Before Kaleb could respond, Floki snapped his fingers again, and the void shattered like glass. The world reformed around him, the altar glowing faintly as if nothing had happened.
Floki's laughter echoed in the back of Kaleb's mind, a haunting reminder of the absurd god who had given him a second chance.
Kaleb blinked, the blinding whiteness dissolving as the glowing altar reformed around him. His hands rested on its surface, trembling as the lingering energy from his encounter with Floki settled.
"You're back!" Floki's voice rang out, mockingly cheerful. He lounged on the altar's edge, legs swinging, his mismatched robes looking even more absurd under the sacred glow.
Kaleb staggered back, his mind racing to piece together what had just happened. The unbearable void of his shattered spiritual sea was gone—replaced by something raw, untested, but whole.
"What did you do?" Kaleb demanded, his voice edged with caution. "My spiritual sea—it's... different."
Floki flipped off the altar, landing with exaggerated flair. "Oh, you noticed? Good! You're welcome, by the way. Fixed it, polished it, gave it a little something extra."
Kaleb's brows furrowed as he closed his eyes, reaching inward. The spiritual sea within him no longer felt fractured but surged with a chaotic energy that didn't feel entirely his own.
"What do you mean by 'extra'?" Kaleb's tone sharpened, suspicion rising.
"Relax," Floki said, twirling in place before pointing dramatically. "You've got your fancy sea back, and I made sure it's... unique. A little of my essence in the mix, just for flair."
Kaleb stepped closer, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Your 'essence'? What does that even mean?"
Floki sighed, throwing his hands up. "Mortal gratitude is so overrated. Fine! Think of it as an upgrade. Your sea was boring, but now it can actually handle a god's level of fun."
The glowing altar pulsed, pulling Kaleb's attention to the swirling shards of energy floating above it. They gleamed faintly, remnants of something powerful, something familiar.
"What are those?" Kaleb asked, his voice soft but wary.
Floki grinned, his purple hair catching the light like a flame. "Oh, just echoes of what your sea once was. I stitched you together, but these fragments are your past, your core."
Kaleb's stomach tightened. "Why didn't you—"
"Complete it?" Floki interrupted, wagging a finger. "Because that's your job, stormy boy. I'm not here to carry you. These shards represent what you must reclaim."
The altar brightened, casting beams of light toward several glowing portals forming in the air. Each radiated a distinct energy—fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning.
Kaleb clenched his jaw, stepping toward the nearest portal, a fiery red glow searing the air around it. "And if I don't?"
Floki smirked, balancing on one foot like a mocking monk. "Then you're stuck as a half-formed mess, and I get bored. Win-win for me, really."
Kaleb shot him a glare before plunging through the portal. The air warped, heat slamming into him as he landed in a scorched wasteland. Flames roared on every side, turning the ground to ash.
From the inferno, a blazing figure stepped forward—himself, younger and wilder, flames coiling around his fists. Except the doppelganger wasn't serious—it cartwheeled toward Kaleb, arms flailing and shouting nonsense like, "Fear the Flaming Serpent of Doom!"
Kaleb blinked, momentarily thrown off by the ridiculous display. "Are you mocking me?" he asked, taking a wary step back.
The doppelganger struck a flamboyant pose, flames dancing dramatically around its body. "Mocking? Nay! I am elevating your legacy to the art of performance!"
Kaleb barely ducked as the doppelganger spun into a flaming pirouette, flames spiraling out like ribbons. It shouted, "Fire Dance of the Blazing Swan!" in an overly dramatic tone.
"Is this your idea of serious, Floki?" Kaleb growled, dodging another wild attack.
From nowhere, Floki's voice boomed, "Serious is boring! Now, let's see you handle yourself against... THIS!" The doppelganger leapt into the air, striking a pose mid-flight.
Kaleb gritted his teeth, his frustration building. He dodged another over-the-top strike, the doppelganger exaggerated movements forcing him to stay sharp.
As it charged again, Kaleb shifted his stance, fire coiling around his fists. He mirrored his opponent's flamboyant energy, shouting, "Flaming Phoenix Punch!" and drove his blazing fist forward.
The doppelganger staggered back, its fiery energy dimming. "How dare you outshine me!" it cried, falling into a dramatic heap before shattering into embers.
Floki's laughter rang out as Kaleb snatched the floating shard left behind. "You've got flair, kid. Maybe you'll entertain me yet."
Kaleb glared at the sky before the wasteland dissolved, leaving him back at the altar. "One down," he muttered, brushing off his singed sleeves. "What's next?"