The last battle had been won, but Kael stood on the edge of his greatest trial yet: the decision to rule or walk away.
The realms were in ruins, the gods gone, the power to shape the world in his hands. Elara, once a shadow, now stood as his closest confidant. She had become more than an ally—her understanding of the world and its broken nature had made her indispensable.
"I've seen what you've become, Kael," Elara whispered, her voice a mix of admiration and sorrow. "But do you truly understand the price of what you've done?"
Kael's eyes darkened as he gazed out at the shattered world. "I didn't start this to rule. I started it to free the realms. But now, I see that freedom comes with a cost. And if I must carry that burden to bring balance, then so be it."
Elara reached out, her fingers brushing against his. "It doesn't have to be this way. There's always another path. One where you're not alone."
But Kael knew there was no turning back. The world had changed, and so had he. Whether he ruled as a tyrant or a savior, the choice was his. And in that moment, Kael understood the most powerful truth of all:
True power wasn't in conquering the gods—it was in choosing what kind of ruler he would become.