The figure rose.Bones wrapped in black tendrils.A crown fused to his skull—cracked, but whole.
No flesh.No eyes.Only power.
Vael's chest tightened.It wasn't fear.It was weight.Like standing before a storm that remembered your name.
The voice echoed again."You wear my failure."
Nyra stepped back."Is that… the original king?"
Reylen drew his blade."But he's dead—right?"
Eron's face was pale."Not dead. Bound."
The First King floated above the pit.His voice shook the chamber.
"They gave me the crown to save the world.But the world fed on me instead."
Vael held his ground."I didn't choose this. Not fully."
The King laughed.It sounded like breaking bones.
"None of us chose.We were chosen."
Dark tendrils burst from the thrones.They lashed out, wrapping around Vael's limbs.
He gritted his teeth.Shadows answered.But the First King's power was older.
Nyra screamed."Vael!"
Reylen threw a knife.It passed through the King's ribs.
No effect.
Eron chanted under his breath.Old tongue.Binding words.
The crown on Vael's head pulsed.
It cracked.
Suddenly—
A second figure emerged.
A woman.Wearing white armor.Eyes glowing faint silver.
She raised her hand—And the tendrils froze.
The First King hissed.
"You... betrayed me."
She said nothing.Only looked at Vael.
"You still have time," she whispered."But not much."
The tendrils shattered.
And the King vanished—Swallowed by the pit once more.
The chamber fell silent.
Vael fell to one knee.The crown dimmed.But didn't fall.
Nyra rushed to him.
"Who… was she?" Reylen asked.
Eron answered quietly."The last one who tried to destroy the crown.And the first to fail."