Chapter 18: The Third Seal

Moonlight poured over the ancient ruins.

The silver beam surrounding Aero and Serena grew brighter with every passing second.

Their Soul Marks pulsed in perfect harmony.

Yet the Third Seal refused to awaken.

'Why isn't it working?' Magnus shouted over the deafening roar of the Void Beast.

The Shadow King stared silently at the glowing marks.

'Because destiny cannot be forced,' he answered.

'The final seal responds to one thing only.'

'Love,' Rowan whispered.

'Not spoken...'

'But accepted.'

Another explosion rocked the ruins.

The Void Beast slammed both claws against the broken Moon Gate.

Ancient stone shattered into thousands of pieces.

Dark mist flooded the clearing.

The royal guards struggled to remain standing.

'The barrier is collapsing!' one soldier cried.

'Everyone behind me!' Aero ordered.

Golden energy erupted around him once again.

He raised his sword and charged directly toward the creature.

'Your Majesty!' Magnus yelled.

Aero leaped high into the air.

His blade shone like a falling star before crashing into one of the Beast's enormous claws.

The impact echoed across the forest.

The creature let out a furious roar.

For the first time...

It felt pain.

'He's actually pushing it back!' a guard exclaimed.

But the victory lasted only seconds.

The Void Beast unleashed another wave of darkness.

The blast struck Aero head-on.

His body was thrown across the clearing.

He crashed into one of the ancient pillars before collapsing onto one knee.

'Aero!' Serena screamed.

Blood stained the corner of his lips.

His breathing had become uneven.

'Stay back...' he whispered.

'Don't come closer.'

'No.'

Ignoring everyone around her, Serena ran to him.

She knelt beside him and gently held his face.

'You're hurt.'

'I'll survive.'

'Stop saying that like it doesn't matter.'

'My life isn't more important than the kingdom.'

'Maybe not to you...'

'But it is to me.'

Those words caught Aero completely off guard.

Serena looked directly into his eyes.

Tears filled her own.

'Do you know what terrified me the most when I came here?'

'Being trapped?' Aero asked softly.

'No.'

'Being alone.'

She smiled sadly.

'Then you appeared.'

'At first I thought you were cold... impossible to understand... and honestly a little arrogant.'

Magnus quietly coughed.

'She's not wrong.'

Even in the middle of the battle, Aero almost smiled.

'Then... everything changed.'

'Every time I was afraid... you stood in front of me.'

'Every time I wanted to give up... you reminded me I wasn't alone.'

'Somewhere along the way...'

'This strange world started feeling like home.'

She gently tightened her grip around his hand.

'Not because of this kingdom.'

'Not because of the prophecy.'

'Because of you.'

Silence filled the ruins.

Even the roaring of the Void Beast seemed distant.

Aero stared at Serena.

For years he had carried every burden alone.

He had convinced himself that love only made kings weak.

That protecting people meant never allowing anyone close enough to break his heart.

But Serena had walked through every wall he had built.

Without even realizing it.

'Serena...'

His voice was barely above a whisper.

'I was afraid.'

'Afraid of what?'

'Losing you.'

'The moment you appeared in my chamber... everything changed.'

'I kept telling myself I was protecting the prophecy.'

'But somewhere along the way...'

'I stopped protecting the prophecy.'

'I started protecting you.'

A gentle smile appeared on Serena's face.

'I know.'

'And I don't want to leave anymore.'

'Not if leaving means losing you.'

The moment those words left her lips...

The Soul Marks exploded with brilliant silver light.

A massive pillar of moonlight descended from the heavens.

Every ancient rune across the Moon Gate awakened simultaneously.

The entire forest trembled.

Rowan slowly fell to his knees.

'The Third Seal...'

'It's complete.'

The Shadow King closed his eyes.

A peaceful smile appeared on his face.

'At last...'

'Someone succeeded where I failed.'

The Moon Goddess's voice echoed across the ruins.

'The Three Seals have awakened.'

'The Gate shall open once more.'

The broken Moon Gate transformed into a giant circle of silver light.

Chains of moonlight wrapped around the Void Beast.

The monster struggled violently.

Its roar shook the mountains.

But the chains continued tightening.

'Now!' the Shadow King shouted.

'Aero! Finish it!'

Aero slowly stood.

His sword absorbed the light of the Moon Gate until the blade shone brighter than the sun.

He looked at Serena one last time.

She nodded.

'Go.'

'I'll be waiting.'

With one powerful leap...

The Alpha King charged toward the imprisoned Void Beast.

The final battle had begun.