The Amnesiac Sovereign

Chapter 5: The Tomb of Fallen Stars

Three days later.

A battered bus traveled along a winding mountain road.

Most of the passengers were tourists, treasure hunters, and adventurers hoping to strike it rich.

Sitting near the back window, Ethan quietly studied the ancient golden scroll.

Since the battle with the Soul Reapers, Luna had remained unconscious.

The power she unleashed had severely damaged her body.

Fortunately, before collapsing, she had arranged for a safe place where she could recover.

Ethan had left her there and immediately set out toward the location marked on the scroll.

The Tomb of Fallen Stars.

The resting place of his second soul fragment.

According to the map, the tomb was hidden deep within the Starfall Mountains, one of the most dangerous regions in the country.

Over the years, countless explorers had vanished there.

Many believed treasures from an ancient civilization were hidden within the mountains.

Others claimed powerful monsters guarded the area.

Ethan wasn't interested in any of that.

He only cared about one thing.

The fragment.

As the bus rounded another corner, a familiar pain suddenly pulsed inside his head.

Images flashed before his eyes.

A throne.

A battlefield.

Nine shadows standing beneath a broken sky.

Then—

A woman.

A beautiful woman dressed in crimson robes.

She stood beside him, smiling softly.

"Your Majesty, no matter what happens, I will always remain by your side."

The vision vanished.

Ethan opened his eyes.

His chest felt strangely heavy.

Who was she?

Another loyal follower?

Or someone more important?

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember.

Suddenly—

SCREECH!

The bus came to an abrupt stop.

Passengers cried out in surprise.

"What happened?"

"Why did we stop?"

The driver cursed loudly.

Everyone looked outside.

Several luxury SUVs blocked the road ahead.

The doors opened.

More than twenty people stepped out.

All dressed in expensive outdoor gear.

At their center stood a young man wearing sunglasses and a designer jacket.

His expression radiated arrogance.

The moment Ethan saw him, several memories connected.

Lucas King.

The man who had been involved with Olivia before the divorce.

The heir of the King Corporation.

The man who had sent thugs after him.

Lucas removed his sunglasses.

Then he smiled.

"Ethan."

The entire bus became silent.

Many passengers recognized Lucas immediately.

The King family was extremely influential.

Nobody wanted trouble with them.

Lucas slowly approached the bus.

His bodyguards followed behind him.

Ethan remained seated.

Calm.

Unbothered.

That calmness immediately irritated Lucas.

He had expected fear.

Instead, Ethan looked at him as though he were insignificant.

"Get off the bus," Lucas said.

Ethan didn't move.

Lucas's smile vanished.

"I wasn't asking."

Several bodyguards stepped forward.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Then Ethan stood.

Not because he feared Lucas.

But because he didn't want innocent passengers dragged into the conflict.

A few moments later, he stepped off the bus.

The mountain wind blew through the valley.

Lucas stared at him coldly.

"I heard my men failed."

"They did."

Lucas nodded.

"Interesting."

His eyes narrowed.

"I underestimated you."

Ethan remained silent.

Lucas hated it.

Ever since Olivia had mentioned Ethan, Lucas viewed him as trash.

A disposable nobody.

Yet somehow this nobody kept surviving.

First the thugs.

Then he disappeared completely.

Now he had appeared in Starfall Mountains—the exact location Lucas was heading toward.

Too many coincidences.

"You came for the tomb."

It wasn't a question.

Ethan didn't answer.

Lucas laughed.

"So it's true."

His expression grew greedy.

"My people discovered records of an ancient treasure hidden inside."

"The Tomb of Fallen Stars contains relics worth billions."

Ethan finally understood.

Lucas wasn't here because of him.

He was here for the tomb.

Unfortunately for Lucas...

The greatest treasure inside belonged to Ethan.

A soul fragment.

Something no amount of money could buy.

Lucas suddenly smiled.

"I'll give you one last chance."

"Leave."

"Disappear."

"And I might let you live."

Ethan looked at him.

Then smiled faintly.

"No."

The simple answer stunned everyone.

Lucas's face darkened immediately.

"You really don't know your place."

A dangerous aura filled the air.

Several bodyguards cracked their knuckles.

One stepped forward.

A giant man nearly two meters tall.

His fists looked like iron hammers.

"Young Master."

The giant grinned.

"Allow me."

Lucas nodded.

The giant walked toward Ethan.

His smile carried absolute confidence.

He had once been a professional fighter.

Breaking bones was second nature to him.

"Trash like you should stay trash."

The giant threw a punch.

Fast.

Powerful.

Enough to knock out an ordinary person instantly.

But Ethan's eyes remained calm.

Ever since obtaining the first fragment, his instincts had become sharper every day.

The giant's movements looked predictable.

Slow.

Clumsy.

At the last second—

Ethan moved.

The punch missed.

Before the giant could react, Ethan struck three times.

Chest.

Neck.

Shoulder.

The giant froze.

Then collapsed.

THUD.

Silence.

Everyone stared.

The bodyguard didn't even understand what had happened.

Lucas's eyes widened.

The other guards looked horrified.

One move.

Just one exchange.

Their strongest fighter was defeated.

Ethan lowered his hand.

A strange sensation suddenly appeared in his chest.

Warm.

Ancient.

The fragment inside him was reacting.

He looked toward the distant mountains.

Beyond countless peaks...

A faint golden light had appeared.

Invisible to everyone except him.

The second soul fragment.

It was calling him.

At the same moment, deep inside the Starfall Mountains—

An enormous stone gate that had remained sealed for thousands of years slowly began to open.

And behind that gate...

Something awakened.