Chapter 2563: Story 2564: The Beast Beneath the Golden Sands

The colossal creature rose higher above the desert.

Its body was formed from black stone, ancient bones, and veins of crimson fire. Three suns reflected against its enormous armor-like hide, yet the creature seemed to absorb their light rather than reflect it.

Its eyes burned like twin furnaces.

Across the dunes, millions of crimson soldiers stopped marching.

For the first time, they appeared afraid.

Cassian tightened his grip on his spear.

"That is the Sandborn."

Victoria looked at him.

"You said Valerius fears this world."

Cassian nodded.

"Because this creature existed before the Crimson Throne."

"Before the First War."

Nox’Rath stared at the beast.

"Not merely before the war."

His expression darkened.

"It existed before the first stars learned how to burn."

The creature released a roar.

The sound crossed the desert like a physical wave.

Ancient towers collapsed.

Golden sand erupted into the sky.

Cole raised his rifle against the deafening storm.

"Any chance it doesn’t notice us?"

The beast’s enormous eyes suddenly turned toward Victoria.

Cole lowered the rifle.

"Right."

"Stupid question."

Victoria stepped forward.

The Living Dawn inside her heart pulsed brightly.

The creature responded with a low growl.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Victoria noticed something unexpected.

Chains.

Thousands of enormous crimson chains were buried beneath the desert, wrapped around the creature’s legs and torso. They pulsed with the same energy as the Crimson Throne.

Cassian’s eyes widened.

"Valerius didn’t conquer this world."

"He imprisoned its guardian."

Dr. Evelyn opened Elias Crow’s journal.

The pages turned rapidly before silver words appeared.

The Sandborn is called Azrakar, Guardian of the First Memory. It protects the memory of civilizations erased from existence.

Evelyn stared at the creature.

"First Memory..."

Nox’Rath suddenly understood.

"The Crimson Throne isn’t harvesting worlds."

"It’s harvesting memories."

Victoria looked toward the distant cities.

"Why?"

Cassian answered quietly.

"Because Valerius believes that if he controls the memories of creation..."

"...he can rewrite its history."

Victoria’s expression hardened.

"Then we stop him here."

A crimson beam suddenly descended from the sky.

The chains around Azrakar tightened.

The creature roared in agony.

Above the desert, the Crimson Ark appeared through a massive dimensional rift.

Its black towers opened.

Hundreds of crimson energy weapons aimed toward the imprisoned guardian.

Cassian shouted,

"They’re going to kill it!"

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"Not today."

She launched herself into the sky.

Six golden wings unfolded behind her.

The first crimson beam struck.

Victoria crossed the Dawnblade before her.

A golden shield exploded outward.

The beam shattered against it.

Cole fired at the nearest crimson weapon platform.

Lucas released a radiant arrow.

Selene and Roland, coordinating from Asterion through the gateway, sent defensive forces through the portal to protect the ancient city.

Nox’Rath turned toward Cassian.

"Can those chains be broken?"

Cassian nodded.

"Only from within the creature’s memory."

Nox’Rath stared at him.

"That is impossible."

Cassian looked toward Victoria.

"Not for the Living Dawn."

Victoria descended beside Azrakar’s enormous head.

The creature opened its burning eyes.

For a moment, she saw something impossible.

Not rage.

Not hatred.

Loneliness.

Millions of forgotten civilizations appeared within its gaze.

Worlds that had vanished.

People whose names had been erased.

Stories that no longer existed anywhere except inside the ancient guardian.

Victoria placed one hand against its stone hide.

"I remember you."

Golden light spread from her palm.

The crimson chains began to crack.

Azrakar roared again.

This time...

The sound was not pain.

It was awakening.

One chain shattered.

Then another.

Across the desert, ancient ruins began rising from beneath the sand.

The lost cities were returning.

Cassian stared in disbelief.

"She’s restoring the First Memory."

But high aboard the Crimson Ark, a figure watched from the highest tower.

Valerius finally stepped into view.

His black crown glowed with crimson fire.

"So..."

His voice echoed across the desert.

"The Keeper has found my oldest prisoner."

He raised one hand.

Behind him, something enormous began awakening within the Ark.

"Then let her discover..."

"...why even the gods feared the Crimson Throne."

The Crimson Ark opened its deepest gates.

And something far older than its army began descending toward the battlefield.