The storm rolled in over the horizon, the sky swirling with dark clouds that mirrored the turmoil within Kael Draven's mind. He walked through the ruins of a forgotten city, the remnants of its once-grand towers crumbling under the weight of time and neglect. The Void pulsed within him, its whispers filling the silence as he advanced toward his next target.
"Another anchor point lies ahead," the Void murmured in his mind, its voice both a guide and a reminder of his pact. **"Destroy it, and the gods' grip on this realm weakens further."**
Kael smirked, the faint glow of his silver eyes cutting through the dim light. "I know the plan," he said aloud, his tone confident. "But I don't just want to weaken them. I want them to beg."
As he approached a shattered archway, a faint flicker of movement caught his attention. Kael halted, his senses sharpening.
"Another ambush?" he muttered. "They'll need to be smarter than the last batch."
But as the shadows coalesced in the distance, they didn't take the form of warriors or champions. Instead, a familiar figure emerged from the haze—a slender woman with emerald eyes and crimson hair.
Faye.
Kael froze, his smirk fading. "No," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
---
She stood there, as clear as day, her daggers glinting in the faint light. Her expression was calm, but her piercing gaze was filled with something Kael couldn't quite place.
"You're not real," Kael said, his voice harder now. He clenched his fists, dark energy crackling at his fingertips.
Faye tilted her head, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Aren't I? Or is that just what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night?"
Kael snarled, summoning a surge of Void energy. "You're a trick. A cheap illusion sent by the gods to distract me."
Faye laughed softly, the sound eerily familiar. "You always did like to think you had all the answers. But tell me, Kael—if I'm just an illusion, why do I feel so real?"
She stepped closer, and Kael found himself unable to move. The Void's whispers grew louder, warning him to destroy her, to banish whatever specter dared mock him. But something held him back.
"You were weak," Kael growled, his voice unsteady. "You died because you weren't strong enough. That's all there is to it."
Faye's smile faded, her expression turning serious. "Is that really what you believe? Or is it just easier than admitting the truth?"
---
Kael's grip on his power faltered, the dark energy dissipating around him. The air grew heavy, and he took a step back, his mind racing.
"I don't have time for this," he said, turning away from her.
But Faye's voice stopped him in his tracks. "You laughed when I died."
Kael stiffened, his shoulders tense.
"I gave everything for you," Faye continued, her voice quiet but cutting. "I trusted you. Followed you. And when I was gone, you laughed. Was it really so funny to lose the one person who believed in you?"
Kael spun around, his eyes blazing. "I didn't need your belief!" he roared. "I didn't need you, Faye. You were just a pawn, a means to an end."
Faye's gaze didn't waver, her calm demeanor infuriatingly unshaken. "Then why are you still haunted by me?"
---
The question hung in the air, cutting deeper than any blade. Kael wanted to dismiss her words, to bury them under the weight of his resolve, but something inside him twisted uncomfortably.
The Void's voice surged in his mind, its tone sharp and commanding. **"Enough! This is the gods' trickery, Kael. Destroy it and move forward. You cannot falter now."**
Kael raised his hand, a sphere of pure darkness forming in his palm. He aimed it at Faye, his expression hardening.
"Goodbye, Faye," he said coldly.
But before he could unleash the spell, Faye spoke again. "Do you even remember why you started all this?"
Kael hesitated, the sphere of energy wavering.
"You weren't always like this," she said, her voice softer now. "You wanted to change the world, Kael. To make it better. When did it become about destruction? When did you lose sight of who you were?"
Kael's hand trembled, the spell dissipating as he clenched his fist. "I didn't lose sight of anything," he muttered. "I'm doing what I have to do. The world doesn't change without sacrifice."
"Sacrifice," Faye repeated, her tone bitter. "You don't even know what that word means. You've sacrificed everyone but yourself."
---
The shadows around them began to shift, and Faye's form flickered, as though she were struggling to maintain her presence. Kael watched her, his expression unreadable.
"Do you really think the Void will keep its promises?" she asked, her voice fading. "Do you really think you'll come out of this with anything left?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "The gods abandoned me. The Void gave me purpose. That's all that matters."
Faye's smile returned, but it was tinged with sadness. "Maybe it's not too late for you, Kael. Maybe there's still something worth saving in you."
And with that, she disappeared, her form dissolving into the shadows.
---
Kael stood alone in the ruins, the silence pressing down on him. His fists were clenched, his mind racing with conflicting emotions.
The Void's voice returned, colder and more commanding than ever. **"Do not let their tricks sway you, Kael Draven. You are the Void's champion. Stay the course, or you will lose everything."**
Kael exhaled slowly, his expression hardening once more. "I know what I'm doing," he said, more to himself than to the Void.
He turned away from the shattered altar, his steps heavy but determined. The gods' champions would come for him, their illusions and tricks growing more desperate. But Kael Draven would not falter.
Or so he told himself.
Deep down, the shadow of doubt lingered—a memory of green eyes and a loyalty he had cast aside.
---
Far above, the gods watched, their gazes filled with concern.
"The specter of Faye has planted a seed of doubt," one said.
"Will it be enough to turn him?" another asked.
The leader of the council spoke, their voice firm. "Perhaps. But Kael Draven is as much a danger to himself as he is to us. We must be ready for the endgame, whether he falters or not."
The heavens grew dim, the war far from over.