Moonlight fractured through the cracked ceiling of the Heart Chamber as winged aberrations poured in—hundreds of twisted forms, all snarling claws and hollow eyes. At their forefront strode the horned monstrosity from Lysandra's warning, its bulk taller than any creature Kaien had faced. Bones jutted from its shoulders like jagged armor, and a low rumble of darkness vibrated in its throat.
Kaien Veylor cradled the Celestial Essence shard in one hand. His other gripped Ashfall, blade humming with renewed power. Beside him, Lysandra of the Obsidian Circle braced her staff, runes blazing violet‑white.
"Hold the line," Kaien called, voice firm despite the roar of oncoming beasts. "I will draw their focus."
Lysandra nodded. "Together then. Let the rift trial our strength."
The First Clash
Kaien stepped forward, the shard's light pulsing like a heartbeat in his palm. A trio of aberrations charged, wings thrumming. He thrust the shard upward. A beam of pure radiance shot forth, slicing through the closest beast and vaporizing it. The second staggered and turned to flee, only to be cut down by a spinning slash of Ashfall.
The horned monstrosity roared in fury and charged. Kaien met it head‑on, sparks flying as steel met claw. He felt the Protocol interface activate:
"Skill available: Celestial Surge. Recommended use for high tier adversaries."
He slammed the shard into his chest. Light flared and spread across his armor. His senses heightened till every sound, every breath felt like thunder in his veins. His muscles pumped with divine energy.
He braced and swung Ashfall in a horizontal arc. The blade cleaved through shadow like water, bisecting two aberrations in a single stroke. Their forms dissipated in sizzling motes of darkness.
Behind him, Lysandra unleashed a wall of arcane glyphs. A violet barrier blossomed, repelling a wave of charging beasts. She chanted rapidly:
"Seal of Nightfall activate."
A net of starlight webs snared dozens of creatures. They thrashed and wailed before collapsing into ash.
Lysandra's Secret
As Kaien battled, he noticed Lysandra's expression shift—her brow furrowed, a storm behind her violet eyes. A massive aberration leapt over her barrier and lunged. He intercepted it, driving his blade through its chest. But the strike tore open a hidden wound on Lysandra's arm as she reached to seal another glyph.
Blood bloomed beneath her sleeve. She staggered backward, voice strained:
"Kaien‑san, I… I am weakened by this mana poison."
Kaien skidded to a halt and crouched beside her, deflecting a barrage of small claws with a spin of Ashfall. "What poison? Speak quickly."
Her eyes filled with pain and something deeper—regret. She grasped his arm. "I was once a disciple of the Celestial Council. I stole forbidden elixirs of divine essence to empower myself against rogue gods. The council cursed me with mana poison when they discovered my betrayal. It festers, sapping my strength in divine presence."
Kaien's heart clenched. "Why help me then?"
She met his gaze, fierce and vulnerable. "I saw in you the chance to atone. To use my power for those they abandoned. Stay with me, Kaien Veylor. We finish this."
He nodded. "We end this trial together."
Escalation
Above them, the horned monstrosity reared its head, bellowing a challenge that shook the chamber. Shadows writhed at its feet, birthing fresh aberrations. The ground trembled as if in fear.
"System alert: threat alpha plus. Celestial Surge cooldown at forty percent. Recommend combo with Flame Volley then Ember Lance."
Kaien squeezed the shard. Light flared around Ashfall. He unleashed Flame Volley‑‑a storm of fire orbs that arced through the air, detonating against the horned beast's hide. Flesh burned and cracked, but the creature pressed on, claws tearing stone.
Lysandra muttered a counter‑spell. Her staff erupted in a beam of violet energy that seared the creature's flank. It howled, more in pain than anger, and stomped the ground. Fissures cracked beneath its feet.
Kaien saw his chance. He braced, activated Ember Lance, and hurled a spear of molten flame. It struck the beast's skull, embedding deep before erupting in a burst of heat. The monstrosity staggered, then collapsed with an earth‑shaking impact that sent shockwaves through the chamber.
But its death throes shattered several support pillars. Dust and debris rained from the ceiling. Lysandra collapsed to one knee, coughing smoke and blood.
Kaien dashed to her side, catching her before she fell. He pressed his palm to the shard on his chest as the Protocol whispered:
"Skill available: Healing Light. Recommended immediate use."
He focused the shard's energy on Lysandra. A soft glow enveloped her, knitting torn flesh and cleansing poison from her veins. She gasped as color returned to her cheeks.
"Thank you," she whispered, voice trembling.
Kaien offered a small smile. "Let us move. The rift will not wait."
Deeper into the Abyss
They pressed forward through the crumbling ruins of the chamber. The shard's glow illuminated flickering murals—ancient battles between gods and mortals. Lysandra paused before one depicting a fallen god rising again.
"That was you," she said softly. "One whose name was lost to time."
Kaien frowned. "I have no memory beyond Aelrune. Who was I before?"
She shook her head, uncertainty in her eyes. "The past is buried here somewhere. Perhaps the rift holds those answers."
A distant roar echoed. Beyond a collapsed archway, twisted shapes danced in the shard's light. More aberrations gathered, led by a second horned alpha—smaller, more agile, its eyes glowing an eerie green.
Kaien readied Ashfall. The Protocol chimed:
"Celestial Surge ready. High threat engagement recommended."
He slammed the shard into his chest again. Light flared brighter than before. This time the surge rippled outward in a shockwave that shattered stone and sent aberrations flying into the air. When the light receded, Kaien stood alone amidst broken debris—every beast in range annihilated.
Lysandra stared in awe. "Incredible. You grow stronger by the moment."
Kaien's breath was heavy. "I must learn my limits—and surpass them."
Cliffhanger: The True Guardian
They reached a grand hall at the Rift's core. Stained glass windows long shattered lay scattered across mosaic floors. At the center stood a dais carved from black marble. Upon it rested a second Celestial Essence shard—larger, edged in swirling runes.
Kaien approached, mindful of the shard's power humming like a living thing. He extended a hand—but before his fingers touched the crystal, a voice like rolling thunder filled the hall:
"Who dares claim the second shard of divinity?"
He spun around to face a figure descending from above: a celestial warrior in gleaming armor, wings folded behind him. His spear was aflame with golden fire, eyes like twin suns.
Kaien steadied himself, shard's glow reflecting in his ember‑red eyes. "I am Kaien Veylor, fallen god, and I will not rest until these horrors end."
The warrior landed lightly on the dais. He studied Kaien with unblinking gaze.
"You bear the mark of the Dracovault Protocol. Yet your heart remains untested. Prepare for the final trial."
The warrior raised his spear. Light poured from its tip in a blinding lance that split the hall's shadows. Lysandra stepped forward, staff crackling.
"Kaien, trust in your power—and in me."
Kaien inhaled, steeling his resolve. He pressed the shard into his chest, igniting Celestial Surge for the third time. Light bathed them both.
Above the dais, the second shard pulsed and shattered into motes of pure energy that circled Kaien's head. His power spiked, a divine gust ripping through the chamber.
The celestial warrior lowered his spear. His voice was calm but final:
"Then let your trial begin."