Darkness surrounded Aizen, yet it was not emptiness. Countless golden stars shimmered in the void like fireflies scattered across an endless canvas. He floated weightlessly, as though his body no longer belonged to him, and for the first time, he felt as if he was outside the boundaries of his world—outside even the solar system.
Galaxies whirled in their eternal dance, their spiraling arms glowing in hues of sapphire, crimson, and silver. The beauty of creation stretched endlessly before him, humbling even his storm-filled soul. He wanted to reach out, to touch the brilliance—yet before he could take a step, the void shuddered.
A shadow stirred.
From the abyss emerged a colossal, twisted silhouette. Its maw opened wide, and with a single bite, two galaxies disappeared—swallowed like crumbs before a beast. Stars screamed as they imploded, their light silenced in an instant.
Aizen's heart thundered. His claws flexed, his body tensing to leap forward, but a force invisible yet unyielding anchored him in place.
> "Do not approach, my descendant."
The voice was a woman's—gentle yet commanding, echoing from every direction as though carried by the stars themselves. Aizen spun, searching for its source. Then he saw her.
She emerged from the constellations, a lioness formed of shadow and starlight. Her mane was a galaxy unto itself, flowing with nebulae of purple and gold. Her golden eyes pierced through the void, deep with the wisdom of ages.
> "That creature you see… it is no mere beast. It is the daughter of the Almighty Supreme. She is called the Destroyer. Where she treads, galaxies die. But she is not alone."
Aizen's breath caught.
> "The Destroyer…?"
> "Yes. The Supreme bore two daughters. The Destroyer, who exists to end. And the Creator, who exists to weave new worlds. They are opposite, yet bound, two halves of a greater whole. Together, they are known as… The Orb of Reality."
The words reverberated in Aizen's chest, heavier than thunder.
> "If they are that powerful… then why me? Why must I—"
The lioness stepped closer, her star-forged paws leaving ripples in the void.
> "Because you are not bound by the Celestials. You are free. Not a god shackled by law, not a mortal chained by fate. That is why only you can stand between the sisters. Only you, Aizen Arcime."
Her golden eyes softened.
> "I am Vaelith Umbryss. The first Black Lion. Your ancestor. My power flows in your veins, but you have yet to reach its peak. You are still young—merely twenty-seven. A cub compared to the storms that lie ahead."
Aizen clenched his fists. Lightning crackled faintly across his arms, but it felt dim under her presence.
> "So you're saying… I'm not strong enough yet."
Vaelith nodded slowly, her mane of galaxies shifting.
> "Not yet. That is why I have come. I will train your perception, sharpen your instincts, and remind you of every technique the Black Lions once wielded. Fate itself despises your existence, my descendant. The day you were born, the threads of destiny twisted to erase you. But I will not allow it. You must live, Aizen. You must endure."
The stars around them flickered violently as the colossal Destroyer roared in the distance, shaking entire constellations apart.
> "Time grows short," Vaelith whispered. "When the Destroyer wakes, reality itself will tremble. Until then… wake, Aizen. Wake and grow stronger."
Her form began to dissolve, scattering into fragments of starlight. Her final words carried through the collapsing void.
> "Wake up, my dear descendant."
---
"Aizen! Wake up!"
The voice changed—softer, familiar, desperate. Aizen's golden eyes shot open, breath ragged.
He lay in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Beside him, Lyra sat with her hand clutching his tightly, her emerald eyes filled with relief and exhaustion.
> "You scared me… you wouldn't wake up for a whole week." Her voice trembled, though she tried to keep it steady.
On the other side, little Lina pressed herself against his arm, her yellow hair a mess of tangles.
> "Papa! Don't do that again! I thought you were… I thought you were…" She buried her face into his chest, muffling the rest.
Aizen's heart softened. He slowly raised his hand, resting it gently on Lina's head before glancing at Lyra. Her lips trembled as though she wanted to scold him but couldn't bear to.
He exhaled.
> "I… had a strange dream. About my ancestor. She told me things… that I'm still trying to understand. I need to train harder. Push myself to the maximum. But…"
He trailed off, staring at the ceiling, golden sparks flickering faintly in his eyes.
> "…if the Destroyer really awakens, why don't the so-called Celestials fight her themselves?"
No one answered. The room was silent, filled only with the sound of Lina's soft sniffling. Lyra tilted her head, her sharp dragon gaze lingering on him, but she chose not to press the question.
Aizen closed his eyes again, forcing a small smile.
> "Forget it. No more dark thoughts. Today… I just want to spend time with my family."
He pulled Lina close, and Lyra let out a quiet sigh, leaning against his shoulder. For a fleeting moment, the cosmic weight pressing on his soul faded, replaced by the warmth of those he loved most.
But deep inside, he knew—Vaelith's warning was no dream.
The Destroyer was real.
And one day soon, she would awaken.
---
End of Chapter 60