Kalthok leaned back on his throne, his expression heavy with memories.
"And then... it happened."
"One day, a meteor struck Earth."
"And from that impact — a rift was torn open between Earth and the Abyss. A portal that connected both worlds."
His eyes darkened as he spoke.
"For a brief moment… I saw a light."
"A hope that maybe, just maybe — I could return home."
"But then I realized…"
"I was no longer the man I used to be. I wasn't human anymore."
"I had become something else. Something the world would fear."
"So I made a choice."
"I would not return."
---
Kalthok stood now, his massive form towering.
"I also learned something… that time in the Abyss flowed differently. Where 300 years passed here, only 30 years had passed on Earth."
"And then… they came."
"Humans began to enter the Abyss. But these weren't ordinary humans. They were powerful — warriors with skills I had never seen before. Swordmasters. Archers. Magicians. Healers. Fighters."
"They began hunting my people… slaying monsters and dragging their bodies back to Earth for experimentation."
His fists clenched.
"My people — the ones who called me King — begged me to act."
"And so I did."
---
"That's when I met him…"
"Their leader. The strongest among them. A human who dared to challenge me."
"He didn't know who I was. He didn't know he was challenging Kalthok the Destroyer — the one who defeated every monster in the Abyss, who even crushed the seven Originals."
"The battle was one-sided. I destroyed him. He never stood a chance."
Kalthok's voice lowered.
"But when I stood over him… ready to deliver the final blow…"
His voice cracked for the first time — not out of weakness, but pain.
"I realized… he was my son."
Zack's eyes widened in shock.
"He was… thirty years old by then. Grown into a warrior. My child… the same one I left behind when I was human."
"I let him go. Because what kind of father kills his own son?"
---
Kalthok looked away, grief in his voice.
"My people were furious. They believed I had betrayed them. But I was still their king — they had no choice but to obey."
"But my son… he returned."
"This time, he brought with him seven of Earth's strongest warriors — each one stronger than anything the Abyss had ever faced. Together, they ravaged my lands. My people were slaughtered. Driven from their homes."
"The Originals — the very monsters who once respected me — blamed me. They believed my weakness caused all of it."
"And in the end… they overthrew me."
"They sealed me away in this forgotten place."
Kalthok's voice deepened, laced with bitterness.
"It was one of the Originals who led the revolt against me. He turned the others against me… spreading lies, manipulating their fear. He betrayed me. And in the chaos, he claimed the throne for himself."
Zack listened, stunned, as Kalthok's rage simmered just beneath the surface.
"Then… a hundred years passed on Earth. And here in the Abyss — two hundred."
"Those seven strongest Awakeners... they started ruling the world. They weren't heroes anymore. They became gods among men."
"That's why Earth is divided into just seven countries today. Each ruled in secret by one of their bloodlines."
"The governments? Mere puppets. Shadows dancing to their will."
---
Kalthok stepped closer, eyes glowing faintly.
"And in the future — the time you came from — the Originals had grown even more powerful."
"They were waiting… ready to strike humanity without warning."
Zack's eyes widened.
"Albus… he was one of them?"
Kalthok nodded slowly.
"Yes. Albus — the one who killed you — had made a pact with an Original."
"That monster promised him immortality… if he sacrificed ten innocent souls."
"But it was all a lie."
"The Original's real plan was to use Albus to spark chaos among humans. Make it look like a rogue Awakener went insane, when in truth — it was a war maneuver."
"A ploy to weaken Earth's defenses."
"And that's why… I had to bring you back."
---
Zack stood frozen, a storm of thoughts in his mind.
"Wait… you brought me back to the past?"
"You can manipulate time?"
Kalthok raised an eyebrow.
"In a sense. But only once. And I used that one chance… to bring you here."
"You were the one I was searching for — a soul strong enough to carry this burden. One with the potential to change everything."
"When I found your soul wandering… I knew."
---
Zack's voice trembled.
"But… why me?"
Kalthok's eyes softened.
"Because it wasn't random. There's something you don't know yet."
"Your father… he's missing, isn't he?"
Zack's heart skipped a beat.
"How do you know that…?"
Kalthok looked away for a moment before replying.
"Because he uncovered the truth."
"He found out that the seven strongest Awakeners were secretly ruling the world."
"He traced their history — and in doing so, he found mine. He discovered… the truth of who I was."
Kalthok stepped forward.
"He found out that he… and you… are descendants of me."
Zack felt the ground shift beneath him.
"What…?"
"Yes, Zack. Your real name is Albert O'Leo."
"Your father is Harper O'Leo — the last of the O'Leo bloodline before you."
"And I… my human name was Kevin O'Leo."
"And the first human to awaken."
"The very first — Nova O'Leo."
Who was also my son .
---
Zack stood silent, heart pounding, breath shallow.
"I'm… your descendant?"
Kalthok smiled faintly.
"You are my final legacy."
"The only one who can stop what's coming."
To be continue...