The moment Victoria Kane stepped through the dimensional rift, the sound of creation disappeared.
No wind.
No distant stars.
No heartbeat of a living world.
Only silence.
She stood upon an enormous black plain stretching toward a horizon that seemed to have no end. Above her hung a crimson sky filled with motionless clouds, each one glowing faintly from within.
Behind her, the gateway remained open.
Cole Mercer emerged first.
He looked around uneasily.
"I officially hate this place."
Lucas Reed followed.
"You say that about every dangerous place."
"Yes."
Cole glanced at him.
"And I’m usually right."
The others emerged one by one.
Dr. Evelyn Brooks immediately opened Elias Crow’s journal.
The pages remained blank.
She frowned.
"Nothing."
Victoria looked at her.
"Not even a warning?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"It’s as if the journal can’t remember this place."
Nox’Rath stepped forward.
"Because this realm exists outside ordinary memory."
Azrakar entered last.
The ancient guardian’s enormous feet struck the black ground.
For the first time, the silent realm reacted.
Thousands of golden symbols appeared beneath Azrakar.
The ground trembled.
Nox’Rath looked around.
"It recognizes him."
Victoria raised the Dawnblade.
The symbols suddenly formed a vast circular pattern.
At its center appeared seven names.
Evelyn stared at them.
"These are the First Guardians."
Nox’Rath nodded.
"The ones who sealed the First Hunger."
Father Gabriel looked toward the distant horizon.
"Where are they now?"
A deep voice answered.
"Dead."
Everyone froze.
The voice had come from everywhere.
From the ground.
From the sky.
From the silence between their breaths.
Victoria tightened her grip on the Dawnblade.
"Show yourself."
A shadow appeared far ahead.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Ancient statues slowly emerged from the black ground.
Each represented a warrior holding a different weapon.
Some had wings.
Some wore crowns.
Some looked human.
Others were creatures Victoria had never seen.
At the center stood one enormous empty throne.
Above it floated an inscription.
THE SEVEN GUARDIANS GAVE THEIR LIVES.
THE FIRST HUNGER GAVE NOTHING.
Evelyn slowly translated the second line.
"Then how was it imprisoned?"
Nox’Rath answered.
"They didn’t defeat it."
"They convinced it to sleep."
Cole frowned.
"That sounds like a terrible plan."
"It was."
Nox’Rath looked toward the empty throne.
"Because the First Hunger never truly slept."
Suddenly, the entire realm shook.
A crack appeared across the black horizon.
Then another.
Something beneath the world moved.
Azrakar roared.
The ancient guardian positioned itself between Victoria and the cracks.
Victoria’s golden light surged.
"Everyone, stay together."
The ground exploded.
A massive crimson tendril erupted from beneath the plain and slammed against Azrakar.
The guardian caught it between its enormous jaws.
Golden fire erupted across its body.
Another tendril emerged.
Then another.
Soon dozens of them writhed across the horizon.
Lucas raised his radiant bow.
"How many are there?"
Evelyn stared in horror.
"Those aren’t tentacles."
"What are they?"
"Roots."
She pointed toward the horizon.
"They’re growing from something beneath us."
Nox’Rath’s face became pale.
"The First Hunger isn’t trapped inside the realm."
He looked down.
"We are standing on its prison."
The black ground suddenly split apart.
Far below, an enormous crimson eye opened.
Victoria felt the Living Dawn violently recoil.
The eye focused directly upon her.
A voice entered her mind.
Keeper...
Victoria remained standing.
"You wanted me."
The eye widened.
I have waited beyond ages for you.
Victoria raised the Dawnblade.
"Then you’ve waited long enough."
The First Hunger laughed.
The sound caused entire mountains of black stone to collapse in the distance.
You carry the memories of creation.
You carry its hope.
And yet you still believe you can protect it.
Victoria’s golden wings unfolded.
"I don’t have to protect it alone."
Behind her, Cole raised his rifle.
Lucas drew his bow.
Selene and Roland lifted their weapons.
Father Gabriel raised the symbol of the First Dawn.
Dr. Evelyn held the silver journal.
Cassian planted his crimson spear into the ground.
Nox’Rath stepped beside Victoria.
And Azrakar roared beneath the crimson sky.
Victoria looked toward the enormous eye.
"Creation doesn’t belong to you."
The eye narrowed.
Then I will teach you what creation truly is.
Suddenly, the seven ancient statues surrounding the empty throne began to glow.
Their weapons lifted by themselves.
One by one, the statues turned toward Victoria.
Evelyn’s journal finally opened.
For the first time since entering the realm, words appeared.
The Seven Guardians are not dead.
They are waiting for successors.
Victoria stared at the glowing statues.
Seven guardians.
Seven hearts.
Seven choices.
The First Hunger had awakened.
But so had the ancient defenders of creation.
And the greatest trial of the Living Dawn was about to begin.