Far from the Center of the Universe, in a land drowned in shadow and heat, a child was born.
The moment it happened, the world responded.
Demons across the realm froze mid-motion. Ancient beings who had survived ages felt it strike through them like a forgotten echo.
A demon woman held the child close, her hands steady despite the pressure crushing the air around her. Others stood near her, silent, watching the newborn with unease and reverence.
She looked down at him.
"Raize," she said.
The name settled into existence.
Far away, across unseen realms, voices stirred.
"So… he's back." "He kept his promise." "Welcome back, my lord."
In the chamber of the Umbral Blades, every throne reacted at once.
Zerathul stiffened.
That aura.
It brushed against him for a breath — and the past tore open.
He stood over a man from long ago. The ground beneath them soaked dark. The man was dying, yet his eyes were calm, almost amused.
"Give me a few years," he had said quietly. "I promise I'll come back."
The memory shattered.
Footsteps echoed through the chamber.
A man entered and sat down on Kaelthys' throne.
Every ruler turned.
Zerathul's voice cut the silence. "Who are you."
The man leaned forward, resting his hand on the table. "A friend," he said. "I want to become a member of the Umbral Blades."
Arvax grinned. "Then you know the rule. To join us, you take the place of one of us."
"I know."
The man lifted his hand.
Something heavy dropped onto the table.
A head rolled to a stop between the thrones.
Silence collapsed.
One of the rulers stared in disbelief.
"That's… Varien."
Another inhaled sharply. "You killed him?"
The man shrugged. "Replacement requires vacancy."
Another snapped, "Who are you really."
Before the man could answer, a girl entered the door, her aura destroying everything she walked on.
"This is Kaelix," she said with faintly glowing eyes, "he is the son of none other than Kaelion himself."
The chamber froze.
Kaelix sighed. "It was really supposed to remain a secret."
Zerathul's voice hardened. "Why kill him. You only needed to win."
Then Kaelix glanced toward Aurelia. "She said I had to replace a member."
Aurelia stood instantly.
"I said replace. Not kill."
He tilted his head, genuinely curious.
"What is the difference?"
A hush fell over the chamber.
Aurelia looked at him — really looked at him — and for the first time, her light dimmed.
"Replacement leaves a choice," she said quietly.
"Killing removes it."
He glanced at the severed head on the table.
"Choice is inefficient."
No ruler laughed.
No ruler spoke.
Even Zerathul felt the words settle like weight on his chains.
Aurelia closed her eyes once. "I'm done."
She turned and walked toward the exit.
"Wait," Zerathul said.
She didn't stop.
Power formed in Zerathul's hand. A weapon tore itself from the air and flew toward her.
Aurelia turned in one motion. Her sword flashed as she blocked the strike. The impact cracked the chamber, forcing both of them backward.
They landed.
Then rushed at each other again.
At that moment, the one who had called the gathering lifted his hand.
Snap.
Elsewhere, beyond all thrones and laws, a man held a small girl in his arms.
No faces were seen.
No words were spoken.
They vanished.
Back in the chamber, Aurelia and Zerathul continued their clash, unaware anything had changed.
And Zerathul knew.
The promise had been real.
Raize had returned.
End of Chapter 7 – The Name That Returned