After defeating the Celestial King, Kael found himself standing on the precipice of a world he no longer understood. The Conclave was in ruins, the once-glorious palace now reduced to rubble, the echoes of divine power fading into nothingness. But victory came at a cost. Kael's body was battered, his energy drained, and the godly essence he had once wielded was still beyond his reach. His encounter with the Celestial King had awakened something deep inside him—a flicker of the power he had lost—but it wasn't enough. Not yet.
The prophecy spoke of a fallen warrior rising to challenge the gods, but Kael had yet to realize the full weight of his role. The gods were not simply a collection of divine beings who ruled the heavens. They were part of a larger, ancient system—one that had existed long before Kael's fall. And there were forces in play, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.
Kael stood alone in the ruined Conclave, his mind racing. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. There was a deeper conspiracy at play, one that extended beyond the gods' betrayal. He was being used. He had always been used.
As Kael surveyed the wreckage, the ground trembled beneath him. An eerie wind whispered through the desolate halls. And then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.
Elara.
Her eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light, and her once-vulnerable demeanor had been replaced by an unsettling confidence. She wasn't just the rogue mage he thought she was. She had always been more—a key player in a far grander scheme.
"You think you've won, Kael?" Elara's voice was cold, her smile twisted with malice. "You've merely scratched the surface. The gods may fall, but the system that controls them remains. And if you want to truly take their place, you'll need to do more than just fight."
Kael's fists clenched. "What do you mean?"
She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. "I've known the truth for a long time. The gods are not the true rulers of this realm. They are merely puppets, controlled by forces far older and more powerful. And you—you are the key to breaking their chains."