The morning air was heavy with tension. From atop the Obsidian Altar, the faint glow of the Emberlight Clan's encampment flickered on the horizon like embers clinging to life. Kael stood at the edge of the altar, his grip tight around his blade, his heart pounding in his chest. The faint hum of the altar behind him, now alive with Abyssal energy, gave him both comfort and unease.
"They'll be here by midday," Sylas said, their voice calm but alert. They stood beside the Sovereign, their cloak billowing faintly in the breeze. "You weren't wrong. They're coming in force—at least three dozen, from what I've scouted."
Kael's stomach churned. Three dozen cultivators, armed and experienced. Even with the Sovereign's power, it seemed impossible.
The Sovereign stood unmoving, his crimson eyes fixed on the horizon. "Numbers mean nothing," he said, his tone steady. "The Abyss does not favor the many. It rewards those who embrace its chaos."
Sylas smirked faintly. "That's a poetic way of saying we're outnumbered."
The Sovereign turned to Kael. "Are you afraid?"
Kael hesitated, his voice catching in his throat. "A little," he admitted. "But I'm ready to fight."
"Good," the Sovereign said. "Fear is natural. It sharpens the senses. But do not let it control you. Today, you will prove yourself."
The Calm Before Battle
As the morning wore on, Kael found himself preparing alongside Sylas. The masked rogue had taken it upon themselves to mentor him in the finer points of battle strategy.
"Your blade's strong, but your mind needs to be sharper," Sylas said, handing Kael a small whetstone. "In a fight, hesitation will kill you faster than any enemy. Trust your instincts."
Kael nodded, running the whetstone along his blade's jagged edge. "What about you? Why are you so calm?"
Sylas chuckled. "Calm? Hardly. I just hide it better than you. Besides, I've been in worse situations."
Kael glanced up at them, curious. "What kind of situations?"
Sylas's smirk faded, replaced by something more serious. "The kind where you either win or disappear forever. But enough about me. Focus. The Sovereign won't tolerate failure."
Kael swallowed hard, returning his attention to his blade. Despite his fear, he couldn't deny the strange thrill coursing through him. This was his chance to prove himself—not just to the Sovereign, but to himself.
The First Wave
By midday, the Emberlight Clan had arrived. Their forces moved in a loose formation, their crimson robes billowing in the wind. At their head was a man clad in ornate armor, his Qi radiating a fiery aura that seemed to distort the air around him. His presence alone was enough to make Kael's knees weak.
The Sovereign stepped forward, his shadow stretching unnaturally across the ground. His voice carried effortlessly over the wasteland. "Turn back now, and you may yet live."
The armored man laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "You must be the so-called Sovereign. You don't look so terrifying to me."
The Sovereign's crimson eyes burned brighter. "Your arrogance blinds you. The Abyss has no patience for fools."
The man raised his hand, signaling his forces. "Kill them. Leave nothing standing."
The cultivators surged forward, their blades gleaming and their Qi flaring. The air filled with the roar of battle cries, but the Sovereign did not move. He raised a single hand, and the shadows around him erupted like a tidal wave, crashing into the first line of attackers.
Kael watched in awe as the Sovereign moved with terrifying precision, his blade of shadows slicing through the air. Each strike sent ripples of dark energy through the battlefield, tearing through the Emberlight cultivators with ease.
"Kael!" Sylas's voice snapped him out of his trance. "Focus! You've got your own fight to handle!"
Kael turned just in time to block an incoming strike. The force of the blow sent him staggering, but he managed to recover, channeling his Qi into his blade. With a shout, he struck back, his blade glowing faintly with dark energy. The Emberlight cultivator stumbled, their weapon clattering to the ground.
"Not bad," Sylas called, dispatching an attacker with a fluid motion. "But don't get cocky."
Kael nodded, his confidence growing. He pushed forward, engaging another enemy. The chaotic energy of the battle was overwhelming, but he began to find a rhythm, his movements guided by the flow of his Qi.
The Emberlight Commander
As the battle raged on, the armored commander stepped forward, his fiery Qi flaring brighter. He raised his blade, pointing it at the Sovereign. "You're powerful, I'll give you that. But let's see how you handle me."
The Sovereign turned to face him, his expression calm. "You are not worth my time."
The commander snarled, charging forward with a burst of speed. His blade, wreathed in flames, slashed toward the Sovereign's chest. But before it could connect, the Sovereign's shadows surged upward, forming a shield that absorbed the blow effortlessly.
"Pathetic," the Sovereign said, his voice cold.
With a single motion, he unleashed a wave of shadowy energy that sent the commander flying. The man landed hard, his armor scorched and dented. He struggled to rise, his confidence replaced by fear.
"You... you can't be human," the commander stammered.
The Sovereign stepped forward, his blade of shadows shimmering with lethal intent. "I am not."
With a final, decisive strike, the Sovereign's blade pierced the commander's chest. The man's fiery Qi flickered and died, and his body collapsed to the ground.
Victory at a Price
As the last of the Emberlight forces fell, the battlefield grew silent. Kael stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving and his blade stained with blood. Sylas approached, their cloak streaked with dirt and ash.
"Not bad, kid," Sylas said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You didn't die. That's progress."
Kael managed a weak smile, though his legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "I... I think I did okay."
The Sovereign stood at the center of the altar, his crimson eyes scanning the battlefield. Though they had won, his expression remained grim. "This was only the beginning. The Emberlight Clan will not take this defeat lightly."
Kael looked at him, his confidence faltering. "You think they'll send more?"
"They will," the Sovereign said. "But let them come. Each battle will only make us stronger. The Abyss hungers, and we shall feed it."
As the sun began to set, casting the wasteland in an eerie red glow, Kael felt a strange mix of fear and determination. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—the Netherborn Dominion was rising, and the world would soon remember its name.
End of Chapter 7