The Dominion's disciples returned to the Obsidian Altar weary but victorious. The labyrinth's strange, living shadows and the destruction of the Emberlight Clan's communication hub weighed heavily on their minds. The Emberlight Clan was now cut off, their coordination in disarray, but the cost of this disruption was more than physical—it had left echoes in the Abyss.
Kael sat near the altar, staring at the Emberheart Core as it pulsed faintly with fiery Qi. The Abyssal Fang rested across his lap, its energy calm but present, a silent reminder of the Abyss's constant influence.
"You've been staring at that thing too much," Sylas said, leaning casually against a pillar. "It's like you think it's going to start talking."
Kael gave a faint smile. "It already feels like it does. The Abyss… it's louder since the labyrinth."
Sylas tilted their head. "The Abyss always whispers. It's just getting harder for you to ignore it."
Before Kael could respond, the Sovereign's voice echoed across the altar. "Gather."
The Shadowspire's Warning
The disciples assembled quickly, the Sovereign standing tall as shadows coiled around him. Zereth and the other Shadowspire emissaries stood nearby, their dark presence a constant reminder of the Dominion's precarious alliance.
"The destruction of the communication hub was a success," the Sovereign began, his crimson eyes sweeping over the group. "The Emberlight Clan is vulnerable, but desperation makes them dangerous. They will seek alliances."
Zereth stepped forward, his voice smooth and calculating. "Our scouts have intercepted a message. The Emberlight Clan has reached out to the Celestial Blade Sect. If they form an alliance, your war will become... complicated."
Kael frowned. The Celestial Blade Sect was a name whispered with reverence and fear across the wasteland. Known for their mastery of Qi techniques and their unyielding sense of justice, they were a force to be reckoned with.
"What's their angle?" Ryn asked, crossing her arms.
Zereth's smile was faint but sharp. "The Celestial Blade Sect despises chaos. They will not ally easily, but if Emberlight convinces them that the Dominion threatens the balance of the world, they will act."
The Sovereign's gaze darkened. "Then we must ensure they do not act. Kael, Ryn, Sylas—you will travel to the Celestial Blade Sect's territory and intercept the emissary."
Into Celestial Territory
The journey to the Celestial Blade Sect's domain was unlike anything Kael had experienced before. The wasteland gave way to lush valleys and towering cliffs, the air filled with the hum of Qi energy. The environment felt alive, each step a reminder of the immense power the Celestial Blade Sect commanded.
"This place feels... wrong," Sylas said, their voice quieter than usual. "Too clean. Too... orderly."
Ryn glanced around, her expression wary. "It's because it's not like the Abyss. There's no chaos here."
Kael felt it too—a strange stillness, as if the very air resisted the influence of the Abyss. The whispers in his mind were muted, distant, and it unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
As they moved deeper into the territory, they spotted the emissary's caravan—a small group of Emberlight cultivators escorted by two Celestial Blade disciples. The contrast between the two groups was stark; the Emberlight cultivators radiated fiery Qi, their auras aggressive, while the Celestial Blade disciples exuded calm, measured power.
"There's our target," Ryn said, gripping her blade.
Kael nodded. "How do we handle this?"
Sylas smirked. "Quick and clean. Take out the Emberlight first. The Celestials will hesitate."
Ryn frowned. "If they hesitate."
The Ambush
The Dominion's disciples struck with precision. Sylas moved first, their blade slicing through the air as they dispatched the Emberlight guards with swift, silent strikes. Ryn followed, her movements calculated as she clashed with the Celestial Blade disciples.
Kael faced the emissary directly, the Abyssal Fang pulsing in his grip. The Emberlight cultivator raised their blade, fiery Qi flaring, but Kael's strike was faster. The Fang's Abyssal energy surged forward, overwhelming the fiery Qi in an explosion of light and shadow.
The Celestial Blade disciples retaliated, their techniques sharp and precise. Kael dodged a flurry of strikes, his every movement guided by the Abyss. He could feel their energy pushing against him, a force unlike anything he had faced before.
"They're strong," Ryn called out, her voice strained as she parried a series of attacks.
Kael gritted his teeth. "But not unstoppable."
He channeled his Qi into the Fang, unleashing a wave of dark energy that forced the Celestial disciples back. Sylas took advantage of the opening, their blade finding a weak point in one of the disciples' defenses.
The remaining disciple hesitated, their gaze flicking between the Dominion's disciples and their fallen allies. "What are you doing?" they demanded. "This will bring chaos to the world!"
Kael stepped forward, his voice steady. "The world is already chaos. You're just too blind to see it."
Before the disciple could respond, Sylas struck, their blade ending the fight in a single, precise motion.
A Bitter Victory
As the caravan lay in ruins, the Dominion's disciples gathered their breath. The emissary's mission had been stopped, but Kael couldn't shake the weight of what they had done.
"The Celestial Blade Sect won't let this go," Ryn said, her tone grim. "They'll come for us."
Sylas shrugged. "Let them. We'll deal with them like we deal with everyone else."
Kael glanced back at the wreckage, his grip on the Fang tightening. The Celestial disciples' words echoed in his mind. Was the Dominion truly bringing chaos, or were they simply revealing the truth that others refused to see?
As they began their journey back to the altar, the Abyss's whispers returned, louder than ever. The war was far from over, and Kael knew that the Abyss demanded more.
The Celestial Blade Sect would not forgive, and the shadows were only beginning to stir.
End of Chapter 28