The wind pouring through the opening wasn't cold.
It was ancient.
It carried whispers in languages none of them understood, yet somehow every word felt familiar.
Ethan stood at the edge of the newly opened gate, staring into the darkness below.
There was no bottom.
Only endless blackness.
Then...
Lights.
Hundreds of tiny silver lights slowly rose from the abyss.
Not floating.
Walking.
His heartbeat quickened.
"They're coming," the First Witness whispered.
Lucien's expression hardened.
"We don't have much time."
The silver lights drew closer until they revealed human figures climbing broad stone steps that hadn't existed moments before.
There were dozens of them.
Men.
Women.
Young.
Old.
Each wore a long white robe marked with the same symbol Ethan had seen earlier—the open eye surrounded by seven stars.
None of them carried weapons.
None of them spoke.
Their eyes glowed with soft silver light.
Selene instinctively reached for her weapon.
"Should I be worried?"
Lucien answered honestly.
"Yes."
The first of the strangers stepped onto the chamber floor.
He appeared to be an elderly man with long white hair tied behind his back.
Despite his age, his posture was perfectly straight.
He looked first at the First Witness.
Then at Lucien.
Finally...
His gaze settled on Ethan.
The old man's eyes widened.
"It is true."
More Keepers emerged behind him.
Their calm expressions shifted into quiet astonishment.
One woman slowly placed her hand over her heart.
"The Observer has returned."
Ethan frowned.
"I'm starting to dislike that title."
A few of the Keepers smiled softly.
The elderly man walked forward and bowed deeply.
Not to Lucien.
Not to the First Witness.
To Ethan.
"We have waited a very long time."
Ethan immediately stepped back.
"Please don't bow to me."
The old man straightened.
"As you wish."
Kairo moved beside Ethan.
"Who are you?"
The old man looked at him respectfully.
"We are the Keepers."
"We preserve what remains when worlds fall."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Adrian spoke next.
"Worlds have fallen before?"
The old Keeper nodded.
"Many."
Selene looked horrified.
"How many?"
The old man's smile carried immense sadness.
"We stopped counting."
Those words struck the chamber harder than any explosion.
Lucien folded his arms.
"You shouldn't have awakened."
The old Keeper sighed.
"We didn't."
"We were called."
Everyone looked toward Ethan.
The realization came at the same time.
The Keepers hadn't awakened because of the Final Convergence.
They had awakened because Ethan had entered this world.
The First Witness closed its eyes.
"The prophecy was accurate."
Ethan groaned softly.
"Please don't tell me there's another prophecy."
"There is."
"Of course there is."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Selene laughed.
It was brief.
But genuine.
Even Kairo allowed the corner of his mouth to lift slightly.
The old Keeper smiled.
"You have not changed."
Ethan blinked.
"We've never met."
The old man tilted his head.
"In this world..."
"No."
A chill ran through Ethan.
"What does that mean?"
Before the Keeper could answer, a deep horn echoed through the underground complex.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Lucien's face immediately darkened.
"They're here."
Adrian looked toward the broken entrance.
"Who?"
Lucien answered with a single word.
"Hunters."
The Keepers turned as one.
Their calm expressions vanished.
The old Keeper raised his hand.
Silver barriers instantly surrounded the chamber.
"Prepare yourselves."
Ethan frowned.
"I thought you said you weren't soldiers."
"We aren't."
The old Keeper's eyes glowed brighter.
"But every Keeper remembers how to protect the last hope."
The sound of marching echoed through the tunnels.
Heavy.
Perfectly synchronized.
Then...
Black-armored figures emerged from the darkness.
Unlike the Keepers, they carried weapons.
Long silver spears that shimmered with strange energy.
Their armor covered every part of their bodies except their glowing crimson eyes.
There were at least fifty of them.
They stopped in perfect formation.
One stepped forward.
Its voice echoed from behind its helmet.
"By order of the Eternal Tribunal..."
"The Observer will be surrendered immediately."
Silence filled the chamber.
Kairo slowly drew his weapon.
Selene stood beside him.
The Enforcer moved to Ethan's side without being commanded.
Lucien looked almost amused.
"So..."
"It begins."
The armored commander lowered his spear.
"You have one opportunity to comply."
The old Keeper calmly stepped in front of Ethan.
"No."
The commander's crimson eyes brightened.
"So be it."
He raised his spear.
Every Hunter behind him did the same.
Silver energy gathered along their weapons.
The chamber trembled under the growing power.
Then the commander spoke the words no one wanted to hear.
"Capture the Observer."
The Hunters charged.