Lord of Deception

The first Abyssal Hunter lunged.

A nightmare of claws and fire, its elongated limbs twisted unnaturally as it moved, its violet eyes glowing with a hunger beyond reason. Evelyne reacted first—her silver blade flashing as she stepped forward, her movement a precise counter to the creature's attack.

Steel met flesh. The creature shrieked, ichor spilling from the wound, but it didn't falter. It surged forward, forcing Evelyne back.

Kael didn't move. He watched. Studied.

Her footwork was sharp. Trained. But she fought with rage, with desperation—she wasn't thinking ahead. A warrior like that? Predictable. Vulnerable.

A second creature moved. Kael stepped in.

His body blurred, slipping past its strike. No wasted motion. His fingers snapped toward its throat—a simple touch.

A pulse of power rippled from his hand. The sigil on his chest burned beneath his skin.

The creature convulsed. For a split second, it became still.

And then it collapsed, its own body crushing inward—devoured from the inside.

One touch. One death.

Kael exhaled. The mark burned hotter. He couldn't use it again. Not yet.

Evelyne slashed through another creature, her breath sharp. "What was that?"

Kael didn't answer. Instead, he turned—more were coming.

They were being watched.

The battle ended in minutes.

Evelyne stood amidst the corpses, her blade dripping with black ichor. She was breathing hard, a fresh cut on her shoulder. Kael? Untouched.

He looked down at one of the creatures, its body still smoldering from his magic. Something was wrong.

These weren't normal Abyssal Hunters. They were stronger. Controlled.

"A test," Kael realized.

Someone had sent them.

His eyes flickered toward the ruins beyond. The Abyss was a graveyard of lost things, but nothing stayed forgotten forever.

Evelyne sheathed her sword. "We need to keep moving."

Kael smirked. "Suddenly trusting me?"

She hesitated. "No. But I trust that you want to survive."

Smart.

He turned toward the path ahead. "Then let's go. There's someone I need to meet."

They traveled through the ruined expanse of the Abyss, its endless darkness stretching before them. Kael led the way, but not at random.

He could feel it—a presence pulling him forward.

A voice, just beyond hearing.

Evelyne didn't question it. Maybe she thought he knew the way. Maybe she was just too tired to argue. Either way, Kael didn't care.

The temple loomed ahead. An ancient structure, untouched by time. Its entrance was marked with symbols older than the realms themselves.

Evelyne tensed. "This place… it feels wrong."

Kael smiled. Good.

They stepped inside.

And the voice spoke.

"You have finally come, Anomaly."

Evelyne reached for her sword. Kael didn't move.

A figure materialized from the shadows—tall, robed, faceless. Its presence was like a weight on reality itself.

Kael exhaled. "You know who I am."

The figure tilted its head. "I know what you are."

Evelyne looked between them. "Kael, what is this?"

He didn't answer. His eyes remained locked on the entity. "Then you know why I'm here."

A pause. And then, laughter.

"You seek dominion over fate. But fate does not yield so easily."

Kael smiled. "Then I'll break it."

The air shifted. The game had begun.

And Kael would win.

To be continued.....