Silence filled the chamber.
The platform slowly lowered back into the floor.
Kael stood there, breathing heavily after the battle.
Nyra walked toward him.
"You did well," she said.
Kael wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I almost got crushed by that thing."
The Shadow Council watched from their thrones.
One of the cloaked figures stood up.
"The trial is complete."
"The Realmwalker has proven his strength."
Another council member raised a hand.
"But strength alone will not save the realms."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The chamber darkened slightly.
A glowing map of the realms appeared in the air above the center of the room.
Seven worlds floated like stars connected by faint lines.
"The barriers between realms are weakening," the council member said.
"Creatures from the Chaos Realm have already begun invading the Mortal Realm."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Yeah… I noticed."
Another figure leaned forward.
"The Chaos hunters you encountered were only scouts."
Kael's expression changed.
"Scouts?"
Nyra looked toward the council.
"You mean the invasion has already begun."
The council member nodded slowly.
"The Chaos King is preparing something far worse."
The glowing map shifted.
A massive dark energy spread across several realms.
"If the Chaos King breaks the final barrier…"
The voice echoed through the chamber.
"All seven realms will fall."
Kael looked at the symbol on his hand again.
"So what exactly do you expect me to do about it?"
The council member's glowing eyes locked onto him.
"You are the Realmwalker."
"The fate of the realms now depends on you."