The universe trembled.
Kael and Eryx stood together beneath the broken sky.
For the first time in thousands of years, the two halves of the Star Eater were no longer separated.
White and black energy flowed around them.
But there was something different now.
Their power wasn't fighting.
It was becoming one.
Eryx looked at Kael.
"Does it feel familiar?"
Kael nodded.
"Like something I've been missing my entire life."
Eryx smiled.
"Because you have."
Aetherion watched them silently.
Nox stood nearby with his blade drawn.
Then—
The sky shattered.
A massive black crack spread across reality.
Something moved behind it.
The creature beyond the Door had finally begun entering the universe.
Every star within its reach disappeared.
The Architects raised their weapons.
Veyrath summoned every remaining Devourer fleet.
The Guardians formed their defensive lines.
Even the Harbinger awakened at full power.
Arion's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"All forces!"
"Prepare yourselves!"
Thousands of warriors raised their weapons.
Kael looked around.
For the first time, the Alliance, the Devourers, and the Architects stood together.
Not because they trusted each other.
Because they had no other choice.
Nox stepped beside Kael.
"Whatever happens next..."
Kael looked at him.
"We finish it."
Nox nodded.
Eryx raised his hand.
A massive wave of black energy spread across the battlefield.
Kael followed.
White energy joined it.
The two powers formed a vast barrier around the First World.
The creature beyond reality laughed.
"You think this can stop me?"
Kael looked toward the sky.
"No."
His eyes began glowing.
"We're not trying to stop you."
Eryx smiled.
"We're coming for you."
The creature paused.
For the first time...
It looked uncertain.
Then millions of cracks appeared across the heavens.
From each crack emerged creatures made from pure darkness.
An endless army.
The final war had begun.
The Architects launched first.
Thousands of beings of living light descended like meteors.
The Devourer fleet followed, unleashing crimson energy across the darkness.
Crystal dragons filled the skies.
Stone giants charged across the battlefield.
The Harbinger stepped forward.
Its blue eyes burned like twin stars.
Arion shouted—
"FOR THE FIRST WORLD!"
The army roared.
The two sides collided.
The impact shook entire galaxies.
Kael and Eryx remained at the center.
Their combined power continued growing.
Aetherion approached them.
"There's something you need to know."
Kael turned.
"What?"
Aetherion looked toward the creature.
"The final enemy isn't trying to destroy the universe."
Kael frowned.
"Then what does it want?"
Aetherion answered quietly.
"To become the universe."
Silence.
Eryx's expression hardened.
"It wants to consume all existence..."
"And replace it with itself."
Kael looked at the endless battlefield.
"Then we can't let it."
Aetherion nodded.
"But there is one problem."
"What?"
"The only way to kill it..."
He looked directly at Kael.
"...is to destroy the Last Core."
Kael froze.
The battlefield seemed to disappear around him.
"If the Core is destroyed..."
"You will lose everything."
Eryx stepped forward.
"His memories?"
Aetherion shook his head.
"His power."
"His immortality."
"His connection to the stars."
Kael stared at his hands.
For the first time, the choice was clear.
He could keep the power that had defined his existence...
Or sacrifice it to save everything else.
Above them, the creature's enormous eye opened.
"Choose, Star Eater."
Kael looked toward Eryx.
Then toward the First World.
He smiled.
"I already chose."
He stepped forward.
The Last Core began to glow.
And the final battle entered its next stage.