Chapter 82: The First Betrayal

The battlefield stretched endlessly—a graveyard of gods and monsters frozen in eternal combat.

Kael's breath came in ragged gasps as he stared at the Aurelia of this time—her golden wings burning like a second sun, her face twisted in fury as she clashed with the Original's monstrous form.

This was the First War.

The hooded figure stepped between them, his elongated fingers gesturing to the carnage. "Beautiful, isn't it? The moment everything broke."

Lucian's sword was already drawn, his crimson eyes locked onto the distant figures. "Why are we here?"

The figure chuckled. "Because you don't remember."

A pulse of energy rippled through the air. The scene shifted—

—and suddenly, they weren't spectators anymore.

They stood in the heart of the battlefield.

Aurelia—their Aurelia—stood before them, her black eyes wide with horror. "No. No."

Kael reached for her, but his hand passed through her form like mist. An illusion. A memory.

The hooded figure's voice slithered around them. "Watch."

The Aurelia of the past raised her hands, golden light erupting from her palms as she faced the Original. "You don't have to do this!"

The Original's form writhed, her voice a chorus of screams. "You stole from me. You took what was MINE."

"I freed myself!"

The Original lunged.

A blade of pure shadow materialized in the past Aurelia's chest.

Kael's stomach lurched.

But she didn't fall.

Instead, she laughed, gripping the blade as golden blood dripped from her lips. "You always underestimate me."

Then—

A figure stepped from the shadows behind the Original.

Lucian.

But not the Lucian they knew.

This one wore armor of blackened steel, his eyes twin voids of darkness. The Crown of Shadows sat upon his brow.

The Original turned—

—just as Lucian drove his sword through her back.

The scream that tore from her shook the battlefield.

The past Aurelia wrenched the shadow-blade from her chest and smiled. "Checkmate."

The Original's form began to unravel, her essence scattering like smoke. "This isn't over."

Lucian's voice was ice. "It never is."

Then—

Darkness swallowed the memory.

Kael staggered as the vision faded, the battlefield dissolving back into ruins.

The real Lucian stood frozen, his sword trembling in his grip. "I… did that?"

The hooded figure clapped slowly. "Oh, you did far worse." He leaned in, his golden eyes gleaming. "You betrayed her. And then you forgot."

Aurelia—their Aurelia—stared at Lucian, her expression unreadable.

Kael's corrupted arm burned. The shard in his chest pulsed, whispering—

"Now you see."

The ground trembled.

The Original's laughter echoed through the ruins.

"Did you really think hiding in the past would save you?"

The sky split.

And the present came crashing back in