The Temple of Eternal Echoes shook as the third throne fully emerged.
Unlike the other two thrones, it radiated neither royal authority nor divine power.
It radiated something far older.
Something that existed before kingdoms, before dragons, before even the Seven Sovereigns.
Aurelion remained kneeling.
The guardian could barely breathe.
Even Orion, who rarely showed emotion, stared at the throne in stunned silence.
Kael looked at the ancient seat of starlight.
"Why is everyone reacting like this?"
Aurelion slowly lifted his head.
"Because that throne was never meant to awaken."
The symbols above the throne continued glowing.
> LAST THRONE ACTIVATED.
SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS CANDIDATE VERIFIED.
Kael froze.
"Candidate?"
"Not Sovereign?" Orion asked.
Aurelion nodded.
"The throne has acknowledged him."
"But it has not accepted him."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
"What happens if it rejects me?" Kael asked.
No one answered immediately.
Finally, the guardian spoke.
"The candidate dies."
Silence.
Kael's eyes widened.
"You could have mentioned that earlier."
Aurelion actually laughed.
"Trust me, this is the least of our problems."
Suddenly, the crimson eye in the sky released a pulse of dark energy.
BOOOOM!
The entire kingdom trembled.
Screams echoed outside the temple.
The map above the chamber changed again.
The corruption was spreading faster.
One city after another turned red.
The countdown appeared once more.
> SEAL COLLAPSE:
89 DAYS REMAINING.
Only one day had passed.
Yet the seal had already weakened further.
"This is bad," Orion muttered.
Aurelion stood.
"Then we stop wasting time."
He turned toward the Last Throne.
"Kael."
The prince looked up.
"You must undergo the Trial of Stars."
The guardian immediately looked alarmed.
"The trial hasn't been attempted in ten thousand years!"
"Because nobody could activate the throne."
Aurelion pointed toward the throne.
"The trial begins now."
Before Kael could respond, the throne released a blinding light.
The temple disappeared.
The floor vanished.
The world itself faded away.
---
Kael opened his eyes.
He stood alone in an endless sea of stars.
There was no temple.
No kingdom.
No Orion.
Nothing.
Only silence.
Then footsteps echoed behind him.
Kael spun around.
His breath caught.
Standing there was...
Himself.
Another Kael.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same appearance.
But this version wore black armor covered in crimson flames.
The dark Kael smiled.
"So we finally meet."
Kael immediately drew his sword.
"Who are you?"
The stranger laughed.
"I am every version of you that failed."
The words sent chills through him.
"What?"
The dark Kael walked forward.
"In one future, you abandoned Elysium."
"In another, you killed Orion."
"In another, you became the Devourer's servant."
Kael's grip tightened.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
Suddenly, countless visions appeared around them.
Kael saw thousands of alternate futures.
In some, he ruled as a tyrant.
In others, he failed to save anyone.
Some were so horrible he couldn't bear to watch.
The dark Kael smiled.
"Every path exists."
"Every possibility is real."
Kael looked away.
"No."
The stranger stopped smiling.
"What?"
"My future isn't decided."
The stars around them trembled.
Kael lowered his sword.
"I decide who I become."
For the first time, the dark version looked surprised.
Then he laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"Good answer."
Cracks appeared across his body.
Golden light burst from within.
"You passed the first test."
Before Kael could react, the dark figure began disappearing.
"But the second test is far worse."
"What second test?"
The figure pointed behind him.
Kael turned around.
His heart nearly stopped.
A massive gate had appeared among the stars.
Ancient chains wrapped around it.
Dark energy leaked from the cracks.
And something was trying to open it from the inside.
BOOM!
The gate shook.
BOOM!
Another impact followed.
A deep voice echoed from beyond the chains.
A voice Kael recognized immediately.
Yet it should have been impossible.
> Kael...
Help me.
The prince's eyes widened.
That voice belonged to his mother.
Queen Elara.
But she was supposed to be dead.
The gate shook again.
And this time, another voice emerged from the darkness.
A voice filled with hatred.
> Do not open the gate.
Kael froze.
Because the second voice...
Was his own.
To be continued...