Far away, in the Citadel of the World Council, panic reigned.
> "He's raising an army."
"He's rewriting the rules of magic."
"He's not even using his full strength."
In desperation, they turned to the forbidden chamber beneath the council seat.
There lay the corpse of a god—sealed in obsidian, with twenty divine blades stabbed into its heart.
The god's name had been erased from all records. It was once called Vareth, the Warden of Law.
> "Resurrect it," said the High Priestess.
"Let it destroy Kaelith… again."
"But last time—" a scholar began.
"Do it."
---
Deep beneath the council city, mages began to chant. Sacrifices burned. Blood flowed in rivers.
The god's chest rose.
Then—its eyes opened.
---
Back in Velmora, Ash fell to his knees.
A pressure hit his soul.
A memory clawed into his mind.
> Screaming.
Fire.
The taste of blood and gods.
And the sound of chains snapping.
He looked to the horizon.
> "They brought it back."
Lyssara stepped beside him. "What is it?"
Ash stood, eyes glowing lik
e twin eclipses.
> "The only thing I've ever feared."