"Nearly 200,000 years ago, a battle raged between gods and goddesses for the Eternal Throne." The being's voice carried the weight of forgotten history, resonating through the vast emptiness of my consciousness.
"During the reign of the Dragon God, balance was maintained. But when he sacrificed himself to save the cosmos, the throne was left vacant. And in the absence of his rule, chaos was inevitable."
I listened in silence as the story unfolded, an ancient war buried in time.
"For millennia, deities waged war, each seeking to claim the throne and reshape existence in their own image. Divine powers clashed, the heavens trembled, and the cosmos bore witness to a war that knew no end."
I clenched my fists. "And what happened? Who won?"
The being let out a low chuckle. "No one. The war never truly ended. It simply faded, hidden beneath the passage of time. But now, with Pandora's power unleashed… the game begins anew."
"I, the Eminence of Shadow, along with the other guardians, sealed the power of the Eternal Throne and imprisoned it within the Core." The being's voice reverberated through the empty expanse of my consciousness, carrying the weight of untold centuries.
"All the lingering hatred from those who perished in the gods' war, the blood spilled for the throne, the madness that drove deities to destruction—it was all contained within that prison. A madness so consuming that even the mightiest of gods fell victim to its call."
The air around me felt heavier, like the very essence of the tale was pressing against my soul.
"And now, that madness has found a new vessel."
A flicker of dark energy crackled in the void, and in my mind, I saw the image of Overseer—his presence, his insatiable hunger, the void that wrapped around him like an abyss given form.
"The one you call Overseer covets the Core because it holds the very essence of the gods' madness. His body has already been touched by the void—he is no longer simply a man, but something far worse. If he claims the Core, the war that once tore apart the heavens will begin anew."
I clenched my jaw. "Then I won't let him have it."
The Eminence of Shadow chuckled darkly. "Bold claim, child. But are you truly prepared to defy fate itself?"
**Chapter 34 – The Long-Awaited Final War**
Two hundred thousand years have passed, and the prophecy is finally upon them. A war that will determine the fate of humanity—a war that brings either hope or total annihilation.
The Keeper, the one entrusted with the Pandora's Core, holds the key to destiny. The core must never be opened, for within it lies unimaginable calamity—famine, death, and desolation, forces that can erase existence itself. But amidst the darkness, a single light remains. Hope.
Long ago, the Goddess entrusted the **Eminence of Shadow** with the impossible task: to seal away the remnants of the war between gods and goddesses, to prevent another era of madness and bloodshed. The frozen throne remained empty, but the desire to claim its power never faded. Those who sought to rule the cosmos waged countless battles, and the hatred they left behind still lingers within the core.
Now, the chains that have held the darkness at bay are weakening. The Overseer, tainted by the very madness sealed away, moves ever closer to his goal—unleashing the core's power and seizing control over fate itself.
And so, the Final War begins.
Milena The Keeper who stands at the center of it all, caught between destruction and salvation. The choices made now will decide the course of history, whether humanity finds a new dawn or vanishes into oblivion.
I clenched my fists, my chest tightening at Milena's words.
"Remember what we promised, Su Yan. When the time comes, if you must eradicate me, you must do it."
She smiled at me, so calm, so unwavering—like she had already accepted her fate. But I couldn't. The weight of her words lodged in my throat, bitter and suffocating.
How could she say that so easily? How could she ask me to do something so cruel?
Milena wasn't just an ally; she was my family. The one who stood beside me through every battle, every loss, every moment of despair. And now, she was telling me to prepare for the unthinkable.
I wanted to deny it, to tell her she was wrong, that I would never let it come to that. But no words came.
Because deep down, I knew.
If that moment ever arrived… I might have no choice.
Milena's voice is steady, yet there is a weight in her words that I can't ignore.
"My purpose is to oversee all of these things. I was entrusted with this task, and as the one who is the key to unleashing the core's full power, I—the Keeper—cannot choose a side."
Her eyes, usually unreadable, soften as she continues.
"But because of you and Kaelen, I have gained consciousness. I have learned what it means to feel… to understand how you humans experience pain, love, and determination."
A lump forms in my throat. This is Milena—the ever-unwavering Keeper, the one who is supposed to remain neutral, above all conflict. And yet, here she is, standing by my side, feeling, choosing—even when she isn't supposed to.
I meet her gaze, searching for something, anything, that can ease the growing unease in my chest.
"Milena…" I start, but the words fail me.
She has changed. And because of that, everything is changing.
In the midst of everything, I wake up in an unfamiliar bed. My body feels heavy, my mind sluggish, as if I've been trapped in a deep slumber for far too long.
Beside me, Ivanna sits with a worried expression, her hands clenched tightly together. The moment she sees my eyes flutter open, relief washes over her face.
"Big Sister Tang, are you alright? You've been asleep for three days."
Three days? My heart skips a beat. What happened while I was unconscious?
My heart sinks at Dylan's words. "Your friend Brick died by the hands of Overseer, and they took everyone from their base. We don't know where Overseer is keeping them. We were outnumbered… we couldn't protect them."
A cold silence fills the room. My hands clench into fists, my breath uneven. Brick… is gone? The people we fought to protect, taken?
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm, but the rage boiling inside me threatens to consume every rational thought.