The crack echoed through the bunker.
Not like breaking metal.
Like the world itself had fractured.
The Sixth Chain trembled violently, its glowing runes flickering between blue and crimson.
Then—
A hand emerged from the abyss.
Not human.
Not demonic.
Its skin looked like polished black stone, covered in ancient golden symbols that shifted constantly across its surface.
Ben instinctively stepped back.
"...Nope."
The hand gripped the edge of the broken platform.
A second hand followed.
Then two burning blue eyes appeared from the darkness below.
Dean tightened his grip on the Covenant Blade.
The Blade reacted instantly.
Blue flames ran along its edge.
Asterion lowered his head.
Not in fear.
In respect.
"One of the Bound."
Dean looked at him.
"You keep saying names like I'm supposed to know what they mean."
Asterion never looked away from the creature.
"Because no human was ever meant to know."
The creature slowly climbed onto the stone platform.
It was nearly eight feet tall.
Its body was wrapped in fragments of the broken celestial chains, as though they had fused into its flesh over countless ages.
Yet its face...
Its face was strangely calm.
Almost... human.
It looked directly at Dean.
Then smiled.
"Another Keeper."
Its voice wasn't monstrous.
It was tired.
Ancient.
Dean raised the Covenant Blade.
"Take one more step."
The creature stopped.
It looked at the Blade.
Then laughed softly.
"So..."
Its glowing eyes met Dean's.
"...they still choose warriors instead of kings."
Ben whispered to Malach.
"Can we shoot him?"
Malach shook his head.
"It wouldn't matter."
Ben sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
The creature ignored them.
It took another slow step toward Dean.
The six remaining chains rattled violently.
Every rune carved into the bunker walls began glowing.
Dean could feel the Blade pulling him forward.
Not to attack.
To listen.
The creature stopped only a few feet away.
Then, to everyone's surprise...
It knelt.
Silence filled the chamber.
Even Asterion looked shocked.
Dean frowned.
"...Why are you kneeling?"
The creature lowered its head.
"Because I swore an oath to the Keeper."
Ben blinked.
"...I definitely wasn't expecting that."
The creature slowly stood again.
It placed one hand over its chest.
"My name is Kaelor."
A pause.
"I was the first guardian imprisoned beneath the Gate."
Dean stared at him.
"Guardian?"
Kaelor nodded.
"Not prisoner."
He looked toward the abyss.
"Sacrifice."
Malach closed his eyes.
As if remembering something painful.
Kaelor continued.
"We bound ourselves to the Gate."
His voice grew quieter.
"To keep what slept beneath it from ever reaching your world."
Dean's expression hardened.
"Then why are you free?"
Kaelor looked toward the shattered chain.
A deep sadness crossed his face.
"Because someone is breaking our prison."
Asterion stepped forward.
His celestial sword still burned brightly.
"Azrael."
Kaelor nodded once.
"He no longer seeks the Gate."
Everyone fell silent.
Dean felt a chill run down his spine.
"Then what does he want?"
Kaelor looked directly into Dean's eyes.
His answer came like a whisper.
"The Keeper."
Dean didn't flinch.
"Me."
Kaelor nodded.
"Only the Keeper can open the Seventh Chain willingly."
Ben immediately looked at Dean.
"Well..."
He forced a smile.
"...good thing you're stubborn."
Dean smirked.
"You're catching on."
Suddenly—
The bunker lights exploded.
Darkness swallowed the chamber.
A freezing wind rushed upward from the Gate.
The remaining chains began to shake violently.
One by one.
The ancient runes carved into the walls started going dark.
Asterion's eyes widened.
"Impossible..."
Kaelor looked toward the abyss.
His calm expression vanished.
For the first time...
He looked terrified.
"He's here."
A deep laugh echoed from below.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Confident.
The shadows beneath the Gate began to twist together.
A massive silhouette slowly rose from the darkness.
Only its outline was visible.
Towering.
Motionless.
Watching them.
Then a pair of crimson eyes opened.
The entire bunker fell silent.
The figure spoke only one sentence.
"Bring me... the Keeper."
The shadows surged upward.
Dean stepped forward, placing himself between the Gate and his friends.
He raised the Covenant Blade.
Its blue light clashed against the crimson glow rising from the abyss.
The battle for the Seventh Chain...
Had finally begun.