dark descendent lurking fate

1. The Sudden Gale

Ash stood between two titans of power—

The Necromancer's Throne, shadowy and cold, bound by chains of soul energy.

The Beast-King's Throne, majestic and wild, throbbing with primal strength and the roars of his bound spirits.

Then—

A gust of wind, sharp and piercing, cut through the void.

Ash turned quickly.

Behind the swirling fog emerged a third throne—sleek, silver-grey, floating above the ground without touching it.

Its back curled like storm-wrought wings, its seat shaped by swirling winds.

This was no throne born from blood or scrolls.

This was his innate element—his soul's nature.

The Throne of Howling Gust.

---

2. The Awakening of Wind

Ash stared, stunned.

He hadn't cultivated wind.

He hadn't nurtured it.

Yet the throne stood proud, refusing to bow to the other two.

It existed because it was his—not gifted, not claimed, but inborn.

The air around him pulsed with wind symbols. Breezes twisted around his fingers. The throne pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.

> "I… never realized," he whispered. "My element—was always wind."

Shen Mu's voice echoed distantly.

> "You never cultivated it. But the heavens never withdrew it. Now it reclaims its place."

---

3. A Clash of Wills

Suddenly—

The three thrones trembled.

Chains on the Necromancer throne began to lash outward.

The Beast-King throne's green mist turned wild and oppressive.

The Wind Throne howled as a cyclone spiraled around it.

Ash backed away.

Then—

The thrones clashed.

The entire dream realm shuddered.

Power surged.

Spiritual waves collided.

Beasts roared. Spirits screamed. Wind howled.

> "Stop it!" Ash shouted. "You're all me!"

But they didn't listen.

They fought to dominate.

To control the core of his cultivation.

Ash dropped to his knees, holding his head.

It felt like his soul was tearing apart.

---

4. Balance in the Storm

Then—

A whisper.

It wasn't Shen Mu.

It wasn't any of the spirits.

It was… himself.

> "You are not my masters," Ash said, through gritted teeth.

> "You are my thrones. My paths. My power."

He stood.

> "You do not fight each other. You fight for me."

With every word, his spiritual presence surged.

Ash forced his energy outward, surrounding the thrones with his own soul force.

> "You are not rivals. You are my foundation."

The wind softened.

The mist calmed.

Chains returned to their throne.

The thrones… submitted.

Not to each other.

But to Ash.

---

5. Triune Path

Shen Mu appeared again, his form more defined than ever before.

> "You did what even most sages cannot. You established balance in chaos."

Ash's body radiated three auras:

The green flame of the Beast-King.

The blue-grey wind of the Howling Gust.

The ghostly chains of the Necromancer.

> "Three thrones…" Shen Mu whispered. "That is not a path. It is a revolution."

Ash looked at him.

> "What am I?"

> "A cultivator who will either ascend higher than any ever did… or collapse under the weight of your own spirit."

---

6. Awakening Draws Near

Far away in the outer world—

The wind shifted.

Clouds swirled in unnatural spirals.

Three ancient beasts raised their heads toward the sky, sensing a disturbance in the fate of the realms.

And on a shattered cliff near a black altar, a single green flame burned quietly, waiting.

Waiting…

For Ash to wake up.