The beam of golden light pierced the heavens.
The entire city fell silent.
Not because of fear.
Not because of power.
Because of recognition.
Even those who didn't understand what they were seeing felt it instinctively.
The throne was important.
Terrifyingly important.
It floated within the golden pillar of light above the abyss.
Massive beyond comprehension.
Ancient beyond imagination.
Countless runes glowed across its surface.
Golden dragons coiled around its armrests.
Ancient stars were carved into its back.
And despite its age—
It looked untouched.
Perfect.
Waiting.
Lin Feng stared upward.
For reasons he couldn't explain—
His heart felt strangely calm.
As if seeing the throne wasn't surprising.
As if part of him had always known it existed.
"…Why does this feel familiar?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone else was too busy staring.
The crimson-robed man looked genuinely shocked.
The silver-robed woman had completely lost her usual composure.
Even the black-robed elder—
The calmest among them—
Appeared unsettled.
"The Throne…"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The city elder looked upward.
"…I thought it was destroyed."
"No."
The black-robed elder's eyes remained fixed on the floating silhouette.
"Worse."
A pause.
"We thought it was lost."
The golden pillar brightened.
The throne became clearer.
And suddenly—
A second object appeared.
Floating directly above it.
A sword.
Long.
Ancient.
Covered in countless golden seals.
The moment it appeared—
Lin Feng's chest exploded with pain.
"Agh!"
He staggered.
The mark over his heart ignited.
Golden and crimson light spread across his skin.
Not attacking him.
Responding.
The sword trembled inside the pillar.
As if sensing him.
Everyone noticed.
Immediately.
The crimson-robed man's eyes widened.
"It recognizes him."
The silver-robed woman took a slow breath.
"So it's true."
Lin Feng was getting tired of hearing phrases like that.
"What is true?"
No answer came.
Instead—
The sword moved.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Its tip shifted.
Pointing directly at Lin Feng.
The city trembled.
The abyss shook violently.
And deep beneath the earth—
Something ancient awakened further.
The black-robed elder's expression hardened.
"We need to leave."
Everyone looked at him.
The crimson-robed man frowned.
"Leave?"
"Now."
The elder rarely raised his voice.
This time—
He did.
"Immediately."
Before anyone could question him—
The abyss erupted.
A colossal hand emerged.
Golden.
Not crimson.
Not corrupted.
Golden.
The hand was larger than entire buildings.
Ancient symbols covered every inch of it.
Then another hand appeared.
And another tremor shook the world.
Something was climbing upward.
Not from beyond the gate.
From beneath it.
From somewhere even deeper.
Lin Feng felt the same calm voice from before.
The one that had protected him.
The voice echoed softly inside his mind.
"Do not be afraid."
The moment those words appeared—
The pressure around him disappeared.
Completely.
Lin Feng looked toward the abyss.
Something enormous was rising.
But strangely—
He wasn't afraid.
Not even slightly.
Then—
A figure emerged.
Unlike the crimson creature.
Unlike the horrors behind the gate.
This figure looked human.
Mostly.
A giant clad in ancient golden armor stepped from the abyss.
Its size rivaled mountains.
Its face hidden behind an ornate helm.
Its eyes burned like miniature suns.
The moment it fully emerged—
It dropped to one knee.
The city froze.
The newcomers froze.
Everyone froze.
Because the giant wasn't bowing to the throne.
It wasn't bowing to the sword.
It was bowing—
To Lin Feng.
A voice deeper than thunder echoed across the city.
"Guardian Number One…"
The giant lowered its head further.
"…awaits the Heir's command."
Dead silence.
Lin Feng blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then pointed at himself.
"…Again?"
Su Yao covered her face.
The crimson-robed man looked like he wanted to scream.
The silver-robed woman appeared equally horrified.
The black-robed elder simply closed his eyes.
As if accepting reality had become impossible.
Meanwhile—
The giant remained kneeling.
Waiting.
Patient.
Faithful.
As though it had spent thousands of years waiting for this exact moment.
Lin Feng looked at the giant.
Then at the throne.
Then at the sword.
Then back at the giant.
"…I feel like my life got very complicated very fast."
No one disagreed.
Then—
The throne moved.
Not much.
Just enough to send a ripple through reality.
And from somewhere far beyond Blackstone City—
Something answered.
Not one thing.
Many things.
Ancient things.
Sleeping things.
Waiting things.
Across distant mountains.
Across hidden realms.
Across forgotten ruins.
Eyes began opening.
One after another.
Drawn by the awakening of the throne.
Drawn by the return of the Heir.
Far away—
In a place untouched by time—
A woman dressed in white slowly opened her eyes.
Ancient runes glowed around her.
She stared toward the distant direction of Blackstone City.
Then smiled faintly.
"You're finally awake."
And for the first time in ten thousand years—
She stood up.