Kairis opened his eyes to the dim ceiling of a medical bay. The air smelled of alcohol and steel. His entire body throbbed with a dull ache, wrapped in layers of bandages, but he was alive.
Alive. And heavier. The void clung to him now, coiled around his bones like a second skeleton.
"Brother!" Elyra's voice cut through his haze. She was there at his bedside, her silver hair matted, her eyes red-rimmed from crying but still sharp with that stubborn will she carried. Aeren stood behind her, the boy's fists clenched tight like he wanted to fight the whole world for what happened to Kairis.
Kairis forced himself upright, wincing. "Still here, idiots. Don't look at me like I'm a corpse."
Elyra scowled, but the relief in her face betrayed her. "You nearly were. Do you even realize how much blood you lost?"
"Enough to paint the damn harbor," Kairis muttered, smirking even as his chest burned. "But the other guy lost more."
Aeren looked at him like he was some kind of monster—and maybe he was.
Later that day, Kaiyara stepped into the room. The Awakener Network agent wasn't smiling this time. Her eyes flicked over the siblings before landing on Kairis.
"You're not subtle," she said flatly. "Half the stronghold heard about the harbor."
Kairis shrugged, leaning back on the cot. "Not my fault the bastards wanted to tear me apart. I just returned the favor."
Kaiyara didn't argue. Instead, she placed a data slate on the table. The screen glowed with a symbol he didn't recognize—two overlapping circles with a crown above them.
"The Council of Awakeners is hosting the next Gathering. You've been asked to attend."
Kairis narrowed his eyes. "And why the hell would I do that?"
"Because you've drawn too much attention," Kaiyara replied. "You're not the only one with… patrons. There are others. Apostles of different gods. They'll be there. The Gathering isn't just for politics—it's for rankings. Dragon, God, Abyssal. The higher your rank, the more authority and resources you command. If you want your siblings safe, you need to stand your ground in front of them."
Kairis snorted. "So, fight other awakened assholes for sport. Sounds like fun."
Elyra frowned. "Brother—"
"Relax," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "If this is the game they're playing, I'll play. Just means more bodies to break, more dark matter to chew on."
That night, when he was finally alone, the system stirred again.
[Dark Matter Absorbed: +240]
[Level Up → 14]
[Stats Increased]
[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Rend]
[New Skill Unlocked: Void Echo (Passive)]
Kairis hissed through his teeth as the surge hit him. His veins burned black for a moment, his shadow rippling unnaturally against the wall. He flexed his hand and felt reality bend faintly under his fingertips.
Then came the title pulsing in his mind:
[Title: Apostle of the Void – Active]
[Effect Expanded: Shadows obey your command. Weaker creatures will bow. Stronger ones will resist, but all will feel you.]
Kairis chuckled to himself, low and dangerous. "Dragon rankings… God rankings… Abyssal rankings…" His grin widened. "Guess we'll find out where the void puts me."
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Somewhere out there, other apostles were sharpening their blades, their gods whispering in their ears. And soon, he'd meet them.
But not as prey.
As predator.