Nobody spoke.
The underground city stood silent beneath the glowing blue light.
Orion.
The Second Core.
The name echoed through everyone's mind.
Kael stared at him.
Trying to understand.
Trying to process what stood before him.
"You should be dead."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Orion laughed softly.
A tired laugh.
"So should Aetherion."
Silence followed.
Aetherion finally spoke.
Its voice carried emotions Kael had never heard before.
"Orion..."
The silver-haired boy smiled.
"It's been a long time, old friend."
The city trembled.
Blue light spread through the ancient streets.
For a moment—
Kael felt like an outsider.
Like he was witnessing a reunion thousands of years in the making.
"You survived."
Aetherion sounded uncertain.
Orion's smile faded.
"Barely."
The answer carried a weight that made everyone uneasy.
Kael stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Orion looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then his golden eyes settled on the Core inside Kael's chest.
"So you're the new host."
Kael frowned.
"I'm Kael."
"Kael."
Orion repeated the name.
Testing it.
Remembering it.
Then he nodded.
"Aetherion chose well."
Kael wasn't sure how to respond.
Before he could speak—
The ground shook.
Violently.
The smile vanished from Orion's face.
Instantly.
Every trace of warmth disappeared.
His eyes turned cold.
Dangerous.
"Aetherion."
The Last Core responded immediately.
"You felt it too."
Kael's stomach tightened.
"Felt what?"
Neither Core answered.
The city shook again.
This time stronger.
Ancient buildings cracked.
Stone shattered.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Orion slowly turned toward the darkness beyond the city.
His expression hardened.
"No..."
The single word sent a chill through the cavern.
Kael felt it.
Fear.
Not his own.
Orion's.
"Aetherion."
"What is it?"
The Second Core's voice became grim.
"One followed me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Kael understood.
His blood ran cold.
A Devourer.
The stranger immediately stepped forward.
"How far away?"
Orion looked toward the cavern ceiling.
Listening.
Sensing.
Then—
His eyes widened.
Too late.
The entire underground city shook.
A deafening roar echoed through the darkness.
Ancient.
Monstrous.
Hungry.
The lights across the city flickered.
One by one.
Then died.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And from somewhere beyond the ruins—
Something began to laugh.
A laugh far larger than the Devourer they had defeated.
Far older.
Far stronger.
Orion clenched his fists.
For the first time—
The Second Core looked afraid.
"We have to leave."
Kael's chest tightened.
"What is it?"
Orion slowly turned toward him.
His answer was barely a whisper.
"One of the Kings."
And suddenly—
The war became much bigger than any of them imagined.