THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 44: THE SHRINE OF STORMS

Dark clouds gathered over the Skybreak Cliffs.

Lightning danced between towering peaks that pierced the heavens.

No birds flew here.

No beasts roamed the jagged rocks.

Only the constant roar of thunder filled the endless sky.

Kael and his companions stood at the edge of the cliffs.

Below them stretched a bottomless abyss.

Across the chasm, barely visible through the storm, stood a colossal temple suspended in the air.

The Sixth Shrine.

Its white pillars shimmered with blue lightning.

Around it floated enormous fragments of ancient mountains.

Selene looked across the abyss.

“There’s no bridge.”

Aurel nodded.

“There never was.”

Caelan frowned.

“So how did anyone reach the shrine?”

“The worthy were invited.”

“And the unworthy...”

Aurel pointed into the darkness below.

“...fell forever.”

Caelan immediately stepped back.

“I suddenly miss the desert.”

Without warning, the storm intensified.

A bolt of blue lightning struck the ground before them.

When the light faded...

A knight stood where the lightning had landed.

He wore armour forged from silver and sapphire.

A long spear rested in his hand.

His eyes glowed like the storm itself.

“I have waited.”

His voice rolled like distant thunder.

Kael stepped forward.

“You are the Sixth Sovereign?”

The knight bowed his head.

“I was.”

“My name is Tharos.”

“The Storm Sovereign.”

Unlike the previous Sovereigns, there was no warmth in his expression.

Only discipline.

Only duty.

He looked at Kael.

“You carry five inheritances.”

“But your heart is heavy.”

Kael nodded.

“I left people behind.”

Tharos looked into the storm.

“A king always leaves someone behind.”

Suddenly, the skies split apart.

A massive bolt of lightning crashed into the abyss.

Instead of disappearing...

It became a bridge of pure energy stretching toward the floating shrine.

Tharos pointed his spear.

“Cross.”

The group exchanged uncertain glances.

Caelan carefully placed one foot onto the bridge.

It held.

“I hate magic,” he muttered.

Elara laughed.

“You’ve said that since the first shrine.”

“And I’ve been right every time.”

One by one, they crossed.

The bridge swayed with every clap of thunder.

Far below...

Shadows moved within the endless darkness.

Watching.

Waiting.

Halfway across, Kael suddenly stopped.

He heard footsteps behind him.

He turned.

No one.

Then a familiar voice whispered.

“Brother...”

Kael froze.

That voice...

It was impossible.

Slowly, a young woman emerged from the mist.

She had long dark hair.

Gentle crimson eyes.

And a silver pendant shaped like a phoenix.

Kael’s breathing became uneven.

“L... Lyanna?”

Selene turned.

“Who?”

But she saw nothing.

Only Kael staring into empty space.

The young woman smiled sadly.

“You’ve grown.”

Kael’s eyes filled with tears.

His older sister whom he has only seen in his visions.

The one he had watched disappear during the fall of the Blood Palace.

“You died...”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“I was taken.”

Kael took a step toward her.

“Where?”

The lightning bridge trembled.

Aurel shouted from ahead.

“Kael!”

“Don’t move!”

But Kael barely heard him.

Lyanna reached out her hand.

“I’m still waiting for you.”

“Come.”

One more step...

Then another.

The bridge beneath him cracked.

The illusion smiled.

Its eyes suddenly became completely black.

Selene realised what was happening.

“It’s not her!”

Kael hesitated.

At that instant, the Heart of the Sovereign awakened.

He felt no heartbeat from the woman.

No life.

No soul.

Only emptiness.

Kael closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the illusion had changed.

A creature of darkness stood before him.

Its smile twisted with hatred.

“You almost believed.”

Kael raised the Blood Sovereign Blade.

“No.”

“I almost forgot.”

He slashed once

The illusion shattered into black mist.

The bridge stabilised.

Tharos watched from the far side.

A faint smile appeared on the old Sovereign’s face.

“The Sixth Trial has already begun.”

The group reached the floating shrine.

Massive stone doors opened without a sound.

Inside waited a circular hall.

Six enormous statues stood around the chamber.

Each represented one of the Sovereigns Kael had already met.

Only one pedestal remained empty.

At its centre floated a blue crystal.

But before Kael could approach...

The crystal cracked.

A scream echoed through the temple.

Not human.

Not beast.

The scream of a dying storm.

Tharos’ expression changed instantly.

“No...”

He looked toward the highest tower of the shrine.

“It has found the Heart of the Tempest.”

Aurel frowned.

“What is the Heart of the Tempest?”

Tharos gripped his spear.

“The source of every storm in this world.”

“If it falls into the Hollow King’s hands...”

He looked directly at Kael.

“...the skies themselves will become his army.”

A deafening explosion rocked the shrine.

The ceiling split open.

Descending through the storm was a warrior clad in black armour streaked with crimson lightning.

He carried a jagged spear forged from living darkness.

When his helmet lifted...

Kaelor gasped.

“I know him.”

Selene looked at the prince.

“Who is he?”

Kaelor’s voice trembled.

“General Cassian.”

“The greatest hero of the Empire...”

“...who disappeared fifteen years ago.”

The warrior slowly smiled.

But there was no humanity left in his eyes.

Only the Hollow King’s corruption.

“I have come...”

He raised his spear toward Kael.

“...for the Sixth Inheritance.”