The roar shook the heavens.
Mountains trembled.
The sea surrounding Chingy City rose into enormous waves.
Birds fled the sky.
Every person in the kingdom stopped moving.
Even the dragons beyond the Gate became silent.
Leo stared at the enormous darkness behind the Gate.
"What is that?"
King Austin stood on the other side.
His face was filled with sorrow.
"My son..."
Leo stepped forward.
"Father!"
Austin looked at him.
"You should never have opened the Gate."
Leo shook his head.
"I didn't open it."
Austin looked toward the future Leo.
"He did."
The future Leo smiled.
"I had to."
Leo pointed his sword at him.
"You used my father."
"No."
The future Leo shook his head.
"Your father came willingly."
Leo looked at Austin.
"Is that true?"
Austin lowered his head.
"Yes."
Leo's voice broke.
"Why?"
Austin looked toward the darkness.
"Because I have seen what is coming."
"What?"
Austin looked at Mira.
"The end."
Mira froze.
"The end of what?"
Austin answered:
"The end of time."
The people became terrified.
Leo shook his head.
"Explain."
Austin took a step forward.
"I spent years beyond the Gate."
"I watched kingdoms rise."
"I watched them fall."
"I watched countless futures."
"And in every future..."
He looked toward the darkness.
"...it came."
Kael stepped forward.
"What?"
Austin whispered:
"The First Beginning."
Silence.
Leo frowned.
"First Beginning?"
Austin nodded.
"It is not a dragon."
"It is not a god."
"It is not a king."
"It is the force that existed before time was created."
Mira looked frightened.
"Why is it waking now?"
Austin looked at her.
"Because the Crown was broken."
Mira stared at her hand.
"But the Crown was meant to protect the future."
Austin shook his head.
"It was meant to control it."
He pointed toward Mira.
"And now its fragments have become something far more dangerous."
"What?"
Austin answered:
"Choice."
Chapter Seventeen: Father and Son
Leo stepped closer to the Gate.
"I don't understand."
Austin smiled sadly.
"I know."
"You always said the future belonged to everyone."
"It does."
"Then why are you helping him?"
Austin looked at the future Leo.
"I'm not."
The future Leo's smile disappeared.
Austin continued:
"I came here because I wanted to stop him."
Leo stared.
"Then why did you give him the fragment?"
"Because I needed him to believe I was on his side."
The future Leo suddenly raised his sword.
"You betrayed me."
Austin looked at him.
"I deceived you."
The future Leo attacked.
CLANG!
Austin blocked the strike.
But he was older.
His strength was fading.
Leo immediately charged through the Gate.
"FATHER!"
He struck the future Leo aside.
Austin fell backward.
Leo caught him.
For the first time in decades, father and son stood together again.
Leo's eyes filled with tears.
"I thought you were dead."
Austin placed his hand on Leo's face.
"I thought I would never see you again."
Leo hugged him.
The old king closed his eyes.
"I am sorry."
"For what?"
"For leaving you."
Leo shook his head.
"You were trying to protect us."
Austin looked at him.
"No."
He whispered:
"I was trying to protect you from the truth."
Leo stepped back.
"What truth?"
Austin looked toward Mira.
"The future doesn't begin with her."
Everyone stared.
"It begins with you."
Leo frowned.
"Me?"
Austin nodded.
"Your bloodline carries the final fragment."
Mira looked confused.
"But I have a fragment too."
Austin shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Leo.
"You carry the seventh key."
Leo's face went pale.
"What key?"
Austin answered:
"The key that opens the final Gate."
Chapter Eighteen: The Black Crown
The future Leo stood slowly.
The black crown on his head began glowing.
"Enough."
His voice shook the chamber.
Everyone turned.
"I have spent my entire life waiting for this moment."
Leo raised his sword.
"Then end it."
The future Leo laughed.
"You still don't understand."
He pointed at Austin.
"Your father saw the future."
Then he pointed at Leo.
"You were born to change it."
Then he pointed at Mira.
"And she was born to destroy it."
Mira shook her head.
"I don't want to destroy anything."
The future Leo smiled.
"That is exactly what makes you dangerous."
He raised his hand.
The first fragment flew toward him.
Leo tried to stop it.
Too late.
The fragment entered the black crown.
BOOOOOOM!
A wave of dark energy exploded.
The Gate expanded.
The creatures beyond it began pouring into the kingdom.
Austin shouted:
"Everyone back!"
Leo raised his sword.
"Defend the city!"
The battle began again.
Chapter Nineteen: The War of Chingy City
The streets became a battlefield.
Black soldiers marched through the gates.
Dragons flew above the palace.
Creatures from distant futures attacked the city.
But the people refused to surrender.
Farmers fought beside soldiers.
Doctors carried wounded people away from the battlefield.
Teachers led children into underground shelters.
Builders repaired the walls while arrows flew above them.
The kingdom fought as one.
Mira stood at the palace steps.
She raised both hands.
Golden energy formed around the city.
But this time, something was different.
The power wasn't coming only from her.
It was coming from the people.
Every person who believed in the future added strength.
Mira looked around.
"I can feel everyone."
Leo smiled.
"Then listen to them."
Mira closed her eyes.
Thousands of thoughts entered her mind.
Protect my children.
Save my family.
Don't let the kingdom fall.
We believe in you.
Mira opened her eyes.
"I understand."
She pushed both hands forward.
A massive golden wave swept across the city.
BOOOOOOM!