Chapter 181: The Awakening of the First Enemy

The air shifted.

The ruins of Vaeloria stood frozen, bathed in an unnatural silence.

The creatures—those tattered remnants of soldiers long lost—remained kneeling. Not to Damien.

To something else.

Something that had been watching.

Something that had waited longer than any of them had been alive.

And now—

It was here.

—

A Voice from the Abyss

The voice that had spoken was not a whisper.

It was not a command.

It was something else entirely.

It spoke from the air itself, vibrating through the ruins, pressing against their chests like a second heartbeat.

Dante's grip on his sword tightened. "That… didn't sound human."

Erynn's silver eyes flickered. "Because it isn't."

Selene exhaled sharply. "Great. Love that for us."

Carys's fingers flexed over her weapon. "Where is it?"

Damien didn't answer.

Because he already knew.

It was not in the ruins.