The silence that followed Kael's victory was unnatural. The Coliseum of Dominion had never seen a human wield electromagnetism, let alone use it to defeat a Morgath Warlord. Even the announcer, a creature known for its constant, booming narration, hesitated. It was as if the entire galaxy was holding its breath.
Then, the crowd erupted.
Some cheered, others roared in protest, and countless more placed last-second wagers on whether Kael would survive the next few minutes.
Kael barely registered the noise. His entire body burned from within. The electricity he had just wielded left his limbs twitching, static dancing across his nerves. He barely had time to process what had happened.
I shouldn't be able to do that.
Then the pain hit.
Kael dropped to one knee, his vision flickering like a broken holo-screen. His muscles locked up, his breathing became shallow, and his heart pounded erratically. Blackout. He had pushed too far, drawn on more energy than his body could handle. His awakening had come at a price.
Two armored enforcers stomped into the arena, their black visors concealing their expressions. They carried stun-spears, weapons designed to subdue even the most unruly gladiators.
Kael couldn't move.
If they took him now, he'd be executed, or worse—experimented on like some anomaly.
A shadow loomed over him. One of the enforcers raised his spear.
Kael braced for the strike.
A deafening crack split the air. The spear snapped in half mid-swing, as if an unseen force had crushed it. The enforcer stumbled back, startled.
"Stand down."
The voice was calm, yet absolute.
Kael forced his head up. A figure in dark robes stood at the edge of the arena. Unlike the announcer, this being radiated authority. The crowd immediately quieted. Even the enforcers hesitated.
The robed figure lowered his hood, revealing a face etched with glowing red markings, shifting and pulsing like living circuits. His eyes—silver and unnervingly calm—locked onto Kael.
"The boy lives."
Murmurs spread through the stadium like wildfire. The gladiator rules were absolute—no weaklings, no mercy. And yet, this figure had just declared Kael worthy of survival.
The announcer finally found its voice. "Our esteemed Overseer has spoken! The human is not to be executed… but tested! Let him face the Crucible!"
Kael barely registered the words. His body gave in to exhaustion, and the last thing he saw was the Overseer's piercing gaze before the darkness swallowed him.
The Crucible Begins
Kael woke to cold steel against his wrists. His arms were bound in heavy metal cuffs, the tight grip of energy restraints biting into his skin. A dull ache pulsed through his body.
His first instinct was to reach for his power, but nothing happened. The air around him hummed, like a silent cage suppressing his abilities.
He wasn't alone.
Across from him, leaning against a pillar, was a man with silver tattoos running down his arms—another human. Older, hardened, with sharp, predatory eyes.
The man smirked when he noticed Kael staring.
"Didn't expect to see another one of us, did you?"
Kael's throat was dry. He forced the words out.
"Where am I?"
"The Crucible," the man said. "A proving ground for freaks like you and me."
Kael's fingers curled into fists. The Crucible. A testing ground. A place where the Overseers measured the worth of gladiators. He wasn't sure whether that meant an opportunity… or a death sentence.
The man stood, rolling his shoulders. His tattoos sparked, electricity dancing between his fingertips.
"Name's Ryven," he said. "Been here a while."
Kael frowned. "You're… like me?"
Ryven's grin widened. "I was. Before they locked me in here."
Kael tensed. He had so many questions, but no time to ask them. The cell door hissed open, revealing two heavily armed guards with glowing visors.
"On your feet," one barked. "You're up."
Kael and Ryven exchanged a glance before stepping forward. Kael's legs still felt weak, but the fire inside him burned hotter than before.
Trial of Dominion
The guards led them through a series of cold, metallic corridors, until they reached a massive chamber—a second coliseum, but smaller, more contained.
A circular platform floated in the center, hovering over an endless abyss of darkness. Dozens of alien figures watched from elevated seats, their faces obscured by shadows.
A voice echoed from above.
"You stand before the Trial of Dominion."
Kael recognized the voice. The Overseer.
"Only those who prove their strength may earn their place among the awakened."
A metallic hatch opened in the arena floor. A beast emerged—a hulking, mechanical construct, its limbs laced with crackling energy coils. Its red optics locked onto Kael.
Ryven sighed. "Great. They're throwing us a warm-up round."
Kael's muscles tensed. No weapons. No power. Just raw survival.
The construct lunged.
Kael dodged, barely avoiding the metallic claws that gouged a chunk out of the arena floor. Sparks rained down. He rolled to the side, scanning for weaknesses.
"Don't get grabbed!" Ryven shouted. "Those claws can rip through a Morgath's armor!"
Kael didn't need the warning. He could feel the energy pulsing from the machine, like an untamed storm. If he could just tap into it—
Pain lanced through his skull. His body still wasn't fully adjusted to his power.
"Damn it," he growled, ducking as the machine swung again.
Ryven moved first, sliding beneath the machine's legs and slamming his cuffs against one of its joints. A spark jumped between them, just enough to make the machine falter.
"Hah! Still got it!" Ryven grinned.
Kael lunged forward, using the distraction to grab onto the beast's shoulder. The moment his skin touched the metal, he felt the current within—raw, untapped power surging through its circuits.
A single thought crossed his mind.
Mine.
Electricity jumped from the machine's body to Kael's hands. His veins burned, but he held on, siphoning the charge into himself.
The machine twitched, its movements faltering. Its red optics flickered.
Kael gritted his teeth. More.
Lightning erupted from his palms, coursing into the machine's core. With a final convulsion, the construct collapsed, smoke rising from its shattered form.
Silence.
Then, the Overseer spoke.
"Interesting."
The crowd murmured. This was no ordinary awakening.
"Prepare the next challenge."
Kael exhaled, his heartbeat still crackling with energy.
He wasn't done yet.