The stars above the Obsidian Wastes flickered like dying embers. In the heart of this desolate expanse stood a fortress that breathed silence—The Shadow Court, where light feared to tread.
Ash stood on the balcony of the black spire, overlooking the barren plains beneath. A cold wind tugged at his cloak, yet his gaze remained unwavering, locked onto something far beyond the horizon.
Behind him, a familiar voice echoed, low and cautious.
"You summoned them, didn't you?"
Ash didn't turn. "They needed to remember what they were created for."
Akarshan stepped out of the shadows, his face tense. "They're scared. The goddesses, the Demon Lord, even the Guardians of the Fold. They fear you more than the end itself."
Ash finally looked at him. "Fear is clarity. It wipes away doubt. It reminds them of truth."
A rumble echoed through the night sky—ancient runes above the fortress began to glow. The air vibrated with a forgotten frequency.
"They're arriving," Ash murmured. "The Shadow Tribunal."
Within the great hall of the spire, a circle of obsidian thrones emerged from the mist. One by one, cloaked figures appeared, each a master of forbidden knowledge, each bearing marks of ages long buried.
An elder tribunal member spoke first—her voice like dry parchment on wind.
"Why have you broken the seal, Supreme One?"
Ash walked into the circle, shadows bending around his form. "Because the timeline is fractured. A soul has awakened before its trial. A being not of this world remembers everything."
The Tribunal stirred. Another voice, deep and metallic, hissed:
"An anomaly. It threatens your restoration."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "It threatens more than that. It could sever the Path of Rebirth. And if that happens… all cycles collapse."
Suddenly, an image appeared in the air—a boy with silver hair and violet eyes, standing amidst ruins, glowing with unstable divine energy.
Akarshan's breath caught. "Who is that?"
Ash whispered, "The Echoed Soul. The one who wasn't supposed to awaken."
The Tribunal murmured darkly.
Ash clenched his fist. "We must find him. Before the Hollow Flame does."
Just then, the spire trembled. A soldier burst in, panting. "My Lord! The Hollow Flame Cult… they've breached the west gate!"
Ash turned to Akarshan, his eyes burning like suns.
"Ready the Sentinels. The Second War begins now."
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