The sky broke.
Not metaphorically.
Not symbolically.
Actually broke.
Reality itself cracked apart above Blackstone City, revealing a darkness deeper than space.
And within that darkness—
Hundreds of gigantic golden eyes stared downward.
Watching.
Judging.
Waiting.
The pressure that descended made everything before seem insignificant.
The gate.
The crimson creature.
The ancient army.
Compared to this—
They felt small.
For the first time since arriving in Blackstone City—
Lin Feng felt true danger.
Not danger to himself.
Danger to everything.
The giant guardian stood protectively before him.
Its mountain-sized body radiated golden light as ancient symbols ignited across its armor.
"THE CELESTIAL WATCHERS."
The name echoed like thunder.
The black-robed elder's face turned pale.
"They came personally."
The crimson-robed man laughed bitterly.
"Of course they did."
His gaze remained fixed on the broken sky.
"The Throne awakened."
"The Heir appeared."
"What did you expect?"
Fair point.
Meanwhile, the ancient rider rose from his kneeling position.
The broken crown at his belt glowed brighter.
His crimson eyes never left the heavens.
"Murderers."
The single word carried twelve thousand years of hatred.
The giant eyes above slowly blinked.
The motion alone caused storms to form across the sky.
Then—
A voice descended.
Not loud.
Yet every living thing heard it.
"Heretics."
The rider's hand tightened around his sword.
The army behind him immediately lowered their weapons.
Not in surrender.
Preparation.
For war.
The voice spoke again.
"The Final Heir must be surrendered."
Every eye turned toward Lin Feng.
Lin Feng sighed.
"Why is everyone always talking about me?"
Su Yao looked at him.
"Because apparently you're important."
"I miss when I wasn't."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
The giant guardian stepped forward.
Its enormous spear materialized in its hand.
Golden flames erupted around its body.
"The Heir is under my protection."
The heavens remained silent for a moment.
Then—
One of the gigantic eyes narrowed.
And a beam of golden light descended.
Straight toward Blackstone City.
The attack crossed the sky instantly.
Too fast.
Too powerful.
Too overwhelming.
The giant guardian moved.
Its spear rose.
BOOOOOOOM!
The collision shook the continent.
Mountains hundreds of miles away collapsed.
The sea itself surged violently.
The city nearly shattered.
But the guardian held.
Barely.
Its feet dug deep into the earth.
Cracks spread across its golden armor.
The beam finally dissipated.
Silence followed.
Then—
A second eye narrowed.
Another beam formed.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The black-robed elder's expression changed instantly.
"No."
The heavens prepared to attack together.
The city elder clenched his fists.
"We can't stop that."
Nobody argued.
Because they couldn't.
The guardian could barely block one.
There were hundreds.
The rider slowly drew his sword.
A weathered blade covered in ancient scars.
The moment it emerged—
The army behind him roared.
Not with fear.
With loyalty.
With fury.
The rider pointed his sword toward the heavens.
"For the King."
Thousands of voices answered.
"FOR THE KING!"
The ground trembled.
Ancient warriors raised their weapons.
Ready to charge the sky itself.
Lin Feng stared.
"…They're insane."
The man from the shadows nodded.
"Completely."
The rider smiled faintly.
Then looked at Lin Feng.
And something strange happened.
The broken crown suddenly detached from his belt.
Floating upward.
Everyone froze.
The crown drifted across the battlefield.
Past the army.
Past the guardian.
Past the elders.
Until it stopped before Lin Feng.
The golden mark on his chest erupted with light.
The crown responded instantly.
Cracks across its surface began healing.
Ancient runes reignited.
Lost pieces reappeared from nowhere.
Reforming.
Restoring.
The rider stared.
The guardian stared.
The heavens went silent.
Because they all knew what was happening.
Lin Feng didn't.
Which was becoming a recurring problem.
The crown floated gently toward him.
Then stopped inches from his head.
Waiting.
As though asking permission.
The voice from the heavens thundered.
"DO NOT LET HIM WEAR IT."
For the first time—
The celestial beings sounded alarmed.
Genuinely alarmed.
The rider laughed.
A deep, victorious laugh.
"They're afraid."
The guardian's eyes blazed brighter.
"They remember."
Lin Feng looked at the crown.
Then at the sky.
Then at the crown again.
"…I feel like putting this on would cause problems."
"YES."
Hundreds of celestial voices answered simultaneously.
The rider immediately shouted.
"DO IT."
The guardian nodded.
"PLEASE DO."
Su Yao covered her face.
The black-robed elder looked like he was developing a headache.
Lin Feng sighed.
Everyone wanted something from him.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone knew more than he did.
And somehow—
He was expected to make the decision.
The crown hovered before him.
Waiting.
The heavens trembled.
The army held its breath.
The throne floating above the abyss suddenly pulsed with golden light.
As if anticipating the outcome.
Cliffhanger
Lin Feng slowly raised his hand toward the crown.
The moment his fingers touched it—
A forgotten name exploded inside his mind.
A name older than kingdoms.
Older than worlds.
A name that belonged to him.
And the throne above Blackstone City suddenly began descending.