The wind howled across the icy plains of the North, whispering secrets older than time.
Within the towering halls of Wintercrest Fortress, Duke Arden Vale sat in quiet meditation. The chamber around him was dimly lit, only the faint glow of Qi-candles illuminating the ancient runes etched across the floor.
He had been in this state for hours — unmoving, unbreathing, his mind deep within the flow of Heavenly Qi.
And yet, this meditation was unlike any before.
Images flooded his mind.A sky split in half.Mountains burning with divine fire.A thousand gods clashing in blinding light.
And standing among them — a lone man dressed in black, his eyes golden as the sun, his aura defying Heaven itself.
Himself.
But not as the Duke of the North. Not even as the mortal cultivator who had ascended once before.No — this was the one who stood above the Heavens.
"Do you remember now, my lord?"
The voice was soft, melodic — yet ancient, filled with both sorrow and reverence.
Arden's eyes snapped open. Before him stood a figure formed of starlight — translucent, ethereal.A woman in flowing robes of silver and white, her face serene and timeless. Her long hair shimmered like moonlight.
Arden's heart stilled. "You… who are you?"
The figure smiled faintly. "Once, I was called Elaria, Keeper of the Silver Gate. You knew me well — when you still ruled the Celestial Peaks."
He frowned. "The Celestial Peaks…?"
Her form flickered slightly. "You were known by another name then — Heaven's Bane. The mortal who shattered the divine hierarchy. You defied the Supreme Order and sealed the Celestial Emperor himself within the Void."
Arden's hand clenched unconsciously. "That can't be…"
Elaria approached slowly, her gaze gentle but firm. "The Heavens never forget rebellion. When you fell from the divine plane, your soul was shattered — scattered across time and worlds. This world, this life… is your second rebellion."
He stared into her eyes — the truth heavy, almost unbearable.
"So the gods hunting me… they are the remnants of that old war."
"Yes," Elaria said softly. "And they will not stop until you are erased completely."
Silence hung between them for a long moment. The candle flames flickered as if trembling under the weight of her words.
Finally, Arden exhaled. "Then it seems I've been defying Heaven longer than I thought."
Elaria smiled faintly, a flicker of warmth amidst the sorrow. "You haven't changed, my lord."
Outside the meditation chamber, Selene and Lyra waited anxiously. The two women had sensed the violent surge of energy emanating from within.
When the door finally opened, the cold wave of power that escaped made even Selene's breath catch.
"Brother," Lyra said softly, eyes wide. "Your Qi… it feels different."
Arden stepped into the light, his golden eyes glowing faintly — deeper, older."The Heavens remember me," he said quietly. "And now, I remember them."
Selene exchanged a worried glance with Lyra. "What do you mean?"
Before he could answer, Ryn entered the hall — travel-worn and bloodstained from her mission.
She knelt on one knee before him, her silver hair falling over her shoulder. "My lord, we found the cult. They're using divine fragments — and they know your name."
Arden's gaze sharpened instantly. "Show me."
Ryn produced a crystalline shard, pulsing faintly with divine energy. "A remnant from a Fallen Angel we fought. It spoke your title before collapsing."
Arden took it, his Qi flowing through the shard. Immediately, the air trembled — and a distorted whisper echoed through the hall.
"Heaven's Bane… Reborn… The Seal must be restored before he ascends again…"
The crystal shattered.
Selene hissed. "They're terrified of you."
Ryn rose slowly, her expression grim. "And they should be."
Arden turned to his commanders, voice low but resolute."From this moment onward, we are no longer defending the North — we are preparing for war. A war not of mortals, but of gods."
Lyra's eyes widened. "You mean—"
"Yes," he said. "The Divine War is returning. And this time, it will begin here."
That night, Arden stood upon the northern wall, gazing at the auroras that shimmered across the starry sky.
Elaria's spirit appeared once more beside him, her voice carried by the wind.
"You still intend to fight, even knowing what awaits?"
He smiled faintly. "I always have."
Elaria tilted her head slightly, her expression almost sorrowful. "Then let me give you this, my lord."
She raised her hand — a faint silver sigil appeared on his palm, glowing with celestial energy.
"This is the Mark of the Silver Gate. It will awaken the divine core you once possessed — the foundation of your godhood."
Arden felt the surge of power flood his body. The cold northern air around him seemed to bow under the weight of it.
Elaria stepped back, her form beginning to fade. "When the time comes, seek the Temple of Broken Light in the eastern mountains. There, the truth of your fall — and your enemy — awaits."
He nodded once. "You've done more than enough."
Her fading smile lingered in the night air. "Then may the heavens tremble once more… at your return."
And with that, she vanished — leaving only the whisper of wind and the faint shimmer of starlight where she had stood.
Arden clenched his fist, staring at the glowing sigil on his palm.
"Celestial Emperor… Supreme Order… so this is how it begins again."
Behind him, the Direwolf Riders were already preparing, Ryn giving quiet commands, Selene studying maps, Elyndra crafting enchanted arrows, and Mira training young recruits under the moonlight.
The North was stirring — not as an empire's frontier, but as the cradle of rebellion against the divine itself.
Arden raised his gaze to the heavens, his eyes blazing gold.
"Once, I shattered your throne," he whispered. "This time, I'll burn your heavens."
And above him, thunder rolled through the night — though no storm had yet formed.