Chapter 116 - The Journey to the End
The Aurora left the moon in silence.
No celebrations.
No songs.
Only the quiet determination of those who knew the greatest battle still lay ahead.
Behind them, the Lunar Temple shimmered beneath silver light.
Fenris watched until the ship disappeared among the stars.
---
The Codex of the Beast Sovereign floated before Kai.
Its pages no longer showed quests.
Instead...
A single destination.
Final Destination
Gate of Origins
Requirements:
✓ Seven Guardians United
✓ Three Origin Keys Collected
✓ Beast Sovereign Confirmed
Estimated Arrival:
Five Days
---
During the journey, no one wasted a moment.
Lucien reorganized the Star Wardens.
Lady Vesper trained the former Eclipse soldiers beside them.
Old enemies sparred together.
Laughed together.
Shared meals together.
The hatred that had divided them for centuries slowly faded.
Kai watched quietly.
This...
He realized...
Was the future the First Beast Sovereign had dreamed of.
---
On the third day...
The wooden whistle began glowing.
A soft melody drifted across the deck.
It wasn't loud.
Yet every beast aboard the Aurora lifted its head.
The Crimson Flame Fox wagged its tail.
Ignis smiled.
Even Pyron closed his eyes peacefully.
"What is this song?" Selene whispered.
Pyron answered,
"The Song of First Bonds."
"The First Beast Sovereign played it whenever frightened beasts refused to trust humans."
---
The melody spread into the endless sky.
Far below...
A lone injured hawk struggling against a storm suddenly changed direction.
Instead of falling...
It flew toward the Aurora.
Kai gently caught the exhausted bird.
One wing was badly injured.
He smiled.
"You've had a rough journey."
Without hesitation, he wrapped the bird's wing with clean cloth and offered it water.
The hawk rested calmly in his hands.
The Codex shimmered.
New Beast Bond
Silver Wind Hawk
Rank:
Common
Status:
Temporary Companion
---
Lucien laughed.
"You just saved the world three times..."
"...and you're still rescuing injured birds."
Kai shrugged.
"It needed help."
Pyron smiled.
"The First would have done exactly the same."
---
On the fifth day...
The stars ahead disappeared.
An endless wall of golden light stretched across the heavens.
It was so vast that no beginning or end could be seen.
At its centre stood an enormous gate.
Its height rivalled mountains.
Its surface was covered with ancient carvings.
Every Guardian.
Every Beast Sovereign.
Every age of history.
All engraved upon it.
Three empty keyholes glowed faintly.
---
The Codex opened automatically.
Ancient Landmark
Gate of Origins
Creator:
Unknown
Age:
Unknown
Status:
Final Seal
---
Kai felt incredibly small before it.
Even Pyron whispered,
"So many ages..."
"So many sacrifices..."
---
As the Aurora approached...
Black chains rose from the void.
Noctis stepped from the darkness.
He was no longer wearing his broken mask.
Behind him stood thousands of Wardens carrying chains of silver and black.
Not an army for conquest.
An army of guardians.
Noctis looked at Kai.
"I've brought everyone who still remembers their true duty."
Kai nodded.
"And I've brought everyone willing to protect this world."
For a long moment...
Neither side moved.
Then Noctis extended his hand.
"This time..."
"We stand together."
Kai clasped it firmly.
At that instant...
The Seven Guardians appeared behind Kai.
The Wardens assembled behind Noctis.
The Three Origin Keys floated into the air.
The Gate of Origins trembled.
A voice deeper than creation itself echoed from beyond the seal.
"At last..."
"...all the pieces have returned."
A single golden eye slowly opened in the darkness beyond the Gate.
It was larger than the moon itself.
Every star in the sky dimmed before its gaze.
The final battle for the fate of all worlds was about to begin.