Chương 108: Chapter 106: Beyond the Author

The crack spread slowly. A thin silver line stretched across the Prime Editor's mask before branching into dozens more. One by one, the fractures crawled over its emotionless face until they resembled a shattered mirror. Silence fell across the battlefield. For the first time since the Editors descended into the world... One of them had been wounded. The Prime Editor slowly raised its hand and touched the cracked mask.

Its fingers lingered there for several seconds, almost as if it couldn't comprehend what had happened. Above the battlefield, the World System flickered violently. WORLD SYSTEM Event Recorded The Prime Editor has sustained damage. Probability Updated... Success Rate: 0. 02% → 4. 37% Only four percent. The number was still terrifyingly low. Yet it was no longer zero. Outside the battlefield, cheers erupted from the soldiers of Ayanor.

"They did it!"

"Our king wounded that monster!" Cassian let out a loud laugh and slammed his fist against the castle wall.

"I knew those idiots would pull something impossible." Even King Dasrath, still recovering from his injuries, allowed himself a faint smile.

"He has surpassed me..."

"He truly has." Inside the battlefield, however, Rayan wasn't celebrating. His hands trembled. The Dharma Dragonblade had lost much of its golden glow, and his breathing had become uneven. The attack had consumed nearly half of the Dragon Heart's Astra. Kael noticed immediately.

"You're exhausted."

"I've been better."

"You won't survive another attack like that." Rayan smiled weakly.

"Then we'll make sure there isn't one." Caelum glanced toward the Prime Editor.

"I don't think it's finished." As if responding to his words... The giant slowly lowered its hand. Then... It laughed. The sound wasn't loud. It was quiet. Mechanical. Emotionless. Yet every person who heard it felt an overwhelming chill. > "Correction acknowledged..." > "Adapting." Silver light erupted from the cracks. Before everyone's eyes... The broken mask began repairing itself. The fractures disappeared one after another until not a single mark remained. Aster's expression turned pale.

"It learned..."

"What?" Rayan asked.

"It learned from our attack." The battlefield fell silent once more. Their greatest achievement had lasted less than a minute. Far beyond reality... Inside the endless white void... The Author quietly watched the battle. The enormous book resting upon its lap slowly turned another page. Unlike before... Words were appearing by themselves. Not written by the Author. Written by the choices of those below. For the first time... The story was writing itself. The Author gently placed one hand upon the page.

"So..."

"You truly can change destiny." There was no anger in its voice. Only curiosity. Back on the battlefield, Atlas suddenly looked toward the heavens. His expression changed instantly.

"No..." Michael noticed.

"What is it?"

"They're coming." Before anyone could ask another question... The sky split open again. But this time... Not one portal. Seven. Each portal shone with a different color. Red. Blue. Gold. Silver. Black. Green. Violet. Ancient auras poured into the world. The World Turtle lowered its head. Leviathan retreated beneath the sea. Even the Prime Editor remained motionless. Atlas whispered a name that hadn't been spoken since the Age of Origins.

"The Seven Authors..." The seven portals expanded until they stretched across the entire sky. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Each radiated a different color, and with every passing second the pressure upon the world grew heavier. The oceans trembled. Volcanoes fell silent. Even the crimson countdown above the heavens flickered. Atlas slowly removed his helmet and lowered his head.

"I prayed..."

"... that this day would never come." Rayan looked at him in confusion.

"You know them?" Atlas nodded.

"I know all of them."

"They are older than Heaven."

"Older than the World System."

"They existed before the first kingdom, before the first dragon... before humanity." Aster's silver eyes widened.

"The Seven Authors..."

"My creators." One by one, silhouettes emerged from the portals. None possessed a physical body. Instead, each appeared as a constellation of stars wrapped in flowing robes made of light. They carried no weapons. Yet their mere presence bent reality. The Prime Editor immediately knelt. Every remaining Editor followed. Even the World System displayed a warning.

WORLD SYSTEM Authority Override Detected Unknown Administrators Entering World Control Level: Absolute The first Author stepped forward, surrounded by golden light. Its voice was calm and ancient. > "Atlas." > "You have exceeded your authority." A second, wrapped in emerald light, turned toward Aster. > "Weaver." > "Your assigned purpose has ended." Aster instinctively stepped closer to Rayan. For the first time since recovering his memories... He looked afraid.

Rayan took one step forward, placing himself between Aster and the Seven Authors.

"You won't take him." The battlefield became silent. Michael stared in disbelief. Cassian whispered from outside the shattered barrier,"... Did he just threaten the beings that created reality?" Kael couldn't help but laugh.

"That sounds exactly like Rayan." Even Caelum smiled faintly. The golden Author looked down at the young king.

"You would oppose your creators?" Rayan met its gaze without hesitation.

"I'll oppose anyone..."

"... who tries to decide another person's life without their choice." The words echoed across the battlefield. The Seven Authors remained silent. Then... To everyone's surprise... One of them laughed. Not mockingly. Genuinely. The Author cloaked in violet light spoke. > "Interesting." > "After ten thousand years..." > "Humanity has finally produced someone worthy of asking a question." The other six turned toward the violet figure.

"You would entertain this?" The violet Author answered,"Why not?"

"It has been ages since a story surprised us." The golden Author slowly looked back at Rayan. Its brilliant eyes seemed to pierce through his soul. Then it spoke. > "Very well." > "If you believe fate belongs to humanity..." > "Prove it." A golden key materialized in the air. It drifted gently toward Rayan before stopping in front of him. Atlas' eyes widened.

"The Origin Key..." The violet Author nodded. > "Beyond this world..." > "Lies the Library of Origins." > "The place where every destiny begins." > "Reach it..." > "And the Author shall hear your answer." The seven figures slowly faded back into their portals. Before disappearing completely, the violet Author smiled. > "Do not disappoint us..." > "... Last Dharma King." The heavens returned to normal. The Editors vanished without a trace. Only the floating golden key remained before Rayan. No one spoke.

Atlas finally broke the silence. His voice carried equal parts hope and fear.

"The final journey..."

"... has begun." To Be Continue....