Kael's vision blurred as the assassin's crimson blade arced toward him, the energy crackling like a violent storm. His body screamed in protest, his legs barely holding him upright. The shard in his hand pulsed, its faint light flaring as he raised it in a desperate attempt to defend himself.
The blade struck the blue barrier the shard had conjured, and the resulting shockwave knocked both combatants backward. Kael hit the ground hard, the wind forced from his lungs as the shard's light flickered and dimmed.
The assassin recovered with unnerving speed, their movements as fluid as water. They stood and advanced without hesitation, the crimson energy of their weapon flaring brighter. Kael forced himself to his knees, clutching the shard with trembling fingers.
"Stand," the voice whispered, steady and calm despite Kael's panic. "Resonance flows within you. Let it guide you."
Kael staggered to his feet, the shard warm in his grasp. He felt something stirring deep within him—a resonance, faint and unrefined, but undeniable. The hum of energy in the air seemed to synchronize with the shard's pulsing glow, creating a rhythm that matched the pounding of his heart.
The assassin lunged again, their movements precise and unrelenting. Kael barely sidestepped the strike, his instincts flaring as the crimson blade sliced through the air where he had stood. He stumbled, but this time he felt the shard's energy responding to his desperation.
With a shout, he thrust the shard forward. A wave of blue energy erupted, forcing the assassin back once more. The burst wasn't as powerful as before, but it gave Kael precious seconds to retreat, putting more distance between them.
The clearing around the obelisk trembled as the clash of energies disrupted its delicate balance. The glowing lines etched into the ground pulsed erratically, the symbols flickering as though struggling to maintain their light.
Kael's back hit a jagged rock, and he pressed against it for support. His breathing was ragged, and his body ached with exhaustion. The shard's glow had dimmed, but the faint hum within him persisted, urging him to keep fighting.
The assassin paused, their head tilting slightly as though evaluating Kael. They raised their blade, its energy coalescing into a sharper, more focused edge. The air grew heavy with tension.
Kael swallowed hard, his mind racing. He couldn't keep relying on the shard to save him—its power was unstable, and each burst left him weaker. He needed a plan, but the assassin wasn't giving him time to think.
The voice returned, clearer this time.
"Resonance is not just power. It is rhythm, flow, intent. You cannot wield it without purpose."
Kael gritted his teeth. "What purpose? Survival?"
The whisper grew sharper, almost commanding. "Then survive. Match the rhythm. Control it."
As the assassin closed in, Kael felt the shard's energy stir again. This time, he didn't try to force it. He focused on the hum within himself, allowing it to sync with the shard's rhythm. Slowly, he raised the shard, the faint glow intensifying as the resonance between them grew stronger.
The assassin struck, their crimson blade aimed directly at Kael's heart. But this time, Kael moved with intent. He sidestepped the blow, the shard flaring with energy as he swung it upward. A streak of blue light erupted from the shard, clashing with the assassin's blade and sending sparks flying.
The assassin staggered, their balance faltering for the first time. Kael seized the moment, stepping forward and unleashing another burst of energy. The wave struck the assassin squarely, throwing them back several feet.
Kael stood over the fallen assassin, his chest heaving. The shard's glow had dimmed again, but its energy no longer felt unstable. It was as though he had tapped into a deeper part of himself, a connection he hadn't realized he possessed.
The assassin stirred, their hand reaching for their blade. Kael tensed, raising the shard once more.
"Stay down," he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his legs.
The assassin paused, their mask tilting upward as though studying him. For a moment, neither moved, the air between them thick with tension. Then, without warning, the assassin's blade deactivated, and they stepped back.
Kael frowned, unsure of what had just happened. The assassin's head tilted slightly, almost as if nodding, before they turned and vanished into the shadows at the edge of the clearing.
Kael's legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees, the shard slipping from his grasp. The faint hum of energy around him faded, leaving only silence.
Kael stared at the shard where it lay on the ground, its light now dim and unassuming. His mind raced with questions. Why had the assassin retreated? What had changed in that moment? And what did the voice mean by "resonance"?
His body trembled as the adrenaline began to wear off. Exhaustion pulled at him, but he couldn't rest yet. The obelisk still loomed above him, its surface pulsing faintly as though reacting to the shard.
Kael reached out, his fingers brushing against the shard's smooth surface. As he picked it up, the whisper returned, softer now but still present.
"This is only the beginning."
Kael exhaled, his breath shaky but determined. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing for certain: the shard, the resonance, and the voice guiding him were the keys to surviving this fractured world.