[Location: Black Maw – Core Chamber]
The dungeon had begun to hum.
Not with threat, not with chaos—but with purpose.
Leo stood before his Core, arms folded as the Sub-Core shadow-being floated near his shoulder.
The newly risen Sentinel Golem stood motionless near the wall—its body still radiating the last flickers of forging heat. Six more were under construction. The forge teams—spirit-constructs and Myra-led scouts—worked in silent rhythm.
Everything was progressing.
And yet—
Leo felt it again.
That shift in pressure.
Something was entering the world.
A sibling.
[Location: Sky Above the Dungeon – Hours Earlier]
The sky cracked.
Not with thunder, but light.
A rift tore the clouds like paper, and a golden figure descended with the grace of falling petals.
She wore no armor. No weapon. Just a flowing white robe and a golden ribbon tied around her waist.
But the air bent around her like gravity itself bowed in reverence.
Eyes the color of molten topaz scanned the land.
She smiled.
"He's near."
She turned her head toward the forest surrounding Leo's dungeon.
"Finally, I'll see what kind of man our Fourth-Born became."
In Leo's mind, the System pinged softly.
[Sibling Resonance Detected: 91% Match]
Designation: Second-Born (Name: Seris) – CLASS: Celestial Swordsinger]
Affinity: Light | Music | Divine Echoes
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"The Second."
He remembered her vaguely from the place before time. She had smiled easily. Moved like wind. Spoke with a voice like silver and storm.
Myra looked over his shoulder at the projection.
"Let me guess. This one's also hot, terrifying, and full of cryptic nonsense?"
Leo didn't reply.
He was already walking toward the upper chamber.
[Location: Black Maw – Outer Gate]
When Leo arrived, Seris was already waiting.
She stood on a hill overlooking the dungeon entrance. Flowers bloomed where she walked—unnatural for this region.
Her golden eyes lit up when she saw him.
"Leo."
He said nothing.
She tilted her head.
"Still quiet, hmm?"
Leo finally spoke. "What do you want?"
Seris stepped closer.
"To see you."
"To see what you've built."
"And to ask a question."
She smiled gently, though sadness lingered behind it.
"Do you love her?"
Leo didn't move.
"Elara?"
"Our Mother?"
Seris nodded once.
"I do," Leo said. "Fiercely."
"Not blindly."
Seris exhaled slowly, as though that answer brought her some relief… and some pain.
"Then you're not lost."
"Good."
[Revelations – A Sister's Warning]
Seris lifted her hand, revealing a shimmering strand of divine energy. A melody played faintly, just at the edge of hearing—like a lullaby half-forgotten.
"Three of us have already fallen."
Leo's expression sharpened. "Dead?"
"No," she said. "Worse."
"Twisted."
"Turned into… things."
"Beasts wearing our skins."
She looked away.
"The gods are offering deals."
"Power. Eternity. A throne beside them."
"Some of our siblings accepted."
Leo clenched his fists. "Cowards."
Seris didn't disagree.
"I refused."
"That's why I came. I wanted to know if you still felt. If you'd already lost yourself to the Core."
"You haven't."
Leo's voice was low. "Would it matter if I had?"
Seris smiled faintly.
"Then I'd kill you now."
[Sub-Core's Insight]
The shadow-being rose from Leo's back and hovered near Seris.
It didn't speak—just circled her.
Finally, it returned to Leo's side.
"She's telling the truth," it whispered.
"But she's hiding something."
Leo didn't blink. "They always are."
[Offer and Demand]
Seris stepped forward, her eyes glowing softly.
"Join me."
"Not as soldiers. Not as enemies. But as family."
"There's one more gathering before the lines are drawn."
"A place untouched by time. One week from now."
"I'll send the path through the wind."
She reached out.
Leo hesitated.
But took her hand.
Just for a moment.
"Be careful," she whispered. "You're colder than before."
"If you lose your fire, you'll freeze from the inside out."
Leo pulled back.
"I'm not here to burn."
"I'm here to endure."
Seris laughed gently.
"Still poetic. Still annoying."
Then she turned.
And with a final swirl of golden light—
She vanished.
[Dungeon Control Room]
Back inside the dungeon, Leo stood over the tactical projection table.
"She's not an enemy," he said.
"But she's not fully on our side either."
Myra leaned back on a bone chair.
"So what's the play?"
Leo traced a path on the map.
"We build."
"We prepare."
"And we start training—harder."
He looked up.
"Because whoever falls next… won't be alone when it happens."
[Temple Ruins, Unknown Location]
A body floated in the air—chained in golden vines, its eyes empty, mouth stitched shut.
A divine sigil pulsed over its chest.
A voice echoed in the dark.
"Soon, Fourth-Born."
"We'll see how strong your heart really is."