Kael groaned as his vision blurred, his knees sinking into the cold, damp earth. Veilbreaker lay inches away, its once-gleaming blade now dulled by the weight of his battered grip. Every breath was a struggle, a searing pain that tore through his chest. The ground beneath him was stained with his blood, each drop a testament to the punishment he had endured.
His tormentors stood over him, their faces twisted with malice. The green-eyed woman pressed the edge of her blade against his throat, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "The great Kael Ardyn Veyrannis. Reduced to nothing more than a broken, pitiful shell."
Kael's vision flickered as he tried to lift his head, his body trembling under the effort. Words failed him, his throat too dry to voice the rage simmering beneath the surface.
"Still clinging to life?" the scarred man sneered, delivering a vicious kick to Kael's ribs. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, his breath hitching as pain rippled through his body.
"Maybe we've been too gentle," the green-eyed woman taunted, her dagger tracing a shallow line across his cheek. "We'll carve the sins of your family into your flesh. Slowly. Let you feel every ounce of their treachery."
Kael's hand twitched, reaching for Veilbreaker. But the strength in his limbs was gone, drained by the relentless onslaught. His fingers barely brushed the hilt before another boot crushed his hand into the dirt.
"Still trying to fight?" the scarred man spat, leaning down to meet Kael's fading glare. "You've already lost. Accept it."
Desperation clawed at Kael's mind. Somewhere deep within, the abyss stirred a shadowy pulse that echoed in the depths of his soul. He reached for it, clinging to the only fragment of power he had left. Darkness rippled around him, faint tendrils of energy rising like smoke.
Dark tendrils of energy erupted from Veilbreaker, twisting and writhing like living shadows. The air grew heavy, the light in the clearing dimming as the power enveloped him. His wounds bled darker, thicker streaks, and his eyes burned with an unnatural glow.
The attackers faltered, confusion and unease flickering across their faces.
"What is this?" the lead figure muttered, gripping his blade tighter.
Kael moved before they could react, surging forward in a blur of abyssal energy. His strikes were wild but devastating, each swing of Veilbreaker trailing dark arcs that shattered the ground and sent tremors through the clearing.
The scarred woman barely managed to parry, her dagger vibrating from the impact. "What in the Void—?!"
Kael's attacks grew more feral, his movements less controlled. The abyss demanded more, urging him to unleash its full might. He struck again and again, forcing the three assailants to retreat.
But the power was fleeting. Kael's body, already battered, couldn't sustain the strain. His strikes slowed, the abyss slipping from his grasp as his strength waned.
The green-eyed woman seized the opportunity, darting in and slashing across his side. "You think this changes anything?!" she spat, her voice filled with venom.
Kael stumbled, the dark energy flickering like a dying flame. The lead figure drove his boot into Kael's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Pathetic," the man sneered, standing over him. "A burst of power, and for what? You're nothing, Kael Veyrannis. Just a broken remnant of a family long forgotten."
Kael tried to rise, but his limbs refused to obey. Blood pooled beneath him, and the abyss's whispers grew distant.
The attackers laughed cruelly, their blades poised to strike.
"You die here," the scarred woman said, raising her dagger. "Alone and forgotten."
The words cut deeper than the wounds, and Kael closed his eyes, bracing for the end.
The trio laughed, their voices cruel and mocking as the abyssal energy dissipated, leaving Kael weaker than before.
"Pathetic," the lead attacker muttered, wiping the blood from his blade. "You're nothing but a remnant of a dead bloodline."
Kael's head slumped forward, his vision darkening. He was at the edge of consciousness, his will flickering like a dying flame.
Then, the air changed.
It was subtle at first a whisper of power that sent a shiver through the clearing. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive silence broken only by the faint rustle of leaves.
"What is that?" the green-eyed woman murmured, her confidence wavering.
From the shadows of the trees, two figures emerged.
The first was a woman clad in silver and obsidian armor, her crimson eyes glowing with a quiet fury. Her presence was overwhelming, the air around her charged with an unspoken authority. Beside her walked another figure, a young woman with golden hair and a serene yet commanding aura, her staff glowing faintly in the dim light.
Lyris Valtheris Drakhaelyn, the Goddess of War, and Lia Sylvaris Dawnshade, her loyal companion.
The attackers froze, their earlier bravado melting into fear.
"No..." the scarred man whispered, his voice trembling. "It can't be them."
Lyris's gaze swept over the scene, her expression cold and unreadable. She paused as her eyes settled on Kael's broken form, a flicker of something—anger?—crossing her face. She didn't know why, but the sight of him battered and beaten ignited a fire in her chest, a visceral rage she couldn't explain.
Lia's eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. "What is the meaning of this?"
The green-eyed woman faltered, her grip on her dagger loosening. "This... this doesn't concern you."
Lyris tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing. "You think you can dictate what concerns me?"
Her words carried a weight that silenced the forest. The attackers took a collective step back, their confidence shattered.
"We didn't know..." the scarred man stammered, his earlier cruelty replaced by desperation. "We didn't know you were here."
"Leave," Lia said firmly, her staff glowing brighter. "Now."
The attackers hesitated, their gazes darting between Lyris and Lia.
"This isn't over," the lead attacker growled, his voice hollow with defeat. He cast one last glare at Kael before retreating into the forest, the others following close behind.
As the sound of their footsteps faded, the clearing fell into an uneasy silence.
Lyris approached Kael, her movements deliberate and measured. She knelt beside him, her crimson gaze studying his injuries. There was no recognition in her eyes, only a lingering sense of unease she couldn't shake.
Lia joined her, her touch gentle as she checked Mareth's pulse. "He's alive," she murmured. "Barely."
Lyris didn't respond immediately. Her focus remained on Kael, her fingers brushing against the bloodied hilt of Veilbreaker. She didn't know why, but something about him unsettled her a nameless pull she couldn't explain.
"We should help them," Lia said softly, breaking the silence.
Lyris straightened, her expression hardening. "Why should we?"
Lia met her gaze, her voice steady. "Because we're not like them."
For a moment, Lyris hesitated. She didn't know why she had intervened, why the sight of Kael had stirred such anger within her. It made no sense, but the thought of leaving him in this state felt... wrong.
"Fine," she said at last, her tone cold but resigned. "We'll help them.
As they prepared to move Kael and Mareth, the faint hum of the abyss stirred once more within Kael. It was subtle, a whisper of power that neither Lyris nor Lia noticed.
For now, the battle was over. But the threads of fate were tightening, and none of them could foresee the storm that was yet to come.