There was no sky.
No ground.
No wind.
No sound.
Kael opened his eyes.
He was standing on nothing.
Liora stood beside him, staring into an endless darkness filled with distant points of light.
"Where are we?"
Kael looked around.
"I don't know."
Liora slowly turned toward him.
"You opened the door."
"I know."
"You're supposed to know where it goes."
"I was hoping it would tell me."
She sighed.
"Brilliant."
Kael smiled.
Then the smile disappeared.
Something was wrong.
He couldn't hear his heartbeat.
He placed a hand against his chest.
Nothing.
"Kael?"
"I'm fine."
Liora looked at him suspiciously.
"You're lying."
Kael looked at her.
"I don't know."
"What?"
He lowered his hand.
"I genuinely don't know if I'm fine."
Liora became silent.
That frightened her more than any monster could have.
A sound suddenly echoed through the darkness.
DONG.
A massive bell.
The entire void trembled.
DONG.
Another.
Thousands of stars appeared.
They formed a gigantic circle around Kael and Liora.
Then words appeared in the darkness.
WELCOME TO THE OUTER REALM.
Kael stared.
"The Outer Realm?"
Liora looked around.
"What is this place?"
A voice answered.
THE PLACE BETWEEN UNIVERSES.
A figure appeared ahead of them.
An old woman wearing a silver crown.
She looked human.
But Kael immediately knew she wasn't.
Her body contained an entire galaxy.
Nebulas moved through her hair.
Stars burned inside her eyes.
She looked at Kael.
Then immediately knelt.
Liora's eyes widened.
"Why is she kneeling?"
The woman lowered her head.
"Because the Throne has chosen its successor."
Kael frowned.
"I don't want a throne."
The woman slowly looked up.
"That is why it chose you."
Kael sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
The woman introduced herself as Seraphine, Keeper of the Outer Realm.
She led them across a bridge made of stars.
As they walked, Kael noticed countless worlds floating beneath them.
Some were beautiful.
Some were burning.
Some were completely frozen.
Liora stared in wonder.
"How many worlds are there?"
Seraphine answered:
"Too many to count."
Kael stopped.
"How many have died?"
Seraphine looked at him.
"Why ask that?"
"Because I can see them."
He pointed toward the darkness.
Billions of dead worlds surrounded them.
Liora's expression changed.
Kael could see everything.
Every destroyed civilization.
Every forgotten name.
Every final moment.
But he didn't feel horror.
He felt...
nothing.
Kael closed his eyes.
"That's happening again."
Liora looked at him.
"What?"
"I'm seeing all of this."
He opened his eyes.
"And I know I should care."
His voice became quieter.
"But I don't."
Liora stepped closer.
"You don't have to feel everything."
Kael looked at her.
"But I want to."
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then remember that wanting to care is itself a kind of caring."
Kael stared at her.
For a moment, something warm returned.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
He nodded.
"Thank you."
Seraphine watched them.
"You understand now."
Kael looked at her.
"Understand what?"
"The reason your predecessor failed."
They reached a gigantic floating city.
At its center stood a black tower.
At the top was a throne.
Kael stopped.
The throne looked exactly like the one from his dreams.
Seraphine spoke softly.
"The Throne of Absolute Authority."
Kael stared at it.
"Why did my predecessor want it?"
"He didn't."
Seraphine's expression became sad.
"The throne wanted him."
Kael looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
"The Authority isn't merely power."
She pointed toward the throne.
"It is a will."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"A will?"
"Yes."
"The Authority chooses its bearer."
"And once chosen, it slowly shapes them."
Kael remembered the remnant.
The emotional erosion.
The emptiness.
He looked at his palm.
"Then it's been shaping me."
Seraphine nodded.
"Since the moment you were born."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Can I reject it?"
Seraphine didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Suddenly—
the black tower began shaking.
A crack appeared across the throne.
Seraphine's face turned pale.
"No."
Kael looked upward.
"What?"
The throne cracked again.
Something was emerging from inside it.
A hand.
Then an arm.
Then a figure.
Kael immediately recognized the voice.
"You should have stayed in your universe."
Kael stepped forward.
"You."
The figure emerged completely.
It wore black armor.
Its face was hidden beneath a mask.
But Kael could sense its power.
It was stronger than the seven Sovereigns.
Stronger than the remnant.
Perhaps stronger than Kael.
Liora whispered:
"Who is that?"
Seraphine answered:
"The First King."
Kael frowned.
"The First King?"
Seraphine looked terrified.
"The first being ever chosen by Absolute Authority."
The masked figure removed its helmet.
Kael froze.
It had his face.
But unlike the remnant—
this version looked alive.
Cold.
Perfect.
And completely emotionless.
The First King smiled.
"Hello, Kael."
Kael tightened his fists.
"Why do you look like me?"
The First King laughed.
"Because I am not your predecessor."
He pointed at Kael's chest.
"I am your original self."
Kael's eyes widened.
The First King continued:
"Sixteen years ago, the Authority split me into two."
"My power became you."
"My mind became the remnant."
"And my body remained here."
Kael stared at him.
"Then what am I?"
The First King smiled.
"You're the part of me that still has a heart."
Silence.
Then the First King raised his hand.
The entire Outer Realm trembled.
"And I'm here to take it back."
Kael drew his sword.
The First King smiled.
"Don't worry."
"I won't kill you."
His eyes turned black.
"I'll simply remove everything that makes you human."
Kael's expression hardened.
Liora stepped beside him.
"Then you'll have to get through both of us."
The First King looked at her.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
"You."
Liora frowned.
"What?"
The First King stared at her as though he had seen a ghost.
"You shouldn't exist."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What did you say?"
The First King took one step backward.
For the first time—
he looked afraid.
"Impossible."
Liora looked confused.
Kael stepped in front of her.
"Why shouldn't she exist?"
The First King whispered:
"Because..."
He looked at Liora.
"...she was the person who destroyed me the first time."
The universe went silent.
TO BE CONTINUED...