The clearing erupted in chaos. Dark tendrils writhed and lashed out from the cracked ground, their movements unnatural and swift. Kael and Caden barely had time to react as the hooded figure stepped back, his yellow-glowing eyes watching the chaos with eerie calm.
Kael's sword hummed with Void energy as he swung, severing the tendrils nearest to him. The dark energy within him surged, feeding on his anger and desperation.
"Focus on the tendrils!" Kael shouted to Caden.
Caden dodged another attack, his dagger flashing in the moonlight as he slashed at the encroaching darkness. "Easier said than done, Void-boy! Any brilliant ideas on stopping the glowing creep?"
The hooded man remained untouched by the chaos, standing as if he were part of the shadows themselves. He raised a hand, and the tendrils multiplied, their movements growing more erratic and aggressive.
"The Labyrinth's will cannot be denied," the man said, his voice resonating with a strange, otherworldly cadence. "She belongs to it now. Surrender, and your suffering will end."
Kael's eyes burned with fury. "We're not giving up on her!"
The man's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something—amusement, perhaps? "Futile."
---
Kael's Descent
Kael's Void-infused strikes cut through the tendrils, but each swing took more out of him. The energy was ravenous, pulling at his sanity with every pulse. His vision blurred, the world around him twisting unnaturally.
"Kael!" Caden's voice broke through the haze. "Get a grip!"
Kael shook his head, trying to focus. The Void was growing louder, its whispers turning into roars. It wanted to be unleashed fully, to consume everything in its path.
Caden darted past him, throwing a dagger at the hooded man. The blade stopped mid-air, caught by an invisible force, and clattered to the ground.
"Really?" Caden muttered.
The man raised his hand, and a wave of force knocked both of them back. Kael skidded across the ground, his sword clattering out of his grip.
"Your defiance is meaningless," the man intoned, stepping closer. "The Labyrinth's power is absolute."
---
The Void Awakens
Kael's vision swam as he pushed himself up, his body trembling from the strain. The Void within him surged again, louder than ever, and he felt his control slipping.
"Kael, don't!" Caden's voice was distant, but urgent.
Kael gritted his teeth. He knew he couldn't hold back—not this time. With a deep breath, he let the Void take over.
His body erupted with dark energy, the ground cracking beneath him as the power surged outward. His eyes glowed with an eerie light, and his voice echoed with a dual tone as he spoke.
"You want the Labyrinth's power? Then take it!"
The tendrils recoiled as if burned, and even the hooded man hesitated, his calm demeanor faltering. Kael charged, his movements a blur, and struck with devastating force. The man barely managed to dodge, the shockwave from Kael's attack splintering the ground.
"Kael!" Caden shouted, fear in his voice. "You're losing it!"
But Kael didn't hear him. The Void was in full control now, driving him forward with a single purpose: destruction.
---
Caden's Gamble
Realizing Kael was spiraling out of control, Caden acted. He sprinted toward the hooded man, dodging the remaining tendrils and launching himself at the figure. This time, he aimed for the glowing eyes.
The man caught him mid-air, a shadowy hand closing around Caden's throat.
"Persistent, aren't you?" the man sneered, his voice laced with disdain.
Caden smirked despite the pressure. "Yeah, it's a thing."
Before the man could react, Caden drove a hidden blade into his arm. The wound didn't bleed, but the man's grip faltered, and Caden twisted free, landing a kick that sent the figure staggering back.
"Kael!" Caden yelled, hoping to snap him out of his Void-driven frenzy. "Focus on him, not everything else!"
Kael's glowing eyes locked onto the hooded man, and for a moment, clarity returned. He raised his sword, the Void energy coiling around it like a living thing, and charged.
---
The Messenger's Defeat
The hooded man raised both hands, summoning a shield of shadow to block Kael's attack. But the Void's power was too much. Kael's strike shattered the shield, and the force sent the man flying into a tree.
The figure crumpled to the ground, his body flickering like a dying flame.
"You… cannot win," the man rasped, his voice weaker now. "The Labyrinth is infinite. You are nothing."
Kael stood over him, his sword poised for a final strike. "Then tell it this: I'm coming for it."
With one final swing, Kael's blade cut through the man, and his form dissolved into shadows that dissipated into the night.
---
A Costly Victory
As the adrenaline faded, Kael collapsed, the Void receding and leaving him drained. Caden rushed to his side, helping him sit up.
"You okay?" Caden asked, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
Kael nodded weakly. "I… I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Caden muttered, but he didn't push further.
The forest seemed to breathe again, the unnatural stillness lifting. But the two knew this was only the beginning.
"That guy was working for the Labyrinth," Caden said. "Which means it knows we're out. And it's not happy."
Kael's gaze hardened. "Good. Let it come. We're not done."
As they prepared to move, Kael glanced back at the clearing, his thoughts lingering on Seris.
"Hold on," he whispered. "We're not leaving you behind."
---
To Be Continued...