The alarms of the Temple of Eternal Echoes continued screaming.
Their sound echoed across the entire capital.
Every guardian stationed within the temple immediately drew their weapons.
Yet none of them dared move.
Because the warning had spoken a name that should not exist.
> EIGHTH SOVEREIGN DETECTED.
Inside the royal war chamber, silence reigned.
Kael stared at the floating message.
Orion's eyes narrowed.
Aurelion looked genuinely shocked.
For the first time since his return, the First King appeared completely unprepared.
"The Eighth Sovereign..." Kael whispered.
"I thought there were only Seven."
Aurelion slowly shook his head.
"That is what history says."
"What about the Last Throne?" Orion asked.
"That is different," Aurelion replied.
"The Sovereign of Sovereigns stands above the others."
The guardian swallowed nervously.
"Then who is the Eighth Sovereign?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
Or perhaps...
Nobody was supposed to know.
---
Deep beneath the Temple of Eternal Echoes...
Ancient doors began opening.
Doors that had remained sealed for ten thousand years.
Dust filled the air.
Golden chains shattered one after another.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
A forgotten chamber slowly revealed itself.
At its center stood a throne.
A throne made entirely of black crystal.
Unlike the Last Throne, it radiated neither light nor darkness.
It felt empty.
As though it had been abandoned long ago.
Footsteps echoed through the chamber.
A lone figure approached.
Their face remained hidden beneath a dark cloak.
The throne suddenly began glowing.
The figure stopped.
Then a calm voice echoed through the room.
"You've slept long enough."
The throne responded.
A single silver eye opened upon its backrest.
Watching.
Waiting.
Awakening.
---
Back in the capital...
The countdown clock continued to tick.
64:07:33
Time was slipping away.
The Ninth Sovereign remained hidden.
Queen Elara remained imprisoned.
The invasion continued.
And now another Sovereign had appeared.
Kael felt as though the entire world was collapsing around him.
Then suddenly—
His necklace erupted with light.
Brighter than ever before.
A vision appeared.
This time, it was not Queen Elara.
It was the mysterious older version of himself from the Trial Realm.
The one who had warned him.
The vision looked directly into his eyes.
> Kael.
Listen carefully.
The prince froze.
"Who are you?"
The older Kael ignored the question.
> The Eighth Sovereign must never reach the Gate of Origin.
A chill ran through the room.
Even Aurelion heard those words.
His face immediately lost color.
"No..."
The vision continued.
> If the Eighth Sovereign awakens completely...
the Nine Thrones will reunite.
The chamber became silent.
Orion frowned.
"What happens if that occurs?"
The older Kael looked directly at him.
And answered with five words.
> The end of all timelines.
The vision vanished.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Even breathing felt difficult.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
A tremendous explosion erupted from beneath the capital.
The ground split apart.
Buildings collapsed.
Citizens screamed.
A pillar of black light shot into the sky.
It pierced the clouds.
Pierced the stars.
Pierced reality itself.
Kael rushed to the palace balcony.
His heart nearly stopped.
The black light originated from the Temple of Eternal Echoes.
And at its center...
A figure slowly rose into the air.
The mysterious cloaked stranger.
Ancient energy spiraled around them.
The crimson moon above the kingdom began trembling.
Even the gigantic portal of the Devourer reacted.
As if recognizing an old enemy.
The stranger slowly raised a hand.
Then removed their hood.
Kael's eyes widened.
Orion froze.
Aurelion looked horrified.
Because the face revealed beneath the hood...
Looked exactly like Queen Elara.
The woman smiled.
But there was no warmth in her eyes.
Only endless sorrow.
Then she spoke.
And her words shook the heavens.
> My name is Lyra.
First Queen of Elysium.
And the Eighth Sovereign has finally awakened.
To be continued...