The sunlight that had just purified the skies of Astrala felt strange against Ravian’s skin. He stood atop a mound of rubble, staring over the vast ruins that had once been the center of the greatest civilization in the world. A gentle wind drifted through, carrying the lingering scent of ash and a faint trace of jasmine.“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Aether appeared at his side, taking a noisy swig from a leather flask. “A clean sky, free of those light-robed tyrants.”Ravian did not turn. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon. “Clean above, rotten below. Did you hear the screams in the well earlier, Aether? Humans don’t need gods to become demons.”“That’s their nature, kid,” Aether replied, wiping his mouth. “When the lion dies, the little dogs fight over the carcass. Now that the heavens have fallen, they think no one is watching.”Malakor approached, his black armor clinking softly against the broken stone. “My lord, the people are growing restless. News of your return is spreading fas

Silver dust still hung in the air, mingling with the black vapor rising from the cracked earth before the Prison of the Ancients. Ravian Arkana stood motionless, letting the cold wind sweep across his now unmasked face. His pitch-black eyes, marked by slowly turning golden pupils, stared at the massive stone gate that still trembled faintly.“Master, you’re badly injured.”The voice was gentle, yet edged with sharp concern. Malakor stepped forward, his bluish glowing hand reaching toward Ravian’s shoulder. Blood stained the man’s cheek, remnants of the chaos from Zarthus’s attack earlier.“I’m fine, Malakor. Don’t waste your energy on small wounds like this,” Ravian replied without turning around. His voice sounded heavier now, burdened by the weight of thousands of souls depending on him.“That is not a small wound! Your shoulder is torn open, and Zarthus’s golden energy is still trying to burn your flesh from the inside out!” Ester snapped, her face carrying a firmness she rarely sh

Ravian gasped for air, the giant grip crushing him as if every atom in his body were being ground to dust.“Who... who are you? Show yourself!”“I am the beginning and the end. Yet to you, I am a voice not meant to be fully heard,” the voice echoed, vibrating through his bone marrow with a pain even greater than Zarthus’s attacks.“Release him!” Ester screamed from the distance, her hoarse voice swallowed by the storm winds that had suddenly gone berserk.“Master! Hold on!” Malakor tried to leap forward, but an invisible gravitational pressure slammed him back into the ground.The giant hand slowly loosened, but instead of letting Ravian fall, a dark purple dimensional rift opened high above the skies of Astrala’s Capital. Its glowing light devoured the last traces of golden sunlight.“System! Give me a report! What’s grabbing me?” Ravian shouted in his mind, his eyes wide as he stared into the void before him.[Detecting an entity beyond standard sensor range,] the System’s voice cra