The morning after Dark Julius disappeared, the valley felt different. Nobody said it aloud, but everyone felt it.Julius had defeated Veyron,survived the Void, created an entire world from nothing, yet an enemy wasn't trying to overpower him but was trying to understand him and that was far more dangerous.Julius stood outside the house, staring at the mountains in the distance while Lyra walked up behind him, “You haven't slept”“I'm fine” he nonchalantly replied “You always say that when you're not” she insisted Julius smiled faintly, “I have a lot on my mind”“Dark Julius?” She asked while Julius nodded “He isn't like the others”Lyra stood beside him, “What do you think he wants?”Julius looked at her, “to prove that I'm not really different from him”“And do you believe him?” She asked “No” Julius says“Then why are you worried?”Julius was silent for a moment before he replied, “Because he knows me”Lyra frowned, “He knows your past. That's not the same as knowing who you are

For a few seconds, Julius couldn't speak, he only stared at Kael as if he were looking at a stranger.The man he had spent thousands of years believing was simply his father had just admitted that he had created him and behind Julius, Lyra remained silent. She could see the confusion in his eyes, the anger fighting against the love he still had for Kael.Aster lowered his head as if he already knew what was coming. Julius finally spoke after minutes of muteness, “did you just say you created me”Kael nodded “Yes”“Not Seraphine?” He asked again “She only helped” Kael replied “Not the Ancient One?” He further askedKael hesitated before muttering, “No”Julius's eyes narrowed, “Then tell me the truth, I mean all of it”Kael took a deep breath before he started, “Before you were born, I discovered something hidden beyond the boundaries of creation. The Firstborn had already existed for ages, Veyron had begun controlling entire realities,The Ancient One was creating worlds, and Seraphine

Everyone in the Forgotten City looked up as darkness spilled through it. Veyron's voice echoed from somewhere beyond the broken prison, “Three sons of Kael” then a low laugh followed, “And one of them became something you were never prepared for”Julius stood in front of Noah, his eyes fixed on the crack, “Enough talking”Veyron laughed, “You still believe this is about you”Julius's expression didn't change, “It usually is”“No, this is about all four of you” Veyron spoke again behind Julius turned slightly, Adrian and Gabriel were standing several feet behind him.Dark Julius remained on the ruined tower, Kael stood between them, looking at his sons with a mixture of regret and fear and Julius looked at his father, “Why did Veyron say four?”Kael didn't answer but Dark Julius did, “Because he's counting me”Julius looked up then asked, “You?”Dark Julius jumped from the tower and landed several feet away, “Yes”Adrian frowned, “You're not one of us”Dark Julius smiled, “Not original

The darkness beneath the Forgotten City continued to rise.Julius stood at the edge of the collapsing ground, Noah's hand firmly in his own. Behind them, Adrian, Gabriel, Dark Julius, and Kael had stopped fighting the golden warriors.Something had changed, even the First Queen was no longer attacking. She was staring into the enormous crack beneath the city and she looked afraid.“What is that?” Adrian askedThe First Queen didn't answer, Gabriel tightened his grip around his weapon as he called, “Queen”She finally spoke, “Something that should have died before the first world was born”A deep rumble shook the city, then a hand emerged from the darkness and it was enormous. Its fingers were black, but not like ordinary darkness. There were faint stars moving beneath its skin, as though an entire night sky had been trapped inside its body. The hand gripped the edge of the broken city, then another appeared and something began pulling itself upward.Noah stepped closer to Julius, “Fath

“I am your mother” The words echoed across the battlefield. For several seconds, nobody moved even the armies that had been fighting moments earlier stood frozen.Julius stared at Noah, the boy was trembling violently in his arms, “Father”His voice was barely audible, “Make her stop”Julius placed one hand against Noah's back, “You're safe”“No” The voice came from Noah again but this time, it wasn't Noah speaking, “You cannot protect him from me”Julius's expression hardened. He reached into Noah's chest with his power, searching for the strange consciousness hidden inside him. The moment his power touched it, it exploded and Julius was thrown backward. He crashed through several ancient buildings before finally stopping, “Julius!”Kael's voice echoed across the battlefield.Julius stood slowly. For the first time, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.Adrian stared, murmuring, “She actually hurt him”Gabriel's expression became serious, “Not exactly”He looked toward Noah, “