The Veyris Empire had become quiet again.
Too quiet.
Days passed without strange invasions.
No reality fractures.
No labyrinth openings.
No cosmic beings attempting impossible things.
At first, everyone enjoyed it.
Then the reports started arriving.
Imperial scouts disappeared.
Not one.
Not two.
Dozens.
Entire elite scouting units vanished near distant borders beyond the mapped regions of existence.
No bodies.
No battles.
No signs.
Only silence.
Within three days, something else happened.
Ancient symbols began appearing.
Across floating continents.
Across forgotten dimensions.
Across distant worlds connected to the Empire.
Strange circular markings formed on mountains, oceans, skies, and even stars.
The symbols glowed dark silver and crimson.
No one recognized them.
Not even ancient gods.
Inside the Imperial Hall.
Kael sat upon the throne while reports stacked endlessly.
Ignisia crossed her arms.
Morrigan narrowed her eyes.
Lilith looked serious.
Nyx watched silently.
Ashvattha stared at the symbols floating above magical projections.
Kael's daughters stood nearby.
Kaelignis frowned.
Dad... these marks appeared in twelve worlds at once.
Lyra looked carefully.
And they appeared at exactly the same moment.
Elyrion summoned floating calculations.
Impossible.
No delay between worlds.
No transmission.
No energy movement.
Veyloria narrowed her eyes.
Someone placed them directly.
Kael looked at them calmly.
Investigate.
Find answers.
The daughters nodded.
Hours later.
they traveled through distant regions beyond Imperial territory.
Ancient ruins stretched endlessly.
Broken worlds floated in darkness.
Fragments of civilizations drifted like abandoned memories.
Then.
they found something.
On a massive black stone wall, hidden beneath collapsed stars, symbols were carved deeply into reality itself.
Beneath them were words.
Ancient words.
THE THRONE SHALL NOT RETURN
THE RULERS SHALL NOT FALL AGAIN
THE THREAT SHALL BE ELIMINATED
The daughters stared.
Threat?
Veyloria looked uneasy.
I don't think they're talking about us.
Silence.
Then Lyra slowly turned.
...I think they are.
Far away.
in a realm outside ordinary existence.
massive thrones stretched endlessly.
Countless forgotten kings and rulers sat in silence.
Ancient crowns floated above them.
Broken empires surrounded them.
The atmosphere felt old.
Very old.
One figure stood.
A ruler wearing dark armor covered in glowing symbols.
His eyes opened slowly.
The Veyris Empire expands too quickly.
Another ruler spoke.
He gathers gods.
Rulers.
World Trees.
Dragons.
Ancient beings.
Another voice echoed.
If left alone...
he will eventually reach us.
Silence filled the chamber.
Then every ruler spoke together.
Kael Veyris is a threat.
Ancient symbols lit up beneath their feet.
Millions.
Billions.
Across forgotten realities.
DECLARATION ISSUED
REALM OF FORGOTTEN RULERS
WAR AUTHORIZED
Back at the Empire.
alarms exploded.
Red lights flooded the skies.
Knights ran through the streets.
Portals opened across reality.
Kael stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Everyone looked toward him.
No panic.
No fear.
Kael walked toward the balcony overlooking his Empire.
Countless stars reflected in his eyes.
Then he spoke:
So they finally made themselves known.
Far away.
the symbols across worlds changed.
From:
THREAT DETECTED
To:
WAR BEGINS
End Chapter