The gigantic hand continued emerging from the darkness.
Kael could not move.
His mind struggled to comprehend what he was seeing.
The fingers alone were larger than mountains.
Ancient stars shattered around the creature's arm as it forced its way through the broken gate.
The entire realm trembled.
Even the Herald's laughter faded.
For a brief moment, Kael realized something terrifying.
The Herald was not controlling this thing.
It feared it.
The creature beyond the gate slowly moved.
And reality itself cracked.
Golden lightning exploded across the starry sky.
The Trial Realm was beginning to collapse.
> WARNING.
TRIAL DIMENSION DESTABILIZING.
Ancient symbols flashed everywhere.
Kael gripped the golden sword tightly.
The power flowing through it felt endless.
Yet deep inside, he knew the truth.
It wasn't enough.
Not against that.
The Herald suddenly stepped backward.
Its countless crimson eyes widened.
"No..."
Kael looked toward it.
The monster's body was shaking.
"What is it?"
The Herald stared into the darkness behind the gate.
Then it whispered a name.
"The Devourer..."
The hand stopped moving.
Everything became silent.
Not a single sound existed.
No wind.
No light.
No heartbeat.
Nothing.
Then...
An eye opened within the darkness.
Kael's soul froze.
It was far larger than the crimson eye in the sky above Elysium.
That eye had only been a fragment.
A glimpse.
This was the real thing.
And it was staring directly at him.
The moment their gazes met, countless images flooded Kael's mind.
He saw worlds dying.
Stars being consumed.
Entire civilizations erased as though they had never existed.
He saw the Seven Sovereigns falling one by one.
He saw Aurelion bleeding beneath a shattered sky.
And then...
He saw himself.
Sitting upon the Last Throne.
Alone.
The final survivor.
Kael immediately stumbled backward.
Blood trickled from his nose.
The Devourer laughed.
The sound did not enter his ears.
It echoed directly inside his soul.
> So...
You are the one.
The stars dimmed.
The Herald instantly dropped to its knees.
Every shadow within the realm bowed.
Even the darkness obeyed.
Kael raised his sword.
"Stay away from my world."
The Devourer became silent.
Then, unexpectedly...
It smiled.
> Brave.
Just like her.
Kael froze.
Her?
The Devourer slowly leaned closer.
> Your mother fought me too.
His heart stopped.
"What?"
The Herald looked shocked.
Even it seemed unaware of this information.
The Devourer's massive eye narrowed.
> Queen Elara reached the gate eighteen years ago.
Kael's breathing became uneven.
"Where is she?"
No answer came.
Instead, the creature's smile widened.
> Find her.
If you can.
Suddenly—
A scream echoed across the realm.
A woman's scream.
Kael recognized it instantly.
"Mother!"
The sound came from somewhere beyond the darkness.
Beyond the gate.
Beyond the Devourer itself.
She was alive.
Or at least...
Something remained of her.
Without thinking, Kael rushed forward.
The golden sword blazed.
The Last Throne's power erupted from his body.
The Herald immediately moved to block his path.
"Fool!"
BOOM!
Kael's sword collided with the Herald's claws.
A shockwave exploded across the stars.
The creature was thrown backward.
For the first time, Kael had wounded it.
Black blood scattered through space.
The Herald screamed.
The Devourer's eye narrowed.
Watching.
Waiting.
Almost as if it wanted to see what would happen next.
Kael charged again.
Golden flames surrounded him.
The stars themselves began orbiting around his body.
The Trial Realm responded to his determination.
> CANDIDATE POWER INCREASING.
LAST THRONE RESONANCE: 27%.
The Herald's expression changed.
Fear.
Genuine fear.
"Impossible."
Kael raised the sword.
The golden blade grew larger and larger until it resembled a pillar of light.
The Herald screamed and unleashed all of its power.
Darkness and light collided.
The entire realm exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
A blinding flash consumed everything.
For several seconds, Kael could see nothing.
Hear nothing.
Feel nothing.
Then the light slowly faded.
Kael opened his eyes.
The Herald was gone.
The gate was gone.
The darkness was gone.
Only fragments remained.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The Devourer was still there.
Its eye remained open.
Watching him.
And behind it...
Far beyond the creature...
Kael saw a faint silhouette.
A woman.
Wrapped in chains of starlight.
Her silver hair flowed through the darkness.
Queen Elara.
She slowly lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
Tears filled her eyes.
Then she mouthed four words that Kael could not hear.
Suddenly, her expression changed from relief...
To terror.
She began shaking her head desperately.
"No..."
Kael whispered.
Before he could understand what she was trying to say—
A hand touched his shoulder from behind.
Inside the Trial Realm.
Where nobody else should exist.
A cold voice spoke directly into his ear.
> Don't turn around, Kael.
If you do...
the trial ends.
To be continued...