Chapter 2696: Story 2697: The Monster

The words echoed.

“You chose to become the monster they needed you to fear.”

Kael stared at the King Before Kings.

“Why?”

The King lowered his sword.

“Because someone had to carry the blame.”

The child laughed.

“Liar.”

The ancient Elarion stepped forward.

“Tell him the truth.”

The King was silent.

Kael looked around.

The first world was dying.

Mountains collapsed.

Rivers turned black.

Millions of people ran beneath the crimson sky.

“They feared me,” Kael whispered.

“They feared what you represented,” said the King.

“What did I represent?”

The ancient Elarion answered.

“Freedom.”

Kael froze.

The child smiled.

“You discovered that the King had lied about the First Soul.”

The King raised his sword.

“Enough.”

Kael turned toward him.

“You created the children.”

“Yes.”

“To contain me.”

“No.”

“To control me.”

The King’s silence became the answer.

Kael’s white and black armor began glowing.

Azael stepped closer.

“Brother, remember.”

Kael looked at him.

“I remember the night.”

The world changed.

A palace appeared beneath the dead sun.

Kael saw his younger self standing before the King.

Eight children surrounded him.

Lena.

Elias.

Azael.

The fifth.

The sixth.

The Forgotten Child.

The seventh.

The eighth.

The King placed a hand upon Kael’s chest.

“You will protect them.”

Young Kael nodded.

Then the King whispered something.

“You must never become whole.”

The memory shook.

Kael watched himself awaken.

White fire erupted from his body.

The children screamed.

The King stepped backward.

“You see?” he shouted.

“He is becoming the enemy!”

But Kael saw the truth.

The King had already prepared the army.

Already prepared the chains.

Already prepared the black blade.

Kael whispered,

“You planned everything.”

The King’s expression hardened.

“I planned to save creation.”

“You sacrificed me.”

“I sacrificed one life.”

The child suddenly stepped forward.

“You sacrificed his memory.”

Kael turned toward the child.

“What happened after?”

The child pointed toward the burning palace.

“You killed the first enemy.”

Kael stared.

“I did?”

The ancient Elarion shook his head.

“No.”

“You destroyed its body.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“But its consciousness survived.”

The crimson eye appeared above them.

The enemy whispered,

“Inside you.”

Kael suddenly understood.

The monster had never been another creature.

It was the part of himself that carried the enemy’s consciousness.

The black blade appeared in Kael’s hand.

The King Before Kings raised his sword.

“Now you remember.”

Kael looked at the dying world.

“I remember why I accepted the darkness.”

Lena stepped beside him.

“Why?”

Kael looked at the people running beneath the collapsing sky.

“To save them.”

The enemy laughed.

“No.”

Kael turned.

The crimson eye widened.

“You accepted me because you wanted power.”

Kael’s face hardened.

“Maybe.”

The ancient Elarion stepped closer.

“But power was not the choice.”

Kael looked at him.

“Then what was?”

The ancient figure pointed toward the children.

“Love.”

The first world suddenly stopped collapsing.

Every voice became silent.

Then the child whispered,

“And that is why you failed.”

Behind Kael, the dead world opened its eyes.