Chapter 2565: Story 2566: The Memory of the First Dawn

Azrakar opened its enormous jaws.

A light older than stars poured from within.

For one breathtaking moment, the entire desert became brighter than the three suns above it.

The God-Eater recoiled.

Its colossal body twisted as the ancient radiance struck its armor.

Crimson darkness peeled away in enormous fragments, revealing strange symbols beneath.

Valerius watched from the highest tower of the Crimson Ark.

His calm expression finally disappeared.

"Impossible."

Cassian reached the Ark’s central chamber and heard the words echo through the corridors.

He looked upward.

"You underestimated the First Memory."

Valerius turned.

"You betrayed me."

Cassian raised his crimson spear.

"No."

"I remembered who I was."

The two stared at each other across the vast chamber.

Behind Cassian, several Crimson soldiers entered.

They did not raise their weapons.

Instead, they stood beside him.

Valerius’s eyes narrowed.

"Traitors."

One of the soldiers lowered his helmet.

"We followed you because we believed you protected creation."

Another stepped forward.

"But you only protected your throne."

Valerius laughed softly.

"You think loyalty matters?"

He raised one hand.

Crimson energy erupted through the chamber.

The soldiers were thrown backward.

Cassian planted his spear into the floor, creating a barrier of crimson light.

"Then I’ll give them something worth following."

Far below the battlefield, Victoria stood within Azrakar’s memory.

The desert had disappeared.

She was surrounded by endless stars.

Each star contained a civilization.

Some were beautiful.

Some were broken.

Some had vanished completely.

A voice echoed around her.

"Keeper..."

Victoria turned.

A luminous figure appeared.

It resembled neither human nor guardian.

It was made from countless memories woven together.

"Who are you?"

The figure smiled.

"I am what remains when a world refuses to be forgotten."

Victoria understood.

"The First Memory."

The figure nodded.

"You carry the Living Dawn."

"But light alone cannot preserve creation."

Victoria looked at the endless stars.

"Then what can?"

"Choice."

The word echoed through eternity.

"Every civilization survives because someone chooses to remember."

"Someone chooses to forgive."

"Someone chooses to continue."

Victoria closed her eyes.

The Living Dawn within her heart responded.

"I understand."

The figure touched her forehead.

Suddenly, millions of memories flowed through her.

She saw ancient guardians.

Lost kings.

Children watching their first sunrise.

Travelers crossing forgotten worlds.

Heroes who had died without anyone knowing their names.

And she realized something terrifying.

The Crimson Throne was not merely destroying worlds.

It was destroying the memory that those worlds had ever existed.

Victoria opened her eyes.

"Then we don’t defeat Valerius by destroying him."

"We defeat him by making his erasure impossible."

The First Memory smiled.

"Now you are ready."

Outside, Azrakar released another roar.

Golden symbols appeared across its enormous body.

Every forgotten civilization became visible within the sky.

The God-Eater attacked.

Its massive claws tore through the radiant air.

Azrakar caught one.

The collision shattered mountains.

Victoria emerged from the guardian’s chest in a burst of golden light.

The Dawnblade had changed.

The crack across its surface was gone.

Instead, countless tiny symbols covered the blade.

Cole stared upward.

"That looks new."

Dr. Evelyn smiled.

"It remembers."

Victoria descended beside them.

"The Dawnblade isn’t just a weapon anymore."

"What is it?" Lucas asked.

"A record."

She raised it toward the sky.

"Every life that was forgotten."

"Every world that was erased."

"Every story Valerius tried to destroy."

"They are part of it now."

The God-Eater charged.

Victoria lifted the blade.

A wave of golden memory struck the creature.

It stopped.

For the first time, its enormous body became transparent.

Inside its crimson darkness were countless stolen stars.

Victoria whispered,

"Release them."

The God-Eater trembled.

One star escaped.

Then another.

Then thousands.

The night sky returned.

The three suns burned brighter.

Across the desert, ancient cities reappeared completely.

Millions of forgotten voices filled the heavens.

Valerius staggered aboard the Crimson Ark.

"No!"

"If the memories return..."

"The Throne loses everything."

Cassian looked toward him.

"Then perhaps it should."

Valerius’s eyes burned crimson.

"You have no idea what waits beyond my throne."

Cassian tightened his grip.

"Then tell me."

Valerius smiled.

A dimensional crack opened behind him.

Beyond it lay a vast realm filled with countless crimson stars.

"The Crimson Throne was never the final enemy."

"It was built to protect creation..."

"...from what is coming."

Before Cassian could respond, Valerius vanished into the rift.

The Crimson Ark began collap