"Give it back."
The voice coming from the violet flame sounded exactly like Zarek.
He stared at his palm, then closed his fingers. The flame disappeared, but the strange voice remained in his mind.
"What happens if I refuse?" he asked.
The Seventh Keeper rose from its seat.
"Then Heaven will come looking for what you have taken. And it will not care whether your body survives the search."
Zarek glanced at the First Keeper. "Can you remove it?"
"No," the old man replied. "Even if I knew how, removing heavenly authority from your body could destroy your cultivation foundation."
The System finally spoke.
There may be another possibility. I can attempt to isolate the fragment, but I cannot guarantee success.
"Do it."
You should understand the risk first.
"I understand enough."
The Seventh Keeper laughed quietly. "You mistake stubbornness for courage. The heavens do not negotiate with mortals."
Zarek turned toward it.
"Then perhaps they should learn."
Before the Keeper could respond, the chamber shook. The inscriptions surrounding the platform began fading, one after another. The judgment was withdrawing, but its presence had not disappeared.
The First Keeper looked toward the ceiling.
"We must leave. This chamber cannot withstand another heavenly strike."
The Seventh Keeper returned to its seat.
"Take him away. But understand this, First Keeper: the disturbance has not ended. It has merely changed its direction."
Zarek followed the old man toward the staircase.
Before leaving, he glanced back at the seven seats. Six remained empty. The Seventh Keeper watched him without moving.
"Will I see you again?" Zarek asked.
"You will, if you survive what follows."
Outside the Hall, the violet clouds were beginning to disperse.
The First Elder was still supporting the remaining disciples when the enormous entrance finally opened. He immediately turned, his eyes searching the darkness.
Zarek emerged beside the First Keeper.
"Zarek!"
The First Elder rushed forward, ignoring the pain in his injured arm. He grabbed Zarek's shoulder, examining him for injuries.
"You fool! Do you have any idea what happened outside?"
"I have a general idea."
"Your general idea nearly got us killed!"
Despite his anger, relief was obvious in the old man's expression.
Zarek glanced at the disciples. Several were injured, and one was still unconscious. The expedition had paid a price for remaining near the Hall.
"Can they travel?" he asked.
"Some need treatment first."
The First Elder looked at the First Keeper.
"Who is this?"
"Someone who has guarded this place longer than your sect has existed."
The First Keeper offered no further explanation.
Zarek noticed that Ren, the disciple whose memories had been affected, was now sitting upright. However, his expression remained confused.
The First Elder followed Zarek's gaze.
"His memories have not fully returned."
Zarek approached the young disciple.
"Do you remember me?"
Ren studied his face for several seconds.
Then he nodded slowly.
"You're... Zarek. The one we came here to find."
"Good. Hold on to that memory."
Ren nodded again.
Zarek turned toward the First Elder.
"We need to leave immediately."
The old man frowned. "What happened inside?"
"Something that may follow us."
The First Keeper looked toward the sky.
"He is correct. This territory is no longer safe."
The expedition began preparing to move. The First Elder ordered the injured disciples to be supported while the others formed a protective formation around them.
But as they started walking, Zarek felt a sudden burning sensation in his right hand.
He stopped.
A faint violet symbol had appeared beneath his skin.
The System spoke.
The fragment is becoming unstable.
"How long?"
I cannot determine that.
Zarek tightened his fist and continued walking.
They had travelled only a short distance when the First Keeper suddenly stopped.
"Someone is following us."
The disciples immediately drew their weapons.
The First Elder stepped forward. "Where?"
The old man pointed toward the distant mountain ridge.
A figure stood there, wearing a white robe. Its face was hidden, but a long sword rested against its shoulder.
Zarek felt something strange.
The figure's presence was neither spiritual nor heavenly. It carried an unfamiliar pressure, one that made the surrounding spiritual energy grow still.
The stranger raised its hand.
A small object flew toward Zarek.
He caught it.
It was a broken piece of black stone, marked with the same inscription he had seen beneath the Hall.
The stranger's voice travelled across the distance.
"Tell the Seventh Keeper that the seal has weakened."
The First Keeper's expression changed.
"Who are you?"
The stranger ignored him.
Its attention remained on Zarek.
"And you, bearer of the stolen authority, should stop carrying things you do not understand."
Zarek's eyes narrowed.
"Who sent you?"
The figure lowered its sword.
"No one sends me."
A moment later, its body vanished.
The disciples looked around in confusion.
The First Elder approached Zarek.
"What was that about stolen authority?"
Zarek slipped the stone into his robe.
"Something we will discuss after we return."
The First Keeper studied him.
"That stone should not have reached this side of the Hall."
"Why?"
"Because the seal it refers to was created before the seven Keepers took their positions."
Zarek looked toward the mountain ridge.
"So something older is waking up."
The old man nodded.
"And it may be connected to the judgment you interrupted."
The System suddenly spoke.
Zarek, I have detected something inside the stone.
"What?"
It resembles the energy of the lightning fragment, but its structure is different.
Zarek looked down at his hand.
The violet symbol pulsed once.
Then the black stone cracked.
A single sentence appeared across its surface.
THE FIRST SEAL HAS FALLEN. SIX REMAIN.
Zarek stared at the message.
The First Keeper's expression became grim.
"Then the ancient prison is beginning to open."