The universe went silent.
Not quiet.
Silent.
Every star surrounding the First World had disappeared.
The Architects stood frozen beneath the empty sky.
The Devourer fleets had stopped moving.
Even Veyrath remained motionless.
For the first time in thousands of years...
The Devourers were afraid.
Kael stared at the creature standing beyond the broken Door.
Eclipse.
Its body was impossible to understand.
Part of it looked like a humanoid figure.
Part of it looked like endless darkness.
Stars seemed to disappear whenever its shadow touched them.
Kael's Last Core trembled violently.
Aetherion whispered,
"It has returned."
Kael looked at him.
"You knew it."
"I fought it."
"You couldn't defeat it."
Aetherion lowered his head.
"No."
"We could only seal it."
Eclipse looked toward Aetherion.
"You still remember."
Aetherion's voice became cold.
"I remember enough."
Eclipse smiled.
"Then you remember what your little Heir did."
Kael stepped forward.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here."
Eclipse's attention shifted to him.
For several seconds, it simply stared.
Then it laughed.
"You really don't remember."
Kael clenched his fists.
"Remember what?"
"How you killed me."
Silence.
Everyone stared at Eclipse.
Kael shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Eclipse raised one hand.
The universe around them distorted.
Suddenly, Kael saw another memory.
A younger version of himself stood before Eclipse.
The two were fighting among dying galaxies.
Kael's body was covered in wounds.
Eclipse was already beginning to disappear.
The Star Eater raised his hand.
Then—
He reached into Eclipse's chest.
And pulled out a brilliant black sphere.
Eclipse screamed.
The memory shattered.
Kael stumbled backward.
"What did I do?"
Eclipse answered calmly.
"You didn't kill me."
"You divided me."
Kael looked at the Last Core.
Eclipse pointed toward it.
"You placed half of me inside yourself."
Kael's eyes widened.
"The Last Core..."
"It was never merely a weapon."
"It was my prison."
Aetherion suddenly stepped forward.
"Enough."
Eclipse turned toward him.
"You knew the truth."
"You helped him forget."
Aetherion said nothing.
Kael looked at him.
"You knew?"
Aetherion finally lowered his head.
"I did."
Kael's expression hardened.
"You lied to me."
"I was trying to protect you."
"From the truth?"
"From yourself."
The Last Core began glowing black.
Kael staggered.
A voice whispered inside his mind.
Not Aetherion.
Not Eclipse.
His own.
"Let me out."
Kael froze.
Eclipse smiled.
"Do you hear it?"
Kael slowly looked toward his chest.
The white light of the Last Core was fading.
Darkness was spreading through it.
Eclipse stepped forward.
"You thought you were the Star Eater."
"You were wrong."
Kael's eyes widened.
Eclipse raised his hand.
"You were my prison."
The entire First World shook.
The Last Core cracked again.
And something inside Kael...
Opened its eyes.