Chapter Twelve: Shattered Chains
Kael's charge felt like plunging headfirst into a storm. The shadows roared around him, coiling tighter with every step, their energy feeding his body, sharpening his senses. His dual shadow-blades gleamed with an otherworldly light, the edges shifting like liquid but as deadly as steel.
The creature behind the door pushed further into the chamber, dragging its immense bulk through the widening gap. Kael's first thought was that it was impossible—a monstrosity that had no place in the mortal world. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but warped beyond recognition. Blackened scales rippled across its body, their surface glowing faintly red like magma beneath cracked stone. Its arms were massive and jointed in ways that made Kael's stomach turn, each clawed hand large enough to tear through stone.
Its head emerged last, and Kael's heart stopped.
Two molten eyes, larger than shields, stared directly at him. From its gaping maw came a sound—a mix of a growl and a low, rumbling laughter that made the air tremble.
Ciaran cursed from behind. "Void take us. It's a Primordial."
"What?" Kael shouted, but there was no time for answers.
The creature raised one massive hand and swung.
The world seemed to warp around the blow. The force alone split the air like thunder, sending a shockwave of debris and wind blasting outward. Kael dove to the side, shadows surging beneath him to amplify his speed. The strike missed him by a hair, the impact carving a trench into the floor where he had stood moments before.
Kael rolled to his feet, gasping for air. "It's too big!"
"Then take out its legs!" Ciaran called, already in motion. The rogue prince darted toward the creature's flank, his blackened blade flashing in the crimson light.
Kael gritted his teeth. He raised his hand, the shadows coiling tighter in response. "Fine. You want big? Let's go big."
The Void answered his call.
Kael focused on his left blade, and it shifted, expanding as though responding to his will. It grew longer, heavier—solidifying into a massive greatsword of shadow and smoke, jagged and wicked, its edge glowing faintly with molten veins of red.
Kael barely registered its weight. The Void's power flowed through him, anchoring him to the ground as the greatsword hummed in his hands.
The Primordial swung again, its claw sweeping toward him with terrifying speed. Kael planted his feet, shadows surging to brace him. At the last moment, he raised the greatsword, and the blade met the blow.
BOOM.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the room, cracks splintering the floor in every direction. Kael's arms screamed with the effort, his knees nearly buckling as the Primordial pushed harder. But the blade held. The shadows around him screamed, rippling outward in defiance.
"Move!" Ciaran barked.
Kael didn't hesitate. He let the blade snap, twisting with the force of the blow to redirect the Primordial's claw into the wall. The creature's arm slammed into stone, shattering it into dust.
Before it could recover, Kael darted forward, shadows propelling him like a bullet. His greatsword flashed as he swung, aiming for the creature's knee. The blade cleaved into the blackened scales, cutting deep and spraying molten ichor across the ground.
The Primordial roared, the sound so loud it rattled Kael's bones. It staggered, one leg giving out under its own weight.
Ciaran seized the moment. He leapt onto the creature's other flank, his blade carving a vicious arc across its thigh. Black mist trailed from the wound, and the Primordial howled again, swinging wildly in all directions.
Kael barely dodged the next strike, shadows yanking him backward just in time. His mind raced, adrenaline pounding through him like wildfire.
It's too strong, he thought. We can't keep this up.
As if sensing his doubt, the crystal at his chest flared, pulsing hard enough to make his skin burn.
"Take it further."
The voice echoed through his mind—sharp, commanding, but not unfamiliar.
Kael's breath hitched. "Take it… further?"
"The Void does not fear size. It devours it. Let us show you."
The shadows around him surged, feeding on his desperation, his resolve. Kael didn't resist this time. He let them take hold, pouring his will into the greatsword. The weapon trembled in his grip before splitting into two massive, curved scythes, the blades humming with raw power.
Kael exhaled, the energy coursing through him like lightning.
The Primordial reared back, its molten gaze narrowing as it sensed the change. It raised both arms high, claws spreading wide.
Kael didn't wait. He sprinted forward, his speed blinding as the shadows propelled him across the shattered ground. The scythes flared with red light, carving through the air like arcs of destruction.
The Primordial's claws came crashing down, but Kael moved faster. He twisted mid-step, the shadows carrying him into the air. With a roar, he swung both scythes down in a cross-shaped strike.
The blades connected.
The force of the blow was seismic. The Primordial's arms buckled, molten ichor spraying outward like a volcanic eruption. The shadow-blades cut deep, carving into the creature's shoulders before sinking further into its chest.
The Primordial screamed—a sound of fury, pain, and something that might have been fear. Its body trembled violently, cracks spidering out from the wounds Kael had inflicted.
Kael landed hard, the scythes dissolving into smoke as his strength faltered. He fell to one knee, gasping, his body trembling with exhaustion. The shadows hissed around him, retreating slowly back into the ground.
The Primordial let out one final, shuddering breath. Its massive form collapsed, its molten eyes dimming as the cracks across its body flared one last time. Then, with a sound like splintering stone, it shattered—dissolving into black mist that was sucked back through the door it had emerged from.
The chamber fell silent.
Kael slumped forward, his breath ragged. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest.
Ciaran appeared at his side, his expression unreadable. "You did it."
Kael looked up, his vision swimming. "I… don't know if that's good or bad."
Ciaran offered a faint smirk, though there was an edge to it. "The Void answers you now. That's a dangerous thing."
Kael didn't reply. The crystal at his chest was warm again, its pulse steady and slow. The whispers were quiet for now, but he knew they hadn't gone.
The Void had given him power. But at what cost?
Ciaran stood and gestured toward the far end of the chamber, where the shattered door had sealed itself once more. "Come on, Stormcloak. If this was the test, whatever comes next won't be any easier."
Kael forced himself to stand, his shadow lingering at his feet like a loyal beast. He looked at his hands, where the blades had emerged, and felt the weight of what he had just done.
The power was his now. The Void had made sure of that.
He followed Ciaran into the dark, his heart pounding with every step.