Chapter 2573: Story 2574: The Siege of Asterion

The seven black stars hung above Asterion like wounds carved into the heavens.

Their darkness spread across the sky, swallowing sunlight wherever it touched. Golden towers dimmed. Crystal bridges lost their glow. Even the Heart of Harmony beneath the palace began pulsing with uncertainty.

Lyra stood before the palace steps.

Aurelius moved beside her.

"Stay close to me."

Lyra looked toward the sky.

"No."

Her silver eyes reflected the darkness.

"I’ve spent three hundred years being protected."

She stepped forward.

"This time, I will protect them."

Aurelius stared at his daughter.

Then he smiled.

"Then I will stand beside you."

A golden gateway suddenly opened above the palace.

Victoria Kane descended through it with her companions.

Cole landed first.

"Miss us?"

Lyra smiled.

"Very much."

Victoria looked toward the seven black stars.

"They’ve already begun."

Dr. Evelyn Brooks opened Elias Crow’s journal.

The pages filled with urgent writing.

The Seven Voids cannot enter Asterion directly.

They require seven anchors.

Destroy the anchors before the final star opens.

Victoria looked across the city.

"Where are they?"

The Heart of Harmony answered.

Seven black beams suddenly descended from the sky.

One struck the northern crystal forest.

Another struck the eastern gardens.

The remaining five landed across the city.

Nox’Rath narrowed his eyes.

"The anchors."

Victoria turned toward the others.

"Seven targets."

Cole raised his rifle.

"Seven teams."

Victoria nodded.

"Exactly."

The companions separated.

Cassian and Roland moved toward the northern forest.

Selene and Lucas raced toward the eastern gardens.

Cole and Father Gabriel headed toward the western district.

Evelyn remained with Victoria near the palace.

Azrakar stood before the Heart of Harmony like an ancient mountain.

Then the first Void creature descended.

It had no body.

Only a towering silhouette surrounded by black flames.

Its voice echoed through the city.

"Asterion must never have existed."

Victoria stepped forward.

"It exists."

The creature raised one hand.

Buildings began fading.

Not collapsing.

Fading.

People screamed as memories of streets and homes vanished.

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"Everyone, remember!"

Golden light erupted across the city.

Citizens began speaking.

"My mother’s house."

"My first school."

"The garden where I met my husband."

"My daughter’s first laugh."

Every memory became a golden thread.

The disappearing buildings returned.

The Void creature recoiled.

"Memory..."

Victoria smiled.

"Exactly."

At the Heart of Harmony, Lyra placed both hands against the crystal.

"I remember all of you."

The Heart exploded with golden light.

Across Asterion, the citizens’ memories joined together.

The first black anchor cracked.

One of the seven stars dimmed.

But the remaining six grew brighter.

Evelyn looked upward.

"That wasn’t supposed to happen."

Victoria frowned.

"What?"

"The Void is adapting."

A deep tremor shook the palace.

From beneath the city came a terrible sound.

Aurelius turned pale.

"The Heart of Harmony has a second chamber."

Victoria looked at him.

"What’s inside?"

Aurelius whispered,

"Something we never awakened."

The palace floor split open.

A staircase descended into darkness.

At its bottom stood an ancient door marked with seven symbols.

The door slowly opened.

Beyond it waited a vast chamber filled with countless sleeping figures.

Evelyn’s journal fell open.

New words appeared.

The Forgotten Guardians of Asterion.

They were created to defend the city if the Heart ever faced an enemy beyond creation.

Victoria stared at the sleeping army.

"How many?"

Aurelius looked into the darkness.

"Enough."

Suddenly, every sleeping figure opened its eyes.

Golden light filled the chamber.

Above Asterion, the second black star cracked.

Then the third.

The Void had begun descending faster.

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"Wake them."

Lyra stepped beside her.

"No."

Victoria looked at the child.

Lyra’s silver eyes had become bright with golden fire.

"We won’t wake them."

She raised her hand.

"We’ll remind them."

The Heart of Harmony pulsed.

Thousands of ancient guardians stood.

Their weapons ignited.

And across the heavens, the seven black stars finally began to descend.

The siege of Asterion had begun.