The heavens split apart.
Not from violence.
Not from power.
But because reality itself could no longer withstand what was trying to enter.
The enormous circle of darkness hanging above the Crossroads expanded until it dwarfed entire galaxies. Its edges churned like liquid shadow, swallowing light and sound alike. The stars nearest the opening bent toward it, stretching into brilliant streams before disappearing forever into the endless black.
Silence fell.
Even the battle between the Eternal Guardians and the Null Legion slowed.
Every warrior looked upward.
Every Architect.
Every Watcher.
Every Guardian.
They all understood the same terrible truth.
The First Void hadn't come alone.
The Keeper's staff slipped from his trembling hands.
It struck the cracked stone floor with a dull echo.
"No..."
His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"I sealed it."
Titan looked toward the ancient Gatekeeper.
"You delayed it."
The giant's golden eyes never left the growing portal.
"You knew?"
The Keeper slowly nodded.
"For longer than anyone should remember."
Atlas frowned.
"What is coming?"
The old man swallowed hard.
"The first children of nothing."
Inside the Void Gate...
Movement.
At first it resembled drifting clouds.
Then...
Shapes.
Massive silhouettes slowly emerged from the endless darkness.
Each one was larger than the Crossroads itself.
No features.
No faces.
Only towering forms woven from living emptiness.
As they approached the edge of the portal, stars around them simply ceased to exist.
Not destroyed.
Forgotten.
Reality could not remember what occupied their place.
One by one...
The colossal beings stopped at the edge of the gateway.
Waiting.
Watching.
The First Void slowly raised one hand toward them.
The silent army bowed.
The oldest Architect closed his eyes.
"The Forgotten Ones."
Mason looked toward him.
"Who are they?"
The Architect's expression became heavy with sorrow.
"They were never meant to exist."
Genesis watched the enormous figures gathering beyond the portal.
Its golden eye widened.
...They're lonely...
The words surprised everyone.
Mason looked toward the Core.
"What do you mean?"
Genesis remained focused on the approaching shadows.
...They've never known light...
The Dream hesitated.
...They've never known each other...
The Keeper slowly looked toward Genesis.
Even now...
It pitied them.
The First Void finally spoke again.
Its voice rolled across existence like distant thunder.
COME HOME.
The Forgotten Ones answered together.
The sound wasn't language.
It was absence.
Every flame in the Crossroads dimmed.
Golden rivers flowing through the city turned gray.
Even the Light of Creation in Mason's hand flickered.
Seraphis spun her spear once before planting it firmly into the ground.
Golden energy erupted outward, creating a protective circle around the Core.
The Eternal Guardians immediately formed ranks beside her.
Thousands of shields locked together.
Thousands of weapons pointed toward the heavens.
She looked toward Mason.
"They'll reach us within minutes."
Mason tightened his grip on his sword.
"Can we stop them?"
Seraphis remained silent.
Finally...
"We've never tried."
Atlas approached, his armor still scarred from his encounter with the illusion of Fenrir.
His expression had changed.
He no longer looked like the weary hero who had carried the burden for thousands of years.
He looked inspired.
He rested a hand on Mason's shoulder.
"You've already done what none of us could."
Mason frowned.
"What?"
"You taught Genesis hope."
Atlas smiled.
"Now..."
He looked toward the sky.
"...we show creation what hope can do."
Suddenly...
A trumpet sounded.
Not from the Guardians.
Not from the Architects.
From somewhere beyond the portal.
Its note echoed through the darkness.
The Forgotten Ones began marching.
Each step caused entire sections of reality to fracture.
The Void Gate expanded even farther.
The oldest Watcher raised both hands.
Silver symbols filled the heavens.
THE BARRIER WILL NOT HOLD.
Another Watcher joined.
THEY ARE TOO MANY.
The third looked toward Mason.
THE CHOICE BELONGS TO THE GUARDIAN.
Mason blinked.
"My choice?"
The Watchers said nothing more.
Genesis whispered softly.
...They're afraid too...
Mason looked toward the approaching army.
"They don't look afraid."
...Not them...
The golden eye slowly turned toward the Watchers.
Then the Architects.
Then Titan.
Then Atlas.
...Everyone...
Silence spread across the chamber.
Genesis was right.
Every ancient being who had survived since the beginning of creation...
Was afraid.
Not of dying.
Of failing.
The Keeper suddenly laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Then louder.
Atlas looked at him.
"What?"
The old man wiped a tear from his eye.
"I finally understand."
Titan smiled knowingly.
"You always do."
The Keeper looked toward Mason.
"For billions of years..."
He shook his head.
"We believed we were protecting Genesis."
Another laugh escaped him.
"We were wrong."
Mason frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The Keeper looked directly into his eyes.
"It was Genesis..."
His voice cracked.
"...protecting us."
The realization swept across the chamber.
Every world.
Every civilization.
Every hero.
Every chance at life.
Had existed because Genesis continued dreaming.
Not because it was imprisoned.
Because it loved what it had created.
Genesis quietly asked,
...Was I doing a good job...?
Mason smiled.
"The best."
The Dream became silent.
Then...
The Core began shining brighter than ever before.
Not from power.
From joy.
The corruption covering Genesis shrank another inch.
The First Void noticed.
For the first time...
Its advance stopped.
Then something impossible happened.
One of the Forgotten Ones broke formation.
The colossal being slowly stepped away from the endless army.
It looked toward Genesis.
Toward the growing light.
Then...
It hesitated.
The First Void turned.
The remaining Forgotten Ones remained perfectly still.
Only one had moved.
Only one.
Genesis whispered,
...It heard me...
The oldest Architect stared in disbelief.
"No..."
Seraphis lowered her spear.
"It remembers."
The Forgotten One slowly raised one massive hand.
Not to attack.
To reach.
Toward the light.
Toward Genesis.
Toward hope.
The First Void reacted instantly.
Darkness erupted from its body.
A spear of absolute nothingness shot across the heavens.
It struck the Forgotten One squarely in the chest.
The giant never cried out.
It simply dissolved into dust.
The remaining army never moved.
Never protested.
Never looked away.
Mason's heart sank.
"It killed its own."
Seraphis nodded grimly.
"Because hope..."
She looked toward the First Void.
"...is the one thing it cannot control."
The Light of Creation blazed brighter in Mason's hand.
High above...
The Void Gate expanded one final time.
And from its endless depths...
A throne of living darkness slowly emerged.
The First Void turned toward it.
Then...
For the very first time...
It knelt.
Every Guardian stared.
Every Architect fell silent.
Every Watcher stood motionless.
If the First Void...
The oldest darkness in existence...
Knelt before someone else...
Then the true ruler of the Void...
Had finally arrived.