...They no longer drifted like smoke—they surged....
...Violent. Hungry. Alive....
...Kael felt it immediately. The pressure in the air doubled, crushing against his chest, forcing his knees to nearly buckle. The glowing blade in his hand pulsed harder now, as if reacting to the growing darkness....
...The figure stood still at the center of it all, its form barely visible beneath the mass of writhing shadow....
...“…Good,” it said quietly. “You survived the first strike.”...
...Kael tightened his grip....
...“Was that supposed to kill me?!”...
...“Yes.”...
...The answer came without hesitation....
...Kael swallowed hard....
...“Then I won’t hold back either.”...
...The figure raised its hand once more....
...This time, the shadows didn’t gather—they exploded outward....
...WHOOM—!...
...Dark tendrils shot across the ground like living spears, tearing through stone as they rushed toward him from every direction....
...Kael’s eyes widened....
...Too many....
...No escape....
...“Move!” he told himself—but his body hesitated....
...Fear crept in again....
...Fast. Cold. Paralyzing....
...He couldn’t keep up....
...He couldn’t win....
...He was going to die....
...—...
...Then the blade pulsed....
...A sharp surge of energy shot through his arm and into his chest. His heartbeat synchronized with the weapon, each pulse louder than the last....
...Thump....
...Thump....
...Thump....
...The world slowed....
...The rushing shadows… slowed....
...Kael’s breathing steadied....
...Something inside him shifted....
...Not fear....
...Focus....
...“…I see it,” he whispered....
...The paths....
...The openings....
...The flow of the attack....
...Without thinking, Kael moved....
...He stepped forward—not back....
...The first shadow struck—...
...SLASH!...
...Light cut through it instantly....
...The second—...
...SLASH!...
...Gone....
...The third, fourth, fifth—...
...His body moved on its own, faster, sharper, guided by something deeper than instinct....
...Each swing of the blade released arcs of glowing energy, slicing through darkness like it wasn’t even there....
...Within seconds—...
...Silence....
...The shadows were gone....
...Kael stood in the center of the crater, breathing steadily, the blade glowing brighter than before....
...“…What was that?” he muttered....
...The figure watched him closely....
...Then—...
...it laughed....
...A low, broken sound....
...“So the blade awakens,” it said. “You’ve taken your first step.”...
...Kael raised the sword again....
...“What are you?”...
...The figure’s glowing eyes narrowed slightly....
...“I am what comes after,” it replied. “A fragment of the dark that devours stars.”...
...It took a step forward....
...“And you…”...
...Another step....
...“…are the one meant to stop it.”...
...Kael’s grip tightened....
...“Then why try to kill me?!”...
...“Because,” the figure said, its voice lowering, “if you cannot survive me… you will never survive what’s coming.”...
...The ground trembled again....
...But this time—...
...the shadows began to fade....
...The figure’s form flickered, like a flame about to go out....
...“…Our time ends here,” it said....
...Kael’s eyes widened....
...“Wait!”...
...The figure ignored him....
...“Remember this, wielder of the Star Blade…”...
...Its voice echoed, distorting as its body dissolved into darkness....
...“The light you carry…”...
...A pause....
...“…is not pure.”...
...Then—...
...it vanished....
...Silence returned to the cliffs....
...The wind came back....
...The ocean roared below once more....
...As if nothing had happened....
...Kael stood alone, staring at the blade in his hand....
...The glow had softened now—but it was still there....
...Still alive....
...“Not… pure?” he whispered....
...His chest tightened....
...The visions....
...The war....
...The destruction....
...“…What did you choose me for?”...
...The blade pulsed faintly in response....
...But gave no answer....
...Far away—...
...something stirred....
...Deep within the darkness between worlds....
...A pair of ancient eyes slowly opened....
...“…The Star Blade has awakened,” a voice echoed....
...Cold....
...Endless....
...Hungry....
...“Find him.”...
...Kael looked up at the sky....
...The stars above seemed… dimmer....
...And for the first time—...
...he felt it....
...Something out there…...
...was looking back....
...End of Chapter 3 🔥...
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