The altar's glow enveloped him, its energy pulling him into its depths. Darkness consumed his vision, and the world around him faded into nothingness.
Kaleb gasped as his feet struck solid ground. The air around him shimmered, alive with an unnatural heat. Before him, five glowing paths twisted and coiled, each one crackling with elemental energy.
"The Path of Renewal," Kaleb muttered, his voice barely audible against the pulsing hum of the elements.
The first path erupted in flame, a blazing construct stepping forth with an inhuman roar. Its searing heat pushed against Kaleb's skin as it rushed him.
Kaleb reacted instinctively, his fist igniting with golden fire. "Flaming Snake Fist: Coiling Strike!" The strike collided with the construct, sending embers spiraling into the air. The flames subsided, leaving nothing but ash.
The path shifted, water now rippling beneath his feet. A serpentine figure rose from the waves, its liquid body moving with grace.
"You cannot overpower the tide," it hissed, circling Kaleb.
Kaleb drew on the fluidity of the water itself, matching its rhythm. "Tidal Embrace!" he shouted, conjuring a crashing wave that enveloped the creature and dissolved it into mist.
Wind roared next, tearing at his balance with relentless gales. Kaleb's steps faltered as a figure of pure air formed before him, its strikes swift and unrelenting.
Kaleb dropped into a looser stance, recalling the unpredictability of the winds. His movements became light, deliberate. "Gale Breaker!" he yelled, slashing through the tempest. The wind figure unraveled, its energy dispersing into the sky.
Earth loomed ahead, the ground trembling beneath his feet. A towering golem of stone rose, its sheer presence oppressive.
Kaleb planted himself, grounding his Chi with practiced resilience. "Mountain's Embrace!" His movements were precise, his fists shattering stone as the golem crumbled into rubble.
The final path crackled with energy, lightning splitting the air with deafening force. A figure of raw lightning materialized, its strikes blindingly fast.
Pain surged through Kaleb as the first bolt connected. His body trembled, every nerve alight with agony. "You think the storm consumes all?" Kaleb growled, forcing himself upright. "I am the storm!"
Kaleb thrust his hands forward, roaring, "Elemental Convergence: Stormbreaker!" The energy spiraled into a vortex, tearing through the lightning construct.
The deafening roar of power reached its peak, and then... nothing.
The storm vanished, replaced by stark silence. Kaleb stood frozen, his hands still outstretched, locked in his final power move. Around him stretched an infinite white void.
"What… where am I?" he muttered, lowering his arms.
A loud, exaggerated slow clap broke the silence. Kaleb spun, searching for the source, but there was nothing but empty space.
"Bravo! Truly a spectacle for the ages!" The voice dripped with mock sincerity, followed by a burst of laughter. "I haven't seen moves like that since... well, never. You're killing me, kid."
Out of the whiteness, A figure sauntered forward, stepping out of the void as though emerging from thin air. Purple hair defied gravity in chaotic spikes, and his mismatched robes clashed in absurdity, bright orange, lime green, and shimmering stripes of pink and gold.
Kaleb stared, his confusion boiling into frustration. "Who are you?"
The man's face split into a wide grin. "Me? I'm Floki, God of Nothing! But today... I'm also your kung fu master."
Floki dropped into a laughably exaggerated martial arts stance, his hands waving around like an overexcited toddler. "Observe, mortal!" he declared, kicking high into the air, so high that he wobbled backward and nearly fell. "The 'One Thousand Flaming Crane' technique!"
Kaleb's brow furrowed, his disbelief drowning out his anger. "What is this nonsense?"
Floki ignored him, spinning in place like a clumsy top. He flailed his arms dramatically, his robe sleeves whipping around as he shouted, "Witness the 'Drunken Fish Swims Upstream'!"
He stumbled toward Kaleb, his movements utterly absurd, before halting in a crouch. His grin widened, and he whispered conspiratorially, "I just made that one up. Pretty good, huh?"
Kaleb took a cautious step back, his frustration returning. "Are you mocking me?"
Floki straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his ridiculous outfit. "Mocking you? No, no, no! I'm inspired by you. Watching you flail around during that trial was pure gold."
Kaleb's fists trembled in anger. "That trial was life or death!"
Floki snorted, his grin turning smug. "Life or death? Oh, my poor little storm! None of that was real. Just a bit of fun, courtesy of me."
The revelation hit Kaleb like a blow to the chest. He took a step forward, his voice rising. "You mean I suffered through all of that… for nothing?"
Floki tilted his head, his purple hair bobbing. "Exactly! Nothing. My domain, my specialty. And let me tell you, watching you take it so seriously? Chef's kiss."
Kaleb's Chi flared, the void around him rippling faintly. "You toyed with me while I thought I was dying?"
Floki tapped his chin, feigning deep thought. "Toyed is such a harsh word. I prefer... entertained. And oh, Kaleb, you were magnificent.
The yelling, the determination, the big moves! 'Stormbreaker'? Truly inspired."
Kaleb's fury bubbled over. "You think this is funny? My spiritual sea is shattered! My clan…"
"...doesn't need another brooding hero," Floki interrupted, his grin softening into something almost genuine. "Look, kid, you've got potential. That's why I'm here."
Kaleb crossed his arms, his glare unrelenting. "Why? To mock me some more?"
Floki waved a hand dismissively. "Mocking you is a bonus. I'm here to help."
Kaleb's scowl deepened. "Help me? The 'God of Nothing'? Why should I trust you?"
Floki's grin returned, sharper this time. "Because I'm the only one who can fix your spiritual sea. You need me, Kaleb. And, let's face it, you're desperate."
Kaleb hesitated, his anger warring with his cautious hope. "What's the catch?"
Floki clapped his hands together, spinning in a circle. "No catch! You keep doing your mortal thing, fighting, striving, being all noble. And I? I'll be watching. Nothing more."
The void quivered as Floki stepped closer, his eyes locking onto Kaleb's. "So, what do you say, Stormboy? Ready to take my gift and rise again?"
Kaleb's breath came fast, his heart pounding. The absurdity of Floki's presence didn't diminish the weight of his offer. "If you're lying…"
Floki held up a hand, mock offense on his face. "Lying? Me? Perish the thought!"
Kaleb closed his eyes, his fists trembling at his sides. "Fine. Do it."
Floki's grin widened to an impossible degree. "Atta boy!" He snapped his fingers, and the void exploded with light.
A torrent of energy poured into Kaleb, burning and healing in equal measure. He cried out, his body convulsing as the fractured pieces of his spiritual sea reassembled.
Floki watched, his grin softening into something almost paternal. "There we go. All better."
When the light faded, Kaleb fell to his knees, his body trembling. His spiritual sea pulsed within him, whole and vibrant.
Floki crouched beside him, his mismatched robes pooling like a painter's palette. "You're welcome, by the way."
Kaleb glared at him, still catching his breath. "This… this doesn't make us allies."
Floki laughed, rising to his feet. "Oh, I don't want an ally, Kaleb. I want a show."
Before Kaleb could respond, Floki snapped his fingers again, and the void shattered...