The golden light surrounding the hooded man grew brighter, illuminating the fractured platform where he stood. The fragments around him pulsed in harmony, forming a lattice of jagged edges that crackled with energy. The air itself seemed to hum with tension, pressing against Kairos like an invisible weight.
Kairos tightened his grip on his blades, the Core's power simmering beneath his skin. The man before him wasn't like the Warden or the Abyssal Beast—this was something else, something sharper and more deliberate.
"You've been tested by creatures," the hooded man said, his voice calm but commanding. "They measure your strength, your cunning. But to wield the Abyss, you must prove your resolve. Show me that you have the will to bend this power to your purpose."
Kairos smirked, the fire in his chest flaring. "You talk too much."
The man's eyes gleamed with faint amusement. "We shall see if you're still so bold when the Abyss bares its fangs."
With a flick of his hand, the fragments around him surged forward, converging into a spinning vortex of jagged shards.
Kairos moved on instinct, the Core's energy sharpening his reflexes. He leaped to the side as the vortex tore through the space he had just occupied, shards slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The fragments around him responded, their light intensifying as they rearranged themselves into a defensive barrier. The golden shards collided with his makeshift shield, shattering into sparks that rained down around him.
The hooded man raised his hand again, and the shards shifted, forming into long, spear-like constructs that hovered in the air. With a gesture, they launched toward Kairos, their edges gleaming with Abyssal energy.
Kairos gritted his teeth, focusing on the fragments around him. He willed them to move, and they responded, forming into a series of blades that slashed through the incoming spears.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the platform, but Kairos held his ground. He lunged forward, his blades slicing through the air in quick, precise arcs.
The hooded man countered with fluid movements, his robes billowing as he dodged and parried. His own shards spun around him like a whirlwind, deflecting Kairos' strikes with ease.
"You fight with determination," the man said, his voice steady. "But determination alone will not save you."
Kairos' smirk widened. "Good thing I'm not counting on determination."
The Core pulsed sharply, its energy surging through him. The fragments around him vibrated in response, their light growing brighter as they reshaped themselves into jagged, glowing chains.
Kairos thrust his hand forward, and the chains shot toward the hooded man, their edges slicing through the air like whips.
The man raised his hand, the golden fragments forming a shield that blocked the chains. But Kairos didn't stop. He pushed forward, the chains multiplying and striking from all angles.
The man's shield began to crack, faint lines spreading across its surface. His eyes narrowed, and the golden light around him flared. The fragments surrounding him erupted outward in a shockwave, shattering the chains and forcing Kairos back.
The force of the blast sent Kairos skidding across the platform, his feet barely finding purchase on the jagged surface. He caught himself before he could fall, his eyes blazing with defiance.
"You're persistent," the man said, his tone almost approving. "But the Abyss does not reward persistence. It rewards dominance."
Kairos straightened, his grip on his blades tightening. "Then I guess it's time I start dominating."
The Core pulsed again, its energy flooding his veins. The fragments around him shifted, their edges glowing with an intense, flickering light.
Kairos charged, his movements swift and fluid. The fragments formed into a spear in his hands, its jagged edges crackling with raw power.
The hooded man met his charge, his own fragments forming a blade of golden light. The two weapons collided in a burst of energy, sending shockwaves rippling through the platform.
Kairos pressed the attack, his strikes relentless. The Core's power fueled him, guiding his movements as he drove the hooded man back.
But the man was no easy opponent. He moved with precision, his counterattacks sharp and calculated. Every strike was measured, every movement deliberate.
Kairos growled, his frustration mounting. The Core whispered faintly in his mind, its voice sharp and insistent.
"You hold back."
"I'm not holding back!" Kairos hissed through gritted teeth.
"You fear the cost. But power demands sacrifice."
Kairos hesitated for the briefest moment, and the hooded man seized the opportunity. His blade struck out, slicing through Kairos' defenses and landing a glancing blow on his shoulder.
Pain flared, but Kairos didn't falter. He gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Fine," he growled. "No more holding back."
The Core's energy surged, its whispers growing louder. The fragments around him responded, their light flaring as they formed into a massive, jagged construct—a hammer of raw energy.
Kairos raised the hammer high, the fragments swirling around it like a storm. The hooded man's eyes widened, and he raised his blade in a defensive stance.
Kairos brought the hammer down with all his strength, the force of the strike shattering the golden blade and sending the man to his knees.
The fragments around them pulsed faintly, their light dimming as the battle ended.
The hooded man looked up, his crimson eyes locking onto Kairos. His robes were torn, his form battered, but there was no fear in his gaze.
"You are stronger than I expected," he said, his voice calm. "But strength alone will not carry you through the Abyss."
Kairos lowered his weapon, his breathing heavy. "Then it's a good thing I have more than strength."
The man chuckled faintly, his tone laced with approval. "Perhaps you do. Very well. You have proven yourself worthy—for now."
He raised his hand, and the golden fragments around him dissolved into light. The platform beneath them pulsed faintly, and a new path appeared, stretching into the darkness.
"The Abyss will test you again," the man said. "And again. Until you either rise to claim its power… or fall to its depths."
Kairos smirked, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Then I guess I'll keep rising."
The man nodded, his form beginning to fade into the shadows. "We shall see."
As the man disappeared, Kairos turned toward the new path, his steps steady and unyielding.
The Abyss would test him, and he would pass.
No matter the cost.