The Ethereal Expanse was never silent. Its winds whispered like mournful spirits, carrying the faint hum of unstable Mana Rifts that dotted the cracked earth. Shimmering mirages flickered on the horizon, a cruel illusion for any wanderer desperate enough to believe in sanctuary. Kael Ardyn crouched low amidst a tangle of jagged rocks, his breath slow and measured, his eyes fixed on the shadow shifting through the haze ahead.
The Void Stalker prowled, its sleek, obsidian body blending seamlessly with the gloom. Its eyes glowed faintly, orbs of predatory intelligence scanning the wasteland for prey. Kael gripped the hilt of his dagger tightly, the blade humming faintly with Aetheric energy. This wasn't a fight he wanted, but in the Expanse, choice was a luxury.
The Void Stalker's head snapped toward him, nostrils flaring. It had caught his scent.
Damn it.
Kael exploded into motion, darting out from his cover as the beast lunged. It moved impossibly fast, a blur of black slicing through the air, its claws raking the ground where Kael had been moments before. He rolled to his feet and hurled a small crystal sphere behind him. It shattered on impact, releasing a burst of radiant light that made the Stalker recoil with an ear-piercing screech.
He sprinted, weaving through the maze of ruins and debris that littered the Expanse. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he didn't stop. Stopping meant death.
The Stalker recovered quickly, its snarls growing louder as it pursued him. Kael glanced over his shoulder, cursing under his breath. His fingers fumbled for another crystal sphere, but his satchel was nearly empty. He'd already used most of his supplies hunting earlier, and his reserves were dwindling.
"Always cutting it close," he muttered, skidding to a halt as he reached the edge of a sheer drop. Below, a jagged ravine yawned wide, its depths obscured by swirling mist. Behind him, the Stalker's growls grew louder, its claws clicking ominously against the stone.
Kael turned to face it, his dagger raised. "Come on, then."
The Stalker charged. Kael waited until the last possible moment, then sidestepped and slashed his blade across its flank. Aetheric energy crackled, carving a glowing gash into the beast's side. It howled in pain but didn't falter, its momentum carrying it dangerously close to Kael.
He stumbled back, losing his footing. For a heart-stopping moment, he teetered on the edge of the ravine, the void below threatening to swallow him. The Stalker lunged again, and Kael threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws.
Too close.
He scrambled to his feet, his chest heaving. The beast's movements were slower now, its wounds leaking inky black ichor that hissed and evaporated as it hit the ground. But it was far from defeated.
Kael reached into his satchel and pulled out his last Aether Crystal, its soft blue glow flickering faintly. It was his only lifeline, the key to stabilizing his Resonance when the corruption of the Expanse threatened to overwhelm him. Without it, he wouldn't last long out here.
He hesitated for only a moment before hurling the crystal at the Stalker. It shattered against the beast's head, releasing a burst of concentrated energy that engulfed it in a blinding flash. The Stalker shrieked and collapsed, its body convulsing before it finally stilled.
Kael sagged to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burned mana, and his vision swam as the strain of the fight caught up with him. He glanced at the shattered remnants of the Aether Crystal, a pang of loss twisting in his chest.
That was my last one.
The wind howled around him, carrying with it the distant roars of other Mana Beasts. Kael knew he couldn't stay here. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he staggered to his feet and began moving, his steps uneven but determined.
Hours later, Kael found himself in the shadow of a crumbling spire, one of the countless relics of the Old World scattered across the Expanse. He slumped against the stone, his breaths ragged. The fight with the Stalker had drained him more than he cared to admit, and without an Aether Crystal to stabilize his Resonance, the creeping corruption in his veins was growing harder to ignore.
He closed his eyes, but the memories came unbidden—flashes of fire and screams, the Citadel's soldiers tearing through his village with cold efficiency. His parents' faces, their final moments etched into his mind like a brand. He'd been too young, too weak to save them. All he'd been able to do was run.
Kael opened his eyes, swallowing hard. There was no room for weakness here. Not in the Expanse. He'd survived this long by trusting no one, by relying only on himself. Attachments were liabilities, and hope was a fool's luxury.
A faint glimmer caught his eye, pulling him from his thoughts. Embedded in the ground nearby was something metallic, half-buried beneath the dirt and rubble. Kael approached cautiously, brushing away the debris to reveal a strange construct. It was humanoid in shape, though clearly not alive, its surface engraved with intricate patterns that pulsed faintly with a dim, golden light.
He frowned. Constructs like this were relics of a time long gone, their secrets lost to history. But this one… it felt different, as if it were waiting for something.
Or someone.
Kael hesitated, then reached out to touch it. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, the light flared, blindingly bright. He stumbled back as the construct began to move, its joints whirring to life with an otherworldly hum. Its eyes flickered open, twin orbs of golden light that fixed on Kael with an intensity that made his skin crawl.
"Designation: Rho," it said, its voice smooth but hollow. "Primary directive: Initiating synchronization."
Kael's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. The construct's gaze seemed to pierce straight through him, as though it were peeling back layers of his very being.
"Subject identified," Rho continued, its voice growing softer, almost contemplative. "Potential: acceptable. Synchronization: incomplete."
Kael finally found his voice, though it came out as a hoarse whisper. "What are you?"
Rho tilted its head, the motion almost curious. "The beginning of your reckoning."
Before Kael could react, a surge of golden light engulfed him, and the world around him dissolved into chaos.