The King's Summons
The battlefield of memories shook violently.
The crimson sky continued breaking apart as darkness poured through the massive crack above.
The Warden stood motionless, golden eyes fixed on the Original.
The Original remained bound by countless golden chains.
Yet he was smiling.
Calm.
Confident.
As if everything was proceeding exactly according to his plan.
—
Jay felt it.
The call.
The summoning.
The moment the Original had spoken—
Something awakened inside him.
Something ancient.
Something buried deeper than memories.
—
His chest tightened.
A strange pulse echoed through his entire body.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
—
And then—
He heard them.
Voices.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Whispers appearing inside his mind.
—
"We hear the King..."
"The King has called..."
"The fragments are gathering..."
"Return..."
"Return..."
"Return..."
—
Jay grabbed his head immediately.
The voices weren't loud.
But there were too many.
Far too many.
—
Inside his mind, the shadow appeared instantly.
Its expression darkened.
—
"The summons has begun."
—
Jay gritted his teeth.
"...What's happening?"
—
The shadow looked toward the Original.
—
"He called every fragment."
—
A chill ran down Jay's spine.
—
Every fragment.
Not one.
Not ten.
Not hundreds.
Every fragment.
—
The Original laughed softly.
—
"The game is over."
—
The Warden's chains tightened immediately.
Golden light exploded across the battlefield.
—
BOOOOM!
—
The ground shattered.
The sky trembled.
The chains glowed brighter.
—
But the Original simply continued smiling.
—
"You're too late."
—
The Warden remained silent.
But for the first time—
Jay noticed something unusual.
—
The Warden looked concerned.
—
Not afraid.
—
Concerned.
—
As if events were unfolding faster than expected.
—
And that realization terrified Jay more than anything.
—
Because if even the Warden was worried—
Then the situation was far worse than he understood.
—
Suddenly—
The battlefield shook again.
—
CRACK.
—
A new fracture appeared in the distance.
—
Jay turned immediately.
—
The air itself broke apart.
Like glass.
—
And something stepped through.
—
A figure.
—
Tall.
Dressed in black armor.
Silver eyes.
Long dark hair.
—
Its presence wasn't as overwhelming as the Original.
But it was powerful.
Very powerful.
—
The newcomer immediately dropped to one knee.
—
"My King."
—
Jay's eyes widened.
—
The Original smiled.
—
"The first has arrived."
—
The silver-eyed fragment lowered its head.
—
"I answered your call."
—
The Warden's expression darkened.
—
"Already..."
—
Jay felt his heartbeat accelerate.
—
That was another fragment.
—
And judging from the power radiating from it—
A dangerous one.
—
Then—
CRACK.
—
Another fracture appeared.
—
Then another.
—
Then another.
—
The sky began breaking apart all around them.
—
One by one—
Figures started emerging.
—
Some wore armor.
Some wore robes.
Some looked human.
Others barely resembled people at all.
—
But every single one carried the same feeling.
—
They were fragments.
—
And all of them bowed toward the Original.
—
"My King."
—
"My King."
—
"My King."
—
The battlefield echoed with the same words.
—
Jay's stomach tightened.
—
There were dozens already.
And more continued arriving.
—
The Original looked at them silently.
—
Then—
His crimson eyes shifted toward Jay.
—
"Do you understand now?"
—
Jay clenched his fists.
—
"...Understand what?"
—
The Original's smile widened slightly.
—
"Even broken."
—
A pause.
—
"I was never alone."
—
The battlefield continued filling with fragments.
—
Each arrival increased the pressure.
—
Each arrival strengthened the atmosphere.
—
Each arrival made Jay realize how small he truly was.
—
Until now—
He had only encountered a few fragments.
—
But this?
—
This was an army.
—
An army made from pieces of the same existence.
—
And they all acknowledged one ruler.
—
The Original.
—
Suddenly—
One of the newly arrived fragments turned toward Jay.
—
Its eyes narrowed.
—
"...Human emotions."
—
Another fragment spoke.
—
"...Weakness."
—
A third laughed softly.
—
"...This version disgusts me."
—
Jay's expression darkened instantly.
—
The fragments began studying him.
—
Like predators examining prey.
—
Like nobles judging a failure.
—
And none of them looked impressed.
—
The silver-eyed fragment stepped forward.
—
"Why does this one exist?"
—
The Original remained silent.
—
The fragment continued.
—
"He carries hesitation."
—
Another fragment nodded.
—
"He carries mercy."
—
A third fragment sneered.
—
"He carries fear."
—
The battlefield grew quiet.
—
Then the silver-eyed fragment looked directly at Jay.
—
"...You are not worthy of becoming whole."
—
The words hit hard.
—
Not because they were insulting.
—
Because part of Jay felt them resonate.
—
A small voice deep inside him whispered:
—
"They're right."
—
Immediately—
The shadow appeared before him.
—
"Ignore it."
—
Jay clenched his fists tighter.
—
Because he recognized that voice.
—
It wasn't the fragments.
—
It wasn't the Original.
—
It was his own doubt.
—
And that was far more dangerous.
—
The Original watched everything silently.
—
Then—
For the first time—
He spoke directly to the gathered fragments.
—
"Tell me."
—
The entire battlefield became silent.
—
Thousands of eyes focused on him.
—
The Original's crimson gaze swept across the army.
—
"Who among you seeks completion?"
—
Every fragment stepped forward.
—
Every single one.
—
The answer was immediate.
—
No hesitation.
—
No uncertainty.
—
Only desire.
—
The desire to become complete.
—
The desire to survive.
—
The desire to become the one true existence.
—
The Original nodded slowly.
—
"As expected."
—
Then—
His gaze shifted toward Jay.
—
And suddenly—
The smile disappeared.
—
The atmosphere changed.
—
Became colder.
More dangerous.
—
"Then the first trial shall begin."
—
Jay's eyes narrowed.
—
"...Trial?"
—
The Original's crimson eyes glowed brighter.
—
"The weak do not deserve existence."
—
The fragments remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
—
Then the Original raised one chained hand.
—
And pointed directly at Jay.
—
"Prove your worth."
—
The battlefield shook violently.
—
The silver-eyed fragment immediately stepped forward.
—
Its sword appeared instantly.
—
A weapon made entirely of silver energy.
—
Its eyes locked onto Jay.
—
Cold.
Merciless.
—
Then it smiled.
—
"...I accept."
—
The Warden's expression darkened.
—
The shadow's eyes narrowed.
—
And Jay slowly clenched his fists.
—
Because he finally understood.
—
The King's Summons wasn't about gathering fragments.
—
It was about selecting a survivor.
—
And the first battle had begun. 🔥👁️
Next Chapter Title:
"The First Trial" ⚔️👑🔥