Kael leaned against the cold, shifting wall of the Veil, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his breathing. The shadows had grown still, retreating into the labyrinth's depths as if acknowledging his victory. The Abyssal Fang glowed faintly in his grip, its light steady and reassuring.
"Alright," he muttered, pushing himself upright. "One step closer."
The path ahead twisted unnaturally, its angles shifting as though the Veil itself were alive. Kael's feet moved instinctively, each step resonating with the faint pull of the Abyssal Shard deeper within. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional whisper of shadows, their unintelligible murmurs brushing against his mind.
The Abyss Beckons
As Kael ventured deeper, the air grew heavier, pressing against him like a physical force. His thoughts began to blur, memories and doubts rising unbidden to the surface. He clenched his teeth, gripping the Fang tightly.
"You won't break me," he whispered to the darkness.
The path abruptly opened into a vast chamber, its size impossible to comprehend. The walls pulsed faintly, veins of glowing red energy coursing through the stone like blood. At the center of the room, suspended in the air, was the Abyssal Shard. It was a jagged fragment of dark crystal, its surface shifting as though alive. The energy radiating from it was overwhelming, filling the chamber with an unrelenting hum.
Kael took a step forward, the Fang vibrating faintly in his hand. The closer he got, the stronger the pull became, as though the Shard were calling to him.
But as he reached the center of the room, the shadows around him surged, converging to form a massive, twisted figure. It towered over him, its body made entirely of darkness, with glowing red eyes that burned with malice.
"Prove yourself," the creature rumbled, its voice reverberating through the chamber. "The Shard does not suffer the unworthy."
Kael's grip on the Fang tightened. "I've faced worse than you."
The creature let out a low, guttural laugh. "We shall see."
The Guardian of the Shard
The creature struck first, its massive arm of shadow sweeping toward Kael with terrifying speed. Kael barely managed to dodge, the force of the attack sending cracks spidering across the ground. He retaliated, channeling his Qi into the Fang and unleashing a wave of dark energy. The attack struck the creature's chest, but it barely flinched, its form shifting to absorb the blow.
Kael gritted his teeth. "Of course it wouldn't be that easy."
The creature lunged again, its movements faster than something its size should have been. Kael ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding its strikes. He could feel the Fang's energy surging within him, guiding his movements as he countered with precise, calculated attacks.
Each strike of the Fang carved away at the creature's form, the glowing runes along the blade pulsing brighter with every hit. The shadows that made up the creature's body began to writhe, its form growing unstable.
"You fight well," the creature said, its voice tinged with grudging respect. "But strength alone is not enough."
The chamber seemed to shift around them, the walls pressing closer as the creature's form expanded, filling the space with oppressive darkness. Kael's vision blurred, and he could feel the shadows pressing against his mind, whispering doubts and fears.
"You cannot win," the creature rumbled. "You will falter, as all before you have."
Kael closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus. The Abyss wasn't just chaos—it was his chaos. He let the storm of his Qi flow freely, no longer resisting its pull. The Fang flared with energy, its light piercing through the darkness.
"You're wrong," Kael said, his voice steady. "I'm not like the others."
With a surge of strength, he leapt forward, driving the Fang into the creature's core. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, the shadows around him shattering like glass. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting roar before dissolving into the void.
Claiming the Shard
The chamber grew still, the oppressive weight of the Veil lifting slightly. Kael stood over the remnants of the creature, his chest heaving. The Abyssal Shard hovered before him, its dark light pulsating faintly.
He reached out, his fingers brushing against the surface of the Shard. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy rushed through him, cold and unrelenting. Images flashed through his mind—visions of the Dominion's past, of the Sovereign leading his disciples into battle, of the Abyss spreading like a storm across the world.
The Shard's energy merged with his own, amplifying the connection he already had to the Abyss. He felt stronger, his Qi more focused, more controlled. The Fang's glow intensified, its runes now burning brighter than ever.
When Kael opened his eyes, the chamber was silent. The Shard had disappeared, its power now a part of him.
Emerging from the Veil
Kael retraced his steps through the labyrinth, the path now clear and steady. As he approached the exit, he felt the Veil's presence receding, its oppressive whispers growing faint. When he stepped through the archway, the wasteland greeted him like an old friend.
Ryn and Sylas were already waiting outside, their expressions lighting up when they saw him.
"Took you long enough," Sylas said, their voice laced with relief. "Thought you might've gotten yourself lost."
Ryn's gaze flicked to the Fang, now glowing with an intensity that hadn't been there before. "You did it."
Kael nodded, his grip on the blade tightening. "Yeah. And I'm ready for whatever comes next."
The Sovereign stepped forward, his crimson eyes burning with approval. "You have done well, Kael. The Shard's power flows through you now, and the Dominion grows stronger because of it."
Kael met his master's gaze, his determination hardening. "What's next?"
The Sovereign turned toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the Emberlight Clan's encampments could be seen in the distance. "War is coming. And the Abyss demands we be ready."
End of Chapter 17