Chapter 115 - The Echo of the First
The moon fell silent.
Even the stars seemed to pause.
The figure clothed in white stood within the pillar of golden light, smiling gently at Kai.
He looked ordinary.
No overwhelming aura.
No crushing pressure.
Yet every Guardian instinctively bowed.
Pyron lowered his head.
"The First..."
Nereus closed her eyes.
"After all these ages..."
Fenris let out a soft, respectful howl.
---
The Codex of the Beast Sovereign glowed warmly.
Identity Confirmed
Title:
First Beast Sovereign
Status:
Spiritual Echo
Physical Body:
Deceased
Purpose:
Awaiting the Ninth Successor
---
Kai stepped forward.
"So... you're really him."
The man laughed softly.
"I was."
"What stands before you is only an echo."
"A memory entrusted to the Gate of Origins."
---
Kai studied him carefully.
He appeared no older than thirty.
His white cloak was worn from countless journeys.
A faded leather satchel rested at his side.
Nothing about him resembled the legends that described an invincible hero.
"You don't look like the strongest person in history."
The First Sovereign smiled.
"I wasn't."
"I simply refused to stop walking."
---
Silence settled over the moon.
Then Kai asked the question that had troubled him for so long.
"Was Noctis truly your friend?"
The First Sovereign's smile slowly faded.
"Yes."
"He was my brother."
Not by blood.
"But by choice."
---
The Guardians lowered their heads.
"He carried burdens I never understood."
"I carried burdens he could never accept."
"We both believed we were protecting the world."
"And in trying to save everyone..."
"We lost each other."
---
Far away, Noctis stood alone on a distant cliff.
He quietly looked toward the moon.
Though separated by kilometres...
He heard every word.
He closed his eyes.
"For once..."
"...you remembered correctly."
---
The First Sovereign turned back to Kai.
"History called him the Chain Sovereign."
"But that was never his true name."
"He was the Keeper of Seals."
"The strongest Warden the world has ever known."
---
The Codex restored another forgotten page.
Historical Record
Noctis
Original Title:
Keeper of Seals
Later Title:
Chain Sovereign
Record Status:
Restored
---
Kai frowned.
"If he isn't the true enemy..."
"Then who is?"
For the first time...
Fear crossed the First Sovereign's face.
"The one beyond the Gate."
---
The golden light around him dimmed.
"I sealed the Gate."
"Noctis strengthened the chains."
"The Seven Guardians became its locks."
"The Three Origin Keys became its keyholes."
Kai's expression hardened.
"So opening the Gate..."
"...was always dangerous."
The First Sovereign nodded.
"It was never meant to be opened."
"It was meant to remain closed forever."
---
The moon trembled.
A distant roar echoed across the heavens.
Not from the world.
From beyond it.
The sound carried impossible age.
Even the stars flickered.
---
The Codex blazed crimson.
Emergency Warning
Gate of Origins
Seal Integrity:
92%
Unknown External Force Detected
Seal Deterioration:
Accelerating
---
The First Sovereign looked directly at Kai.
"Listen carefully."
"You have done what I could not."
"You united the Seven Guardians."
"You restored the Three Keys."
"You reminded Noctis of who he truly is."
"But your greatest trial..."
"...has not yet begun."
---
He reached into his worn satchel.
From it, he removed a small wooden whistle.
It looked utterly ordinary.
He handed it to Kai.
"This was my first Beast Contract."
Kai blinked.
"A whistle?"
The First Sovereign laughed.
"I didn't begin my journey with dragons."
"I began it by befriending a frightened wolf cub."
He gently closed Kai's hand around the whistle.
"Never forget."
"A Beast Sovereign is measured not by the strongest beast who follows him..."
"...but by the weakest beast who trusts him."
---
The spiritual echo began fading into countless particles of golden light.
"Our paths end here."
"Yours begins."
Kai bowed deeply.
"I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."
The First Sovereign smiled one last time.
"No."
"I believe you'll surpass it."
The light disappeared.
Only the old wooden whistle remained in Kai's hand.
---
At the edge of the moon, Noctis opened a portal of black chains.
He looked toward Kai without speaking.
Then he nodded once.
Not as an enemy.
Not yet as a friend.
But as an equal preparing for the same final battle.
Far beyond the stars...
A third ancient lock upon the Gate of Origins gave a faint metallic groan.
The final countdown had begun.