The heavens burned with silver and crimson light.
Above Elyndor, the Devourer of Skies spread its endless wings, swallowing the stars one by one. Every star it consumed left the world a little darker.
Aren stood at the edge of the ancient gate, the power of the First Star flowing through him. His sword shone brighter than ever before.
Beside him stood an unlikely ally.
The Shadow King.
Kael looked at him with suspicion. "One mistake, and I'll stop you myself."
The fallen guardian nodded. "I deserve that."
Liora raised her staff toward the dark sky. "Then we fight together."
The ground trembled as thousands of creatures made of shadow and broken starlight descended from the heavens. The armies of Elyndor gathered below, knowing this battle would decide the fate of their kingdom.
The Devourer let out a roar that shook the mountains.
A wave of darkness rushed across the land.
Aren lifted his glowing sword.
"For Elyndor!"
The armies charged.
Kael fought through the shadow creatures, his blade cutting paths of silver light. Liora's magic formed shields to protect the soldiers, while the Shadow King unleashed the ancient powers he had hidden for centuries.
But the Devourer was too strong.
With a single strike of its massive wings, the sky itself cracked apart. Towers collapsed, rivers changed their course, and the light of the stars began to disappear.
Aren flew toward the giant beast, carried by the power of the First Star.
He struck its dark armor.
The blade shattered.
The Devourer turned its glowing red eyes toward him.
"You are too late, Starborn."
Aren fell through the broken sky.
Just before he reached the ground, the Shadow King caught him.
"There is one chance left," the fallen guardian said.
He reached into his armor and revealed a small crystal glowing with ancient light.
"The last piece of my own star."
Liora realized what he meant.
"If you use it..."
The Shadow King smiled sadly.
"My time ended long ago."
He placed the crystal in Aren's hand. At once, the power of the First Star and the fallen guardian's light became one.
A brilliant beam of silver fire shot into the heavens.
The Devourer screamed.
Its darkness began to crack.
But as the light grew stronger, a giant rift opened behind the creature. From within that endless void came a cold voice that no one had ever heard before.
"You may destroy my servant... but you cannot escape your destiny."
A huge figure slowly emerged from the darkness, wearing a crown of shattered stars.
Even the First Star trembled.
Aren looked at the ancient being and whispered,
"Who are you?"
The figure's eyes burned like dying suns.
"I am the King Beyond Night... and I am the one who broke the stars."
To be continued in Part 27...