Kael moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the citadel, his senses on high alert. Adrian's elite guards wouldn't give up easily, and Kael knew their tactics—ruthless, methodical, efficient.
His breath came in shallow gasps, his muscles screaming from the effort of dodging, countering, and running. Yet, somewhere deep inside, he felt sharper, faster. His trials with the Void were doing more than honing his mind—they were reshaping his body, pushing him beyond mortal limits.
But limits existed for a reason, and Kael was nearing his breaking point.
He turned a corner, only to find himself face-to-face with a trio of guards blocking the path. Their weapons gleamed with Void-suppressing runes, and their eyes were cold, unyielding.
"Kael Drayce," the leader sneered. "End of the line."
Kael forced a smirk, masking the exhaustion coursing through him. "Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you."
Without waiting for a response, Kael unleashed the Void Chains. They erupted from his arms, dark and sinuous, striking like serpents. The guards raised their rune-blades, deflecting the chains with sparks of light.
They've trained for this, Kael realized. I can't overpower them head-on.
He shifted his strategy, using the chains to manipulate his environment. He yanked a rusted sconce from the wall, sending it hurtling toward the guards. They scattered, and Kael seized the opening.
He sprinted forward, vaulting over one guard while wrapping another in the chains. The Void hissed as it fed on the man's fear, momentarily stunning him.
But the leader was faster. He swung his rune-blade in a wide arc, and Kael barely ducked in time. The blade nicked his shoulder, sending a searing pain down his arm.
Kael gritted his teeth. Pain was a distraction, and he couldn't afford distractions.
The shard in his pocket pulsed violently, its voice whispering in his mind.
"Let me in, Kael. Together, we can end this. Break their will, shatter their minds."
Kael hesitated. The power was tempting—too tempting. He could feel it coursing just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. But Serena's warning rang in his ears: The Void demands sacrifice.
He couldn't lose himself, not now.
Instead, Kael focused on his surroundings. The corridor was narrow, with stone columns supporting the ceiling. An idea sparked in his mind.
Kael lashed out with the chains, striking the base of a column. The stone cracked, and the ceiling groaned ominously.
"Fall back!" the leader shouted, but it was too late.
With a deafening crash, the ceiling collapsed, burying two of the guards under rubble. The leader barely escaped, his expression a mixture of fury and fear.
Kael stood amidst the dust and debris, his chest heaving. His shoulder burned, his body trembled, but his mind was steady.
"You should've stayed out of my way," Kael said coldly.
The leader's hand tightened on his blade. "You're playing with forces you don't understand, Drayce. The Void will consume you, just like it did the others."
Kael's eyes hardened. "Then I'll make sure it consumes you first."
Before the guard could respond, Kael lashed out with his chains, pulling a beam down to block the path. It wouldn't hold for long, but it bought him time.
Kael staggered through the halls, his body crying out for rest. The shard's whispers grew louder, more insistent.
"You're weak, Kael. Let me help you."
"No," Kael muttered. "I can do this."
He reached a hidden passage Serena had shown him long ago, a narrow stairwell that led to the outer walls. As he climbed, he could feel the Void's influence growing stronger. The shadows seemed to move with him, curling around his feet like eager hounds.
When he emerged onto the battlements, he was greeted by a chilling sight. Adrian stood at the far end, flanked by more guards.
"Brother," Adrian said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Running already? I expected more from you."
Kael's fists clenched. "I'm not running. I'm surviving."
Adrian's smile widened. "Survival is for the weak. I'll make this simple, Kael: surrender the shard, and I might let you live."
Kael's mind raced. Adrian wouldn't make such an offer unless he was confident. That meant he had something up his sleeve—a trump card Kael needed to uncover.
But the shard pulsed again, and Kael felt a surge of anger—not his own, but the Void's.
"Kill him," it whispered. "He's a threat. Eliminate him before he eliminates you."
For a moment, Kael wavered. He could feel the Void's power building within him, ready to be unleashed. But he also knew the cost.
Adrian raised his hand, and the guards moved to encircle Kael. Their weapons gleamed ominously, the runes glowing brighter.
Kael's heart pounded. He was outnumbered, outmatched, and cornered. The shard's whispers grew louder, more insistent.
"Unleash me, Kael. Let me show them what true power looks like."
Adrian smirked, his confidence unshaken. "What will it be, brother? Surrender, or die?"
Kael took a deep breath, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He could feel his body reaching its limit, but his mind… his mind was sharper than ever.
He looked at Adrian, then at the guards, and finally at the shard in his hand.
"Neither," Kael said, a dangerous edge in his voice.
And with that, he made his choice.