Master of divine shards

The desert night was eerily quiet, the vast expanse of stars casting a faint glow over the barren land. The group sat in a loose circle around their modest campfire, the flames flickering against the oppressive darkness. Vael stood apart, his shadow stretching long behind him as he studied the horizon.

Kael watched the old warrior warily. "You sure about this, Eren? We barely know him."

Eren looked up from sharpening his blade, the fragments at his side pulsing faintly. "If what he says is true, we need his help. You saw what Malrik did back there—we wouldn't have made it out without luck."

Liora chimed in, her tone cautious. "Luck won't save us next time. If Vael knows how to use the fragments without losing himself, we should listen."

Vael turned to them, his expression unreadable. "It's not about using the fragments. It's about mastering their influence. You can't fight Malrik until you understand the balance between their power and their corruption."

He motioned for Eren to stand.

"If you're ready, we begin now."

---

The Trial of the Fragments

Vael led Eren to a secluded spot away from the fire, where the air seemed thicker, heavy with unspoken tension. The fragments at Eren's side began to glow brighter, their energy pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

"Sit," Vael commanded, his tone firm.

Eren obeyed, lowering himself to the ground. Vael knelt across from him, his glowing tattoos faintly illuminating the space between them.

"The fragments are alive in their own way," Vael began. "They will test you, push you, try to break you. If you let them, they will consume you."

Eren frowned. "And if I resist?"

Vael's gaze hardened. "Then they will respect you. But make no mistake—the fragments don't care about your will. They crave only destruction. The question is whether you can harness that hunger without letting it define you."

Vael placed his hands over Eren's, guiding them to rest on the fragments.

"Close your eyes. Focus. Let them speak to you."

---

A Vision of Power and Despair

As Eren closed his eyes, the world around him dissolved into darkness. The fragments' glow intensified, their light consuming his senses until he found himself standing in an endless void.

Before him, a colossal figure emerged—an amalgamation of shadow and light, its form constantly shifting. The being spoke, its voice a chorus of whispers and roars.

"Bearer... you seek our power?"

Eren squared his shoulders. "I seek to stop Malrik. To protect my friends. If your power can help me do that, then yes."

The figure laughed, a sound that reverberated through the void.

"You would use us for your mortal ideals? Foolish. We are chaos. We are ruin. Your desires mean nothing to us."

Suddenly, the void around him shifted, revealing scenes of devastation. Cities burned, their skies choked with ash. Eren saw himself standing amidst the destruction, fragments blazing at his side, his eyes glowing with unholy light.

"No," Eren muttered, shaking his head. "That's not me."

"It is what you will become," the figure intoned. "Unless you surrender yourself to us fully. Only then will you have the strength to face the dark lord."

Eren clenched his fists. "I won't become a monster. I'll fight you if I have to."

The figure loomed closer, its form growing more menacing.

"Fight, then. But know this: your defiance will cost you."

---

The Struggle for Control

Back in the physical world, Eren's body tensed, his breathing quickening as the fragments' energy flared violently. Liora and Kael rushed toward him, but Vael held up a hand, stopping them.

"He must face this alone," Vael said grimly.

Eren's mind was a battlefield. The figure lashed out with tendrils of shadow, each strike testing his resolve. Eren countered with bursts of light summoned from deep within, his determination fueled by memories of Liora's smile, Kael's loyalty, and the purpose they had shared since the beginning of their journey.

"You don't control me," Eren growled, each word a declaration of defiance. "I control you."

With a final surge of will, he plunged his sword into the heart of the shadowy figure. The void erupted in a blinding flash, and the whispers fell silent.

---

Emerging Changed

Eren opened his eyes, his chest heaving as if he'd just run a marathon. The fragments were quiet now, their glow steady and subdued.

Vael studied him closely, a hint of approval in his eyes. "You've passed the first test. But the fragments are patient. They will wait for moments of weakness to strike again."

Eren stood, his legs shaky but his resolve unshaken. "I'll be ready."

Kael and Liora approached, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"What happened?" Liora asked, her voice soft.

Eren met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm still me. That's all that matters."

---

Foreshadowing the Storm

As the group settled back by the campfire, Vael's gaze lingered on Eren.

"The fragments respect strength," Vael said. "But you'll need more than strength to face Malrik. He's already claimed what you fear most."

Eren frowned. "What do you mean?"

Vael's expression darkened. "He has mastered the fragments. And he will use that mastery to destroy everything you hold dear."

The words hung heavily in the air, a grim reminder of the challenges yet to come.

Far away, in the heart of a ruined stronghold, Malrik stood before a dark altar, the fragments in his possession pulsating with malevolent energy.

"They are coming," Malrik murmured, his bone mask glinting in the dim light. "And they will fall."