Chapter 19: The Void Hunters
The forest came alive with the hum of energy and the crunch of boots on brittle leaves. Figures emerged from the shadows one by one, their weapons glowing faintly in the dim light. They moved like predators, their dark armor designed to blend with the Void's influence.
Kael counted six. Each carried weapons imbued with Void energy—spears, blades, and gauntlets that crackled faintly with red light.
Ciaran stepped forward, his own blade gleaming faintly in the moonlight. "Void Hunters," he said under his breath.
Kael frowned. "Void what?"
"Elite operatives of the Crown. Trained to kill Wielders. And very good at it."
The leader of the group, the figure with the spear, stepped closer, their movements unnervingly precise. Their helmet reflected the faint light of the shadows. "Kael Stormcloak. You've been declared an enemy of the realm and a threat to the Crown. You will come with us, alive or dead."
Kael's grip tightened on the shadow scythe forming in his hands. "I'm guessing you'd prefer dead."
The leader tilted their head. "It would be easier."
Kael's gaze flicked to Ciaran. "You've dealt with these people before?"
Ciaran nodded grimly. "I've seen them. They're not just soldiers—they're something else. The Crown uses fragments of Void energy to enhance their bodies and minds. They're faster, stronger, and deadlier than any normal fighter. Think of them as weapons, not people."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "How is that even possible?"
Ciaran shifted his stance as the Void Hunters began to encircle them. "The Crown controls more Void energy than they let on. That crystal you found in the Sanctum? It's not the only one. The Hunters are forged with shards just like it, embedded into their bodies. But it doesn't just make them powerful—it warps them. They're loyal to the Crown because they don't have anything left. The Void takes the rest."
Kael's stomach twisted. "They sacrificed themselves to become this?"
"They didn't sacrifice anything," Ciaran said bitterly. "They were sacrificed. Convicts, traitors, prisoners—anyone the Crown deemed expendable. They don't have a choice anymore."
The leader's voice cut through the night like a blade. "Enough talk. Submit, or fall."
Without another word, the Void Hunters moved.
The first Hunter lunged at Kael, their twin daggers slicing through the air faster than he could react. He barely managed to raise his scythe in time, the blades scraping against its shaft with a shower of sparks. The impact forced him back a step, but the shadows flared at his feet, steadying him.
Kael twisted, his scythe swinging in a wide arc. The shadows sharpened the blade mid-motion, and the Hunter dodged just in time, the weapon slicing a deep gash into the ground where they had stood.
"Faster than I thought," Kael muttered.
Beside him, Ciaran clashed with another Hunter. Their swords met in a flurry of strikes too quick for Kael to follow. Ciaran moved like water, each swing flowing seamlessly into the next, but his opponent matched him blow for blow, their Void-enhanced blade humming with energy.
Another Hunter charged Kael from the side, their massive gauntlets crackling with crimson light. They swung with brutal force, and Kael ducked low, the wind of the strike brushing past his face.
He retaliated instantly, his shadows lashing out like whips. They coiled around the Hunter's arm, jerking them off balance. Kael surged forward, his scythe spinning in his hands, and struck. The blade bit into the Hunter's armor, carving a deep gash, but their glowing gauntlet caught the scythe before it could go further.
The Hunter grinned beneath their helmet. "Not bad, kid. But you're not the only one who's touched by the Void."
Kael felt a surge of energy through his scythe as the Hunter's gauntlet flared. A shockwave of crimson light burst outward, throwing him backward into a tree. He hit hard, the air rushing from his lungs.
Kael gritted his teeth, the shadows around him writhing in response to his frustration. He pushed himself to his feet, his gaze narrowing.
They're faster than the Voidborn, he thought. Stronger too.
The shadows coiled tighter around his arms, solidifying into jagged armor. He raised his hand, and the darkness obeyed, forming a spear of pure Void energy.
The Hunter with the gauntlets charged again, but this time Kael was ready. He thrust the spear forward, the shadows extending mid-strike to pierce through the Hunter's armor. They let out a grunt of pain, their momentum faltering as Kael stepped in close.
His scythe swung upward, slicing cleanly through their gauntlet. The weapon shattered in a burst of light, and the Hunter staggered back, clutching their arm.
Kael didn't stop. He raised his hand, and chains of shadow erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Hunter's legs and arms. With a sharp pull, he brought them to their knees.
"Not so confident now, are you?" Kael growled.
Before he could strike the finishing blow, another Hunter attacked from the side, their spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kael dodged, the blade grazing his shoulder as he twisted away.
They're working together, he realized. They're not just fast—they're coordinated.
Ciaran was locked in his own battle, surrounded by two Hunters who moved in perfect unison. Their blades struck from opposite angles, forcing him to fight defensively.
"You're slowing down, old man," one of the Hunters sneered, their voice muffled by their helmet.
Ciaran smirked, his blade flashing in a tight arc that forced them back. "Still fast enough to make you bleed."
He feinted left, his blade shifting mid-strike to slash across the second Hunter's thigh. They stumbled, their stance faltering, and Ciaran capitalized instantly. His sword struck like lightning, carving a deep wound into their side.
"Careful," Ciaran said, his tone mocking. "You might lose more than blood."
Kael's shadows flared brighter, their tendrils snapping like whips around him. The Hunters hesitated for a moment, their movements faltering as they assessed the change.
Kael took the opening.
He raised both hands, and the shadows surged upward, forming a massive construct—a jagged, spiked wall of darkness that split the battlefield in two. The Hunters on his side stepped back, their weapons raised warily.
Kael didn't give them time to regroup. He thrust his hands forward, and the wall shattered into dozens of shards, each one streaking through the air like a bullet. The Hunters scrambled to dodge, but the shadows were relentless.
One shard pierced through a Hunter's leg, dropping them to the ground. Another struck their shoulder, pinning them against a tree.
The leader of the Void Hunters stepped forward, their spear glowing brighter as they twirled it with effortless precision. "Impressive," they said, their voice calm. "But you're still just a child playing with power you don't understand."
Kael's grip tightened on his scythe. The shadows around him grew darker, denser, responding to his rising anger.
"Come find out," he said coldly.
The leader lunged, their spear a blur of crimson light. Kael met them head-on, his scythe spinning in a deadly arc. The weapons clashed, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest.
The leader's movements were faster than Kael had anticipated, their strikes precise and unrelenting. Every time he blocked, another attack came from a different angle, forcing him to stay on the defensive.
But Kael was learning.
With each clash, he adjusted his stance, his timing. The shadows around him began to move in sync with his thoughts, forming shields and weapons mid-strike.
Finally, he saw an opening.
The leader's spear struck low, and Kael twisted, his scythe spinning upward to catch the shaft and deflect it. In the same motion, he unleashed a burst of shadows from his free hand, striking the leader square in the chest.
They stumbled back, their armor cracking under the force of the blow.
Kael pressed the advantage, his scythe swinging with deadly precision. The leader barely managed to block, their movements growing more desperate.
And then, just as Kael prepared to strike the finishing blow, a deafening roar shook the forest.
The ground beneath them split, shadows pouring upward like a geyser. Kael staggered, his scythe dissipating as the energy overwhelmed his senses.
From the darkness, a massive form began to emerge, its glowing crimson eyes piercing through the gloom.
Kael's breath caught in his throat.
It wasn't a Voidborn. It was —
End of Chapter 19