The entire kingdom went black.For several seconds, Luna could see nothing.Then the darkness lifted.Not completely.A strange gray light returned to the sky, revealing the Eternal Realm and the distant kingdoms beneath it.But something had changed.The voices were gone.The souls Luna had connected to were suddenly silent.She pressed a hand against her chest.“No.”Kael immediately looked at her.“What is it?”“I can't feel them.”“Who?”“The people.”Luna closed her eyes and reached through the Soul Network.Nothing.The thousands of connections that had once felt like glowing threads were fading.One by one.Then hundreds disappeared at once.Luna gasped.“They're losing their memories.”Adrian's face tightened.“That's what the corruption was designed to do.”Luna turned toward him.“You knew?”“I suspected.”“You should have told me.”“I didn't know it could spread this quickly.”Luna looked toward the distant kingdoms.“Then we don't have much time.”A new message appeared.M

The words echoed through the ruined kingdom.“Bring her to me.”Luna stood frozen as Selene, Victor, Ryan, and Ethan stared at her with blackened eyes.Kael tightened his grip around her hand.“Don't move.”Luna barely heard him.Her friends were standing only a few steps away, but their souls felt distant.The corruption had taken control again.“No,” Luna whispered.Selene raised her weapon.“Bring her to me.”Victor stepped forward.Ryan followed.Ethan's eyes remained fixed on Luna.Kael moved in front of her.“They're being controlled.”“I know.”“We need to leave.”Luna shook her head.“I can't leave them.”Kael looked at her.“Luna.”“They're still inside.”A black wave suddenly exploded from Selene.Kael pushed Luna aside.The wave struck him.He slid several feet across the ground before stopping.“Kael!”He rose slowly.“I’m fine.”Selene attacked.Kael blocked her strike.Victor rushed him from the other side.Kael avoided the attack without striking back.“Luna!”She under

The ground beneath the refugee camp began to shake. Luna stood at the center of the ancient symbol, staring at the glowing lines beneath her feet. The refugees had stopped moving. Even the children were silent as the strange light spread beneath the streets. Kael stepped beside her, his injured arm hanging at his side. “What is this place?” Luna shook her head. “I don't know.” Adrian ran toward them. “You need to get everyone out of here.” “Why?” “Because I recognize that symbol.” Luna turned. “What is it?” Adrian looked at the ground. “A containment seal.” The ground shook again. A deep crack opened behind them. The refugees screamed. “Everyone move!” Victor shouted. Selene began directing people toward the northern road. “Stay together! Don't run in different directions!” Ryan lifted an injured man onto his back. “Keep moving!” Ethan grabbed two children and carried them away from the cracks. Luna looked at Adrian. “What was sealed here?” Adrian's expressio

“Come home.” The voice sounded like Kael's. But Luna knew immediately that it wasn't him. She stood frozen before the central server, staring at his suspended body. His eyes were completely black. His face was calm. Too calm. Kael would never look at her like that. “That's not him,” Luna whispered. Adrian stood beside her. “No.” Caelan's expression hardened. “The consciousness is using his memories.” Luna stepped forward. “Kael.” The figure inside the server smiled. “You've been searching for me.” Luna's chest tightened. “Where are you?” “I am here.” “No. You aren't.” The black-eyed figure tilted its head. “Why do you reject me?” “Because I know him.” Luna placed her hand against the server. “Kael would never ask me to come home.” The figure's expression changed. “Then what would he ask?” Luna closed her eyes. “He would tell me to run.” For a moment, nothing happened. Then the figure's eyes flickered. A faint blue light appeared beneath the black. “Lu

The kingdom fell before Luna could make a choice. The ground beneath her feet split open. A deafening roar tore through the Eternal Realm as the seventeen corrupted servers collapsed at once. Towers of black energy erupted from the earth, piercing the sky and swallowing the silver clouds above. Luna stumbled. Kael caught her arm. “Luna!” “I’m fine.” She looked toward the horizon. She wasn't fine. The kingdom was dying. Far beyond the central memory, cities disappeared beneath waves of black corruption. Ancient walls cracked. Crystal towers collapsed. Rivers turned dark as the corruption spread through the land. The system continued flashing warnings. KINGDOM INTEGRITY: 31%. 29%. 24%. Kael stared at the destruction. “It’s happening everywhere.” Luna's heart tightened. The ancient consciousness had disappeared, but its corruption remained. She could feel thousands of souls screaming through the Soul Network. Children. Parents. Warriors. Elders. People who had su