Dunehelm Bellangere and Lady Tierna finally free him after a long battle and while doing so also quell the rebellion. Alric, convinced that Lord Keran is a betrayer, questions him in the great hall of the Council of Mages. Keran, seeing no way out of the situation, transforms into his horrifying Voidwalker form and quickly teleports away from the place. He returns to the Underworld, only to find that the Ageless Ones are greatly disappointed by his failures, claiming that all the long years of careful planning and scheming were just a waste of time. The Ageless Ones order him to reunite the Fallen Swarms. Eagerly awaiting for a chance to show that he can still be of use, he takes the mission and successfully reestablishes control over the Hive Queens. Reaffirmed in Keran's abilities, he's ordered by the Ageless Ones to open the First Seal of Ruannon, which seals away the power of the Heart of the Void. He successfully gets to the Ice Cavern in Teonia, eliminating most of the Teonian Knights during his march. Within the depths of the Ice Cavern he breaks the First Seal. He's granted a boon for his success, the Dark Dreamer, Overlord of his Homeworld decides to transform him into an Avatar of his will. In the meantime, Alric meets the Order of Ruannon, who claim to have a dark lore, to face the threat posed by Keran. Alric gains the aid of the Order of Ruannon, and two Disciples of Ruannon erect two Firewall which destroy any Fallen that pass through it, cornering the Fallen in the Ice Cave. During his transformation, Keran's forces defend him and he finishes his metamorphosis just in time. With his newfound power, he easily repels the Empire's attacks, and by passing through the Firewall, he proves that he has become immune to Ruannon's lore. He proceeds and kills the two Disciples, destroys the Firewalls and his army destroys all opposition. He returns to the Underworld, but everything is changed, the Dark Dreamer's boon amuses the Ageless Ones and he takes firm leadership of the Fallen Swarm. While Vangarath is breaking the Second Seal, he heads directly to the Field of Sorrows, where the Beast and Empire armies are battling each other. By summoning forth the Beholder from the Dimensional Gates he easily annihilates them both and then Domina and two of her Matriarchs destroy the