The path Kairos walked was ever-changing, a shifting mosaic of jagged shards and pulsing light. Each step felt heavier than the last, the Abyss pressing down on him with an almost sentient weight. The fragments floated around him in erratic orbits, casting fractured reflections of his face, distorted and unfamiliar.
His breathing was shallow, his body aching from the battle with the Abyssal Beast. The Core within his chest pulsed faintly, its power simmering just beneath the surface. He could feel it, tempting him, urging him to draw upon it again. But he resisted.
The whispers had grown louder since the fight, not just words but sensations—pulls, tugs, and faint nudges that guided his steps. He couldn't tell if they were leading him forward or deeper into a trap.
"Do you ever stop talking?" Kairos muttered, his voice rough.
The Core's response was immediate. "Do you ever stop doubting?"
Kairos rolled his eyes, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips despite himself. "Fair point."
The fragments ahead began to shift, rearranging themselves into a circular formation. At its center, a larger shard floated, its surface rippling with energy. Unlike the other fragments, this one glowed with a dark, pulsing light, its edges jagged and sharp.
Kairos approached cautiously, his gaze locked on the shard. He could feel the Core reacting to it, its pulses growing faster, more insistent.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice low.
"A fragment of power," the whisper answered. "A remnant of a Sovereign's throne."
Kairos frowned. "Throne? You mean… their realm?"
"Every Sovereign sits upon a throne—a foundation of stolen fragments, the source of their strength. When they fall, their thrones shatter, and their fragments return to the Abyss."
Kairos' eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to the shard. The energy it radiated was almost suffocating, pressing against his skin like an invisible weight. He reached out, his fingers brushing against its surface.
The world around him disappeared.
A vision engulfed him, vivid and overwhelming.
He stood in a grand hall, its walls lined with gold and silver veins that pulsed like living veins. At the far end of the hall sat a throne, massive and ornate, carved from countless shards of glowing crystal.
The Sovereign upon it was a figure of terrible majesty. Their form shimmered with raw energy, their features obscured by a crown of radiant light. They raised a hand, and the hall trembled as waves of power rippled outward.
Kairos felt himself pulled forward, drawn toward the throne as though by an invisible force. The Sovereign's gaze pierced through him, and for a moment, he felt like an insect beneath their heel.
But then the vision shifted.
The hall cracked and splintered, the walls crumbling as the throne shattered into countless fragments. The Sovereign screamed, their form flickering like a dying flame before they were consumed by the collapsing realm.
Kairos gasped as the vision ended, his knees buckling beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"That… was their fall," he muttered, his voice shaking.
"Yes," the Core whispered. "The Sovereigns are not gods. They are thieves, parasites feeding on the power of stolen realms. But even parasites can be slain."
Kairos clenched his fists, the memory of the Sovereign's scream echoing in his mind. "And their power? What happens to it?"
"It returns to the Abyss, waiting for those strong enough to claim it."
Kairos looked up at the shard, its dark light pulsing steadily. He understood now—this fragment was a piece of the Sovereign's throne, a remnant of their stolen power.
"And if I take it?" he asked.
"You rise."
Kairos reached out again, this time with purpose. His hand closed around the shard, its energy surging into him like a torrent.
Pain lanced through his body, sharp and unrelenting, as the fragment's power tried to consume him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let go. The Core within him reacted, its pulses aligning with the shard's energy, drawing it in and reshaping it.
The shard dissolved into light, its energy flooding into the Core. Kairos gasped as the power settled within him, a burning warmth that spread through his veins.
The fragments around him began to hum, their light growing brighter as they rearranged themselves once more.
Kairos rose to his feet, his body trembling but stronger than before. He felt the power within him, raw and untamed, but undeniably his.
"More," he whispered, his voice low and hungry.
The Core pulsed in agreement.
The path ahead shifted again, the fragments forming a spiral that led downward. Kairos followed it, each step filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
As he descended, the air grew heavier, the whispers of the Core intertwining with faint echoes that seemed to come from the Abyss itself.
He paused as he reached a wide, open space where the fragments had gathered into a massive circle. At the center of the circle stood a figure—a man clad in tattered armor, his face obscured by a rusted helm.
The figure turned slowly, their crimson eyes locking onto Kairos.
"So, another fool has found the Core," the figure said, their voice hollow and metallic. "Tell me, fragment, do you think you can wield its power without breaking?"
Kairos squared his shoulders, his gaze steady. "I don't think. I know."
The figure chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "Then prove it."
They raised a hand, and the fragments around them exploded into motion, forming a storm of jagged shards that hurtled toward Kairos.
Kairos reacted instinctively, the Core's energy surging within him. The fragments around him responded, forming a barrier that deflected the storm.
The figure lunged, their blade slicing through the air with blinding speed. Kairos barely managed to block the strike, the impact sending him staggering backward.
"You fight well," the figure said, their tone almost approving. "But the Abyss demands more than skill. It demands resolve."
Kairos gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the fragment-blade he had summoned. "Then it'll have mine."
He charged, the Core's energy fueling his every move. The battle was fierce, a clash of raw power and relentless determination.
When the figure finally fell, their armor dissolving into light, Kairos stood victorious.
As the fragments around him settled, the Core whispered once more. "Rise, Kairos. The Abyss has accepted you. But the Sovereigns will not."
Kairos smiled grimly, the taste of victory sharp on his tongue. "Good. Let them come."
And with that, he stepped forward, ready for whatever lay ahead.