Aetherion lowered his head.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Kael stared at him.
"What did you do?"
The ancient being remained silent.
Kael's voice hardened.
"I asked you a question."
The mysterious creature smiled.
"You see?"
"He still can't tell you."
Kael turned toward it.
"Then you tell me."
The creature stepped forward.
"My name is Eryx."
The name echoed through Kael's mind.
A forgotten memory stirred.
Two young figures stood beneath a newborn star.
One was Kael.
The other was Eryx.
They were laughing.
They were brothers.
Kael's chest tightened.
"I remember..."
Eryx smiled.
"You were always the one who believed everyone could be saved."
Kael closed his eyes.
Another memory appeared.
The three of them—Kael, Eryx, and Nox—stood before the Seven Thrones.
The Architects surrounded them.
Aetherion stood behind Kael.
The Last Core floated between them.
Then the Architects spoke.
"One of the brothers must become the vessel."
Kael looked at Eryx.
"I'll do it."
Eryx immediately shook his head.
"No."
"You can't."
Kael smiled.
"I've already decided."
The memory shattered.
Kael opened his eyes.
"You volunteered."
Eryx nodded.
"To become the vessel."
"For what?"
Eryx looked toward the darkness beyond the broken Door.
"For the force that existed before the universe."
Kael's blood ran cold.
Aetherion finally spoke.
"The Architects couldn't contain it."
"Nox couldn't destroy it."
"So Kael chose to become its prison."
Eryx's expression darkened.
"And I refused to let him do it alone."
Kael stared at him.
"What happened?"
Aetherion closed his eyes.
"I made the choice."
Kael's voice became quiet.
"What choice?"
"I separated you."
"You took Eryx's power and sealed it inside Eclipse."
Kael froze.
"You..."
"I erased your memories."
"I erased Eryx's memories."
"And I created the Last Core."
Silence.
Kael's hands trembled.
"Why?"
Aetherion looked at him.
"Because the only way to stop the force inside you was to divide your soul."
Kael looked toward Eryx.
"So Eclipse..."
"Was never my enemy."
Eryx nodded.
"Not originally."
The darkness around him began to fade.
"You were my brother."
"And I became the half of you that was sacrificed."
Kael's eyes filled with anger.
"You let me forget you."
"I had no choice."
"You always had a choice!"
Kael's aura exploded.
White and black energy tore through the battlefield.
Aetherion didn't defend himself.
He simply stood there.
"You have every right to hate me."
Kael's fists shook.
Then—
The enormous darkness beyond the Door moved.
Eryx suddenly turned toward it.
His expression changed.
"It's awake."
Everyone looked upward.
The creature beyond reality began pulling itself through.
Nox raised his blade.
"How much time?"
Eryx answered.
"Not enough."
Kael looked at Aetherion.
Then at Eryx.
The anger in his heart remained.
But so did something else.
A memory of two brothers standing beneath a newborn star.
Kael slowly extended his hand.
Eryx stared at it.
"Come back."
Eryx hesitated.
Then he reached forward.
Their hands touched.
The Last Core erupted.
White and black light merged into something completely new.
The universe shook.
And for the first time in thousands of years...
The two halves of the Star Eater became one.
Far beyond them, the darkness opened its eyes.
And it whispered—
"The brothers are reunited."
"Then let the final war begin."