The battlefield went silent.

Thousands of soldiers stood frozen beneath the enormous golden crown descending from the sky.

Lucien couldn't breathe.

He knew that voice.

He had heard it beyond the First Gate.

He had watched the Eternal King sacrifice himself so they could escape.

Yet now—

He was back.

Caelan stared upward.

"Father..."

The word escaped before he could stop it.

The golden crown stopped above him.

A voice answered softly.

"I heard you."

Caelan's eyes filled with tears.

"You're alive."

"Not in the way you think."

---

Evelyne stepped backward.

For the first time since merging with the Crimson Core, fear appeared in her eyes.

"No."

The golden...