Chapter 78 - The Choice of the Fourth Star
The emerald light engulfed the battlefield.
Every warrior looked up.
The Fourth Star Fragment floated silently above the World Tree.
It no longer wavered between Kai and the Tenth.
Its decision had been made.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts trembled.
Every page glowed with ancient runes.
Star Fragment Judgment
Fourth Star Fragment
Decision Complete...
Authority Recognised...
---
The emerald Fragment descended.
Lucien smiled coldly.
"At last."
The Void Emperor Dragon surged toward it with terrifying speed.
Its massive jaws opened, intending to swallow the Fragment whole.
"You belong to the Eclipse Court!"
Before the dragon could reach it—
The Fragment vanished.
It reappeared...
Not above Kai.
Not above the Tenth.
But between them.
It split.
A tiny emerald spark entered Kai's chest.
Another entered the Tenth's.
The remaining core continued floating above the World Tree.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
---
Authority Granted
Kai Dragonbane
Guardian's Heart
Authority:
Protector
---
Authority Granted
The Tenth
Guardian's Mind
Authority:
Strategist
---
Fourth Star Fragment
Status:
Shared Synchronisation
Complete Ownership:
Denied
Reason:
"Neither may walk the path alone."
---
The entire battlefield gasped.
Even Grand Sage Orion looked stunned.
"A shared resonance..."
"It has never happened."
Elaria smiled gently.
"The Fragment has chosen balance."
---
Lucien's calm expression cracked.
"No."
"Impossible."
"The Fragments were never meant to divide their authority."
The hooded Tenth looked at Kai.
"It seems..."
"We are both incomplete."
Kai laughed.
"Then we'll become complete together."
For the first time...
The Tenth laughed as well.
A genuine laugh.
Free from years of loneliness.
---
Far away...
Inside the hidden archives beneath the Celestial Council...
Ancient stone tablets began glowing.
Dust fell from shelves untouched for millennia.
A forgotten prophecy awakened.
«When Heart and Mind unite beneath four stars...
The Gate of Origins shall open once more.»
---
The Book restored another portion of its memories.
Archive Restoration
Progress:
9% → 15%
New Record Unlocked:
The Gate of Origins
Status:
Sealed
Location:
Unknown
---
Lucien roared with fury.
"Enough!"
The Void Emperor Dragon spread its wings.
The massive sphere of darkness above Aetherion completed its descent.
Only seconds remained before it engulfed the city.
---
Kai looked at the Tenth.
"I'll protect the people."
The Tenth nodded.
"I'll find the weakness."
Without another word, both moved.
Kai shot toward the falling sphere.
The Crimson Flame Fox cloaked him in blazing starlight.
At the same time, the Tenth closed its eyes.
Silver energy spread across the battlefield.
Thousands of glowing lines appeared over the Void Emperor Dragon's body.
Weak points.
Pressure points.
Energy channels.
The Tenth opened its eyes.
"I found it!"
It pointed toward a single black crystal beneath the dragon's left wing.
"Destroy that crystal!"
"It's controlling the Void Eclipse!"
---
Ignis immediately understood.
"I'll create the opening!"
The ancient dragon charged.
Golden flames erupted across the heavens.
The Void Emperor Dragon answered with abyssal fire.
The collision split the clouds for hundreds of miles.
For one precious second...
The crystal beneath its wing was exposed.
"Kai!"
The Tenth shouted.
"Now!"
Kai gripped his Star-forged Spear.
The four Star Fragments resonated together.
Golden...
Crimson...
Sapphire...
Emerald...
Their lights fused into a dazzling white radiance.
The Book announced a new technique.
Ultimate Technique Unlocked
Celestial Convergence
Requirement:
Four Star Fragments
Heart and Mind in Harmony
Kai smiled.
"This one..."
"...is for everyone."
He hurled the Star-forged Spear.
It became a streak of white starlight that tore through the heavens.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"No!"
BOOM!
The spear struck the crystal beneath the Void Emperor Dragon's wing.
The crystal shattered.
The enormous sphere of darkness above Aetherion trembled.
Cracks spread across its surface.
Then—
It exploded into billions of harmless stars that drifted gently across the sky.
The citizens below stared upward in awe.
Children reached out to catch the glowing lights.
For a brief moment...
The battlefield looked peaceful.
But high above the floating fortress...
A hidden figure watched from the shadows.
Unlike Lucien...
Unlike the Tenth...
Its eyes were completely golden.
It smiled faintly.
"So..."
"The prophecy has truly begun."
The Book of Infinite Beasts displayed one final message.
New Main Quest
Journey to the Gate of Origins
Objective:
Gather all Seven Star Fragments before the one known as the Golden King reaches them first.