Adrian's guards inched closer, their rune-blades humming with energy. Kael felt the weight of their presence, their movements disciplined and deliberate. Behind them, Adrian stood like a predator savoring its prey.
Kael's mind raced. He couldn't overpower them—he was still too inexperienced with the Void Chains, and his body was on the verge of collapse. But surrender wasn't an option either.
Adrian smirked, clearly sensing Kael's hesitation. "You've always been stubborn, Kael. It's endearing, really. But this is where your defiance ends."
Kael's grip tightened on the Void Chains. "You talk too much."
Kael took a quick inventory of his surroundings. The battlements were narrow, lined with crenellations that offered limited cover. Behind him lay a sheer drop into the darkness below—a death sentence for most.
But Kael wasn't most people.
Think, he told himself. Use their confidence against them.
He focused on the Void Chains, willing them to coil tightly around his arms. The shard pulsed in response, its voice whispering, "Yes, Kael. Embrace me. Use me."
Kael ignored the temptation, channeling only as much power as he dared. He stepped back, feigning a stumble, letting his exhaustion show.
"Finally realizing you're outmatched?" Adrian taunted.
Kael let out a shaky laugh. "Not quite."
With a sudden burst of energy, he lashed out with the Void Chains, not at the guards but at the crenellations behind them. The stone crumbled, and a deafening crash echoed as part of the wall gave way.
The guards instinctively stepped back, their formation breaking as they scrambled to regain their footing. Kael didn't hesitate. He sprinted forward, using the confusion to slip past the first wave of guards.
Adrian's smirk disappeared as Kael closed the distance between them. The Void Chains writhed like living shadows, their presence almost overwhelming.
But Adrian didn't flinch. He raised his hand, and a surge of energy erupted from his palm. Kael barely managed to block it with the Void Chains, the impact sending him skidding across the stone floor.
"You've learned a few tricks," Adrian said, his tone laced with mockery. "But you're still a novice."
Kael rose to his feet, his body trembling from the force of the attack. "Maybe. But even novices can surprise you."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Then show me what you've got."
The two clashed in a flurry of attacks, Void energy colliding with Adrian's dark mana. Sparks flew as Kael's chains met Adrian's conjured weapons, each strike more forceful than the last.
Kael's movements were calculated, his mind working overtime to anticipate Adrian's strikes. He noticed the slight hesitation in Adrian's footwork, the way his attacks grew more aggressive when he was pressed.
He's overconfident, Kael realized. He doesn't think I'm a threat.
Kael seized the moment. He feigned a stumble, lowering his guard just enough to lure Adrian in. When Adrian lunged, Kael sidestepped and used the Void Chains to pull a loose stone from the floor.
The stone struck Adrian's shoulder, throwing him off balance. Kael followed up with a whip of the chains, wrapping them around Adrian's arm.
For a brief moment, their gazes locked. Kael saw the flicker of surprise in Adrian's eyes, quickly replaced by fury.
"You dare?" Adrian growled, his voice a low snarl.
Kael gritted his teeth. "You're not invincible, Adrian."
Adrian roared, releasing a wave of energy that forced Kael to break the hold. The shockwave sent Kael tumbling backward, but he managed to catch himself on the edge of the battlements.
Below him, the darkness of the abyss stretched endlessly, the Void whispering its seductive call.
"Let go, Kael," the shard urged. "Fall, and I will catch you. Together, we will rise."
Kael shook his head, gripping the edge tightly. "Not yet."
Adrian advanced, his expression cold and calculating. "You're out of tricks, Kael. Time to end this."
Kael glanced behind him, then at the crumbling wall to his left. An idea formed, reckless but necessary.
"Maybe I am," Kael said, forcing a grin. "But you've underestimated me before."
He swung the Void Chains, not at Adrian but at the remains of the wall. The impact caused the stones to collapse, creating a massive cloud of dust and debris.
Using the distraction, Kael leapt into the abyss.
For a heart-stopping moment, he freefell, the wind tearing at his clothes. The Void surged around him, its whispers growing louder, more insistent.
Then the Void Chains shot out, anchoring to the side of the cliff. Kael swung wildly, slamming into the rocky wall before managing to stabilize himself.
Kael hung there, his body bruised and battered but alive. Above him, Adrian's silhouette loomed on the battlements, his expression unreadable.
"This isn't over, Kael!" Adrian's voice echoed through the darkness. "You can't run from me forever!"
Kael didn't respond. He focused on climbing, each movement slow and deliberate. The shard's whispers grew fainter, but their presence lingered like a shadow in the back of his mind.
As he pulled himself onto a narrow ledge, Kael gazed out at the vast, desolate landscape stretching before him. The Void's presence was stronger here, the air thick with its oppressive energy.
Kael took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He wasn't just running from Adrian—he was running toward something.
Something that would make him stronger.