Chapter 80 - The Forgotten Map
Three days later...
The floating continent of Aetherion was rebuilding.
The crystal towers damaged during the invasion were being restored by Earth Beasts.
Sky Whales carried supplies between floating islands.
Ancient healers treated both soldiers and beasts without distinction.
For the first time, Kai saw humans and beasts rebuilding a kingdom together.
It was the future he had always imagined.
---
Kai stood beneath the World Tree beside Elaria.
The Fourth Star Fragment floated peacefully above its branches.
Although Kai possessed the Guardian's Heart, the Fragment itself remained within the World Tree.
It had chosen to protect the forest until the final journey began.
Elaria smiled.
"The Fragments are not treasures."
"They are promises."
"The moment someone treats them as possessions..."
"They reject that person."
Kai nodded.
"I think I'm finally beginning to understand."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts floated into the air.
Its pages turned on their own.
For the first time...
No warning appeared.
Instead...
An ancient map slowly formed across two glowing pages.
---
Archive Restoration
Progress:
18%
New Record Unlocked
Map of the Seven Paths
---
The map showed the entire known world.
Kai recognised the Kingdom of Ash.
The Leviathan Sea.
Aetherion.
But beyond them...
Six enormous continents had been hidden beneath golden mist.
Each contained the symbol of a Guardian.
Only one path glowed brightly.
It led north.
Beyond frozen mountains.
Beyond the Sea of Clouds.
To a land marked by a single silver phoenix.
---
Next Destination
The Frost Dominion
Guardian of the Fifth Star Fragment:
Unknown
Estimated Distance:
4,800 kilometres
---
Before Kai could study the map further...
The Book revealed another page.
Unlike the others...
This page was badly burned.
Only a few sentences remained.
«If you seek the Fifth Fragment...
Do not trust the Crown of Ice.
One king already serves the Golden King.»
The rest had been destroyed.
Kai frowned.
"So the Golden King's influence is already spreading."
---
Footsteps approached.
It was Darius.
The Shadow Silver Wolf walked beside him.
Its silver fur had almost completely returned.
Only a faint black mark remained over its heart.
"I came to say goodbye."
Kai smiled.
"You're leaving?"
Darius nodded.
"The Eclipse Court won't stop hunting me."
"If I stay with you..."
"I'll only attract more danger."
The Shadow Silver Wolf lowered its head respectfully toward Kai.
The Book analysed it.
---
Beast Status
Shadow Silver Wolf
Corruption:
4%
Recovery:
Stable
Bond with Tamer:
Strengthened
---
Kai extended his hand.
"Then let's make a promise."
"No matter where we are..."
"When the final battle comes..."
"We'll fight together."
Darius clasped Kai's forearm.
"You have my word."
With that, he disappeared into a silver portal, beginning his own journey.
---
Meanwhile...
Deep within the hidden fortress of the Eclipse Court...
Lucien knelt before the Golden King.
"I failed."
The Golden King looked out across a sea of stars.
"No."
"You accomplished exactly what I needed."
Lucien hesitated.
"My King?"
"The Fourth Fragment awakened."
"The Tenth chose freedom."
"And the Book restored more memories."
"Everything is proceeding according to the true plan."
Lucien slowly understood.
"The Beast Sovereign is gathering the fragments..."
"...for you."
The Golden King smiled faintly.
"Not for me."
"For the world."
Then his expression hardened.
"The question is..."
"Will he choose to open the Gate of Origins..."
"...or destroy it forever?"
---
Back in Aetherion...
The Celestial Council held an emergency meeting.
Grand Sage Orion stood before the remaining six Council Seats.
"The invasion proved one thing."
"The Golden King has begun moving openly."
An elderly councillor spoke.
"We should send our armies with Kai."
Orion shook his head.
"No."
"This journey cannot be won by armies."
"It will be won by trust."
He turned toward the empty Seventh Seat.
For the first time...
Its throne was vacant.
Whoever had secretly occupied it had vanished without a trace.
---
As night fell...
Kai, Selene, Ignis, Rowan, and the Crimson Flame Fox gathered aboard a newly built skyship.
Its white sails shimmered with enchanted threads.
Its hull was carved from a branch gifted by the World Tree itself.
Elaria handed Kai a small crystal compass.
"It won't point north."
"It will point toward your destiny."
Kai accepted it with a grateful smile.
He looked toward the frozen horizon shown on the ancient map.
"The Frost Dominion..."
"The Fifth Star Fragment..."
He took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
The skyship lifted gently into the clouds.
Far beyond the northern horizon...
A pair of icy blue eyes opened within a palace carved from an eternal glacier.
A calm voice echoed through the frozen halls.
"So..."
"The Beast Sovereign is finally coming."
Behind the throne...
The silhouette of a magnificent silver phoenix spread its wings.
The hunt for the Fifth Star Fragment had begun.