The vision had faded
"The Pantheon wasn't the first."
Her mind reeled. The Great Pantheon—the untouchable rulers of existence—had taken power from something older. And erased it from history.
Celeste turned to the figure. "You showed me. But why?"
The void flickered. "Because you are the only one who can break the cycle."
"Cycle?"
The figure lifted a hand, and for the first time, Celeste felt something
BOOM.
A shockwave rippled through the abyss.
Something was waking up.
"You are not the only one seeking the truth, Celeste."
The voice was no longer alone. The abyss itself began to shout, countless voices layering on top of each other.
Celeste gritted her teeth. Aether surged through her veins, instinct telling her to be ready.
A presence loomed in the void.
And then—
A massive, chained gate materialized before her.
The sigils on it burned with divine energy, the kind she had only felt in the presence of the gods.
Celeste's heart pounded.
"Beyond this gate lies the answer. But once you open it… the Pantheon will know."
Celeste exhaled slowly. There was no turning back.
She raised her hand—Aether coiling around her palm—ready to break the first chain.
And then—
A hand shot out of the darkness, grasping her wrist.