
"Everyone says that."
*"Then don't believe them."*
Kael opened his eyes.
"What?"
His father's voice became serious.
*"There was always another choice."*
Kael looked toward the First Palace.
*"I chose the one that protected you."*
### The Truth About the Abyss
Kael's mother finally spoke.
"I should have told you everything."
Kael turned toward her.
"Then tell me now."
She nodded.
"The Abyss was created by me."
"Not as a weapon."
"As a prison."
Kael listened.
"I discovered the First Will long before your father did."
"It was sleeping beneath reality."
"I created the first Abyss to contain its influence."
"But Veyra interfered."
"He wanted to awaken it."
"Your father stopped him."
Kael looked at Veyra.
"So you were responsible."
Veyra smiled.
"I was responsible for showing your father the truth."
"You wanted him to free the First Will."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Veyra looked toward the sky.
"Because existence is a prison."
Kael frowned.
"Everything has laws."
"Birth."
"Death."
"Time."
"Fate."
"Even gods have limits."
Veyra spread his arms.
"I wanted freedom."
Kael shook his head.
"Freedom without existence isn't freedom."
Veyra's smile disappeared.
"Perhaps."
Suddenly, the First Will moved.
A gigantic hand emerged from the palace.
The hand was larger than a mountain.
Every Primordial attacked simultaneously.
Thousands of divine techniques struck it.
Nothing happened.
The hand continued forward.
Solen shouted:
"ALL FORCES! RETREAT!"
Kael looked at the approaching hand.
Then at his companions.
Seraphine.
Lyra.
Eclipse.
His mother.
He couldn't retreat.
Not now.
Kael stepped forward.
His Sovereign Aura reached its maximum.
"Everyone stay behind me."
Seraphine shook her head.
"No."
Kael looked at her.
"I'm not losing you again."
She smiled.
"Then don't."
She stepped beside him.
Lyra followed.
Eclipse transformed into his massive Abyssal form.
His mother raised her hand.
A silver barrier surrounded them.
Kael smiled.
"Fine."
He raised his sword.
"Together."
### Sovereign Ascension
Kael's sword began changing.
Black energy.
Silver light.
Void.
Abyss.
And something else.
Something he had never possessed before.
**Primordial Authority.**
The system suddenly returned.
> **[Connection restored.]**
>
> **[Host has accessed hidden authority.]**
>
> **[Sovereign Authority: 100%]**
>
> **[Primordial Authority: 1%]**
>
> **[New State detected.]**
>
> ### **Sovereign Ascension**
>
> **Requirement:** Synchronize with father's soul.
>
> **Warning:** Failure may result in permanent soul collapse.
Kael smiled.
"Let's do it."
His father's voice echoed inside him.
*"I'm ready."*
Kael closed his eyes.
Their souls connected.
**BOOOOOOM!**
A massive silver-black aura erupted from his body.
His hair turned completely silver.
His eyes became a mixture of black and silver.
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
The First Will stopped.
For the first time—
it hesitated.
Kael opened his eyes.
He could see everything.
The laws of reality.
The flow of time.
The structure of souls.
The threads connecting every living being.
And beyond them—
the sleeping consciousness of the universe.
Kael whispered:
"So this is what you've been hiding."
The First Will answered:
**"YOU HAVE AWAKENED."**
Kael raised his sword.
"No."
He smiled.
**"I've only just begun."**
He swung.
The blade struck the hand of the First Will.
For the first time since the beginning of existence—
the First Will bled.
A drop of silver light fell from its hand.
The entire Primordial Realm went silent.
Veyra stared in disbelief.
Solen lowered his spear.
Kael's mother whispered:
"My son..."
Kael looked at the wound.
Then the First Will spoke.
**"YOU ARE NOT THE SOVEREIGN."**
Kael frowned.
**"YOU ARE THE HEIR."**
The palace opened completely.
Behind the First Will
appeared an enormous throne.
And upon that throne—
sat a figure wearing Kael's face.
Older.
More powerful.
Completely emotionless.
The system flashed red.
> **[Unknown entity detected.]**
>
> **[Similarity to host: 100%]**
>
> **[Classification: Original Sovereign]**
>
> **[Status: ACTIVE]**
Kael stared at the figure.
His mother whispered:
"No..."
The figure slowly opened his eyes.
And smiled.
**"Welcome, son."**
**To be continued...**