The golden hand continued emerging from the Gate of Origin.
The moment it appeared, reality began to distort.
Mountains shook.
Oceans surged.
Even the stars seemed to move from their natural positions.
Across Elysium, every living creature felt the same thing.
Fear.
Pure, instinctive fear.
Not because the being was evil.
But because it was older than existence itself.
The First Watcher had arrived.
---
The massive golden eye remained fixed on Kael.
Its gaze pierced through his body, his soul, and even his fate.
Kael struggled to breathe.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Yet somehow...
He remained standing.
Everyone else had fallen to their knees.
Even powerful dragons bowed their heads.
Even the Ninth Sovereign remained silent.
Astraeus slowly stepped through the Gate of Origin.
The universe itself seemed too small to contain him.
Golden robes flowed around his figure.
Countless galaxies swirled within his eyes.
Every step he took caused ancient runes to appear throughout the heavens.
The First Watcher looked toward Kael.
Then spoke.
> So.
You are the final candidate.
The words echoed across countless worlds.
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who are you?"
A faint smile appeared on Astraeus' face.
> I am the First Watcher.
The one who witnessed the birth of creation.
Silence followed.
Then Astraeus looked toward the Last Throne's symbol glowing on Kael's chest.
His expression became complicated.
Almost... nostalgic.
> Ten thousand cycles.
Countless timelines.
Endless failures.
Kael frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
The Watcher didn't answer.
Instead, he raised one finger.
Immediately, space shattered.
Thousands of images appeared around them.
Kael's eyes widened.
They were different timelines.
Different realities.
Different versions of existence.
In one timeline, Elysium was destroyed.
In another, Orion ruled alone.
In another, Queen Elara survived.
And in every single one...
Kael died.
The prince froze.
Every future ended the same way.
Death.
Failure.
Loss.
Astraeus pointed toward the visions.
> These are the worlds that came before yours.
A cold silence filled the heavens.
The Watcher continued.
> You are Timeline 10,001.
The revelation shocked everyone.
Aurelion's face turned pale.
Lyra closed her eyes.
Even the Ninth Sovereign looked away.
As if he already knew.
Kael stared in disbelief.
"What do you mean?"
Astraeus answered calmly.
> Your reality is not the first.
It is merely the latest attempt.
The words struck harder than any sword.
Everything Kael knew suddenly felt uncertain.
Had all of this happened before?
The Watcher nodded.
As though hearing his thoughts.
> Thousands of times.
Then Astraeus raised his hand again.
One final image appeared.
Kael's breath caught.
The image showed a man seated upon the Last Throne.
A man with silver hair.
Golden eyes.
And a face identical to Kael's.
The older version from the Trial Realm.
The mysterious figure who kept appearing.
> The First Candidate.
The heavens fell silent.
Kael's heart pounded violently.
"Who is he?"
Astraeus stared at the image.
For the first time...
The First Watcher looked sad.
> He was the closest.
The image suddenly changed.
The older Kael stood against the Devourer.
Against countless monsters.
Against the destruction of existence itself.
And yet...
He lost.
The timeline shattered.
Everything vanished.
Astraeus lowered his hand.
> Since then...
We have searched for another.
Kael's mind raced.
Then a terrifying realization struck him.
"Wait..."
He looked at the older Kael's image.
Then at himself.
Then back at Astraeus.
The Watcher remained silent.
Kael's voice trembled.
"Are you saying..."
The First Watcher nodded.
> Yes.
He was you.
Lightning exploded across the heavens.
The entire kingdom fell silent.
The older Kael.
The mysterious guide.
The figure from the Trial Realm.
The First Candidate.
It had been him all along.
A version of himself from a forgotten timeline.
And before anyone could recover from the revelation—
The older Kael suddenly appeared beside the Gate of Origin.
Not a vision.
Not a memory.
Actually there.
The First Candidate had arrived.
He looked at Kael.
Then smiled.
A tired smile.
A familiar smile.
And spoke words that froze everyone's blood.
> We don't have much time.
The Devourer has already entered the Gate of Origin.
Behind him...
Something enormous moved within the golden light.
Something that was never supposed to reach the Gate.
And for the first time...
Astraeus looked afraid.
To be continued...