Kael stood at the heart of the scorched valley surrounded by the ashes of the demons he had just slaughtered his hand still glowing with the remnants of abyssal fire the sky above remained stained with the crimson hue of falling embers a silence hung in the air thick heavy broken only by the distant sound of footsteps crunching through bone and soot
From the far end of the broken ridge a group emerged clad in the bloodstained remnants of shattered kingdoms they bore no flags no symbols only the mark of exile on their flesh these were not soldiers they were wraiths survivors of a long dead age led by a woman with silver hair and eyes as pale as snow
She stared at Kael with neither fear nor awe only recognition her voice rang out cold sharp as frost
You have come far Reborn But you are not the only one who crawled out of death
Kael raised his arm blood dripping from his fingers his voice was deeper now more ancient each word soaked in the void he had swallowed
You know me
The woman nodded slowly
I was the high priestess of the flame before your first death before the towers fell before the world drowned in shadow I saw what you were meant to become and I tried to stop it
She stepped forward and with her movement the land responded the snow beneath her feet turned to ash the air rippled her presence was not divine it was cursed
Kael walked toward her slowly his body still pulsing with power behind him the corpses of the demon brood still twitched black ichor pooling beneath their shattered skulls
Then you failed he said and now I am everything you feared
She raised her hand a massive glyph ignited in the sky spinning with thousands of glowing runes the ancient flame of origin summoned from a time before memory the sky cracked open and from the heavens descended a creature of blinding gold and impossible heat a fire titan forged in the breath of forgotten gods
The flames it brought were not like Kaels his were cruel alive chaotic this was ordered ancient obedient fire that erased without hate
The titan roared and Kael stood unmoving his shadow stretching long beneath the light
From behind the broken cliffs came another movement an ambush from three sides skeletal beasts rose from the sand their bones charred with infernal runes their eyes burning pits of green fire twisted creations from the sorcerers of the deep marsh
Kael did not look back he merely extended his arm and the ground beneath him opened with a howl of pure darkness dozens of blackened chains surged forth spearing the incoming monsters mid lunge tearing their bodies apart with bone snapping force
The priestess spoke again
You think you are invincible but your soul is still incomplete the throne of the abyss remains empty and you are not its king not yet
Kael grinned his teeth no longer entirely human
Then let us see who burns first
He launched himself upward toward the fire titan meeting its descent with a storm of blades forged from hatred and memory his strikes were not magic they were revenge given form every swing echoed with screams of those he had lost every impact shattered the sky with thunder
The titan responded in kind punching holes in the air that melted reality each clash shook the valley throwing the remaining enemies to the ground buildings in the far cities crumbled and mountains cracked as the two forces collided
Below the priestess began chanting her voice rising into a violent hymn the ashes of the dead began swirling around her forming a cocoon of embers and whispering spirits her power surged twisting the world around her into a temple of molten stone and soulfire
Kael felt the pull of her spell dragging at his essence trying to sever him from his rebirth but he fought harder the fire titan now bleeding golden fire from the gashes Kael carved into its celestial hide screamed in fury and gripped Kael with burning hands
The pain was total Kaels flesh peeled his skin blistered but he did not scream he laughed instead the sound splitting the air
Through the flames came a figure a child with horns and black wings his eyes were empty yet endless
He looked at Kael
Do you wish for more
Kael bled from the eyes but nodded
Then take it
The child vanished and Kael erupted in black flame his bones reforging in real time his heart beating with the sound of drums from a forgotten war his power surged beyond mortal understanding
He broke free of the titan with a single pulse its body began to crack molten light spilling from within and with one final blow Kael plunged his hand into its chest pulled out its heart and crushed it between his fingers
The titan collapsed and the sky dimmed for the first time in an age
The priestess knelt in the rubble her face calm even as her spell unraveled
You have gone too far Reborn she whispered
Kael descended landing before her a shadow against the ruin
Not far enough
And he reached forward wrapping his hand around her throat her body burned her soul screamed and in the silence that followed only the wind remained
Kael turned toward the horizon where more lights gathered where new threats waited where his vengeance was not yet complete
He walked forward and the ground died beneath his steps