The massive iron doors groaned open, and Kaelion was shoved forward into a throne room of death and silence.
At the far end, seated upon a twisted throne of black stone and bone, was the Soul King.
In his hand, a glowing white Soul Stone pulsed with a ghostly light. Around him, shadowy figures—souls trapped in armor—stood watch like statues.
The Soul King leaned forward, voice deep and cold:
"You've touched power you cannot control, boy."
"And for that, you will pay."
Kaelion stood his ground, even as the oppressive weight of the Soul King's magic pushed down on him.
"I won't be your puppet," Kaelion spat.
"I'll never serve you."
The Soul King chuckled lowly, the sound rattling the very floor.
"Bravery... or foolishness?"
"It matters not. Soon, you will kneel like all the others."
The Soul Stone flashed brightly in his palm.
The trapped souls moaned—a sound like a hundred lost voices crying out at once.
Kaelion's fists clenched.
The Earth Stone within him throbbed, fighting against the dark magic—but it wasn't enough. Not here. Not yet.
The Soul King raised his hand.
"Surrender your will. Now."
Kaelion gritted his teeth, ready to fight until the end.
Suddenly—
A blinding flash of blue light erupted beside him.
A figure cloaked in gray and blue appeared, a glowing stone gripped tightly in their hand.
Before Kaelion could react, the figure grabbed his wrist.
"Hold on!" the stranger barked.
The world twisted. The throne room shattered like glass.
The last thing Kaelion heard before the world vanished was the Soul King's furious roar:
"NO!"
The teleport left Kaelion breathless. He stumbled to his knees on soft grass, gasping for air. Cool night air rushed into his lungs.
They were... outside. Somewhere deep in the woods.
The stranger knelt beside him, pulling back their hood—a young man, maybe a few years older than Kaelion, with sharp green eyes and messy silver hair.
"You alright?" the stranger asked, tossing the Teleport Stone into the air and catching it again.
Kaelion coughed, still stunned. "Who... who are you?"
The stranger grinned.
"Name's Raik. Let's just say... I'm not a fan of the Soul King either."
Kaelion blinked, struggling to process what had just happened.
Raik stood, offering a hand.
"Come on, Kaelion. Your story's just beginning."
Kaelion took his hand.
Somewhere far behind them, in the darkness of the woods, the Soul King's rage shook the night.
But Kaelion was free.
For now.