Silence.
It was deafening in the aftermath of the Rift's collapse.
Ash and embers floated like dying stars around Mount Caldrith. The battlefield was littered with the remnants of twisted Voidborn, broken weapons, and fallen soldiers. High above it all, Elias stood on a crag of stone, staring into the empty sky where the Rift once hovered.
But the sky was not truly empty.
> [System Alert: Unknown Signal Detected]
Origin: Outside Known Realms
Stability Threat: Critical
Decoding… 10%
Message: "You are not ready, Elias Black."
A chill deeper than death settled over Elias as the System Interface flickered, struggling to stabilize. The voice didn't come from any enemy he'd faced, not from Vaelthor or the Voidborn—this was older. Deeper.
"Is it the Architect?" Elias whispered.
> [Decoding Complete]
Message: "The threads of fate bend. Come, face me in the Abyss."
New Quest Triggered: Whispers of the Architect
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Asharia – Aftermath
