THE NAME FIRST LIGHT

The corridor to the Throne attacked memory before body.

Ren'ō walked through versions of himself created from regret. One had died beside Laana. One had surrendered the Remnant. One had accepted the War God's offer and become a destroyer draped in gold. Each stepped from the dark and demanded to be recognized as the better choice.

Izanara's staff cut blue paths through the illusions.

"Do not answer them," she warned.

"I spent five thousand years arguing with imaginary people. I have experience."

A version of Laana appeared ahead.

She wore no blood. Her laboratory coat was clean. She held a bowl of noodles and smiled.

Ren'ō stopped.

The illusion did not accuse him.

That made it worse.

"You can stay," she said. "No war. No Void. No one needs you to save them."

Izanara raised her staff.

Ren'ō held up one hand.

He approached Laana.

For a heartbeat, he allowed himself to look. The exact tilt of her head. The loose strand of hair. The small scar near her thumb from the first containment failure.

The corridor had stolen the details from him.

"You are not her," he said.

"I can be."

"That is how I know."

The illusion frowned.

"Laana never offered comfort without making it sound like an insult."

Ren'ō touched two fingers to her forehead.

Golden light passed through the image.

It dissolved.

He stood in the empty corridor, shaking.

Izanara lowered her staff. "I am sorry."

"Do not be."

"You do not have to pretend it did not hurt."

"I am not pretending. I am walking."

He continued.

At the corridor's end, armies waited: divine soldiers, red-eyed judges, beasts made from extinct constellations. Enough force to bury suns.

Ren'ō stepped ahead of Izanara.

The soldiers aimed their weapons.

Across the connected worlds, people watched through the celestial network.

Ren'ō removed his cloak and let it fall.

Golden lines burned across his black armor. The circular symbol over his chest opened like a sunrise.

He did not announce a title.

He did not threaten.

He walked forward.

The first volley struck him and became light.

Then the First Light reached the Throne.