Eye of Judgment

Chapter 6: Rebirth and Embers

The instant Adelia channeled her power into the scale fragment, the entire underground chamber was engulfed in a blinding golden radiance, and waves of searing heat surged like a tide. Metemnis let out a piercing scream, her body twisting and disintegrating in the light. Her black robe shattered into countless black butterflies that scattered in all directions. But before vanishing completely, her empty eye sockets ignited with eerie purple flames, leaving behind a final curse: "Mortals will never escape divine domination. This farce is but a brief respite! When the scythe of the Lord of Eternal Night cleaves the sky, you shall witness the end of the world in despair!" The curse slithered into everyone’s ears like a venomous snake, causing even Lariel’s magical shield to crackle with fine lines.

As the core of the forge was resealed, the ground trembled violently, and the ancient Abbey groaned under the strain. The silver liquid metal receded rapidly like a retreating tide, revealing an ancient altar hidden beneath. Constructed from black basalt, the altar’s surface was covered in mysterious symbols eroded by time. At its center, a crystal coffin glowing with an otherworldly blue light ascended slowly. The coffin lid was engraved with reliefs depicting the first Oathkeeper’s battles against the gods, and every groove shimmered with star - like luster.

"He... he’s alive?" Lariel stared at the coffin in shock, his staff shaking slightly and his knuckles turning white from the grip. "Legends say the first Oathkeeper exhausted his divine power and dispersed into stars after sealing the first batch of fallen gods!" The old elf’s voice trembled with barely concealed astonishment, and his jade - green pupils reflected the figure inside the coffin, as if beholding a character from ancient ballads.

Adelia remained silent, the Seed of God - Sight pounding wildly within her. She could sense the immense power surging inside the coffin, a warmth mixed with overwhelming majesty, like a sleeping sun. As she approached, the runes on the coffin lid illuminated on their own, resonating with the constellation mark on her palm. The light intertwined into a dazzling web. The coffin opened slowly, and the sleeping Oathkeeper’s eyes fluttered open. His pupils burned with blue flames, as if containing the secrets of the entire universe; his silver - white hair cascaded like moonlight, and the runes engraved on his silver armor flickered with each breath, each line narrating ancient glories.

"Descendant of the Oathkeepers..." The first Oathkeeper’s voice echoed like an ancient prophecy, carrying the weight of a thousand years. "You’ve shattered the old order of the Divine Core Forge, but in doing so, you’ve awakened an even more ancient threat. At the world’s end, the 'Lord of Eternal Night' stirs. Once a renegade among the gods, he now seeks to reduce all to nothingness. His dark legions are already on the move. The Shadow Eaters are merely the vanguard, and more terrifying abyss creatures are gestating within the rifts." He raised his hand, and an illusory star map materialized in the air, where dim stars were being devoured by black mist.

Meanwhile, the ice wastes above underwent a terrifying transformation. The pristine snow was rapidly overtaken by purple moss, which spread like a living plague. Wherever it touched, the frost condensed into jagged spikes, and the air filled with the stench of decay. In the distance, howls that sounded more like screams echoed, and a horde of shadowy creatures emerged from the void. Their bodies were covered in curse runes similar to Metemnis’, and each step left behind smoking footprints. The lead Shadow Eater opened its maw full of sharp teeth and let out a spine - chilling shriek, shattering the falling ice crystals with its sonic wave.

"These are Shadow Eaters, the vanguard of the Lord of Eternal Night. They consume all light and hope, dragging the world into eternal darkness. They can not only move through shadows but also feed on souls, converting them into dark power. Worse still, the Lord of Eternal Night is collecting scattered 'Fragments of Darkness'. Once he gathers them all, he will break free from his seal, and even the gods won’t be able to stop his wrath," the first Oathkeeper waved his arm, creating a blue energy barrier around them. The surface of the barrier rippled with intricate runes.

Adelia tightened her grip on the scale fragment, which had reverted to its shard form, feeling the warm and steady power of her father flowing through it, as if he was offering support across time and space. She looked up at the first Oathkeeper, her young face set with determination. "How do we stop the Lord of Eternal Night? Even if it means stepping into the abyss, I will not back down."

"Beyond the Southern Flame Mountains lies the forgotten Temple of the Blazing Sun," the first Oathkeeper’s gaze pierced through the Abbey walls, his eyes a mix of anticipation and worry. "Within it rests the Crown of Blazing Sun, another primordial artifact like your scale fragment. Only by gathering all the artifacts can you stand a chance against the Lord of Eternal Night. But the temple is guarded by a Fire Dragon whose flames can incinerate the soul. Its breath turns rock into molten lava, and the temple is surrounded by ancient traps. One wrong step means certain doom."

Lariel frowned, the lines on his face deepening with concern. "The Flame Mountains are within the territory of the Blazing Empire, a nation that fanatically worships Kratos, the God of War. They believe war purifies all and are hostile to any outsiders. Once we enter, we’ll face not only the dragon but also imperial troops. Their armor is forged from meteorite iron, their weapons are coated with venom that burns magic, and even their scout ravens are cursed."

"No matter the difficulty, we must go," Adelia’s eyes burned with resolve. Her dress, still stained from battle, fluttered in the wind, the torn edges flapping. "The people of Emerald Kingdom may have lost their homes, but their faith should not be consumed by darkness. And..." She turned to the first Oathkeeper, the Seed of God - Sight allowing her to glimpse the intertwined threads of fate. "I can sense a deep connection between the Lord of Eternal Night’s awakening and the Forge’s reactivation. Metemnis’ curse, the appearance of the Shadow Eaters—there must be a greater conspiracy at play."

Just then, a massive rift tore open in the Abbey’s sky, and purple lightning crackled down, causing the air to pop and sizzle. The first Oathkeeper quickly chanted ancient spells, and a complex magic circle appeared on the ground, redirecting the lightning. Where it struck, a distorted figure materialized—an afterimage of Metemnis, her body held together by chains of lies that grated ominously.

"Foolish mortals, thinking you’re safe after sealing the forge?" Metemnis’ afterimage cackled, her voice dripping with mockery and malice. "The Lord of Eternal Night’s awakening is the will of the gods. Your resistance is like a gnat challenging a storm! Deep within the Blazing Empire lies the key to unlocking the seal. You’ll never stop the gears of fate!" With that, her form dissipated again, leaving behind an oppressive malevolence that made everyone’s blood run cold. Adelia even saw her own shadow twisting into a grotesque shape on the ground.

The first Oathkeeper sheathed his weapon and turned to Adelia. "Time is running out. We’ll head to the Emerald Kingdom refugee camp first. My old allies are there; they can provide intelligence and support. But before that..." He looked at Lariel, his eyes trusting. "Elves excel in healing and wards. I need your help to repair Adelia’s damaged Seed of God - Sight. Overusing its power against the forge has caused its essence to fade. If left untreated, not only will her power weaken, but she may also be corrupted by darkness."

Only then did Adelia feel a searing headache, as if countless needles were piercing her temples. Her vision blurred, and colors faded. She leaned on her broken sword shard to stay upright, knowing this was merely the beginning of a long journey. As darkness loomed over the world, she must become a beacon of hope, just like her father and great - grandfather, no matter how powerful the enemies, how intricate the plots, or how difficult the choices ahead. And now, above the Abbey’s ruins, the wheels of fate had begun to turn slowly, rolling towards an unknown future.