The smoke from the burning dojo hung in the air like a shroud. The flames had died down, but the ruins still whispered of violence—walls blackened, tiles shattered, training grounds reduced to ash. The once lively home of the Vanguard now felt like a grave.
The group stood amidst the wreckage, battered and silent. Every face was painted with exhaustion, but it was Kaosu who broke the stillness, his voice rough but steady.
"Everyone needs to rest. The wounded stay behind. The ones who can still stand—come with me. We need answers."
His words carried no room for debate. Even those who wanted to argue simply bowed their heads.
Kori stepped forward, his fists clenched. The determination in his eyes was enough to rally others, so a small group was chosen—Kaosu, Kori, Supira, Kaiyo, and a few of the less-injured members. They left the ruins behind, following the trail of destruction.
It didn't take long to reach what remained of the nearest village. Homes were collapsed into rubble. Statues shattered. The wind howled through hollow frames, carrying the scent of dust and smoke.
Supira's voice was low. "This wasn't random… someone wanted us to see this."
Kaosu's sharp eyes scanned the wreckage. "Spread out. Look for anything useful."
For minutes, only silence followed as they combed through the ruins. Then Kori called out.
"Over here!"
They hurried to where he stood, staring at a broken wall. Carved into its stone were words, clear and deliberate, glowing faintly as if branded with energy rather than etched by hand:
"In the heavens thou will findth a Castle.
A Castle filled of Kings.
Enter, if you dare."
The words radiated power, as though the stone itself vibrated with their presence.
The group stood frozen, unease creeping into their hearts.
Kaosu narrowed his eyes. "What does this mean…?"
Kaiyo let out a tired sigh, arms folded. "It means exactly what it says. Somewhere above us, in the heavens, there's a Castle. A Castle filled with Kings. And whoever left this… they want us to walk into it."
Supira tilted his head back, staring at the sky that stretched on forever. "Heavens, huh? Then how in the world are we supposed to reach it?"
A heavy silence followed. No one had an answer.
Until Kori's voice broke through, quiet but firm.
"…I can."
All eyes turned to him.
Supira blinked. "What did you just say?"
Kori's gaze was steady, but his tone was softer. "I've been keeping something from you. I didn't mean to… but now feels like the time to tell you."
The air grew tense as he raised his hand. Nexus energy shimmered around him, but unlike his usual aura, this one was different. Brighter. Sharper. Star-like fragments of light spun around his body, orbiting him like constellations.
"I have a second Nexus."
Shock rippled through the group like a wave.
"You WHAT?!" Kaiyo nearly choked. His expression flickered between awe and outrage. "You've had a second Nexus this whole time and you didn't tell us?!"
Supira's jaw dropped. Even Kaosu, always unreadable, faltered for a moment. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Kori let the silence speak before continuing. "I didn't say anything because I wasn't ready. I didn't know if I could control it. But… right now, we don't have a choice. If that clue is true, then I can get us there."
His hand lowered as the glow faded slightly. "Everyone, gather close. Trust me."
Despite their doubts, something in Kori's voice—an unshakable certainty—pulled them in. One by one, they stepped toward him. Supira grumbled under his breath but didn't argue. Kaiyo muttered something about "idiots with secrets," but joined in.
The moment they were close, Kori shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath. His body pulsed with energy, and suddenly the ground beneath their feet vanished.
Gasps rang out as the group felt themselves lifting, their bodies weightless.
They rose higher, the ruins below shrinking until they were only specks on the earth. The wind whipped against them, clouds rushing past as the air grew colder, thinner. Yet the starlight surrounding Kori shielded them, carrying them ever upward.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours. Finally, the sky shifted. The clouds parted, and before them stretched a vision that stole their breath away.
A city among the heavens.
Massive towers of ivory and gold rose above the clouds, their spires gleaming with celestial light. Bridges of silver stretched between floating platforms. Waterfalls of pure light cascaded into the clouds below, glowing like rivers of stars. It was breathtaking—an entire kingdom suspended in the skies.
But their awe was short-lived.
Blocking the main gate of the city stood a colossal figure.
A stone guardian, easily a hundred feet tall, carved from ancient rock. Its body was marked with glowing veins of blue and gold, like molten rivers trapped within its form. Its eyes were shut, its massive arms crossed over its chest as though it slumbered.
The Vanguard slowed their approach, uncertainty filling their hearts.
Then—
The guardian's eyes snapped open. They burned like suns, flooding the sky with golden light. Its chest rumbled, the sound echoing like distant thunder.
And then it spoke.
"WHO DARES APPROACH THE CASTLE OF KINGS?"
The very air trembled at its voice. Clouds scattered, the sky itself shuddering beneath the weight of its words. The force nearly pushed them back, but Kori held them steady with his Nexus.
The guardian leaned forward, its gaze piercing through them like blades of light.
"SPEAK YOUR BUSINESS, MORTALS… OR BE TURNED TO ASH."
The chapter ends there—silence hanging heavy as the Vanguard stood before the colossal guardian, their fate balanced on how they would answer.