Kael's eyes locked onto Rocky's hulking figure, his mind sharpening into focus as the tension between them built. A sparring match wasn't something Kael would typically shy away from—especially not against someone like Rocky, whom Kael assumed, could have some reputation for overpowering opponents.
Rocky, with his stocky frame and the massive claymore resting casually on his shoulder, looked like a fortress in human form, impenetrable and unwavering.
Kael, on the other hand, stood tall but lean, a sharp contrast to his opponent's sheer size. His twin void daggers glimmered faintly at his sides, humming with dark energy. He was no stranger to overwhelming odds; it's how he lived, how he fought.
If anything, the disparity in their sizes was a reminder of how much he had grown since awakening his Rebirth Core. It was moments like these that Kael thrived on—moments where raw power met strategy and finesse.
Rocky's grin widened, his grip tightening around his claymore. "Hope you can keep up, kid," he taunted, his voice booming.
Kael didn't respond. He never did when the fight was about to begin. He simply activated his Status Multiplier. A surge of energy coursed through his body, instantly amplifying his stats. He felt faster, stronger—his mind clearer. The Void Daggers pulsed with anticipation. This was where he felt most alive.
In an instant, Kael vanished.
Void Step.
To an untrained eye, he simply disappeared, but Rocky wasn't untrained. Kael appeared directly behind him, daggers already slashing forward in a precise Echoing Strike, aimed at the vulnerable gap in Rocky's armor. The strike would've landed—should've landed—if it weren't for Rocky's unnerving reflexes. Without turning, Rocky shifted his massive claymore in a single fluid motion, blocking the strike effortlessly with one hand.
Kael's eyes widened slightly. He anticipated me?
Before Kael could react, Rocky vanished, reappearing at Kael's flank. The shift in Rocky's movements was astonishing—despite his size, he moved like a shadow, a phantom with deadly precision.
The claymore came crashing down, aiming to cleave Kael in two. But instead of meeting flesh, the blade sliced through a shadowy decoy.
Kael smirked, having activated Shadow Dash just in time. He reappeared a few feet away, but Rocky was already there, his claymore raised high for another strike. How was he predicting Kael's every move?
Kael's mind raced. He's not just brute force—he's reading me.
Just as the next blow was about to land, a booming voice echoed across the sparring ground.
"That's enough, Rocky!"
The voice was authoritative, commanding enough to freeze both combatants in place. Kael spun to see a tall figure striding toward them, dressed in leather armor with a cowboy hat tipped low over his eyes.
The man's presence immediately shifted the atmosphere—casual, yet intimidating in the way only someone supremely confident could be.
"You can't spar with every new Reborn that enters the base!" the man chided, his voice a strange mix of exasperation and amusement.
Rocky let out a groan of frustration, lowering his weapon reluctantly. "But Ben—"
"No buts, Rocky," the man interrupted. "You've already proven you're the base's sparring freak. No need to reinforce it."
The cowboy—Ben, apparently—grinned wide as he approached Kael. "Sorry about that, kid. Rocky here doesn't know how to go easy on anyone. You handled yourself pretty well though." He tipped his hat slightly, a gesture that Kael found oddly familiar, like something out of one of those old westerns back on Earth.
Kael shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow. "No harm done. Actually, I was enjoying myself."
Ben let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah, I get it. But trust me, it only gets worse the longer you know him."
Rocky sheathed his claymore with a huff, clearly not done but unwilling to go against Ben's word. "Next time, Kael," he muttered before turning and stomping off.
As Rocky disappeared into the crowd, Ben's demeanor shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "So, you're the one everyone's been talking about—Kael, right?"
Kael nodded. "That's me." He gestured to Varin, who had been watching from the sidelines. "We're here to meet with the Eternal of Creation and Rebirth. Heard you could help with that?"
Ben's grin widened. "Ah, so that's the reason for the visit. Yeah, we can arrange a meeting with her—Muriath's her name. But," he added with a playful wink, "you'll need an appointment first."
Kael blinked, caught off guard by the casualness of it. "An appointment?"
Ben laughed again, clearly enjoying the moment. "Yep, that's right. Can't just waltz in and demand to see an Eternal, you know. You gotta pray for it."
"Pray?" Varin echoed, just as confused as Kael.
Ben nodded, gesturing toward a temple in the distance. "Not the kind of prayer you're thinking of. You channel your energy—your void energy specifically—into the bonfire at the temple. If you're lucky, a meeting orb will appear. That's your ticket to Muriath."
Kael exchanged a glance with Varin. "Sounds... simple enough."
Ben gave them a thumbs-up. "It's straightforward, but not easy. Muriath doesn't just appear for anyone. You'll need to pour a lot of power into that bonfire, enough to catch her attention. Good luck."
Inside the temple, the air was thick with ancient power. Varin stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "I'll do it," he said quietly. "It's my Rebirth Core that needs fixing. I'll be the one to make the request."
Kael hesitated. "You sure? You've been pushing yourself a lot lately—"
Varin cut him off. "If I can't summon enough energy to meet her, then I don't deserve to ask for her help." His tone left no room for argument.
Kael nodded reluctantly and stepped back as Varin knelt before the bonfire. The flames flickered, waiting.
Varin closed his eyes and began channeling his energy, his aura flaring brightly around him. Minutes passed in silence, beads of sweat forming on Varin's forehead. Kael watched, tension building in his chest.
Then, just as the flames began to die down, a soft glow appeared in the air—a sphere of light hovering above the fire.
The meeting orb.
Varin reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as he grasped the orb. Relief washed over his face as he stood. "We did it," he breathed. "Let's go meet Muriath."
Kael nodded, feeling a surge of hope for his mentor.
Varin activated the orb, and within moments, they were engulfed in light, transported to a different plane. When the light faded, they found themselves standing in a desolate clearing. The ground beneath them was charred, the air thick with ash. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant Eternal Cities they had visited before.
A figure materialized in front of them—a woman, her hair ablaze with flames, her skin a golden hue. Her eyes burned with a blue fire that seemed to see right through them.
Muriath, the Eternal of Creation and Rebirth.
"You've come," she said, her voice low and resonant. Her gaze shifted to Varin. "The one with the damaged core."
Varin stepped forward. "Can you help me? Even if it's not fully restored, anything you can do..."
Muriath studied him for a long moment before nodding. "I can repair your core. But you must give me the materials you've gathered."
Without hesitation, Varin handed over the items he had painstakingly collected.
Muriath took them, her hands glowing as she began to channel her power. "Close your eyes and focus your energy into your core," she instructed. "Do not stop, no matter what happens."
Varin did as he was told, his face contorted in concentration. Muriath's flames enveloped the items, and then, with a sudden burst of energy, she forced them into Varin's Rebirth Core.
Varin's body convulsed, his expression twisting in pain. His energy flared dangerously, his skin paling as if the life was draining out of him.
Kael's heart raced. "Is he—?"
"He will survive," Muriath said calmly, but her tone did little to reassure Kael.
A crack echoed through the air, followed by a soft thud. Varin collapsed.
Kael's eyes widened in horror. Varin wasn't breathing.
"No!" Kael rushed to his mentor's side, panic gripping him. "What have you done?" His voice was raw with anger as he glared at Muriath.
The Eternal remained expressionless, her gaze unreadable. "This is necessary."
But Kael didn't care. His mentor was dead. Rage and despair clawed at his insides.
"Why did you kill him?!"