The name echoed through Noctis like a curse.
"Prepare the Thronebreaker."
Even after the voice faded—
the fear remained.
Because some names carry memory.
Not personal memory.
Instinct.
Ancient survival buried deep inside the soul.
And everyone in that chamber felt it.
Even if they didn't understand why.
Silence After the Name
The council chamber stood frozen.
No arguments.
No panic.
Just silence.
Heavy silence.
The kind that comes when people realize things can still become worse.
Kael finally broke it.
"…That sounds bad."
Nobody disagreed.
The Veiled One Reacts
For the first time since Arjun met her—
the Veiled One looked genuinely shaken.
Not worried.
Not cautious.
Afraid.
Her black eyes stayed fixed on the shattered projection of the Outer Gate.
"No…"
Her voice barely above a whisper.
"They wouldn't."
Vael slowly lowered his head.
"But they are."
Arjun looked between them.
"What is a Thronebreaker?"
No one answered immediately.
And that hesitation alone told him enough.
The Weapon Against Kings
Seraphine finally spoke.
Softly.
Without her usual amusement.
"It's not a soldier."
Her crimson eyes moved toward Arjun.
"It's an execution."
The chamber darkened slightly.
Mordren's expression hardened.
"The Overseers created them during the Fall."
Vael continued quietly.
"When Sovereigns refused correction…"
A pause.
"…the Thronebreakers were sent."
Arjun crossed his arms slowly.
"And what exactly do they do?"
Silence.
Then the Veiled One answered.
"They kill immortality."
That line hit differently.
Because it wasn't about death.
It was about erasure.
Complete.
Final.
Absolute.
The Forgotten Fear
Another memory surfaced suddenly.
Chains made of white light.
A black throne cracking apart.
An enormous figure descending through burning skies—
carrying a massive silver spear.
And himself—
bleeding.
Falling.
The memory vanished violently.
Arjun grabbed the edge of the council table again.
The mark on his hand pulsed wildly.
Kael stepped closer instantly.
"You alright?"
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"No."
Honest answer.
The Truth About the Fall
Vael looked toward him carefully.
"The Shadow King was never defeated by armies."
Arjun raised his eyes slightly.
"…By a Thronebreaker."
Vael nodded once.
The chamber felt colder.
Because now—
the pattern was obvious.
History wasn't repeating randomly.
It was correcting itself.
The Overseers had already decided how this story ended once before.
And now—
they intended to finish it properly.
The Gate Weakens Further
Suddenly—
another impact slammed into the Outer Gate.
The entire chamber shook violently.
Several sections of the ceiling collapsed.
White light exploded through the projection again.
This time—
everyone saw the silhouette beyond it.
Huge.
Humanoid.
Holding a spear larger than buildings.
Even through layers of broken seals—
its presence alone crushed the atmosphere.
Kael stared upward.
"…That's not fair."
Nobody laughed.
Because he was right.
The Thronebreaker Appears
The silhouette moved slowly behind the gate.
Each step caused new fractures to spread.
The system immediately reacted.
DING
Overseer Weapon-Class Entity Confirmed
Another line appeared instantly.
Threat Classification:
THRONEBREAKER
Then—
the final warning.
Estimated Survival Probability:
Error
Arjun stared at the message.
"…Rude."
But even he felt it.
That thing beyond the gate—
was different.
Not like the Cleaners.
Not even like the Overseer.
This was purpose-made.
Designed specifically for beings like him.
The Pressure Changes
The shadows around Arjun reacted violently.
Not retreating.
Preparing.
Like predators sensing a greater predator nearby.
The Veiled One noticed immediately.
"It remembers you."
Arjun frowned slightly.
"What does?"
Her eyes stayed fixed on the silhouette beyond the gate.
"The Thronebreaker."
Silence.
Then—
"It killed you once before."
The City Begins to Divide
Fear spread through the chamber again.
Some council members immediately started shouting.
"We cannot fight that!"
"The gate will fail!"
"We need evacuation routes!"
Others argued back.
"There is nowhere left to run!"
"The surface belongs to the Overseers!"
Chaos returned instantly.
But this time—
Arjun ignored it completely.
Because his attention stayed locked upward.
Toward the thing beyond the gate.
Toward the weapon waiting specifically for him.
And strangely—
something inside him was no longer afraid.
Angry.
Yes.
But not afraid.
The Whisper Returns
The voice inside him spoke again.
Clearer than ever before.
"It broke the throne."
Arjun's eyes darkened slightly.
"I noticed."
"Then break it back."
The shadows surged sharply behind him.
Several people stepped backward instinctively.
The pressure around Arjun had changed again.
Less unstable now.
More focused.
Like something ancient was slowly remembering how to stand.
Lyra's Choice
Lyra stepped beside him once more.
No hesitation.
No fear visible now.
Only resolve.
"If that thing enters Noctis…"
She rested one hand on her sword.
"…we hold the line."
Mordren looked at her sharply.
"You would throw lives away?"
Lyra met his gaze directly.
"We lose them anyway if we kneel."
Silence followed.
Because nobody could deny it anymore.
There would be no surrender.
No negotiation.
No mercy.
Only resistance.
The Veiled One's Secret
The Veiled One suddenly turned toward Arjun.
"There may still be a way."
The entire chamber focused on her immediately.
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"What way?"
She hesitated.
For the first time—
truly hesitated.
Then finally—
"The throne beneath Noctis."
The shadows across the chamber reacted instantly.
Vael's expression changed sharply.
"No."
The old leader stood immediately.
"We sealed it for a reason."
The Veiled One ignored him.
She looked only at Arjun.
"If you fully awaken the Sovereign Authority…"
Her voice lowered.
"…you might stop the Thronebreaker."
Kael blinked.
"Might?"
"That's the optimistic version," Seraphine muttered quietly.
The Cost
Arjun looked directly at the Veiled One.
"And the downside?"
Silence.
Then—
"You may not remain yourself."
The chamber went completely still.
Because that answer felt worse than death.
Not losing.
Not dying.
Losing himself.
Becoming whatever the Shadow King once truly was.
The System Evolves Again
The blue screen appeared before him once more.
But now—
the interface looked different.
Older.
Darker.
Ancient symbols moved beneath the text.
DING
Hidden Path Detected
Objective Updated:
Reach the Throne Beneath Noctis
Then—
the final line appeared slowly.
Warning:
Full Awakening Is Irreversible
Arjun stared at the words silently.
The city trembled again.
Another impact hit the gate.
Cracks spread wider.
The Thronebreaker silhouette stepped closer.
And deep below Noctis—
something ancient called to its king.
🔥 [End of Chapter 37]