MasukChapter 146The Guardian of the New WorldThe stranger stood before them.Kael stared at him.Another version of himself.But unlike the crowned Kael, the Original Kael, or any of the others—this one looked completely ordinary.No crown.No ancient armor.No terrifying power.Just a quiet smile.Kael narrowed his eyes."Who are you?"The stranger looked at Auren."I am what he created."Auren frowned."I created you?"The stranger nodded."Yes."Kael stepped between them."Then explain yourself."The stranger smiled."I am the guardian of the world Auren just created."Kael looked toward the new world.Its skies were silver.Its oceans glowed faintly beneath distant stars.Life was already appearing.Mountains were forming.Forests were spreading.It was beautiful.But something felt familiar.Too familiar.Kael looked at the stranger again."Why do you look like me?""Because Auren knows you."Auren stared at him."I didn't mean to make you look like Daddy."The stranger smiled."Yo
Chapter 145The Debt of CreationThe universe was collapsing.Not slowly.Not naturally.It was being erased.Stars vanished before they could even finish forming.Worlds folded into darkness.Time itself began breaking apart.Kael stood between the collapsing universe and his family.Auren was behind him.Lyra held his left arm.Lucian stood on his right.The strange child—the younger version of Kael—watched from a distance.And before them stood the being without a beginning.Its glowing eyes remained fixed on Kael."You cannot stop this."Kael raised his weapon."Watch me."The being laughed."You still believe strength solves everything."Kael's silver eyes ignited."I've learned something."He stepped forward."Strength isn't everything."Another step."But sometimes..."His weapon began glowing."...you need enough of it to make your point."Kael attacked.His weapon struck the creature.The impact shook the collapsing universe.But the creature didn't move.Kael attacked again.
Chapter 144The Universe Without a BeginningThe door stood before them.Silent.Motionless.Impossible.Kael stared into the darkness beyond it.There were no stars.No worlds.No light.Only an endless black horizon.Auren held his hand."Daddy...""I'm here.""Something feels wrong."Kael looked at him."What?"Auren shook his head."I don't know."Lyra stepped beside them."Then we don't go."Kael looked at her."We came this far.""That's exactly why I'm worried."Lucian nodded."She's right. Every time we think we've reached the end, we discover something worse."Kael smiled faintly."You're getting better at this."Lucian frowned."At what?""Being the voice of reason.""I don't like it."Kael laughed.For a brief moment, the tension disappeared.Then the door spoke."Enter."Everyone went silent.Kael's smile vanished."Who are you?""You already know."Kael looked at Auren.The boy's eyes widened."I don't."The voice answered."You will."Kael raised his weapon."Nobody move
Chapter 143The Voice of the CreatorThe darkness became absolute.Kael couldn't see the stars.He couldn't see the worlds.He couldn't even see Lyra.But he could still feel Auren's hand in his."Daddy?""I'm here."Auren's voice trembled."Something is looking at us."Kael tightened his grip."I know."The voice returned."My children."The words shook reality itself.Kael raised his weapon."Show yourself."Silence.Then—a single star appeared.It was brighter than every other star Kael had ever seen.It expanded.And from within it, a figure emerged.Not a monster.Not a king.Not a god.A woman.She looked human.Her hair flowed like silver light, and her eyes contained entire galaxies.The Guardian immediately bowed."Creator."Kael stared."You're the one who created everything?"The woman looked at him."No."Kael frowned."No?"She smiled."I created the first possibility."She looked toward Auren."He created the rest."Auren froze."Me?"The woman nodded."You were the fir
Chapter 142The Awakening of the First WorldsThe stars disappeared.Not one by one.All at once.Kael stood frozen beneath the endless darkness.Auren was still in his arms.Lyra stood beside him.Lucian slowly lowered his weapon.Even the First Thought looked terrified.Then—a single light appeared.Far away.Another followed.Then another.Then thousands.Millions.Each light was a world.And inside every world—something had awakened.Auren's body began trembling."Daddy..."Kael held him tighter."I'm here.""They're calling me."Kael looked toward the stars."Who?"Auren closed his eyes."The others."Kael's expression hardened."What do they want?"Auren whispered,"They want to come home."The First Thought stepped forward."That cannot happen."Kael turned."Why?""Because if the First Worlds return to the original source..."He looked at Auren."...every universe will collapse into one."Lucian frowned."And then?"The First Thought swallowed."There will only be one world.
Chapter 141The Original KaelThe ocean of stars exploded with light.Kael shielded his eyes.Lyra grabbed Auren.Lucian raised his weapon.The First Thought stepped backward.But Kael didn't move.He was staring at the throne.At the man sitting upon it.His face.His eyes.His presence.Everything was the same.Except this Kael looked peaceful.Almost impossibly peaceful.The Original Kael slowly stood."Come closer."Kael tightened his grip."I'm not coming anywhere."The Original Kael smiled."You always were stubborn."Kael's expression hardened."You know me?""I know every version of you.""Then tell me who I am."The Original Kael's smile disappeared."That's the question you've been running from since the beginning."Kael stepped forward."I've spent my entire life fighting monsters, kings, gods, and things older than time."He raised his weapon."And every time I thought I found the truth, another secret appeared."His voice became sharper."So no more secrets."The Original







