The journey to the Shrine of Echoes took Eris across the bronze plains, where the grass shimmered like metal and the wind carried distant whispers. The sky remained split—half calm dusk, half spiraling storm. It felt like the world itself was divided, waiting for something to snap.
By nightfall, Eris reached a ridge overlooking a valley shaped like a giant bowl. At the center stood the shrine—an ancient, circular structure built from obsidian stone. It hummed softly, echoing with faint voices from ages past.
Eris descended the ridge.
With each step, the air grew colder. The whispers grew louder.
"Sovereign…"
"…Descendant…"
"…He returns…"
Eris ignored them and moved straight toward the shrine. The doors slid open without him touching them, reacting to the Sigil glowing on his palm.
Inside, the shrine was empty—just a vast circular hall lit by floating shards of crystal. In the middle stood a single statue of a hooded warrior, blade raised, head bowed.
Eris approached cautiously.
But before he reached it, the ground trembled.
The statue cracked.
Then, with a deep breath like someone inhaling after centuries, the stone shell fell away—revealing a tall figure wrapped in armor made from silver bone and shadowlight. His hair was long and white, his eyes glowing blue with exhaustion and ancient rage.
Eris stepped back.
The man spoke, voice rough and resonant, like echo and thunder layered together.
"You… carry their life-seed."
Eris froze.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at him deeply, as if seeing seven souls behind Eris's face.
"I am Kaelion," he answered slowly.
"Last commander of the Clan of Seven…
…And the only one who survived the First War."
Eris's heart slammed in his chest.
The Clan of Seven—the ones whose power formed him. The ones who died to seal Asmodeus.
Eris swallowed. "If you're alive… why didn't you stop Asmodeus from returning?"
Kaelion closed his eyes, shame flickering across his expression.
"Because I was the reason the Clan fell."
Eris inhaled sharply.
"What do you mean?"
Kaelion's voice dropped into a painful whisper:
"The One Being corrupted me.
I led my brothers into the trap.
I killed them with my own hands."
Silence flooded the hall.
Eris shook his head slowly.
"That can't be true."
Kaelion looked at him—not with anger, but with a depth of grief only someone who had lost everything could hold.
"It is the truth, Descendant. And that same corruption… is already hunting you."
Eris's chest tightened as the storm outside cracked with black lightning.
Kaelion stepped forward, placing a hand on Eris's shoulder.
"But I will not fail a second time.
Come. Your training begins now."