Far from the Rising Sun Sect, a storm of chaos brewed over a desolate wasteland. The air was thick with the oppressive energy of Kael's aura, which distorted the very fabric of reality. Black clouds churned in the sky, crackling with dark lightning that illuminated the barren landscape below. The wind carried an ominous hum, a sound that reverberated with the despair of those who had succumbed to Kael's power.
At the heart of the storm stood Kael himself. Clad in dark, flowing armor that seemed to shift like living shadows, he radiated an energy that felt both ancient and unrelenting. His tall frame was imposing, and his crimson eyes burned with a malevolence that made even the bravest of warriors falter. Around him, a gathering of his forces knelt, an army of darkness that stretched far into the horizon.
Twisted creatures, their forms warped by Kael's corruption, snarled and growled in anticipation. Shadow beasts, large and grotesque, prowled restlessly among the ranks, their glowing eyes fixed on their master. Interspersed among them were cultivators who had fallen under Kael's control, their once-vibrant auras now tainted with his darkness.
Kael raised a hand, and the storm seemed to pause in response. The roars of thunder subsided, leaving an eerie silence that was almost deafening. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he gazed upon his army.
"Do you feel it?" he asked, his voice deep and resonant. It carried across the wasteland, reaching every ear despite the howling wind. "The balance of this world is breaking. Its defenders grow desperate, clinging to their fragile hope."
He gestured toward the rift forming in the sky above him. The swirling vortex of darkness widened with each passing moment, a gateway to realms beyond comprehension.
"But hope is a lie," Kael continued. "It blinds them to the truth—that power is the only constant in this universe. And I will wield it to remake this world in my image."
Among the kneeling army, a figure rose to her feet. She was cloaked in dark robes, her face partially obscured by a hood. What little of her skin was visible glowed faintly with a sickly, otherworldly light, and her eyes mirrored Kael's crimson hue.
The woman stepped forward, her movements graceful yet deliberate. Bowing deeply, she spoke with a reverence that bordered on fear. "My lord, the Rising Sun Sect has begun preparing for your arrival. Their defenses grow stronger by the day. The Saiyan… he—"
Kael cut her off with a sharp gesture. His gaze bore into her, and she lowered her eyes immediately.
"The Saiyan," Kael repeated, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Yuto, was it? The so-called warrior from another realm. Let him train. Let him gather his allies and hone his skills. It will make his fall all the more satisfying."
The woman hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "The prophecy, my lord. It speaks of his rise, of a power that could—"
"Enough." Kael's voice was cold, and the ground beneath the woman's feet trembled. She flinched, lowering herself further.
"The prophecy is nothing but the ramblings of ancient fools," Kael said, his tone softening into a dangerous calm. "Words etched into stone to bind the will of mortals. I do not fear their predictions, nor do I bow to fate. My power is absolute, and I will carve my own destiny."
He turned his gaze back to the rift, his expression thoughtful. "Still, the Saiyan intrigues me. His power is unlike anything this realm has seen before. Perhaps I shall spare him—for a time. It would be amusing to watch him struggle, to see him rise only to be crushed under the weight of his own arrogance."
The woman dared to speak again, her voice barely above a whisper. "And if he grows strong enough to challenge you?"
Kael chuckled, a deep, menacing sound. "Then he will prove a worthy opponent. But mark my words, Mirai," he said, addressing her by name for the first time, "no one—no mortal, no sect, no divine force—will stand against me and survive. The Saiyan will kneel, as will the rest of this world."
Mirai bowed deeply once more. "As you command, my lord."
Kael extended a hand, and the storm above responded to his will. Lightning crackled and struck the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth. The rift widened, its swirling darkness pulsating with an ominous energy. From within, faint shapes began to emerge—beings from a realm of shadows, drawn to Kael's power.
"My army grows," Kael said, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Soon, it will be unstoppable. The Rising Sun Sect will be the first to fall, and their precious Saiyan warrior will learn the true meaning of despair."
Mirai retreated into the shadows, leaving Kael to his thoughts. She was a loyal servant, but even she felt the weight of his ambitions. The sheer scale of his power and plans was beyond comprehension.
Kael stood alone at the center of the storm, his dark energy pulsating rhythmically. His thoughts drifted to Yuto, the warrior who had disrupted his plans time and again. There was something about him—something that Kael couldn't ignore.
"This Saiyan," Kael murmured to himself, his voice almost lost in the wind. "You intrigue me. What drives you to defy me? Is it courage? Foolishness? Or something else entirely?"
He clenched his fist, and the storm roared in response. "No matter. Whatever your reasons, they will not save you. You will learn, as all who oppose me have learned, that resistance is futile."
The dark energy around Kael surged, enveloping him in a cocoon of shadows. As he disappeared into the swirling vortex, his voice echoed across the wasteland, carrying a promise of destruction.
"This world will be mine," he declared. "And no one—not the Saiyan, not the sects, not even the heavens—will stand in my way."
The storm raged on, a harbinger of the chaos to come. Kael's army stood ready, their eyes glowing with dark anticipation. The Rising Sun Sect had little time left to prepare, and the balance of the world teetered on the edge of oblivion.