Chapter 2580: Story 2581: The Golden Eye

The golden eye opened.

For one impossible moment, the entire birthplace of the Dawn became silent.

The Destroyer’s enormous body remained frozen above the golden ocean.

Victoria Kane stood before it, the Dawnblade glowing in her hands.

"I remember you."

The creature stared at her.

Then its voice entered every mind.

"No one remembers me."

Victoria stepped closer.

"Then let me be the first."

A golden pulse traveled through the creature’s body.

The black cracks covering its armor widened.

Inside them appeared countless images.

Worlds.

Civilizations.

Stars.

Lives that had existed before the First War.

Evelyn gasped.

"Those aren’t memories of destruction."

Nox’Rath stared in disbelief.

"They’re memories of creation."

The Destroyer lowered its enormous head.

"I was created to protect the first Dawn."

Victoria looked toward the First Betrayer.

"You lied."

The First Betrayer emerged from the shadows.

"I didn’t lie."

His crimson eyes narrowed.

"I simply told them what they needed to fear."

Valerius raised his spear.

"You used the Destroyer."

The Betrayer smiled.

"No."

"I used their fear of it."

The Destroyer suddenly turned toward him.

Its golden eye burned brighter.

"You remember me."

The Betrayer stepped backward.

For the first time, fear appeared on his face.

"I remember what you became."

The Destroyer raised one enormous hand.

The First Betrayer disappeared beneath a wave of golden energy.

His crimson armor shattered.

But instead of killing him, the light revealed what was hidden beneath.

A frightened young figure stood inside the broken armor.

Victoria stared.

"The first Keeper."

He lowered his head.

"I failed."

Lyra approached him.

"Why did you give the Dawn to the Void?"

He looked at her.

"Because I was afraid of losing everything."

Lyra’s expression softened.

"And you lost everything because of that fear."

The First Betrayer nodded.

The Destroyer slowly lowered its hand.

The golden eye turned toward Victoria.

"The first Keeper feared imperfection."

"The Void promised perfection."

"He accepted."

Victoria understood.

"The Void didn’t create you."

"No."

"The first Keeper did."

The Destroyer nodded.

"He created me from his fear."

A deep silence followed.

Nox’Rath looked toward Victoria.

"Then perhaps every great enemy we’ve faced..."

"...was born from someone’s refusal to accept imperfection."

Victoria looked at the Dawnblade.

The seven symbols glowed softly.

"Courage."

She touched the first symbol.

"To face fear."

"Compassion."

The second symbol brightened.

"To understand suffering."

"Hope."

The third.

"To believe tomorrow can be better."

"Sacrifice."

The fourth.

"To protect others."

"Freedom."

The fifth.

"To let people choose."

"Wisdom."

The sixth.

"To know our limits."

"And Memory."

The final symbol illuminated.

"To remember our mistakes."

The Destroyer stared at her.

Then something extraordinary happened.

Its enormous body began shrinking.

The black armor dissolved.

The broken crown vanished.

The endless darkness folded inward.

A figure emerged from the center.

It looked almost human.

Golden eyes.

Silver hair.

A simple white robe.

The First Hunger whispered,

"The Destroyer has chosen."

Victoria lowered the Dawnblade.

"Chosen what?"

The figure looked at her.

"A name."

Victoria smiled.

"What name?"

The figure looked toward the newborn stars.

"Dawn."

The golden ocean erupted with light.

Across creation, every restored star began shining.

But then Evelyn’s journal opened.

A single sentence appeared.

The Destroyer has awakened to choice.

Another line slowly formed beneath it.

But the Void has not been defeated.

Victoria’s smile disappeared.

The white gateway suddenly turned black.

Seven enormous silhouettes appeared beyond it.

The Seven Voids had returned.

Nox’Rath spread his silver wings.

"They felt the change."

Valerius picked up his spear.

"Then they’ll come."

The newly transformed Dawn stepped beside Victoria.

"I will stand with you."

Victoria raised her blade.

"Then let’s finish what began before creation."

Beyond the black gateway, the Void spoke together.

"The first Dawn has returned."

"The Destroyer has chosen."

"Now we will erase choice itself."

The seven black stars opened.

And for the first time...

The Void entered the birthplace of the Dawn.