Yet Aradon felt empty.

He had no heir, no successor. His closest allies aged and died, yet he remained.

Had the dark magic that bound him stolen his humanity?

One last time, he entered the Forbidden Forest.

Deep in its heart, he descended into the cavern where it all began. The creatures gathered before him, waiting.

And he spoke his final command:

"Sleep."

The creatures vanished into the shadows, sinking into the earth, waiting for the day his bloodline would call them again.

And then—Aradon was gone.