Chapter 25: The Judgment
(Volume 1 Finale)
Consciousness returned in fragments.
Stone beneath his hands.
The scent of ozone filled the air.
A cold wind brushed against Shen's face.
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
"...Where am I?"
He pushed himself upright and froze.
The world around him was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Massive floating islands drifted through an endless sea of stars. Ancient ruins hovered in the sky, connected by bridges of shimmering light. Rivers of pure energy flowed through the heavens like glowing veins.
It looked like another world.
A forgotten world.
Shen slowly turned around.
His heartbeat stopped.
Before him stood an enormous circular platform carved from ancient stone.
Ten gigantic thrones surrounded its center.
Each throne was crafted from a different element—fire, ice, crystal, lightning, shadow, light, earth, wind, steel, and celestial stone.
Upon each throne sat a single figure.
None of them spoke.
Yet their overwhelming presence alone made Shen struggle to breathe.
Every one of them radiated unimaginable power.
The air itself trembled.
At the center, one man slowly stood.
He wore black-and-crimson armor scarred by countless battles. A massive greatsword rested upon his shoulder, its blade glowing faintly beneath the endless starlight.
His piercing eyes met Shen's.
The earth shook beneath his voice.
"So..."
"You're the one who broke the balance."
Shen instinctively stepped back.
"...Who are you?"
The armored warrior descended the stone steps.
Each step echoed across the floating world.
"I am Commander Ryulga."
"Leader of the Council of Ten."
"The first commander to survive the Great Arcane War."
Shen's eyes widened.
"The first Arcane War...?"
"That happened thousands of years ago."
Ryulga remained expressionless.
"Time means little in this place."
He stopped only a few steps away from Shen.
His greatsword pointed directly at Shen's chest.
"You awakened a forbidden power."
"You defeated the Arcane General."
"You crossed a boundary no ordinary human was ever meant to reach."
"The balance between light and darkness has begun to collapse."
The remaining nine Commanders watched silently.
None of them spoke.
Yet Shen could feel every one of their eyes upon him.
It felt as though his very soul was being judged.
Ryulga's voice echoed once more.
"Tell me, Shen."
"Do you regret your choice?"
Shen lowered his head.
Images flashed through his mind.
The Commander who gave his life.
Kenya.
Ruke.
Eliz.
The countless innocent lives lost in Perth.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"...No."
"I regret the lives we couldn't save."
"But I'll never regret protecting those who are still alive."
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Ryulga's face.
"Good."
He raised his sword toward the heavens.
A pillar of radiant light erupted into the endless sky.
"The world you know is only the beginning."
"The Arcane General was merely a soldier."
"There are enemies far beyond your imagination."
"The real war..."
"...has not yet begun."
Shen tightened his fists.
His eyes burned with determination.
"What must I do?"
Ryulga looked directly into his eyes.
"You stand before judgment."
"You have only two paths."
His voice thundered across the floating islands.
"Die here..."
"...and let your story end."
"Or survive..."
"...and become strong enough to face what awaits beyond this world."
Silence filled the heavens.
Shen looked down at his scarred hands.
The marks of every battle remained.
The pain.
The sacrifices.
The memories.
He slowly smiled.
"...I choose to fight."
The Council remained silent.
Then Ryulga nodded.
"Hmph."
"As expected."
He turned away.
"From this day onward..."
"Your true journey begins."
The floating islands trembled.
The stars themselves seemed to shine brighter.
A mysterious gate of light opened before Shen.
Without hesitation—
He stepped toward it.
At that time he remembered one think
That commander cairo said
Domt afraid of them
Every opportunity you want to accept confidentially
Shen smiled his eyes had some tears
The light swallowed everything.
CUT TO BLACK.
End of Volume 1
"Every ending is the beginning of another journey..."