Chapter 26 -
The Warden's Challenge
Kael's vision swam as the pulse of light embedded itself within him, an overwhelming wave of power coursing through his veins. The chamber around him twisted and bent, as though reality itself recoiled from the force of the Void's awakening.
Ciaran's grip on Kael's arm tightened. "Stay with me, Stormcloak," he said, his voice sharp. "What's happening?"
Kael clenched his fists, his scythe dissipating into fragments of shadow that spiraled around him. He could feel the Void pressing against his mind, its whispers no longer faint but an unrelenting roar. It was trying to consume him, testing his ability to withstand its weight.
"I'm fine," Kael managed, his voice strained. "It's… the Void. It's giving me something."
Ciaran's eyes narrowed, but he stepped back, keeping his blade at the ready. "If it kills you, I'm leaving your body here."
Kael snorted despite the pain, forcing himself to stand. His shadows flared, crackling like embers as they reformed into a jagged armor across his body. The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly, though the crimson hue lingered.
The air in the chamber shifted, heavy with an eerie stillness. The cracked monolith emitted a low hum, its light fading completely, leaving only the faint, ambient glow of Void energy around them. Kael glanced at it, his storm-gray eyes narrowing.
"It's done," he said. "Whatever the Void wanted, I passed."
Ciaran sheathed his sword with a metallic snap. "That doesn't mean it's over. These things always have a catch."
Kael's shadows twitched, responding to an unease he couldn't quite place. "Let's get out of here. This place feels wrong."
As they turned to leave, the walls of the maze began to ripple again, their shifting surfaces distorting the space around them. Kael stopped, his shadows tightening around his frame. He could sense it—the presence of something watching them, something ancient and immeasurable.
Ciaran swore under his breath. "It's not letting us go that easily."
The ground beneath their feet cracked, and a deep, guttural sound echoed through the chamber. Kael's breath caught as the shadows at the edge of his vision began to coalesce, forming a massive, hulking figure. Its body was composed of pure darkness, jagged and shifting, with crimson veins coursing through its limbs like blood.
"What now?" Kael muttered, his scythe reforming in his hands.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its form towering over them. Its eyes glowed like burning coals, and its presence alone was suffocating, pressing down on Kael and Ciaran with the weight of a collapsing star.
"It's a Warden," Ciaran said, his tone grim. "The Void's last line of defense."
Kael stepped forward, his shadows bristling. "Then we take it down."
The Warden moved with terrifying speed, its massive arm swinging down in a devastating arc. Kael barely managed to dodge, the impact of the strike sending shockwaves through the chamber. The ground shattered beneath him, fragments of stone and Void energy scattering in all directions.
Kael retaliated, his scythe slicing through the air with precision. The blade struck the Warden's arm, but instead of cutting through, it skidded off its surface, the shadows dissipating on impact.
"It's too dense!" Kael shouted, leaping back as the Warden turned its attention to him.
Ciaran darted forward, his blade glowing with a faint, ethereal light. He struck at the Warden's legs, aiming for the joints, but his attacks were met with the same resistance. The creature seemed impervious, its form absorbing every blow as though it were nothing more than a breeze.
"This isn't working," Ciaran growled, retreating to Kael's side. "We need another plan."
Kael's eyes flicked to the shadows coiling around the Warden, their movements erratic and chaotic. He could feel the Void's presence within them, a raw, untamed power that mirrored his own. The realization hit him like a lightning bolt.
"It's feeding off the Void," Kael said. "We're using the same energy it's made of. We need to overwhelm it."
Ciaran raised an eyebrow. "And how do you suggest we do that?"
Kael's grip on his scythe tightened, the shadows around him flaring with renewed intensity. "I'll channel everything I've got. Distract it, and I'll finish this."
Ciaran hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Try not to die."
The Warden roared again, its massive form lurching toward them. Ciaran moved first, his blade flashing as he struck at the creature's legs and torso, drawing its attention away from Kael. The Warden swung at him, its movements slow but devastating, each strike leaving craters in the ground.
Kael closed his eyes, focusing on the Void's rhythm. The shadows around him condensed, forming a dense, swirling mass of energy. He could feel the Void resisting, its power wild and unyielding, but he forced it to obey, channeling it into his scythe.
When he opened his eyes, they burned with crimson light. The scythe in his hands was no longer just a weapon—it was an extension of the Void itself, its blade pulsing with a gravity that seemed to distort the air around it.
"Move!" Kael shouted.
Ciaran leapt back as Kael surged forward, his scythe carving a path through the air. The Warden turned, its massive arms raised to block the attack, but Kael didn't stop. The blade struck with a force that shook the chamber, slicing through the Warden's defenses and driving deep into its core.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as the shadows around it began to unravel. Kael pushed harder, pouring every ounce of energy into the strike. The scythe flared, its blade glowing brighter as the Void energy within the Warden fractured and collapsed.
With a final, shuddering cry, the Warden's form disintegrated, its remains dissolving into the air. The chamber fell silent, the oppressive weight lifting as the Void's presence receded.
Kael staggered, his scythe dissolving into fragments of shadow. His chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath, the glow in his eyes dimming.
Ciaran approached, his blade resting on his shoulder. "That was reckless," he said, though there was a faint hint of approval in his tone.
Kael let out a weak laugh. "But it worked."
As the dust settled, the labyrinth began to shift again, the walls rippling and dissolving into the void. The path ahead was clear, leading to a faint light in the distance.
"Let's go," Ciaran said. "Whatever's waiting for us, we can't stop now."
Kael nodded, his shadows flickering faintly as he followed. The Void's whispers were quiet now, but he could feel its presence lingering, watching.
And waiting.
End of Chapter 26