The heart of Delta-Seven throbbed in the still air, a pulse of ancient energy. Kael stood before the crystalline Heart of Dawn, still trembling from the fight. The Echo's collapse had left him with a sense of emptiness, but the Vaultkeeper's final words rang in his mind.
You are the flame.
The words echoed through his consciousness, a reminder of the truth he had yet to grasp fully. The Heart of Dawn was no ordinary artifact. It was a key, a power source, and a library of forgotten memories all at once. But its purpose had eluded Kael until now.
He placed his hand against the cold surface of the crystal again, feeling the surge of warmth from within. The light inside the Heart seemed to react to his touch, swirling and changing as if it recognized him.
Suddenly, the stillness of the vault shattered as a blast of energy ripped through the chamber, knocking Kael to the ground. A deep, mechanical growl echoed from the entrance, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps.
The door of the vault burst open. Standing in the doorway, silhouetted by the pale light, was the figure of Sol, his eyes glowing with an intensity that Kael had never seen before. In his hand, a black blade crackled with energy.
"Sol…" Kael muttered, slowly standing up.
"You're awakening faster than I expected," Sol said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you're not ready for this. You don't even understand what you're truly capable of."
Before Kael could respond, Sol lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. Kael barely managed to dodge, but the sheer force of the attack pushed him back, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"You're making a mistake," Kael gritted, struggling to his feet. "The Architect isn't what you think he is. He's not a god. He's a virus."
Sol's expression faltered for a brief moment, but then his eyes narrowed. "And you think you're the answer? You think you can fix what's broken?"
Kael's hand flared with golden light. The Core pulsed, and he felt power surge through him. The Heart of Dawn responded, its light growing brighter as if it were waiting for him to act.
"I'm not fixing it," Kael said, his voice calm but resolute. "I'm ending it."