Chương 113: Chapter 111: The Heart of Memory

The glowing staircase spiraled endlessly downward. Each step shimmered like polished crystal, illuminated by the crimson light flowing through the World Root. Around the four kings, the walls pulsed gently, almost like the inside of a living heart. No one spoke. The only sound was the rhythmic heartbeat echoing through the passage. THUMP... THUMP... THUMP... With every beat, fragments of forgotten memories appeared within the walls. A child laughing as his mother braided his hair.

An old warrior laying down his sword after decades of war. A queen embracing her people before sacrificing herself to seal a great darkness. Thousands... Millions... Every heartbeat revealed another forgotten life. Aster slowly reached toward one of the glowing memories. The moment his fingertips touched it, the vision expanded. A peaceful village appeared around them. Children chased butterflies across green fields while merchants laughed in a bustling marketplace. Then... The sky suddenly turned black.

Silver threads descended from the heavens. Within seconds, every person vanished. The houses crumbled into dust. Even the mountains disappeared. The entire world was erased. The vision ended. Aster lowered his trembling hand.

"That world..."

"It never even had a chance." The Librarian's earlier words echoed in his mind.

"Every forgotten story deserves an ending." Kael broke the silence.

"So the Final Eclipse has happened before." No one answered immediately. Finally, Caelum spoke.

"If entire worlds have been erased..."

"... ours may not be the first." Rayan quietly clenched his fist.

"Then we'll make sure it's the last." The staircase finally ended. Before them stretched an enormous underground chamber unlike anything they had ever seen. There was no ceiling. Only an endless crimson sky filled with floating memories. At the center of the chamber stood an immense tree unlike the World Tree above. Its trunk was black as obsidian. Its roots glowed crimson. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Its leaves shimmered like liquid gold.

Every leaf contained a different memory. Some showed joy. Others showed sorrow. Many showed sacrifices that history had forgotten. Standing beneath the tree... Was a young woman. She appeared no older than twenty. She wore a crimson robe embroidered with golden stars. Long silver hair flowed gently behind her despite the still air. Her crimson eyes reflected countless galaxies. She slowly turned toward the four kings. A warm smile appeared on her face.

"You finally arrived." The four heroes instinctively reached for their weapons. Yet... None of them sensed hostility. Only overwhelming kindness. Rayan stepped forward.

"Who are you?" The young woman rested a hand against the ancient tree.

"I have had many names."

"The first civilizations called me Memory."

"The dragons knew me as the Keeper of Roots."

"The Seven Authors..."

"... called me the Heart." She smiled gently.

"But the one who created me..."

"... called me Mira." Aster's eyes widened.

"The Crimson Author..." Mira nodded.

"I was their first story." Silence fell across the chamber. Even Kael, who rarely showed surprise, stared speechlessly. If what she said was true... Then she had existed before the World System. Before the Seven Authors. Perhaps... Even before creation itself. Far above them, the crimson leaves suddenly rustled. One leaf drifted gently into Rayan's hands. As it touched his palm... A single sentence appeared in glowing golden letters.

"To save the future... you must first remember the truth of the beginning." The crimson leaf dissolved into countless particles of light. Its golden words lingered in the air for several moments before fading into silence. Rayan slowly looked toward Mira.

"The beginning of what?" Mira smiled gently.

"Everything." She turned toward the colossal tree behind her. Its crimson roots stretched endlessly into the darkness, while its golden branches disappeared into a sky filled with floating memories.

"This..."

"... is the first living thing ever created." Kael frowned.

"The World Tree?" Mira shook her head.

"No."

"The World Tree that exists in your world..."

"... grew from this one." The four heroes stood speechless. Mira placed her hand against the ancient trunk. Immediately... Thousands of memories flowed through its bark. Entire galaxies were born. Stars ignited. Oceans formed. Life emerged from nothingness. Then... Eight figures appeared. The Seven Authors. And standing beside them... The Crimson Author. Unlike the others, the Crimson Author wasn't writing. Instead... They were planting a tiny glowing seed into endless darkness.

"That seed..." Mira whispered.

"... became the First World Tree."

"The Seven Authors believed stories should have a beginning and an ending." She looked toward Rayan.

"But the Crimson Author believed stories should never truly end."

"They should be passed from one generation to the next."

"They should evolve."

"They should surprise even their creators." Aster lowered his head.

"So that's why they erased the Crimson Author..." Mira closed her eyes.

"They believed endless possibilities would eventually create chaos."

"And perhaps..."

"They were right." The vision suddenly changed. A beautiful world appeared beneath the World Tree. Dragons soared peacefully beside humans. Giants built cities alongside dwarves. Elves sang beneath silver forests. There was no war. No hatred. No kingdoms. Only harmony. Rayan smiled.

"So this was the first civilization." Mira's expression became sorrowful.

"No."

"This was the last." Without warning... The sky split apart. A massive black crack tore through reality itself. Unlike the Editors... Unlike the Authors... Something else emerged. A pair of enormous hands reached through the darkness. Not silver. Not golden. Completely black. They grasped the First World Tree. And began tearing it apart. The peaceful world screamed. Continents shattered. Stars collapsed. Entire races vanished within seconds. Even the Eight Authors fought together... Yet they couldn't stop it.

The vision abruptly ended. Silence filled the chamber. Even Kael looked shaken.

"What..."

"... was that?" Mira's crimson eyes slowly met Rayan's.

"The true enemy."

"The one the Seven Authors have hidden from every world." Caelum stepped forward.

"You mean the Final Eclipse isn't the real threat?"

"No."

"The Final Eclipse..."

"... is only a symptom." The chamber trembled violently. The Heart Tree's branches shook. Golden leaves rained from above. Far beyond the chamber... A deafening roar echoed through the World Root. The Prime Editor had found the entrance. Its silver blade pierced through layers of ancient roots, descending toward the Heart of Memory. Time was running out. Mira extended both hands. A single crimson seed appeared above her palms. It radiated the same warmth as the First World Tree. She looked directly at Rayan.

"The Seven Authors can protect stories."

"The Editors can erase stories."

"But only the Last Dharma King..."

"... can grow a new one." She offered him the glowing seed. The moment Rayan reached toward it... The World System appeared for the first time inside the Heart of Memory. Its golden screen flickered wildly.

WORLD SYSTEM Final Inheritance Available The Seed of Origins Warning: Acceptance cannot be reversed. Successor Status: Confirmed The Final Trial Begins As Rayan's fingertips brushed the glowing seed... The entire chamber was engulfed in brilliant crimson light. To Be Continue....