Kael woke with a start, gasping for air. His fingers trembled as they clutched the shard of obsidian. The faint glow that had emanated from it was gone, leaving behind a sinister stillness. The voice that had pierced his mind lingered in the edges of his consciousness—a whisper promising ruin.
His head throbbed, and his surroundings came into sharp focus. The same damp cell, the same oppressive air, but something felt different. His senses were sharper—he could hear the faint drip of water from across the corridor and smell the faint metallic tang of blood in the air.
"What... was that?" he muttered to himself, staring at the shard in his palm.
"You will learn," the voice hissed again, softer this time, sending a chill down his spine.
Kael's mind reeled as fragmented images flooded his vision—worlds consumed by fire, armies torn apart by monstrous forces, and a throne of obsidian wreathed in shadow.
The shard in his hand pulsed faintly, and the voice returned, deep and commanding.
"You have been chosen, mortal."
"Chosen?" Kael whispered.
"The Void Chain has claimed you. You seek vengeance, do you not? Power to crush those who wronged you?"
Kael hesitated, his heart pounding. The thought of Adrian's smug face, of his father's cold disdain, burned in his mind. But at what cost?
"I didn't ask for this," he said through gritted teeth.
"You didn't need to. Your rage called out to me." The voice grew fainter, more distant. "Survive. Prove your worth, and the Chain will reward you."
Before Kael could respond, a sharp noise interrupted his thoughts—the cell door creaking open.
Two guards stepped in, their expressions grim.
"It's time, Drayce," one of them growled, hauling Kael to his feet.
"Time for what?" he asked, his voice laced with defiance.
The guard smirked. "Your trial by combat. The arena awaits."
The sound of metal grinding against stone echoed through the dim corridors as Kael was dragged to the arena. The guards' grip on his arms was ironclad, their expressions cold. They didn't speak, but Kael could feel their disdain—a reminder that to them, he was already dead.
His mind churned. The cursed shard in his pocket felt like a molten weight, its presence both a lifeline and a noose. The voice—the one that called itself the Void—had gone silent, leaving him with the dreadful memory of its promise: Power, or death.
The tunnel opened into blinding light, and Kael stumbled forward, his eyes adjusting to the vast expanse of the arena. The roar of the crowd hit him like a physical force, a cacophony of bloodlust and cruel amusement.
Above, nobles watched from gilded balconies, their faces hidden behind ornate masks. Among them, Kael spotted Adrian lounging with a goblet of wine, his smug grin sending a fresh wave of fury through Kael's veins.
"Welcome, citizens of Tenebralis!" the herald's voice boomed, silencing the crowd. "Today, we witness justice delivered! Kael Drayce, accused of treason and murder, shall face his fate in the Trial of Chains!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable.
"Release the beast!"
Kael's heart skipped as a massive iron gate across the pit groaned open. From the shadows emerged the Ironback Warg, its hulking form bristling with menace. The beast's fur was coarse and matted, its spiked iron-like plates glinting in the light. Chains wrapped around its neck glowed with fiery runes, a clear sign it was bound by a Beast Chain.
The Warg snarled, its yellow eyes locking onto Kael with predatory intent.
I'm supposed to fight that?
A guard threw a rusted short sword at Kael's feet. "You'll need it," he sneered.
The crowd's cheers grew deafening as the Warg lunged forward, its roar shaking the arena walls. Kael barely managed to roll to the side, the beast's claws carving deep furrows into the ground where he'd stood.
Adrenaline surged through him as he scrambled to his feet, gripping the sword tightly. His mind raced. The Warg was massive, far stronger and faster than anything he'd ever faced. Even with a proper weapon, he wouldn't stand a chance.
"Call upon me," the voice whispered suddenly, sending a shiver down Kael's spine.
"No," Kael hissed through clenched teeth. He didn't trust the Void, didn't know what it wanted—or what it would demand in return.
The Warg charged again, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Kael twisted away, slashing at its side. The blade bounced off its iron-like plates with a dull clang, leaving only a shallow scratch.
The crowd laughed, mocking his feeble attempts.
Think, Kael. Think! He scanned the arena, searching for anything he could use. The walls were smooth stone, offering no escape. The ground was littered with debris from past battles—broken weapons, shattered shields—but nothing substantial.
The Warg struck again, its massive paw sending Kael sprawling. Pain exploded in his ribs as he hit the ground hard, the taste of blood filling his mouth.
The crowd roared with approval.
"You will die without me," the voice growled, louder now.
Kael coughed, pushing himself up. The Warg stalked closer, its glowing chains rattling with every step. He could see the hunger in its eyes, the anticipation of the kill.
He had no choice.
Reaching into his pocket, Kael gripped the shard. The moment his fingers touched its jagged surface, a surge of power shot through him, cold and searing all at once.
The voice boomed in his mind, no longer a whisper but a commanding roar. "Unleash the Void."
Kael's vision darkened, the edges of the world blurring. Shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground around him, writhing and twisting like living things. The crowd fell silent, their jeers replaced by murmurs of shock.
The Warg hesitated, its instincts warning it of the unnatural energy radiating from Kael.
Kael rose to his feet, his eyes glowing faintly with an eerie light. The shadows moved at his command, coiling around his arms like serpents.
The Warg snarled and charged, its massive form barreling toward him.
Kael thrust his hand forward, and the shadows surged. Tendrils wrapped around the Warg's limbs, halting its momentum with an audible crack. The beast howled in pain, struggling against the dark chains that bound it.
Kael didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils yanked the Warg off its feet, slamming it into the ground with bone-crushing force.
The crowd gasped.
But the beast wasn't finished. It roared, snapping the shadowy chains with brute strength. Kael staggered, the backlash sending a jolt of pain through his body.
The Warg lunged, faster than before. Kael barely managed to conjure another tendril, deflecting the beast's claws. The force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his knees buckling.
"You hesitate. Do you wish to die?" the Void growled.
Kael gritted his teeth. The shadows responded to his will, but they demanded focus—a clarity that was slipping away with every moment.
The Warg leaped again, and this time Kael let go of his restraint. The shadows surged, forming a massive spear that pierced the beast mid-air.
The Warg let out a final, pitiful howl before collapsing, blood pooling beneath its broken body.
Kael stood over it, chest heaving, the shadows slowly retreating into the ground. The shard in his pocket pulsed faintly, as if satisfied.
The arena was silent. Then, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers and frantic whispers.
The Aftermath
Kael fell to his knees, his strength drained. The guards approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of fear and awe.
Above, Adrian's smug grin was gone, replaced by a look of stunned disbelief.
"Impossible," Kael heard someone mutter.
The herald stepped forward, his voice unsteady. "Kael Drayce... has survived the Trial of Chains!"
The crowd roared again, but Kael barely heard them. His gaze shifted to the nobles' balcony, locking onto Adrian.
For the first time in his life, Kael saw fear in his brother's eyes.
Good, Kael thought grimly. You should be afraid.
The Void's voice echoed softly in his mind. "This is only the beginning, mortal. Your chains will drag the world to its knees."
Kael didn't know what it meant, but one thing was clear: his fight was far from over.