LOGINCole's POV.
The night bled red above the forest, the sky cracked open with the pulse of something ancient and furious.The scent of blood, ash, and fear hung thick in the air, clawing down my throat like smoke. Every heartbeat was a countdown, every breath a war drum.They’d taken her.The Bloodthorn elders had dared to take her.Lila.Her name tore through my mind like a blade, leaving behind the echo of her voice, her warmth, the last flicker of her eyes before they dragged her into the heart of the cursed woods. My wolf howled inside me — wild, relentless — but the forest swallowed the sound whole.The Bloodthorn Pack had always been shadows and whispers, but now they were real, rising from the bones of old kingdoms, twisting the curse that had nearly killed me into a weapon of their own. And she — my mate, my forbidden light — was their key.I could still smell her blood on the wind, faint but enough. It drove me forwChapter 104-THE EMPTY WORLD The air in the empty world was still—too still. No wind, no birdsong, no sound at all. The guardians stood at the edge of the golden door, their weapons raised, their eyes scanning the desolate landscape. Stretching out before them was a vast plain of gray dust, broken only by the single golden key on the ground and the three dark words carved beside it: HE’S ALREADY HERE. The merged key floating above them pulsed softly, as if trying to communicate. Lyra stepped forward, her hand outstretched toward the dim key on the ground. “Be careful,” Jade warned, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We don’t know what’s waiting for us.” Lyra nodded, her eyes closed as she focused on the key. “I can feel it,” she said. “It’s not broken. It’s… dormant. Like it’s been put to sleep. And there’s something else—something dark, just below the surface.” Cole’s father limped forward, his shadow magic beginning to glow faintly.
The journey to the sea took three days. Cole and Lila led the way, the golden leaders above them, their light guiding their path through forests and mountains they had never seen before. Behind them walked a small group of guardians—Jade, Lyra, Cole’s father, and a dozen of the strongest warriors and mages from Balance’s Rest. They carried supplies, weapons, and hope—hope that they could fix the broken key and save the other world.As they reached the coast, the key’s light flared bright, pointing toward a cove hidden between two cliffs. In the cove, a ship waited—its hull made of dark wood, its sails woven with shadow and light. It had appeared overnight, summoned by the key’s power, ready to carry them across the sea.“This is it,” Cole said, looking at the ship. “The key says this is the way.”They boarded the ship, and as soon as Lila stepped onto the deck, the sails unfurled on their own, catching the wind. The ship pulled away from the shore, gliding smoothly across the water, g
Their fingers closed around the key at the same time—Cole on one half, Lila on the other. The golden metal hummed with power, warm at first, then searing hot. A wave of energy shot out from the key, pushing the Forgotten back against the chamber wall, his dark power flaring in protest. No! he screamed, thrashing against the energy. You can’t do this! I am the first god! I will not be trapped again! But the key’s power was stronger. It wrapped around Cole and Lila, lifting them into the air, their bodies glowing with the same golden light. The chain connecting the two halves grew taut, and they could feel the prophecy’s truth settling in—one life for each half. One to bind the Forgotten, one to bind the other trapped gods. Lila looked at Cole, tears streaming down her face, but her eyes were filled with determination. “I’ve lived a good life,” she said, her voice carrying over the roar of energy. “A life filled with love. With you. That’s all
Five years had passed since the new balance was forged, and the world had changed. The valley at the foot of the Sunstone Mountains had grown into a thriving city—Balance’s Rest—where humans, former primal warriors, and light guardians lived together in peace. Four massive towers stood at the city’s corners, each one channeling power from the four pillars of the Well of Origins, strengthening the barrier that held back the void and the trapped gods. Cole stood at the top of the central tower, the crystal still in his hand. It glowed with a steady mix of black, white, gold, and purple—no longer flickering, but still holding the weight of what lay inside. Lila walked beside him, her hand finding his, her eyes fixed on the sky where the barrier shimmered like a thin, iridescent veil. “The disturbances are getting stronger,” she said, her voice soft but serious. “Three this week alone. They’re trying to break free.” Cole nodded, his gaze never le
The power erupted from the crystal like a supernova—white, black, and purple light weaving together in a single, blinding beam that shot up from the falling group, striking the Oblivion dead center. The ship screamed, its metal hull melting away, and the Forgotten roared in rage and surprise as the energy wrapped around him, binding him tight. Lila’s hand closed around Cole’s, and she felt the power flow through her too—warm and cold, terrifying and beautiful. “Cole, what are you doing?” she cried, but her voice was swallowed by the roar of energy. Saving you, he thought, and she heard it in her mind, clear as day. Saving everyone. The new power spread out from the beam, washing over the valley, over the primal fleet, over the entire world. The primal warriors froze, their weapons falling from their hands as the energy merged with their own, calming the rage within them. The ships in the sky stopped their attack, their purple light dimming to
The crack in the crystal spread like a spiderweb, and a wave of cold dread washed over Cole. He clutched it tighter, but the damage was done—primal energy seeped through the fissures, mixing with Leo’s spirit and the balance power, sending jolts of pain up his arm. Lila grabbed his hand, her light wrapping around him, trying to steady him. “Cole, what’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes wide with fear as she saw the crack. “What did that voice say?” He shook his head, his jaw tight. “It was the first god,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “The one they called the Forgotten. He built the door. He sent the fleet. And he’s coming.” A gasp went up from the survivors who had heard him. Jade stepped forward, her dagger still in her hand, her face set with grim determination. “Three days,” she said. “We have three days to find a way to stop him. To fix the crystal. To save this world.” Cole looked at the cracked crystal, feeling Leo’s spirit







