The Amnesiac Sovereign

Chapter 8: The Guardian of the Tomb

Golden light swallowed everything.

For a moment, Ethan felt as though his body was being torn apart and reassembled countless times.

Then—

Silence.

His feet touched solid ground.

The blinding light faded.

Ethan slowly opened his eyes.

The world around him had completely changed.

He was no longer standing within the Starfall Mountains.

Instead, he found himself inside a vast underground realm.

Ancient stone pillars stretched toward a ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness.

Countless glowing crystals illuminated the surroundings with a soft silver light.

Rivers of liquid starlight flowed through carved channels in the floor.

The air itself felt ancient.

Older than kingdoms.

Older than empires.

Perhaps older than recorded history itself.

Ethan stood silently.

The moment he entered this place, the soul fragment inside him began vibrating.

A warm pulse spread through his body.

It felt like coming home.

Then footsteps echoed through the chamber.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Heavy.

Steady.

Ancient.

Ethan turned toward the sound.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Towering over two meters tall.

Clad in weathered silver armor.

A long spear rested in his hand.

His face was hidden behind a battle-worn helmet.

Yet despite the countless years that must have passed, the armor remained immaculate.

The spear gleamed with terrifying sharpness.

The figure stopped twenty meters away.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

The chamber became silent.

Then—

The armored warrior suddenly dropped to one knee.

BOOM!

The impact shook the ground.

His spear lowered respectfully.

His head bowed.

A deep voice echoed through the chamber.

"This servant greets His Majesty."

Ethan froze.

Again.

The same title.

Your Majesty.

His Majesty.

Sovereign.

Every clue pointed toward a forgotten identity he still couldn't fully remember.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked.

The armored warrior slowly raised his head.

"My name has long been forgotten."

"I was once known as Orion."

"Captain of the First Celestial Guard."

The name triggered something.

A faint memory surfaced.

An army of warriors clad in silver armor.

Millions standing in formation.

A spear raised toward the heavens.

Then the memory vanished.

Orion remained kneeling.

Thousands of years seemed to weigh upon his shoulders.

Yet his loyalty had not faded.

Not even after death.

Ethan took a slow breath.

"If you know who I am..."

"Then tell me."

Orion became silent.

For several moments, he simply stared at Ethan.

Then he shook his head.

"I cannot."

Ethan frowned.

"Why?"

"Because Your Majesty sealed those memories yourself."

The answer stunned him.

"I did?"

Orion nodded.

"Before the Great Betrayal."

"You knew death was coming."

"You knew your enemies would hunt your soul."

"So you divided your power."

"You divided your memories."

"And you scattered both across the Nine Realms."

Ethan's heart pounded.

This was the first concrete information he had received regarding his past.

"Why would I do that?"

Orion's expression darkened.

"Because one of the Nine Betrayers possessed a soul-searching technique."

"If your memories remained intact after reincarnation..."

"They would have found you immediately."

The explanation made sense.

Painfully so.

Every fragment Ethan recovered seemed carefully designed.

As though his former self had planned this resurrection long before his death.

Then another question surfaced.

"Aurelius."

The moment Ethan spoke the name, Orion's grip tightened around his spear.

Killing intent flashed briefly in his eyes.

"You remember him?"

"Only fragments."

"Who is he?"

Silence.

Then Orion slowly stood.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The old warrior seemed far larger than before.

Far more dangerous.

"Aurelius was your greatest general."

"He commanded billions of soldiers."

"He conquered realms in your name."

"He swore loyalty before heaven itself."

A brief pause followed.

Then Orion's voice turned cold.

"And he was the first to betray you."

The words echoed throughout the chamber.

A chill ran through Ethan's body.

His first betrayer.

A trusted friend.

A loyal general.

The first knife in his back.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

The entire tomb shook violently.

Dust rained from the ceiling.

Orion's eyes narrowed.

"They're here."

Ethan immediately understood.

Lucas.

The elders.

The others outside.

They had found a way into the tomb.

Another explosion echoed through the underground realm.

Closer this time.

Orion turned toward the distant darkness.

"They are forcing entry."

His expression remained calm.

Yet there was danger in his eyes.

"The outer defenses have weakened over the centuries."

"How long?" Ethan asked.

"Hours at most."

Ethan frowned.

That wasn't good.

If Lucas and the others entered while he was still weak, complications would follow.

Fortunately, Orion seemed unconcerned.

Instead, he pointed toward the center of the chamber.

Ethan followed his gaze.

At the heart of the underground realm stood an enormous crystal.

Nearly twenty meters tall.

Golden light flowed within it like liquid fire.

The moment Ethan saw it—

The fragment inside him reacted violently.

His soul trembled.

His blood surged.

Recognition filled every fiber of his being.

"The second fragment," Ethan whispered.

Orion nodded.

"It has waited five thousand years."

Five thousand years.

The number felt unreal.

Yet the crystal continued pulsing.

Patiently.

Faithfully.

Waiting for its owner to return.

Ethan began walking toward it.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

Memories stirred.

Emotions surfaced.

Fragments of a forgotten life called out from within the crystal.

Then suddenly—

A terrifying roar echoed through the tomb.

The entire underground realm shook.

Ethan stopped.

Orion's eyes widened for the first time.

"Impossible."

"What happened?" Ethan asked.

The old warrior stared toward the darkness.

His expression had become grim.

Very grim.

"The prison seal."

Another roar shook the chamber.

Louder this time.

Angrier.

Something ancient had awakened.

Something powerful.

Then Orion spoke words that immediately sent danger coursing through Ethan's veins.

"When the tomb was created..."

"...a monster was sealed here alongside the fragment."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"A guardian?"

Orion slowly shook his head.

"No."

The old warrior tightened his grip on his spear.

Fear appeared in his voice for the first time.

"A prisoner."

Another roar thundered across the underground realm.

And deep within the darkness...

Two enormous crimson eyes slowly opened.