Chapter 30: The Final Choice—Light in the Abyss

I stood at the edge of the void.

Behind me, the Queen lay crumpled against the shattered remains of my apartment wall, her breathing shallow, her aura flickering dangerously weak.

Before me, the Abyssal Sovereign loomed larger than life, its colossal shadow tendrils coiling like a serpent ready to strike.

And within me… the storm raged.

My body felt like it was splitting apart. Every vein burned with power too vast, too ancient to be contained.

"Take it, Heir," the Sovereign's voice thundered through the endless blackness. "One word from you, and the world will bow or burn!"

I clenched my fists, feeling the raw, terrifying might of the Shadowblood roaring through me.

But then—

Her voice.

Faint. Fragile.

Yet it cut through the storm like a blade of light.

"Liam… come back…"

I turned.

The Shadow Queen was struggling to her feet, blood staining her lips, but her eyes—those impossible crimson eyes—were locked on me.

"If you walk into that abyss… there's no coming back. And I…" Her voice broke, but she forced the words out. "…I'm not ready to lose you."

For the first time, the Sovereign hesitated.

"She clouds your mind, Heir. Cast her aside—become what you were born to be!"

I closed my eyes.

One step forward… and I would be a god.

One step back…

I opened my eyes and met hers.

And in that moment, I knew.

I took a step back.

The Sovereign screamed in rage, its massive form dissolving into a storm of violent shadows.

I dropped to my knees, gasping for air, the burning power retreating back into the depths of my bloodline.

The Queen rushed to me, her arms wrapping around my trembling body.

"You chose right…" she whispered against my ear.

For the first time in what felt like forever…

I felt at peace.

But peace never lasts long.

[System Notification: Hidden Sequence Complete. True Threat Awakening—Phase Two Initiated.]

My vision darkened again.

And a new voice echoed from beyond the void—

"So… the Final Heir rejects his throne? Interesting. Let's see how long you survive without it…"

To be continued…