Chương 76: Chapter 74: The Forgotten King

The second portal continued to expand. Its edges bled darkness into the sky, swallowing the sunlight above Ayanor. The air grew heavier with every passing second, as though the world itself struggled to bear the weight of whatever lay beyond. No one moved. Not the Saints. Not the Archons. Not even the First Child of Origin. Everyone stared at the opening gateway. The Guardian's voice was barely a whisper.

"... Impossible." Rayan kept his eyes fixed on the portal.

"What is it?" The ancient spirit slowly shook his head.

"I don't know." The answer surprised him.

"You... don't know?"

"I know every war since the First Age." The Guardian swallowed.

"But that presence..."

"... I've never felt anything like it." The First Child—Aster—continued watching the portal without expression. For the first time since appearing on the battlefield, his attention had shifted away from Rayan. His crimson eyes narrowed.

"They're early." Rayan caught the words immediately.

"They?" Aster slowly nodded.

"The ones who remained beyond Origin." His voice carried neither fear nor respect. Only disappointment.

"They should have slept longer." A ripple spread through the battlefield. The black portal suddenly stopped expanding. Then... It cracked. A single hand emerged. Unlike Aster's monstrous claws, this hand appeared almost human. Pale skin. Long fingers. Ancient black markings stretching from the wrist to the fingertips. The atmosphere changed instantly. The First Child frowned. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"... No." The hand slowly withdrew. The portal closed. Silence returned. Everyone stood frozen. The Guardian finally exhaled.

"They're still sealed."

"But only barely." High above the battlefield, the Archon General looked confused.

"My Lord?" Aster didn't answer. Instead, he turned back toward Rayan.

"I underestimated this era." The words stunned every Archon. Their greatest weapon... Had admitted he was wrong. Rayan stepped forward.

"You're ending the attack." Aster nodded once.

"This battle no longer matters." He glanced toward the fading portal.

"If that seal breaks..."

"... Heaven and humanity will both perish." Even the Archons looked unsettled. The Archon General protested immediately.

"But the Queen's orders—""They are irrelevant." Aster's voice carried absolute authority.

"The true enemy has awakened." The battlefield remained silent. King Dasrath slowly approached Rayan.

"What just happened?" Rayan looked toward the Guardian. The spirit closed his eyes.

"For thousands of years..."

"We believed Heaven was our greatest enemy." He looked toward the disappearing portal.

"We were wrong."

"The Celestial Court..."

"... has been guarding that seal." Those words struck like lightning. Cassian blinked several times.

"Wait."

"You're telling me we've been fighting our own shield?"

"No." The Guardian corrected him.

"They protected the seal."

"They never protected humanity." The distinction changed everything. Queen Seraphina hadn't declared war because she hated mankind. She feared mankind. Feared what humanity might unknowingly awaken. Far away... Inside the Celestial Palace... Queen Seraphina dismissed the mirror. The image of the battlefield faded. She remained silent for several moments before speaking.

"So..."

"Aster has finally remembered." A lone figure emerged from the shadows behind the throne. Unlike the other Archons, he wore no armor. His silver robes flowed like water, and six black wings rested behind his back instead of golden ones. He bowed respectfully.

"The prophecy continues." Seraphina nodded.

"It always has." The mysterious man looked toward the heavens beyond the palace.

"Should we eliminate the Dharma Heir now?" The Queen closed her eyes.

"No."

"He must grow stronger." The man looked surprised.

"My Queen?" Seraphina slowly stood.

"If Rayan cannot surpass Arkan..."

"... then this world has no future." Back in Ayanor... The First Child took one final look at Rayan.

"When next we meet..."

"... I will not hold back." Golden flames flickered around Shadowbreaker. Rayan answered calmly.

"Neither will I." Aster smiled faintly.

"Good." Darkness surrounded his body. The Archons immediately retreated toward the heavens. One after another, they disappeared into portals of golden light. The siege... Was over. But victory felt hollow. Half the capital lay in ruins. Thousands had lost their homes. Hundreds had sacrificed their lives. The people cheered anyway. Because they had survived. As soldiers embraced their families and healers rushed toward the wounded, Rayan remained standing in silence. His eyes wandered across the battlefield.

Broken swords. Collapsed walls. Burning streets. He had protected the kingdom. Yet it still looked like the end of the world. King Dasrath walked beside him.

"You blame yourself." Rayan didn't deny it.

"I wasn't strong enough." The king placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"No." Rayan looked up.

"You've become strong enough to see what true strength means." The older man's gaze swept across the ruined capital.

"A king isn't measured by the battles he wins."

"He is measured by the people who stand up again after losing everything." Rayan watched as citizens began clearing rubble with the soldiers. Knights helped merchants rebuild broken stalls. Children handed water to exhausted warriors. No one waited for orders. Everyone simply helped. For the first time since the war began... Hope wasn't born from power. It was born from unity. The crystal beneath Rayan's coat glowed softly. Another voice echoed within his mind. Not Arkan. Not Valen. A different voice. Ancient.

Warm.

"Three Heirs remain."

"Find them..." Before Rayan could react, the light disappeared. He stood frozen.

"The Third Heir..." he whispered. The Guardian slowly turned toward him. His expression was more serious than ever.

"There were not two Dharma Heirs before you."

"There were seven." The wind swept across the ruined capital. Somewhere beyond the horizon... The forgotten legacies of the remaining Dharma Heirs were waiting. And with them... The final hope of humanity. To Be Continue....