The morning brought no change to the desolate landscape. The sky remained an oppressive gray, the air cold and still. Kael sat on the edge of the Obsidian Altar, his muscles aching from the relentless sparring of the day before. Despite the pain, a fire burned in his chest—a determination to prove himself worthy of the Sovereign's teachings.
The Eternal Sovereign stood at the center of the altar, his back to Kael. He had been motionless for hours, his crimson eyes fixed on the horizon. Shadows swirled faintly around him, their movements slow and deliberate, as if they were alive. Kael watched him, wondering what thoughts occupied the mind of someone who had once ruled an empire.
"Kael," the Sovereign said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence. "Do you know why the Netherborn Dominion was feared above all others?"
Kael hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Because... you were powerful?"
The Sovereign turned, his gaze sharp. "Power is meaningless without purpose. The Dominion was feared because we wielded the Abyss, a force beyond the comprehension of most mortals. We did not seek glory or wealth. We sought truth—an understanding of the infinite shadow that exists beyond this world."
Kael frowned, confused. "The Abyss... it's a place? Or a kind of power?"
"It is both," the Sovereign said. He raised a hand, and a small tendril of shadow coiled around his fingers. "It is a realm of endless darkness, where the laws of reality bend and break. To wield its power is to embrace chaos and transform it into order. But such mastery comes at a price."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. "What kind of price?"
The Sovereign's gaze grew distant. "The Abyss does not grant its gifts freely. It requires strength—strength of body, mind, and will. Those who are weak are consumed, their souls lost to its depths. Even I... am not immune to its toll."
Kael was silent, his mind racing. The more he learned about the Dominion and the Abyss, the more he realized how little he understood. Yet, despite the danger, he felt an undeniable pull—a desire to understand the power that his master spoke of with such reverence.
A Test of Will
The Sovereign stepped forward, his presence casting a shadow over Kael. "If you are to follow me, you must be willing to face the Abyss. You must prove that you are worthy."
Kael stood, his legs trembling but his resolve firm. "What do I have to do?"
The Sovereign extended his hand, and the shadows around him began to swirl, forming a dark portal at the center of the altar. The air grew colder, and an ominous hum filled the space.
"Step through the portal," the Sovereign said. "Face what lies within."
Kael stared at the swirling darkness, his heart pounding. "What's inside?"
"Your fear. Your weakness. The Abyss reflects the soul of those who enter it. If you are not strong enough to confront yourself, it will devour you."
Kael swallowed hard. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run, but he forced himself to take a step forward. "I... I'll do it."
The Sovereign's expression softened slightly, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Remember this: the Abyss does not care about strength alone. It rewards those who embrace its chaos and make it their own."
Kael nodded, though he wasn't sure he understood. With one final deep breath, he stepped into the portal.
The Abyss Within
The world shifted around him. Kael found himself in a void of endless black, where there was no ground, no sky, only an oppressive nothingness that seemed to press against his very soul. He took a cautious step forward, and the darkness rippled beneath his feet like water.
A voice echoed around him, low and distorted. "Who are you to walk the path of shadows? What makes you worthy of the Abyss?"
Kael turned, searching for the source of the voice, but saw nothing. "I... I'm no one," he said, his voice trembling. "But I want to be stronger. I want to control my power."
The voice laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Control? There is no control in the Abyss. Only chaos. Only fear."
The darkness began to shift, forming into a figure that resembled Kael but twisted and monstrous. Its eyes glowed red, and its mouth twisted into a cruel smile. "You are weak. Afraid. You cannot escape what you are."
Kael's hands clenched into fists. "I'm not afraid."
The figure lunged at him, moving with inhuman speed. Kael barely had time to raise his broken sword before the shadowy double slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Pain shot through his body as he rolled to his feet, gasping for breath.
The creature laughed again. "Pathetic. You are nothing but a frightened child, clinging to the hope that someone else will save you."
Kael gritted his teeth, anger bubbling to the surface. "I don't need saving."
He focused on the chaotic energy within him, the dark Qi that had always felt like a curse. This time, he didn't try to suppress it. He let it flow through him, guiding it into his strikes. The broken sword glowed faintly as he swung it, and the shadowy figure recoiled as the blade sliced through its chest.
The creature staggered, its form flickering. "You think this changes anything? You are still weak."
Kael stepped forward, his confidence growing. "Maybe I am. But I'm not going to stop."
With a final surge of Qi, he swung his sword again, and the shadowy double dissolved into the void. The oppressive weight of the Abyss began to lift, and Kael felt himself being pulled back.
A Step Forward
When Kael opened his eyes, he was back on the Obsidian Altar. The Sovereign stood before him, his expression unreadable.
"You survived," the Sovereign said simply.
Kael nodded, his body trembling but his spirit unbroken. "I... I think I understand now."
The Sovereign's lips curled into a faint smile. "Perhaps you do. But this is only the beginning. The Abyss has accepted you, but you must continue to prove yourself worthy of its power."
Kael straightened, his resolve stronger than ever. "I won't let you down, Master."
The Sovereign turned toward the horizon, his crimson eyes glowing. "Good. Now we begin the true work."
The first spark of the Dominion had been reignited, but the path ahead was long, and the shadows would not yield easily. Together, they would forge a legacy that the world could not ignore.
End of Chapter 3