Kael couldn't move.
He stared at the two figures standing before him.
Two Eryx.
Same face.
Same voice.
Same presence.
Yet somehow—
They felt completely different.
The Eryx Kael had traveled with stood on his left.
The other Eryx stood several meters away, covered in blood, his eyes filled with something Kael had never seen before.
Pain.
Anger.
And loneliness.
The original Eryx looked at the other.
"Why did you take my place?"
The other Eryx lowered his head.
"I didn't."
"Then why do you have my memories?"
"I don't."
The original Eryx froze.
"What?"
The copy looked toward Kael.
"I have his memories."
Kael's eyes widened.
"Mine?"
The copy nodded.
"I was created from you."
The original Eryx clenched his fists.
"Then you're not my copy."
He looked at Kael.
"You're his."
Silence.
Kael felt something inside his chest shift.
The Last Core pulsed once.
Then again.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Kael looked down.
"I don't understand."
The ancient creature finally spoke.
"You don't need to understand yet."
Kael looked up.
"I think I've had enough secrets."
The enormous eye stared at him.
"Then listen carefully."
The darkness around them became still.
"There were never two Eryx."
Kael frowned.
The creature continued.
"There were three."
Eryx's eyes widened.
"Three?"
The ancient creature didn't answer him.
Instead, the darkness opened.
Another memory appeared.
A young Kael stood inside a chamber.
Beside him were two children.
Both looked exactly like Eryx.
Kael stared.
"No."
The memory continued.
The Firstborn were surrounding them.
One of the scientists spoke.
"We have successfully divided the consciousness."
Another answered:
"Which one is the original?"
Silence.
Then Aetherion stepped forward.
"The answer doesn't matter."
Kael's face became pale.
The memory changed.
One Eryx was placed inside the Boundary.
The second was placed inside the Last Core.
The third—
Disappeared.
Kael stared at the memory.
"Where did the third one go?"
The ancient creature answered:
"Into you."
Kael's body went cold.
The Eryx beside him looked at Kael.
"No."
Kael shook his head.
"That's impossible."
The creature continued.
"When your consciousness was divided, part of Eryx entered you."
Kael touched his chest.
The Last Core pulsed.
THUMP.
A voice whispered inside his mind.
Brother.
Kael froze.
"Eryx?"
The Eryx beside him looked confused.
"I didn't say anything."
Kael's eyes widened.
The voice came again.
Brother.
But this time—
It came from inside the Core.
Kael stumbled backward.
"There is someone else."
The original Eryx stepped closer.
"Kael?"
Kael looked at him.
"I can hear him."
"Hear who?"
Kael placed his hand over his chest.
"The third one."
Both Eryx stared at him.
The ancient creature's eye slowly closed.
"Now you understand."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Why were we divided?"
The creature remained silent.
Kael shouted.
"WHY?"
The universe shook.
The creature finally answered.
"Because together, you were too powerful."
Kael froze.
Eryx stepped forward.
"Too powerful for what?"
The creature's gaze moved toward both brothers.
"For me."
Silence.
Kael's eyes widened.
"You were afraid of us."
"Yes."
The creature's answer was immediate.
"Together, the three pieces of your existence could consume the Boundary itself."
Kael looked at Eryx.
Then at the other Eryx.
Then down at his Core.
"So the First Hunger..."
The ancient creature answered:
"Was never the greatest danger."
Kael slowly understood.
The Hunger had been created from his desperation.
The Boundary had been created to separate them.
The Last Core had held one part.
Another part had remained beyond the Boundary.
And the final piece—
Had been living inside Kael all along.
Eryx looked at the other version of himself.
"Then which one of us is real?"
The original Eryx looked at him.
"I don't know."
The copy shook his head.
"I don't know either."
Kael stepped between them.
"Then stop asking."
Both turned toward him.
Kael looked at the two versions of his brother.
"I don't care which one was created first."
The ancient creature watched silently.
Kael continued.
"You're both Eryx."
The original Eryx stared at him.
The copy looked away.
Kael stepped closer.
"If you have his memories, his feelings, his choices..."
He pointed toward the original.
"And if you have your own memories, your own pain, your own choices..."
He looked toward the copy.
"Then you're both real."
The darkness trembled.
The Last Core began glowing.
White.
Black.
Silver.
All three energies appeared at once.
The two Eryx suddenly felt the same energy pulling them together.
The original Eryx grabbed his chest.
"What's happening?"
The copy fell to one knee.
"I can feel him."
Kael stared.
The two versions began turning into light.
"No!"
Kael reached toward them.
The ancient creature spoke.
"Let it happen."
Kael looked at it.
"What are you doing?"
"Restoring what was broken."
The two Eryx were pulled toward each other.
Their bodies began merging.
Memories flooded the darkness.
Childhood.
War.
Death.
Sacrifice.
Fear.
Love.
Every memory belonged to both of them.
Then—
A massive explosion of light erupted.
Kael covered his eyes.
When the light disappeared—
Only one Eryx remained.
He stood silently.
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
"Eryx?"
Eryx looked at him.
His eyes were different.
Not black.
Not white.
Both.
He smiled.
"Hey, brother."
Kael's eyes widened.
He knew that voice.
It was Eryx.
But something else had changed.
Kael could feel it.
Eryx wasn't simply stronger.
He was complete.
Eryx looked down at his hands.
"I remember everything."
Kael swallowed.
"Everything?"
Eryx nodded.
"Yes."
Then his smile disappeared.
"And now I remember what happened after I destroyed the first universe."
Kael's expression became serious.
"What happened?"
Eryx looked toward the ancient creature.
"It followed me."
The creature remained still.
Eryx continued.
"I thought destroying the Boundary would save Kael."
He looked at his brother.
"But when the universe collapsed..."
His hands began trembling.
"I opened a path."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"A path to where?"
Eryx looked toward the darkness.
"Here."
The ancient creature's eye opened.
Eryx pointed toward it.
"I didn't just destroy the Boundary."
His voice cracked.
"I invited it inside."
Kael froze.
The creature slowly moved closer.
"And now..."
Its enormous eye focused on Kael.
"...you have brought the final piece of yourselves back together."
The Last Core inside Kael suddenly screamed.
A crack appeared across its surface.
Kael grabbed his chest.
"What is happening?!"
Eryx looked at him in horror.
"Kael..."
"What?"
Eryx pointed at the Core.
"It's opening."
Kael looked down.
Inside the transparent Core—
Something was moving.
A tiny silhouette.
A third Eryx.
Kael's eyes widened.
The silhouette opened its eyes.
And whispered:
"Brother."
The Core shattered.
TO BE CONTINUED...