The Temple of Sundering crumbled behind them as Rayyan, Nael, and the Ash Oath raced toward the distant horizon. The once-solid stone that had held the darkness within now fractured, spewing forth chaos into the world. The mountain shook, groaning in protest as if the earth itself regretted the awakening of the ancient hunger.
Sammael had been cast aside, but his laugh—low and reverberating with satisfaction—echoed in Rayyan's ears.
"You can't outrun this," he had called after them, his voice rippling like poison.
Rayyan didn't look back.
---
The Weeping Fire
By the time they reached the camp, Nael was still unconscious in Rayyan's arms, his body flickering with unstable fire. The wound on his chest had begun to pulse, a strange black light that seemed to echo the broken whispers from the stone.
Rayyan set him down on a bedroll, his hands shaking with the weight of what had just happened.
"We should have destroyed the stone," Barak said, his eyes dark, the shadow of ancient knowledge heavy upon him. "That thing inside Nael, it isn't gone. It's lying in wait."
Rayyan closed his eyes, his breath steadying. "We didn't have a choice."
The fire within Nael wasn't just a weapon—it was a force of nature. It was part of the bloodline of the fallen angels, a piece of Iblis himself. And now that it had been touched by the hunger of Zaqratuun, the true consequences were yet to come.
But it was more than just the fire within Nael—it was the darkness in the world now spreading from the awakening of the Temple of Sundering. It would not be contained.
Rayyan stared into the distance, his mind racing.
---
A Divine Betrayal
That night, Rayyan's dreams were filled with fire. But not the kind of fire he knew—the kind that had burned his past, his home, his loved ones. This fire was colder, crueler.
"You do not see clearly."
The voice was sharp, its power suffocating. Rayyan opened his eyes within the dream, and standing before him was a figure cloaked in light—glorious and terrifying at once.
"Who are you?"
The figure did not answer immediately, its presence shifting, wrapping around Rayyan like a cloak of pain.
"You believed your path was chosen," the figure said, its voice like a thousand voices mixed in one. "But you were not meant to carry this. The fire you seek to control is not yours to wield."
Rayyan's body trembled. "I was chosen for this. I swore to protect Nael—"
"You are deceived," the figure interrupted. "It is I who made this path. You, who carry a fragment of light, know nothing of the darkness you tread. The flame you seek to save... it will consume everything."
Rayyan could feel his breath quicken, fear creeping into his soul. "You are the one who betrayed us."
The figure seemed to smile, a bitter, sorrowful thing. "I did not betray you. I simply showed you the truth."
---
The Gathering Storm
Rayyan awoke with a start, sweat dripping from his brow. He looked over at Nael, whose face was drawn in pain, even in sleep. The fire within him was restless, as if it sensed the truth Rayyan had just glimpsed.
Barak stepped forward, his voice low. "Rayyan, we need to face what comes next. Zaqratuun is awake, and so is the darkness within Nael. He's not the only one affected by this power."
Rayyan nodded slowly, his eyes flickering to the horizon. The war was no longer just about kingdoms or ancient grudges—it was a war against the very forces of creation itself.
"We move at dawn," Rayyan said, voice hardened with resolve. "We end this war once and for all."
---
Sammael's Last Gamble
The night before the final confrontation, Sammael appeared again.
His figure was distorted—twisted in the dark light of the broken temple's awakening. He was no longer the silver-tongued manipulator he had been. His very presence reeked of corruption, the air thick with the scent of decay.
"You still think you can stop this?" Sammael laughed, stepping into the center of their camp. "The power you've unleashed cannot be undone. Zaqratuun's hunger has been set loose. It will spread until everything is consumed."
Rayyan glared at him, his Divine Eye flashing. "You're the one who set this in motion."
Sammael's smile faltered. "No, Rayyan. I didn't set it in motion. You did. Nael is the key. And once he succumbs to the fire within him… there will be no stopping it."
The Ash Oath shifted uneasily, weapons ready. But Rayyan remained calm.
"We'll see about that," he said coldly.
---
To Be Continued…
As the first light of dawn broke across the blood-red horizon, Rayyan knew the final battle was approaching.
The war had begun with the awakening of an ancient hunger—and it would end when that hunger was quenched.
Far above, in the heavens where the flames of eternity burned, a shadow stirred.
Iblis was watching.
---
Arc Conclusion: Chapter 25
The arc will conclude in Chapter 25, where Rayyan, Nael, and the Ash Oath will face the full power of Zaqratuun. Rayyan's destiny will finally be revealed as he confronts the ultimate betrayal, and Nael will have to make a final choice regarding the fire inside him.
This battle will decide the fate of not only the world but also of the very essence of light and darkness itself.