Chapter 47 - The Obsidian King
Night covered the Phoenix Empire.
The crimson glow of Mount Solaris illuminated the horizon.
Kai, Selene, Rowan, and a squad of Imperial Flame Guards raced across the volcanic plains.
The air grew hotter with every kilometre.
Ash drifted like black snow.
Above them, the Crimson Flame Fox ran effortlessly across streams of fire.
"This place feels familiar..." it whispered.
Ignis looked toward the volcano.
"It should."
"Long before kingdoms existed..."
"Divine Beasts gathered here."
---
By dawn, the group reached the foot of Mount Solaris.
An enormous temple had emerged from the mountain itself.
It had not been built.
It had risen.
Black stone pillars stretched hundreds of metres into the sky.
Rivers of dark magma flowed between them.
Ancient phoenix statues lined the entrance.
Every statue had been cracked by black crystal.
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared.
---
Location Discovered
Temple of Eternal Ash
Status:
Awakened
Age:
Unknown
Current Threat:
Extreme
---
Selene gripped her sword.
"This temple wasn't on any map."
Sage Orion nodded.
"It only appears when the seal weakens."
"That is why it vanished from history."
---
As the group climbed the massive staircase, they found no guards.
No monsters.
Only silence.
The silence felt unnatural.
Kai frowned.
"He's expecting us."
---
The temple doors slowly opened by themselves.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd lost your way."
The central hall was enormous.
A sea of black flames burned without heat.
At the far end stood a lone figure upon a throne of obsidian crystal.
His black cloak flowed like liquid shadow.
A crown of volcanic glass rested upon his head.
His face was young...
No older than thirty.
Yet his crimson eyes carried the weight of centuries.
Princess Elena knelt behind him, bound by chains of black crystal.
She struggled against them but could not break free.
The Book trembled.
---
Character Identified
Name: Kael Voss
Title: The Obsidian King
Affiliation: Unknown
Beast Contract:
Unknown
Threat Level:
Beyond Current Limits
---
Kai stepped forward.
"Release the princess."
Kael smiled.
"You haven't changed."
Kai froze.
"What?"
Kael slowly stood.
"When your predecessor stood in this very temple..."
"He said the exact same words."
Ignis's tiny wings stiffened.
"That's impossible."
"The First Beast Sovereign lived ten thousand years ago."
Kael looked at Ignis.
"And yet..."
"Here I stand."
---
The entire hall fell silent.
Selene whispered,
"Are you saying..."
"You were alive back then?"
Kael laughed quietly.
"Not alive."
"Not dead."
"I have simply..."
"...been waiting."
---
He walked down the temple steps.
With each step, black flames gathered around him.
"You've all heard the story."
"The First Beast Sovereign sealed Noctis."
"What history never recorded..."
"...is why."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me."
Kael looked directly at him.
"Because Noctis begged him to."
Everyone stared.
"The Ashen Phoenix chose imprisonment."
"It feared what the corruption would make it become."
Princess Elena nodded desperately.
"It's true!"
"The temple records say the same thing!"
Kael continued.
"But your predecessor made one mistake."
"He believed the corruption would eventually disappear."
"It never did."
He spread his arms.
"For ten thousand years..."
"Noctis has suffered alone."
---
The Crimson Flame Fox lowered its ears.
"That's..."
"Cruel."
---
Kai's grip tightened around his spear.
"So why are you trying to awaken it?"
Kael's smile faded.
"I'm not."
He pointed toward the black crystal chains surrounding Princess Elena.
"I'm trying to save it."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Selene frowned.
"Then why kidnap Elena?"
Kael closed his eyes.
"Because only the blood of the Phoenix Royal Family..."
"...and the power of the Beast Sovereign together..."
"...can remove corruption without killing Noctis."
He looked at Kai.
"I knew you would come."
---
Before Kai could answer, the Book of Infinite Beasts burst open.
Golden pages turned rapidly.
Then, for the first time...
Several pages were missing.
Only torn edges remained.
A warning appeared.
Critical Alert
Memory Lock Detected
The Book of Infinite Beasts has been altered.
Several historical records have been deliberately erased.
Unknown Individual possesses knowledge that the Book no longer contains.
---
Ignis stared at the missing pages in disbelief.
"The Book..."
"...has been tampered with."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
He looked at Kai with a serious expression.
"If you truly wish to become the Beast Sovereign..."
"You must first learn one truth."
"The greatest enemy of history..."
"...was never the beasts."
He raised a hand toward the ceiling.
"The greatest enemy..."
"...was the one who rewrote history itself."
The black flames surrounding the temple suddenly trembled.
Far beneath the volcanic altar...
Two enormous eyes slowly opened.
One burned with brilliant gold.
The other with endless black.
Noctis...
The Ashen Phoenix...
...had awakened.