Chapter 49 - The Hidden Apostle
Deep beneath the Temple of Eternal Ash...
The crack in the black crystal widened.
A single hand emerged.
It was pale as marble, covered in ancient runes that pulsed with crimson light.
The temperature of the chamber dropped instantly.
The heartbeat stopped.
Silence consumed everything.
Then...
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"So..."
"The Ninth Beast Sovereign has finally reached the second fragment."
The shadow within the crystal smiled.
---
Above, inside the temple...
Kai remained within Noctis's spiritual world.
The endless sky of drifting feathers had begun to change.
Grey clouds slowly dispersed.
Golden sunlight pierced the darkness.
Noctis looked toward the distant horizon.
"I haven't seen sunlight..."
"...for thousands of years."
Kai looked at the broken chains around the Phoenix's wings.
"There are too many."
"I can't break them alone."
Noctis nodded.
"Because they are not ordinary chains."
"They are chains of despair."
"They grow stronger every time I lose hope."
Kai remained silent.
Then he smiled.
"Then we'll give you a reason to hope."
---
Outside the spiritual realm...
The Crimson Flame Fox suddenly stepped forward.
Its body became surrounded by crimson flames.
The Book of Infinite Beasts reacted immediately.
Bloodline Awakening
Primordial Nine-Tailed Flame Sovereign
Awakening Progress:
25% → 35%
New Skill Unlocked:
Flame of Hope
A sacred fire that strengthens allies and weakens despair.
---
The fox leapt onto Noctis's shoulder.
Instead of attacking...
It gently touched the corrupted feathers with its tail.
Soft crimson flames spread across the ancient phoenix.
They did not burn.
They warmed.
Noctis's painful cries slowly became quieter.
---
Selene looked at the fox in amazement.
"It isn't using fire..."
"It's using emotion."
Ignis smiled proudly.
"That is the true power of the Primordial Flame."
"It burns away hopelessness."
---
Suddenly—
The temple shook violently.
BOOOOOOM!
The floor beneath Kael exploded.
Black crystal spikes erupted from below.
Kael jumped backwards just in time.
"What?!"
A dark figure slowly rose from the underground chamber.
He wore armour made from black crystal.
Unlike the Apostles of the Divine Temple, his robes bore no symbol.
Only a single silver star was engraved on his chest.
The Book appeared.
---
Unknown Individual
Name: ???
Classification:
Data Locked
Warning:
Extreme Threat
---
The stranger smiled calmly.
"Kael."
"You've delayed us for ten thousand years."
"You've done well."
Kael's face turned pale.
"You..."
"No..."
"You're supposed to be dead."
The stranger laughed softly.
"History says many things."
"Most of them are lies."
---
He looked toward Kai, who was still connected to Noctis's soul.
"So..."
"This is the Ninth Sovereign."
"I expected someone older."
With a flick of his finger...
A thread of black energy shot toward Kai.
Before it could reach him—
Selene intercepted it.
Her silver sword blocked the attack.
The impact hurled her across the temple floor.
"Selene!"
Kai's voice echoed from within the spiritual realm.
The connection between him and Noctis flickered.
The corruption immediately began spreading again.
86%... 88%... 90%...
---
Kael roared,
"Protect Kai!"
Rowan and the Imperial Flame Guards charged.
The Ashfang Dire Wolf led the assault.
The mysterious stranger simply raised one hand.
Space itself seemed to freeze.
Every soldier stopped moving.
Every beast became motionless.
Only Kai...
The Crimson Flame Fox...
Ignis...
And Selene could still move.
Ignis stared in disbelief.
"Space Authority..."
"Only one person ever possessed that power..."
The stranger's smile widened.
"I'm pleased someone remembers."
He slowly removed his hood.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A face untouched by age.
Kael whispered the name in horror.
"Caelum..."
"The Lost Second Beast Sovereign."
The Book of Infinite Beasts shook violently.
Its pages turned on their own.
Historical Record Restored
Caelum
Second Beast Sovereign
Status in History:
Executed for Treason
Actual Status:
Unknown
Kai stared at the man.
"You were a Beast Sovereign?"
Caelum nodded.
"Once."
His smile slowly faded.
"But history has a habit of turning heroes into villains."
He extended his hand toward Kai.
"Come with me."
"And I'll show you the truth that your Book was never allowed to remember."
Outside the temple, the volcano erupted.
A pillar of black fire reached the heavens.
The battle for the Second Star Fragment had entered a far more dangerous stage.