Eclipse Ascension: The Calamity of the Seven Realms

Chapter 5: The Forgotten Name

The crimson light exploded from the abyss with enough force to tear apart the remaining foundations of the prison, and the moment the ancient voice uttered those three chilling words, every living soul within the underground ruins felt an indescribable pressure descend upon them."He remembers nothing."

The words echoed through the shattered corridors long after the voice had fallen silent. Arthur stood frozen amidst the falling debris. A strange sensation gripped his chest. The voice had sounded familiar. Not familiar in the ordinary sense. Rather, it felt like hearing a forgotten memory speak from the depths of his own soul. The experience unsettled him more than the monster beneath the capital. It unsettled him more than death itself.

Because deep inside, beyond logic and reason, a terrifying possibility had begun taking shape.What if the creature was right?What if there truly were memories hidden inside him? The silver-haired man stared toward the glowing abyss with visible tension. His calm demeanour had vanished completely. Even Seraphina appeared deeply disturbed.

Arthur noticed the exchange of glances between them. Neither looked surprised. Only worried. That realisation immediately sharpened his suspicion. Both of them knew far more than they were willing to reveal. The crimson light continued rising from the depths. Ancient symbols materialised within the air. At first, Arthur mistook them for ordinary runes.

Then he realised they were moving. Thousands of glowing characters drifted through the darkness like living stars. Each rune carried an overwhelming aura. Each symbol radiated power beyond anything Arthur had encountered.

The sight was beautiful. It was also deeply terrifying. Because every rune seemed alive.Watching.Waiting.Observing him. The silver-haired man's voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere."We need to leave immediately."Arthur turned toward him."You still haven't answered my questions."

The man released a long sigh."This is neither the time nor the place."Arthur's expression hardened."My entire life was destroyed because of secrets."His voice remained calm. The anger underneath did not."I died because people refused to tell me the truth."The silver-haired man studied him carefully. Something resembling respect flickered across his face. Before he could answer, another roar erupted from the abyss.

This time the sound differed from the previous ones. The roar carried intelligence.Purpose.A terrible awareness. The monster beneath the city was no longer merely awakening. It was becoming conscious. Arthur instinctively looked downward. The colossal crimson eye remained open.Watching.The creature never blinked.

Its gaze never shifted. Every second that passed increased Arthur's discomfort. Then something unexpected happened.

The creature bowed. The movement was subtle. Barely noticeable. Yet Arthur saw it clearly. The monster had lowered its head. Not toward the silver-haired man.Not toward Seraphina.Toward him. Arthur's stomach tightened.

The silver-haired man noticed as well. His expression darkened considerably."That's worse than I thought."Arthur immediately looked toward him."What does that mean?"The answer came several seconds later."It means the ancient creatures recognise something inside you."

Arthur almost laughed. At this point, everyone seemed eager to inform him that he carried some terrible secret. Nobody appeared interested in explaining what that secret actually was. Frustration slowly built inside him. Before Arthur could press further, the Eclipse Ascension System suddenly reacted. New symbols appeared before his eyes.

Ancient Recognition Detected

Source: Unknown Sovereign-Class Entity

Hidden Memory Fragment Available

Synchronisation Requirement: 10%Arthur's heart skipped a beat.Memory fragment. The words immediately captured his attention. The system had never displayed anything like that before. More importantly, it confirmed his growing suspicion.

There really were memories hidden somewhere inside him. Or perhaps inside whatever existed beyond Arthur Kensington. The thought made him deeply uncomfortable. He had spent years struggling to maintain his identity in a world determined to crush him. Now even his own memories felt uncertain.

The realisation brought him no comfort. A sudden scream echoed from above. Everyone looked upward. The ceiling of the prison had almost completely collapsed.

Through the enormous opening, Arthur could see portions of Ironhaven. The city was in chaos. Fires burned throughout several districts. People flooded the streets. Cultivators raced across rooftops. Temple bells rang continuously. The entire capital had noticed the disturbance. And it was only getting worse. The silver-haired man clenched his jaw."We're out of time."

Seraphina nodded. For once, she seemed to agree. Arthur noticed their urgency. Something significant was approaching. Something dangerous enough to concern individuals about their strength. Then he felt it. A new pressure entered the city. Unlike the overwhelming presence beneath the capital, this aura felt precise.Controlled.Sharp.

Arthur instinctively looked toward the sky. A figure appeared above Ironhaven. The newcomer stood upon a floating sword made entirely of golden light. Dozens of cultivators followed behind him. The sight resembled an army descending from heaven. Every person carried immense spiritual pressure. Golden robes fluttered in the wind.

Ancient symbols glowed upon their sleeves. The silver-haired man's expression immediately soured."Wonderful."His sarcasm was unmistakable. Arthur frowned."Who are they?"Seraphina answered first."The Dawn Tribunal."

Even Arthur recognised the name. The Dawn Tribunal was one of the most powerful organisations within the First Realm. Legends claimed they existed to eliminate dangerous cultivators before they threatened society. Ordinary citizens revered them as protectors. Others viewed them as executioners. The leader descended slowly from the sky. Golden light surrounded him. His presence illuminated the darkness below.

Arthur expected arrogance. Instead, the man appeared surprisingly ordinary. He looked middle-aged. His black hair contained streaks of silver. Sharp eyes examined everything with calm precision. Yet beneath that calm exterior rested terrifying power.

The man's gaze immediately found Arthur. No hesitation. No uncertainty.As if he had known exactly where to look. The realisation sent unease crawling through Arthur's chest. The Tribunal leader landed upon a broken section of stone. Several golden-robed cultivators followed behind him. The man folded his hands behind his back. For several moments, he simply observed Arthur. The silence felt heavier than any accusation.

Then he spoke."So."His voice remained calm."The dead boy truly returned."Arthur met his gaze. Neither looked away. The Tribunal leader finally smiled. Unfortunately, the gesture carried no warmth."I was hoping the reports were wrong."

Arthur immediately sensed danger. The man wasn't looking at him as a person. He was looking at a problem. A threat. Something requiring elimination.The same way Cedric had always viewed him.The same way the kingdom had viewed him. Arthur felt anger stirring beneath the surface. The familiar anger born from years of injustice. The Tribunal leader continued speaking."You have caused quite a disturbance."

Arthur laughed quietly. The sound surprised several people."I was executed."The smile vanished from the man's face."Indeed."

Arthur took a step forward."The prison collapsed."Another step."An ancient monster awakened."Another."And somehow I'm the problem?"Several Tribunal cultivators shifted uncomfortably. The leader remained composed."Whether you understand it or not, your existence has become dangerous."

Arthur's eyes narrowed."There it is."The man remained silent. Arthur's voice grew colder."The same excuse everyone uses."Memories surfaced immediately. Nobles are destroying families. Officials are fabricating crimes. Powerful people deciding who deserved to live. All justified through necessity. Through protection.Through the greater good.

Arthur was tired of hearing it. The Tribunal leader studied him carefully. Then he asked a question Arthur wasn't expecting."If killing one innocent person could save millions, would you do it?"The prison became quiet.

Arthur stared at him. The question felt simple. Yet the implications were enormous. The leader continued."Answer honestly."

Arthur thought about his father. His mother.Emily.The family was taken from him by people convinced they were doing the right thing. The answer came naturally."No."Several cultivators frowned. The Tribunal leader remained expressionless. Arthur continued."Because people who start making decisions like that eventually convince themselves they can justify anything."

A faint spark appeared in the man's eyes. Interest. No agreement.Interest.Arthur looked directly at him."My family died because powerful people believed their actions were necessary."

The Tribunal leader did not deny it. That silence spoke volumes. Then the man's gaze shifted. Toward the crimson abyss.Toward the enormous eye watching from below. His expression darkened slightly."I understand your anger."

Arthur, almost laughed.No.He didn't. People who possessed power rarely understood what it meant to live without it. The Tribunal leader continued."But the creature beneath this city recognises you."Arthur remained silent. The man took a slow breath."And that frightens me."For the first time, genuine honesty entered the conversation.

Arthur noticed immediately. The man wasn't acting out of hatred. He was afraid. The realisation complicated everything. Because fear often creates enemies faster than malice. Before anyone could continue, the crimson runes floating above the abyss suddenly accelerated.

Thousands of symbols began revolving around Arthur. The phenomenon happened without warning. Everyone immediately stepped backwards. Arthur himself looked stunned. The runes circled him like stars orbiting a sun.

One by one, they began dissolving. Each rune transformed into crimson light. Each light entered Arthur's body. Pain exploded through his skull. Arthur dropped to one knee. A flood of images erupted inside his mind.

He saw unfamiliar skies. Shattered worlds. Countless stars are burning. An enormous throne floating above reality itself. Then he saw a man. The figure sat upon that throne. Darkness surrounded him. Entire galaxies rotated around his body.

His face remained hidden. Yet Arthur knew one impossible truth. The figure was speaking. And the voice belonged to him. The vision shattered. Arthur gasped. Blood trickled from his nose. Everyone stared at him. The Tribunal leader's face had become grim. Seraphina looked frightened. The silver-haired man looked devastated.

Arthur slowly lifted his head. The system appeared again. Memory Fragment Unlocked. Synchronisation increased to 9%. Ancient Name Detected. Warning: Information Restricted. Arthur's heartbeat thundered. Ancient Name.What ancient name? Before he could investigate further, the abyss erupted one final time.

A colossal chain burst upward. This chain was different.Golden.Ancient.Covered in millions of glowing symbols. The moment it appeared, every monster beneath the capital began roaring.Fear.The sound carried unmistakable fear.

Arthur stared. The chain slowly rose into the sky.Higher.Higher.Higher.Then everyone saw what it was attached to. A gigantic stone gate. The gate dwarfed the city. Dwarfed mountains. Ancient symbols covered its surface. The sight stole Arthur's breath. Even the Tribunal cultivators appeared horrified. The silver-haired man whispered something under his breath.

Arthur barely heard it."What have they done?"The gate continued rising. The ancient voice returned. This time, it spoke from beyond the gate itself.

The words echoed across the entire capital. Across the entire kingdom.Perhaps even beyond. And when Arthur heard those words, every drop of blood in his body turned cold. Because the voice spoke the name hidden by the system.A name older than history.A name buried beyond memory.A name that somehow belonged to him.

"Welcome back..."The gate trembled. The heavens darkened. And the voice finished speaking."...Eclipse Sovereign."