Chapter 2594: Story 2595: The Master of Dominion

The crimson eye opened completely.

A wave of energy swept across Asterion.

Buildings trembled.

The Heart of Harmony flickered.

Even the ancient guardians stepped backward.

Victoria Kane stood beneath the enormous fortress, Dawnblade glowing in her hands.

"Who are you?"

The voice answered from above.

"I am the Architect of Dominion."

The Empress stared upward.

"You created the Dominion?"

"I created its purpose."

Nox’Rath spread his silver wings.

"Why?"

The crimson eye narrowed.

"Because freedom is inefficient."

Victoria tightened her grip.

"Freedom is dangerous."

"Exactly."

The fortress began descending.

Its enormous towers pierced the clouds.

"I watched civilizations destroy themselves."

"I watched families turn against one another."

"I watched worlds choose war when peace was possible."

The Architect’s voice echoed across the city.

"So I removed choice."

The Empress stepped forward.

"You said you were protecting us."

"I was."

Her crimson eyes filled with anger.

"You controlled us."

"And you survived."

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"Survival isn’t enough."

The Architect became silent.

Then thousands of crimson symbols appeared across the fortress.

"Then prove it."

The fortress fired.

Dozens of crimson beams struck Asterion.

Victoria moved instantly.

The Dawnblade released a golden barrier over the city.

The beams collided with it.

The impact shook the ground.

Cole shouted,

"How long can that shield hold?"

Victoria gritted her teeth.

"Not long!"

The ancient guardians attacked the fortress.

Arkon’s sword struck its outer wall.

Seraphine released waves of healing energy.

Thalen fired radiant arrows into its towers.

Ordan blocked incoming beams.

Elara disappeared inside the fortress.

Malachor studied its structure.

"It’s powered by the Heart."

Victoria looked at him.

"The Heart?"

Malachor pointed upward.

"Every crimson beam is connected to Asterion’s energy."

Evelyn understood.

"It’s feeding on the choices of the citizens."

Lyra looked horrified.

"They’re using our freedom against us."

The Empress stepped forward.

"Then I’ll stop it."

She raised both hands.

Crimson energy surrounded her.

Seraphine grabbed her arm.

"No."

The Empress looked at her.

"Mother."

"You don’t have to fight alone."

Seraphine smiled.

"You never did."

Mother and daughter joined hands.

Their crimson energy transformed into silver light.

The fortress suddenly shook.

The Architect spoke.

"Emotional attachment detected."

The Empress laughed.

"That’s called family."

The fortress fired again.

This time, the silver barrier stopped the attack.

Victoria smiled.

"Everyone!"

The citizens of Asterion began raising their hands.

Golden sparks emerged from their bodies.

The Heart of Harmony responded.

Millions of choices became one enormous wave of light.

The fortress recoiled.

The Architect’s voice became distorted.

"Impossible."

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"You’re making the same mistake as the Void."

She pointed toward the fortress.

"You think people must choose between freedom and safety."

The Heart blazed brighter.

"We can choose both."

Golden and silver energy struck the fortress.

A massive crack spread across its surface.

The Architect screamed.

"You cannot destroy Dominion!"

Victoria stepped forward.

"We don’t have to."

She looked toward the Empress.

"Let its people decide what Dominion becomes."

The Empress nodded.

She turned toward the fortress.

"I choose change."

Across the Dominion army, crimson symbols vanished.

Soldiers lowered their weapons.

Citizens looked around as if waking from a long dream.

One by one, they began choosing for themselves.

The fortress shook violently.

Its towers collapsed.

But the crimson eye remained.

Then it opened wider.

Behind it appeared another enormous gateway.

The Architect spoke softly.

"You believe you have won."

Victoria raised her blade.

"Have we not?"

"No."

Beyond the gateway, countless black worlds appeared.

"Dominion was only the first wall."

Nox’Rath’s face went pale.

"The Black Frontier."

Evelyn looked at him.

"What is that?"

Nox’Rath stared into the gateway.

"Every world that rejected freedom."

The Architect’s voice echoed one final time.

"And they are coming."

The gateway expanded.

Millions of crimson lights appeared beyond it.

Victoria looked at her companions.

Then toward the approaching worlds.

She smiled.

"Then we’ll meet them."

The Dawnblade ignited.

And across Asterion, millions of free citizens raised their lights.