The council chamber of Noctis had never felt small before.
It was built to intimidate.
Massive black pillars lined the circular hall.
Ancient runes glowed faintly beneath the stone floor.
Blue fire burned in suspended braziers high above the chamber.
For centuries—
this room had controlled the hidden city.
Wars decided here.
Executions ordered here.
Factions created and destroyed here.
But tonight—
the chamber felt smaller than the man walking into it.
The Return to the Council
The massive doors opened slowly.
Every conversation stopped instantly.
Arjun entered without ceremony.
No guards.
No announcement.
Just footsteps echoing across black stone.
Kael followed behind him.
Lyra walked silently at his side.
And the Veiled One—
appeared from shadow itself near the chamber wall.
The council members immediately stiffened.
Because this time—
Arjun wasn't entering as a prisoner.
Or a suspect.
Or an outsider.
He entered as a problem no one could ignore anymore.
Eyes of the Chamber
The chamber was full.
Not just the main council.
Faction representatives filled the upper balconies.
Mercenary leaders.
Trade syndicates.
Information brokers.
Even criminal houses.
Every major power in Noctis had arrived.
And every single eye followed Arjun.
Some fearful.
Some hateful.
Some calculating.
Some hopeful.
That last group worried him the most.
Mordren Speaks First
"You should not be here."
Mordren's voice cut through the chamber immediately.
Harsh.
Cold.
But weaker than before.
Arjun glanced toward him casually.
"Pretty sure nobody can stop me."
Several people visibly tensed.
Because he wasn't boasting.
That was simply true now.
Mordren stood from his seat.
Hand resting on the massive weapon beside him.
"This city has laws."
Arjun raised an eyebrow.
"And those laws helped against the Overseer?"
Silence hit instantly.
Mordren's jaw tightened.
No answer came.
Because there wasn't one.
Vael's Decision
"Enough."
Vael's voice echoed through the chamber.
Calm.
Controlled.
But exhausted.
The old leader sat motionless at the center throne-like seat.
His blind eyes turned toward Arjun.
"You were summoned here because Noctis faces extinction."
Arjun crossed his arms.
"Straight to the point. Nice."
A few nervous laughs echoed faintly through the room.
Nobody relaxed.
Vael continued.
"The outer gate is weakening."
The chamber darkened slightly as ancient symbols lit beneath the floor.
A projection rose into the air above the council table.
A massive circular structure appeared.
Ancient.
Broken.
Covered in glowing cracks.
Arjun studied it carefully.
"That's the gate?"
Lyra nodded.
"The seal between Noctis and the surface pathways."
Kael added quietly,
"It's the reason the Overseers couldn't find us directly before."
The Veiled One's expression remained cold.
"They found it now."
The Truth About Noctis
Arjun looked at the projection.
"…This whole city is hiding underground because of them?"
Vael answered.
"Noctis was never meant to survive openly."
A pause.
"It was built after the first purge."
Arjun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The first purge?"
The chamber went silent again.
Even the faction leaders looked uncomfortable.
Seraphine finally spoke softly.
"The day the world burned."
Her smile was gone.
"Cities erased."
"Kingdoms removed from history."
"Entire bloodlines hunted."
Arjun felt the shadows around him stir.
Not aggressively.
Recognizing.
Like distant memories moving beneath the surface.
Vael's voice lowered.
"The Overseers called it correction."
That word again.
Correction.
As if lives were mistakes.
The Real Reason for Fear
Arjun looked around the chamber.
"So everyone here has just been hiding ever since?"
Mordren slammed one hand against the stone table.
"We survived!"
His voice thundered across the room.
"You speak as if survival is shameful!"
Arjun met his gaze calmly.
"No."
A pause.
"But fear becomes a prison eventually."
That line landed harder than expected.
Because deep down—
many of them already knew it was true.
The Outer Gate Cracks
The projection suddenly flickered violently.
A loud sound echoed through the chamber.
Like metal bending.
Then—
a crack spread across the image.
Several council members stood instantly.
Lyra cursed under her breath.
"They're already testing it."
The Veiled One looked toward Arjun immediately.
"They're searching for your presence."
Kael rubbed his forehead.
"Great. We're bait now."
Arjun stayed focused on the projection.
Beyond the cracks—
white light pulsed faintly.
Watching.
Waiting.
Trying to break through.
Division Inside the Council
One of the faction leaders suddenly stood.
A thin older man dressed in dark silver robes.
"Then give him up."
The chamber froze.
The man pointed directly at Arjun.
"This city survived centuries before he arrived!"
Murmurs spread immediately.
Another voice joined—
"He brought the Overseers here!"
"He is the anomaly!"
"We should exile him!"
More voices followed.
Fear spreading quickly.
Arjun stayed completely calm.
But Kael stepped forward angrily.
"You think they'll stop if he leaves?"
The chamber quieted slightly.
Kael pointed toward the cracking projection.
"They already found us."
The silence that followed felt heavier.
Because everyone knew he was right.
The Unexpected Support
Then—
someone else stood.
Not from the council.
From the upper faction seats.
Ilyas.
Of course.
The man smiled faintly.
"The Consortium opposes exile."
Mordren glared at him.
"You would risk the city?"
Ilyas adjusted one sleeve calmly.
"No."
His glowing eyes shifted toward Arjun.
"We simply recognize value when we see it."
Some scoffed.
Others looked thoughtful.
Ilyas continued smoothly.
"The Overseers fear him."
That line changed the room.
Because fear works both ways.
If something powerful fears a person—
people begin wondering why.
The Question No One Asked
Vael finally looked toward Arjun directly.
"All of this began with you."
The room became still again.
Then Vael asked the question everyone wanted answered.
"If the gate falls…"
His voice echoed softly.
"…can you stop them?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Every eye fixed on Arjun.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Fearing.
Arjun looked at the projection again.
At the cracking seal.
At the white light pressing against it.
Then he answered honestly.
"I don't know."
Several people looked devastated by that answer.
But Arjun continued.
"…But I'll fight them."
The shadows around the chamber moved softly.
Responding.
And somehow—
that answer carried more weight than certainty would have.
The Veiled One's Warning
The Veiled One suddenly stepped forward.
And when she spoke—
even the council listened carefully.
"If the gate breaks completely…"
Her black eyes moved across the chamber.
"…the Overseers will not send soldiers."
A pause.
"They will send execution."
Cold silence followed.
Because everyone understood the difference.
Final Scene
Suddenly—
the entire chamber shook violently.
The projection exploded into white light.
A deep sound echoed across Noctis—
like a massive lock snapping open.
Everyone froze.
Then the system appeared before Arjun.
DING
Outer Gate Integrity:
42%
Another line appeared immediately after.
Estimated Time Until Breach:
Unknown
The chamber lights flickered.
The city trembled again.
And somewhere far above Noctis—
something enormous struck the gate from the other side.
🔥 [End of Chapter 34]