Far beyond the borders of any known map, hidden beneath a veil of eternal dusk, lay the realm of the Twilight Clan—keepers of the Second Void Seal. Their floating citadel, Nox'Tharil, drifted in silence between collapsing stars and rivers of dark matter. Within its sanctum, elders convened, eyes glowing with the power of forgotten constellations.
"The void trembles," spoke Elder Korr, his voice like grinding stone. "The first seal is shattered. The Whispering Warlord walks again."
Another, cloaked in shimmering veils of starlight, replied, "Then the Flamebearer must never reach the second key."
—
Meanwhile – Aboard the Skybound Vessel "Zephyr Blade"
Jin Long, Yue Lan, and their newest ally, Mei Lin, stood on the bow of the airship as it soared across skystorms and dimensional fractures. Mei Lin's arrival had been sudden—but her connection to the Genesis Core undeniable.
"You've seen it," Jin Long said, studying her. "The Abyss. The Hollow King."
"I've seen what happens if he awakens," Mei Lin replied quietly. "It's not just this world that burns. Time collapses. Life forgets itself."
Yue Lan narrowed her eyes. "Then we'll stop him. Even if we have to tear through the Twilight Clan's defenses."
Mei Lin shook her head. "You don't understand. They are not evil. They were created to judge whether the universe is worthy of surviving."
Jin Long clenched his jaw. "Then I'll prove that it is."
—
Nox'Tharil – Twilight Citadel, Inner Sanctum
As the Zephyr Blade pierced through the final veil, alarms sounded across the citadel. Thousands of celestial warriors drew their weapons—blades forged from dying stars, bows strung with the strings of reality.
The three were intercepted the moment they landed.
"You trespass," said Commander Veyr, his form radiant and stern. "The bearer of the Core is not welcome here."
"I don't seek a fight," Jin Long replied, his hand on his sword. "Only a truth. And a path forward."
"The truth," said Veyr coldly, "is that your existence endangers everything. The Core must return to the Void."
From above, a colossal ring of energy activated—the Judgment Halo—and beams of destructive light rained down upon them.
Jin Long shouted, "Scatter!"
The three heroes launched into action. Yue Lan summoned a dome of shifting moonlight, deflecting the first volley. Mei Lin unleashed threads of dream-energy, twisting through time and illusion to confuse the attackers.
But it was Jin Long who stepped forward, blade glowing with the resonance of the Genesis Core, his aura rippling with power.
"I didn't ask for this power," he said, as the world trembled under his stance. "But I will master it."
He struck—his sword clashing with Veyr's starlit blade, the impact causing the skies above to fracture.
And for a moment, the Judgment Halo blinked—reacting to the Core within him.
—
In the distance, Zhan Wuhen watched through a rift in space, eyes burning with anticipation.
"Good," he whispered. "Awaken your power, Flamebearer. Because when the Third Seal breaks… I will come for you myself."