Energy roared through Ren in a storm, wild and uncontainable. The Resonance sharpened, his mind ready to snap any instant now. He had only a few seconds to move, or be overwhelmed by the hooded figures forging in, blade edges flashing in the hall dimness.
But the power of the Beacon was too much; he could feel its writhing against him, promising strength and control. His instincts screamed at him to take it-to let the dark side consume him. Still, in the back of his mind, he could hear Kael's voice: "Control it, or it will control you.".
Ren gritted his teeth; he had to do that.
The first hooded figure launched himself at him, digging his knife right towards Ren's throat. At that moment, his body turned nippy, more than he thought it could. In an instant, his hand shot upward and caught the attacker's wrist in mid-air. Through his arm, the power of the Resonance coursed with mighty force, twisting and taking away the knife from the man in just one motion to let it clatter to the ground noisily.
The second was right behind it. Ren launched into a quick sideto-side motion, dodging the side slash. Time froze for him; all action became sharp, well-defined, as though he were looking from the eyes of something far stronger than human.
But whispers-more, take more, you're so much stronger-were getting loud, pleading for more with every second.
Ren strained to keep his attention straight ahead, but the third man, who had spoken earlier, hung back, eyes riveted on him closely. His hood was way down over his face, yet Ren could sense his stare-a cold, calculated feeling.
But instinct overrode that when the second attacker came into his range again. He sidestepped him neatly and struck back, the strength not all his own planting the man into the wall. The Resonance was surging through him, until, in horror, he suddenly realized he could feel the attackers' fear.
But such things did not frighten them.
He stepped forward, his movements disinclined and painstakingly slow. "Impressive," he said in a voice barely above a whisper. "You've harnessed the power of the Beacon already, but for how long before it will consume you?
Ren said nothing. He would have to concentrate. The Resonance resisted, fought to get him to give in to its urgings and push harder. He could feel the tendrils crawling over his brain, shifting his perception. He couldn't give in- yet.
He pulled out a long, flowing sword that shimmered like it was emitting some sort of soft, ghostly glow. "The Beacon marks you, Ren Valt," he said respectfully. "But you don't know what you're facing.
He attacked without warning.
It gave Ren little time to react. He was a quick man who swung his sword against Ren just as fast. Ren did manage to block the first with his knife, but that power in the strike ran through his arm. The leader did not stop there but continued with each hit, quicker and more on target than the one before. Ren thought this man was different, knew his way around-experienced and dangerous.
As the blades finally came together, Ren felt the energy inside him surge, begging for release. Voices urged him on, promising victory if he'd let go. Ren knew the price, though-all his-and he might not find his way back if ever he truly let go.
"Fight or fall." His head no longer seemed the Beacon talking to him but something deeper, darker: it was the Abyss looking.
He smiled, his tone low, his body forcing Ren further back with each step. "You're fighting it, aren't you? The power inside you. You can't resist it forever.".
Ren was puffing; his muscles strained with every block and strike, back foot. The Resonance pressed harder, wanting to be let loose. He could feel it-if he would just give way he could have this over and done with right now.
Yet I heard Kael's words in my head: "If you lose control, the Abyss will take you."
The leader sprang forward in a deadly strike; this time, Ren didn't block. He sidestepped him, and with the resonance, much faster than he had ever managed. His head was clear for a moment, and in that small fraction of a second, something clicked into place-an understanding, a balance between the power and his will.
The shock of it all, the only thing which had really taken the leader by surprise, was when Ren reached out quickly, latching onto his wrist and twisting. The blade fell to the ground, as Ren moved with fluidity behind him, knife pressed against the man's throat.
"Enough," Ren snarled, his voice little more than a whisper. "I am not your enemy."
The leader was shocked; the smirk never left his face. "You think you have won? You have no idea what you've unleashed."
Before Ren could answer, the head leaned forward and whispered a word, low and coarse, which filed the air with its magic. The earth rumbled at their feet, the air thick with dark, choking fumes. As his grasp on it loosened, the Resonance suddenly surged through him in violence, screaming whispers, and a world indistinct with shadows and mist. The leader vanished beyond his grasp, melting into the dark. Ren took a stumbling step backward, eyes blurring. With every beat continuing from the Resonance, the corridor would contort and bend, lengthening, as if tugging him further. He knew it-the power was slipping through his fingers. "No. focus. focus! But it was too late. In broke the darkness, smiting him.