Oath of the Ashes

The Concept Furnace had never blazed so fiercely.

Six thousand two hundred and seventeen streams of light slowly revolved beneath the dome, like a galaxy taking shape.

Lin Ye stood at the heart of the furnace, the Civilization River Cloak behind him as vast as a sea of stars. Six thousand two hundred and seventeen points of light flickered quietly, casting his figure like a being who had stepped out of myth.

Radiant Stilllight stepped forward, leaning on the [Spear of Definition].

More than seven hundred new Runes had been inscribed upon that spear—each one a mark left behind by a civilization that had been saved.

"Tuner." He dropped to one knee. "All combat units of the New Era Network have assembled and await your orders."

"How many?"

"Twelve hundred elites. All are willing to burn their origins to light the path for those who come after—death warriors."

"Death warriors?"

Lin Ye turned, his gaze sweeping over the twelve hundred solemn figures.

With a raised hand, six silver-white streams of light split from the cloak behind him and entered six warriors.

The six men groaned in unison, then their eyes cleared—within their consciousness now lay the histories, joys, sorrows, and obsessions of six civilizations.

"What I want are people who survive."

"Survive, and remember them. Survive, and make more people remember them."

All twelve hundred warriors dropped to one knee at once.

There were no shouts, no vows.

Only a silence so heavy that time and space seemed to freeze.

It was the silence of those who had been entrusted with something.

Lin Ye nodded. "Very good."

He turned toward the world beyond the dome, toward the distant, cold Radiance that belonged to the Archivist Network.

"Seven days ago, we rescued six thousand two hundred and seventeen forgotten civilizations from