CHAPTER 29
THE RETURN OF THE ROYAL GUARD
Silence fell across the Frozen Fortress.
The battle stopped.
The Seekers.
The Four Heirs.
Kael.
Elias.
Lyra.
Orion.
Even the Executioner stood motionless.
Every eye turned toward the enormous entrance.
The lone warrior slowly walked through the broken gates.
Each step echoed through the ancient fortress.
His white armor reflected the light of the Final Archive.
Golden stars were engraved across his chestplate.
A long white cape flowed behind him despite the still air.
In his right hand rested a magnificent golden sword.
Its blade glowed with ancient runes.
The moment it touched the frozen floor, every symbol inside the fortress illuminated.
Queen Aurelia slowly stood from her crystal throne.
For the first time since the heirs had met her, genuine emotion appeared on her face.
She whispered,
"...Cassian."
The mysterious warrior lowered his head.
"My Queen."
The Four Heirs exchanged confused glances.
"Who is he?" Aarvi whispered.
Selene smiled through tears.
"He was the Captain of the Royal Guard."
"The greatest knight Aurelia ever produced."
Eva stared in disbelief.
"But... that's impossible."
"He should have died centuries ago."
Selene nodded.
"He should have."
Cassian slowly removed his helmet.
He looked no older than thirty.
Sharp features.
Long silver-white hair.
Calm golden eyes.
Not a single sign of age.
He turned toward Orion.
The two warriors looked at each other for several seconds.
Then Cassian smiled.
"You've finally awakened."
Orion lowered his sword.
"You remember me."
"I remember all of you."
Before anyone could speak—
The Executioner roared.
It charged toward Cassian with terrifying speed.
Its massive black sword crashed downward.
Cassian didn't move.
At the last possible second—
He raised one hand.
CLANG!
The gigantic sword stopped.
Caught by Cassian's single hand.
Shock spread across the battlefield.
Even Kael stared in disbelief.
"I've never seen anyone stop the Executioner..."
Cassian gently pushed the enormous blade aside.
Then spoke calmly.
"You've grown weaker."
The Executioner's eyes glowed brighter.
It attacked again.
Faster.
Harder.
Cassian vanished.
A golden flash crossed the hall.
The next second—
The Executioner stumbled forward.
A deep crack appeared across its black armor.
The entire fortress fell silent.
No one had ever injured the Executioner.
Not even Orion.
The Elite Seekers immediately surrounded Cassian.
Nearly twenty of them attacked together.
Golden light exploded across the throne room.
Cassian's movements became impossible to follow.
One strike.
Three Elite Seekers fell.
Another strike.
Five more collapsed.
A spinning slash.
The remaining Elite Seekers were thrown across the hall.
The Four Heirs could barely follow the battle.
Aarvi blinked repeatedly.
"Did... did he just defeat them?"
Kael laughed.
"I told you there were monsters older than me."
Cassian pointed his sword toward the Seekers.
His voice echoed through the fortress.
"Leave."
The silver-armored Elite Seeker stepped forward.
"You cannot protect the Archive forever."
Cassian remained calm.
"I don't need forever."
"I only need today."
The Elite Seeker slowly raised its hand.
All remaining Seekers stopped attacking.
Instead...
They began chanting.
An ancient language filled the throne hall.
The air became heavy.
The temperature dropped rapidly.
The Final Archive suddenly shook.
Inside the hidden chamber, Riva looked up.
The Keeper's expression changed immediately.
"They've begun the Ritual of Erasure."
Riva frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The Keeper answered quietly.
"They cannot destroy the Archive from outside."
"So they will erase the fortress instead."
Outside, black symbols spread across the frozen floor.
The mountain itself began cracking.
Selene's face turned pale.
"They're sacrificing themselves..."
Queen Aurelia closed her eyes.
"They've become desperate."
The chanting grew louder.
The sky outside darkened.
Above the fortress, a massive black circle appeared among the storm clouds.
It continued growing larger.
Lightning flashed inside it.
The mountain trembled violently.
Large sections of the fortress collapsed.
Ice pillars shattered.
The Final Archive flickered.
Even Cassian's calm expression disappeared.
"No..."
He whispered.
"They've awakened it."
Orion looked toward the sky.
His memories returned in fragments.
He remembered this darkness.
He remembered this symbol.
And for the first time...
He remembered fear.
"It's coming..."
Kael immediately turned toward Orion.
"What is?"
Orion stared at the growing darkness above the fortress.
His voice trembled.
"The Devourer."
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody even breathed.
The black circle split open.
Something enormous moved inside.
Not a person.
Not a creature.
A shadow so massive that it covered the entire mountain range.
Only two glowing crimson eyes became visible through the darkness.
The Executioner immediately knelt.
Every Elite Seeker knelt.
Every ordinary Seeker knelt.
Even the storm became silent.
The Four Heirs stared upward in horror.
Whatever was inside that darkness...
Even the Seekers obeyed it.
The Keeper's voice echoed inside Riva's mind.
"The final chapter has begun."
End of Chapter 29