The underground forest shook as the forgotten king opened his eyes.

A heartbeat later…

The entire Heart Archive fell silent.

Both the royal soldiers and the warriors of the Veiled Eclipse stopped fighting.

An overwhelming presence spread through the ancient forest.

Even the Crystal Fang Beasts lowered their heads.

A deep voice echoed beneath the roots of the oldest silver tree.

“Who… has awakened me?”

The ground split apart.

Ancient roots slowly moved aside, revealing a magnificent throne carved from a single crystal.

Upon it sat a tall man wearing weathered silver armor crowned with glowing vines.

His long white hair flowed like moonlight, and a broken crown rested upon his head.

King Asterion.

The last ruler of Lunareth.

Or so the legends claimed.

Ren stared in disbelief.

“You’ve been alive… all this time?”

The king smiled faintly.

“No.”

“My body died ten thousand years ago.”

“What remains…”

“…is my Echo.”

The spirit of the ancient king rose from the throne.

His gaze fell upon Ren.

“You carry the Mark of the Seventh Echo.”

“You are not my descendant.”

Ren blinked.

“I’m not?”

“No.”

“You are the descendant of my closest friend.”

“The one who betrayed me…”

The words struck Ren harder than any sword.

“The prophecy was never about blood.”

“It was about choice.”

Silence filled the chamber.

The masked leader of the Veiled Eclipse slowly removed his golden mask.

Everyone gasped.

It was General Vargos.

The commander of the Royal Guard.

Captain Seraphine stepped back in shock.

“You…”

“You led the kingdom’s army.”

“And the Veiled Eclipse.”

Vargos nodded calmly.

“For twenty years.”

“I protected both sides.”

“Waiting for the prophecy.”

Grand Sage Orion lowered his head.

“So you were the spy…”

“I was the guardian.”

Vargos replied.

“The kingdoms were built upon lies.”

“But destroying them overnight would only create endless war.”

“So I waited…”

“For someone who could unite both truths.”

His eyes met Ren’s.

“You.”

Before Ren could answer, a loud laugh echoed through the chamber.

Another figure emerged from the shadows.

A man wearing dark robes covered in crimson symbols.

His eyes glowed bright red.

“So…”

“The pieces have gathered.”

King Asterion’s expression changed instantly.

“You…”

“The Hollow Sage.”

The man’s smile widened.

“I see you still remember me.”

Mira whispered nervously,

“Who is he?”

King Asterion answered quietly.

“The one who caused the Great Collapse.”

“The true enemy of both Lunareth…”

“…and the Seven Kingdoms.”

The Hollow Sage spread his arms.

“History blamed your kingdoms.”

“I merely gave them a reason.”

Thousands of black cracks spread across the walls.

The ancient seals protecting the Heart Archive shattered one by one.

The Hollow Sage laughed.

“For ten thousand years…”

“I’ve waited for the Seventh Echo.”

“Only your mark can open the Crown Abyss.”

Ren frowned.

“The Crown Abyss?”

King Asterion pointed toward the deepest chamber beneath the throne.

“The greatest dungeon ever created.”

“It seals the Heart of the World.”

“If that seal breaks…”

“Every floating island…”

“…will fall.”

Without hesitation, the Hollow Sage thrust his staff into the ground.

The floor exploded.

An enormous circular gate emerged from beneath the roots.

Its surface was covered with seven glowing locks.

Ren’s mark suddenly burned.

The first lock opened by itself.

“No…”

King Asterion whispered.

“The seal recognizes him.”

Darkness erupted from the gate.

Monstrous creatures unlike anything Ren had seen poured into the forest.

Some had dozens of glowing eyes.

Others resembled enormous serpents made of shadow.

The battle began instantly.

Seraphine fought beside Lyra for the first time in years.

The two sisters moved perfectly together despite standing on opposite sides only moments before.

Mira threw explosive spice bombs while shouting,

“I knew carrying these would be useful someday!”

Ren laughed despite everything.

“You planned for demon invasions?”

“I plan for everything!”

Even King Asterion smiled.

“You remind me of my old companions.”

Ren fought harder than ever before.

His movements were faster.

Sharper.

Months of training finally showed.

He still wasn’t the strongest.

But he no longer relied on luck.

He relied on judgment.

On teamwork.

On courage.

During the chaos, Orion reached Ren.

“Listen carefully.”

“The Seventh Echo isn’t a weapon.”

“It’s a bridge.”

“A bridge?”

“Between every form of magic.”

“Only someone who understands both strength and weakness can awaken it.”

Before Ren could ask more—

The Hollow Sage attacked.

A wave of crimson energy blasted everyone backward.

King Asterion stepped forward.

“My time is ending.”

“I can only hold him briefly.”

He looked at Ren with calm determination.

“You must enter the Crown Abyss.”

“Find the First Echo.”

“It alone can stop him.”

Ren hesitated.

“I can’t leave everyone behind.”

Mira grabbed his shoulder.

“We’ll hold the entrance.”

Seraphine nodded.

“Go.”

Even Lyra smiled.

“This world still needs someone stubborn enough to save it.”

Ren took a deep breath.

“I’ll come back.”

“You’d better,” Mira replied.

“You still owe me three meat buns.”

Ren laughed.

“Deal.”

With one final look at his friends…

He stepped through the ancient gate.

The Crown Abyss.

Inside…

Gravity no longer existed.

Floating mountains drifted through endless darkness.

Ancient castles hung upside down.

Rivers flowed across the sky.

At the center of the impossible world floated a colossal crystal tower stretching beyond sight.

As Ren took his first step—

A voice echoed behind him.

“I wondered when you’d arrive.”

He turned.

A young man about his age stood there wearing a black cloak.

His face…

Looked exactly like Ren’s.

The stranger smiled.

“I’m the First Echo.”

“And I’m the life…”

“You were supposed to live.”

END OF CHAPTER 5