The Amnesiac Sovereign

Chapter 9: The Prisoner of Fallen Stars

The crimson eyes burned within the darkness.

Massive.

Ancient.

Terrifying.

They floated in the depths of the underground realm like twin moons stained with blood.

The moment they opened, the temperature throughout the tomb plummeted.

The rivers of liquid starlight began to freeze.

Even the air seemed to tremble.

Ethan felt every instinct in his body screaming danger.

Not because of the creature's strength.

But because of its age.

Whatever was imprisoned here had existed for thousands of years.

Perhaps even before the Great Betrayal itself.

Another roar erupted from the darkness.

BOOOOM!

The sound wave slammed into the chamber like a hurricane.

Chunks of stone crashed from the ceiling.

The enormous crystal containing the second soul fragment flickered violently.

Orion immediately stepped in front of Ethan.

His spear pointed toward the darkness.

For the first time since their meeting, the ancient warrior looked tense.

Very tense.

"Your Majesty."

His voice remained steady.

"But if that thing escapes..."

He didn't finish the sentence.

He didn't need to.

The warning was obvious.

Whatever lay imprisoned ahead was powerful enough to concern even a captain of the Celestial Guard.

A deep laugh suddenly echoed through the darkness.

The sound resembled rolling thunder.

Old.

Mocking.

Filled with endless hatred.

"So..."

The voice rumbled.

"The little Sovereign finally returned."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

The creature knew him.

Or at least knew who he once was.

The crimson eyes moved closer.

Slowly.

Patiently.

Then chains became visible.

Countless chains.

Millions of ancient golden links stretched across the darkness.

Each one covered with divine runes.

Each one pulsing with extraordinary power.

They wrapped around a colossal figure hidden within the shadows.

The creature took another step forward.

The earth shook.

A second step.

The chamber trembled.

Then its true form emerged.

It resembled a wolf.

Yet calling it a wolf felt insufficient.

Its body was larger than a castle.

Black scales covered its flesh.

Silver flames burned along its back.

Its fangs were longer than swords.

And its eyes radiated enough pressure to crush ordinary cultivators instantly.

Theo, Marcus, and Elena would have died from a single glance.

Even Lucas's strongest elders would probably collapse before it.

Ethan remained still.

The creature stared at him.

Then—

Unexpectedly—

It laughed.

"Hahaha!"

The entire tomb shook from the force of the sound.

Orion tightened his grip on his spear.

Yet the creature ignored him completely.

Its attention remained focused on Ethan.

"What a miserable state."

Its enormous eyes narrowed.

"The ruler of Nine Realms..."

"...reduced to this."

Ethan didn't react.

Insults meant nothing.

He was more interested in answers.

"Who are you?"

The creature became silent.

For a moment, something strange flashed through its eyes.

A memory.

A distant sorrow.

Then it answered.

"I am Fenrir."

The name felt familiar.

A fragment of memory surfaced.

A battlefield beneath a crimson moon.

A monstrous beast charging through armies.

Stars falling from the sky.

Then darkness.

The vision vanished.

Fenrir noticed the reaction.

A low chuckle escaped its throat.

"You remember pieces."

"Good."

Ethan took a step forward.

"Tell me what happened."

Orion immediately frowned.

"Your Majesty—"

Fenrir interrupted him.

"Let him ask."

The giant beast settled onto the ground.

Chains rattled loudly.

For a brief moment, it looked less like a prisoner and more like an ancient king trapped inside a cage.

Ethan stared directly into its crimson eyes.

"Did the Nine Betrayers kill me?"

Fenrir laughed again.

But this time the laughter sounded bitter.

"Yes."

The answer came without hesitation.

Ethan's expression remained calm.

Deep down, he had already accepted that possibility.

The memories made it increasingly obvious.

But Fenrir wasn't finished.

"They betrayed you."

"They stabbed you in the back."

"They shattered your throne."

"They divided your empire."

The beast's eyes darkened.

"Yet they weren't the ones who started everything."

Silence filled the chamber.

Orion's expression changed instantly.

"Fenrir."

A warning.

A dangerous one.

The beast ignored it.

Ethan's heart began beating faster.

For the first time, genuine anticipation surfaced.

"Explain."

Fenrir slowly lowered his massive head.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Ethan.

Then it spoke words that shook him more than anything else he had learned.

"The Nine Betrayers were not the masterminds."

BOOM!

A violent pulse erupted from Ethan's soul.

The fragment reacted.

His instincts screamed that Fenrir was telling the truth.

The beast continued.

"Someone manipulated them."

"Someone whispered doubts."

"Someone poisoned loyalties."

"Someone carefully arranged your downfall."

Orion's jaw tightened.

Clearly he knew something.

Yet he remained silent.

Fenrir laughed.

"Your loyal dog still refuses to speak."

"Perhaps because the truth terrifies him."

Ethan turned toward Orion.

The old warrior lowered his head.

His silence was answer enough.

A cold feeling spread through Ethan's chest.

For days, he had focused on the Nine Betrayers.

He thought defeating them would reveal the whole story.

Now that assumption was collapsing.

There was someone else.

Someone hidden.

Someone powerful enough to manipulate the strongest figures in existence.

Someone who remained unseen even now.

Before Ethan could ask another question—

CRAAACK!

A loud explosion echoed from the entrance of the tomb.

The entire underground realm shook violently.

Orion's eyes narrowed.

"They breached the first barrier."

Fenrir laughed.

"Your little visitors arrived."

Another explosion followed.

Closer.

Much closer.

Then a familiar voice echoed through the tomb.

Lucas King.

"Search everywhere!"

"The treasure must be inside!"

Ethan frowned.

The timing couldn't have been worse.

The second fragment was within reach.

Yet now outsiders were entering the tomb.

And something told him Lucas wasn't the greatest threat.

Far from it.

Suddenly, the crystal containing the soul fragment erupted with golden light.

The entire chamber illuminated.

A powerful force surged outward.

The fragment had awakened completely.

Waiting.

Calling.

Demanding to be reclaimed.

Fenrir's expression changed.

For the first time, excitement appeared in his eyes.

"Interesting."

Orion turned toward Ethan immediately.

"Your Majesty."

"The fragment is ready."

Ethan nodded.

Then began walking toward the crystal.

Every step caused the light to intensify.

Every step made his soul resonate.

Yet before he reached it—

A cold voice suddenly echoed throughout the chamber.

"Stop."

The voice did not belong to Lucas.

Nor any of his men.

It belonged to someone else.

Someone powerful.

Someone who should not have been here.

Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows near the crystal.

A tall man dressed in golden robes.

His face hidden behind an ancient mask.

The moment Ethan saw him—

The fragment inside his soul exploded with violent rage.

A memory surfaced.

A battlefield.

Golden armor.

A trusted general kneeling before the throne.

Then betrayal.

A sword.

Blood.

Death.

The name erupted from Ethan's lips before he could stop himself.

"Aurelius."

The masked figure smiled.

And removed his mask.