Chapter 2698: Story 2699: The Ancient Eyes

The silence broke.

A deep heartbeat rolled beneath the dead world.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Kael stood before the cracked throne, black blade in his hand.

“What is beneath it?”

The King Before Kings stared at the throne.

His face had lost all color.

“Something I feared.”

The ancient Elarion stepped forward.

“You knew it existed.”

“I knew it was sleeping.”

The child smiled.

“It was never sleeping.”

The ground split.

Black roots erupted from beneath the throne, twisting through the ruined kingdom.

Lena raised her hands.

Silver light formed around her.

“Everyone, move!”

Azael grabbed Elias and pulled him backward.

The fifth and sixth children disappeared into white light.

The Forgotten Child remained beside Kael.

“Do you hear it?”

Kael closed his eyes.

A whisper entered his mind.

Not Elarion.

Not Azrael.

Not Kael.

Something older.

“Return.”

Kael opened his eyes.

“I know that voice.”

The ancient Elarion stared at him.

“You should.”

“Who is it?”

The ancient figure pointed beneath the throne.

“Your first memory.”

Kael stepped closer.

The throne collapsed.

A gigantic eye opened beneath it.

Then another.

Then another.

Three ancient eyes stared into Kael’s soul.

The first enemy suddenly fell backward.

“No.”

Kael looked at it.

“You fear them.”

The creature shook violently.

“They remember me.”

One of the eyes spoke.

“You were created after us.”

The second eye opened.

“You became the prison.”

The third eye opened.

“You became the key.”

Kael tightened his grip.

“Then what are you?”

The three eyes merged into one enormous silver eye.

“We are what remained before your first name.”

The King Before Kings dropped his sword.

Kael turned.

“You knew them.”

The King whispered,

“They were here before creation.”

The ancient Elarion shook his head.

“They were here before the idea of creation.”

Lena stepped forward.

“Then why were they beneath the throne?”

The King answered,

“Because I could not destroy them.”

Kael stared at him.

“You imprisoned them.”

“Yes.”

“Using me.”

The King lowered his head.

“Yes.”

The dead world trembled.

The ancient eye looked toward Kael.

“You have carried our prison long enough.”

Kael raised his sword.

“What happens if I release you?”

The first enemy screamed.

“Do not!”

The eye answered.

“The worlds will remember their true beginning.”

Kael looked at Lena.

“Will they survive?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

Azael stepped beside Kael.

“Then we face it together.”

Elias raised his golden blade.

“We always have.”

The fifth, sixth, and Forgotten Child emerged from the white light.

The ancient Elarion stood behind them.

The child looked at Kael.

“This is the choice.”

Kael stared at the enormous eye.

“Choice between what?”

“Freedom and survival.”

Kael lowered his blade.

“Then there must be another way.”

The ancient eye suddenly smiled.

“There always was.”

Kael froze.

“What?”

The eye opened completely.

“Become neither prison nor key.”

The black roots wrapped around Kael.

“Become the door.”

Kael’s eyes widened.

The entire dead world disappeared.

And beyond the darkness, something enormous began knocking from the other side.