Chapter 30: The Heavenly Prince
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.
The Abyss Realm became silent.
Not the peaceful silence after a battle...
But the silence before destruction.
Every creature instinctively felt it.
The newcomer standing before them was different.
He wasn't like Lucien.
He wasn't like the Dragon Slayers.
He wasn't even like Azrael.
His presence carried the authority of heaven itself.
The man in golden robes floated above the battlefield.
His silver hair moved gently with the wind.
A golden mark shaped like a star rested between his eyebrows.
He looked young.
Almost too young.
But every ancient being present understood one thing.
This person was terrifying.
Nyx stared at him.
Her voice was unusually serious.
"Impossible..."
Knox looked at her.
"You know him?"
Nyx nodded slowly.
"Everyone in the Upper Realms knows his name."
She looked at the golden-robed man.
"The first disciple of the Heavenly Dao..."
"The future ruler of the Celestial Court..."
Her expression became colder.
"Caelum Ardent."
The Heavenly Prince.
Caelum smiled.
"It's been a long time, Nyx."
She clenched her fists.
"You shouldn't exist."
Caelum laughed softly.
"Neither should the First Villain's successor."
His eyes moved toward Knox.
"Yet here we are."
[Ding!]
Supreme Enemy Detected.
Name: Caelum Ardent
Title: Heavenly Prince
Realm: ???
Bloodline: Heavenly Origin
Threat Level: Impossible to Calculate
Warning: Do not engage without preparation.
Knox looked at the notification.
For the first time...
The System wasn't telling him how dangerous someone was.
It was telling him to be careful.
Interesting.
Caelum looked at the black crown above Knox.
"You really inherited his arrogance."
Knox replied calmly.
"And you inherited heaven's pride."
Caelum smiled.
"At least we understand each other."
He extended his hand.
"Give me the Crown of the Fallen King."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Caelum's smile disappeared slightly.
"Why?"
Knox touched the crown.
"Because I earned it."
The atmosphere changed.
The Abyss Army prepared themselves.
Alexander stepped forward.
Orion drew his sword.
Lyra's dragon flames ignited.
Even Azrael moved beside Knox.
Caelum looked at them.
"You all chose him?"
Alexander answered.
"Yes."
Caelum shook his head.
"Foolish."
He raised one finger.
The entire Abyss Realm trembled.
A golden chain appeared from the sky.
It moved toward the Abyss Army.
Where it passed...
Creatures lost their strength.
Heavenly Law: Suppression.
Thousands of Abyss warriors fell.
Even Kael struggled to stand.
"This power..."
"He controls the laws themselves."
Knox's eyes became cold.
He stepped forward.
The black crown released its power.
King's Domain activated.
A black domain spread across the battlefield.
The fallen Abyss warriors slowly stood again.
Caelum looked surprised.
"You can resist heavenly laws."
Knox smiled.
"That's why you're here, isn't it?"
Caelum stared at him.
"You know?"
"The Heavenly Dao doesn't fear your strength."
"It fears your possibility."
Silence.
Caelum continued.
"The First Villain was not destroyed because he was weak."
"He was destroyed because he reached a realm where even heaven couldn't control him."
His eyes narrowed.
"And now..."
"You are walking the same path."
Knox remained calm.
"Then heaven should have learned."
"Learned what?"
"Never leave an enemy alive."
For the first time...
Caelum laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"You really are his successor."
Suddenly—
The ground beneath them shattered.
A massive ancient seal appeared.
Everyone froze.
The seal was older than the Abyss.
Older than the Celestial Court.
Nyx's eyes widened.
"No..."
"What?"
She looked at Knox.
"The final treasure..."
"It's not hidden somewhere."
"It's sealed beneath the First King's throne."
[Ding!]
Third Legacy Treasure Detected.
Status: Sealed
Requirement: Awaken the First King's final memory
Caelum's expression changed.
For the first time...
He showed anger.
"You cannot obtain that."
Knox looked at him.
"Why?"
Caelum's voice became cold.
"Because that blood..."
"Does not belong to the First Villain."
Everyone froze.
Knox narrowed his eyes.
"Then whose blood is it?"
Caelum looked at the ancient seal.
"The only existence that ever made Heaven afraid."
The world became silent.
"The blood of..."
The Primordial Rebel.
The seal began cracking.
Something inside started awakening.
The Abyss shook.
The Celestial Court trembled.
Even the Heavenly Dao reacted.
The System gave a final warning.
[Ding!]
Unknown Lifeform Awakening.
Identity: ???
Connection: Beyond History Records
Warning: The truth of the First Villain will be revealed.
Knox looked at the breaking seal.
A cold smile appeared.
"Finally..."
"The real story begins."
End of Chapter 30