Chains of Dominion
He staggered, his vision swimming as whispers filled the air. The voices were endless—pleading, screaming, mocking. Some offered power, others whispered ruin. Each word burrowed into his thoughts, trying to unravel his focus. Li Tian gritted his teeth and pushed forward, his steps heavy as if he walked through a sea of shadows. The void pulsed in rhythm with the whispers, feeding on their presence.
"Do not falter," the figure's voice echoed, distant and sharp. "This is your test."
Li Tian's head snapped up. The chained figure stood at the edge of the chamber, its glowing eyes fixed on him. The shadows writhed around it, and for the first time, Li Tian saw something akin to respect in its gaze. Yet, beneath that respect, there was a flicker of doubt, as if it questioned whether Li Tian was truly prepared.
"What is happening?" Li Tian growled. "What is this?"
"The void is testing you," the figure replied. "You have bound its heart, but now you must bind its will. Fail, and it will consume you."
Li Tian clenched his fists, the orb pulsing angrily in response. Its energy throbbed, wild and unstable, as though it hungered for release. "And if I succeed?"
The figure's voice darkened. "Then you will wield what few have ever dared to control."
The shadows thickened, forming shapes in the gloom. Figures began to emerge—tall, cloaked in black, their faces hidden. Chains hung from their bodies, rattling as they moved closer. Their movements were deliberate, slow but purposeful, and each step they took resonated through the floor.
"Who are they?" Li Tian demanded.
"They are the lost," the figure said. "Those who sought to master the void and failed. Their chains bind them, and they exist only to drag others down."
The figures advanced, their chains clinking like a death knell. Li Tian's pulse quickened as the void within him surged, urging him to act. He raised his hands, and tendrils of energy lashed out, striking the nearest shadow. The force of his attack shattered it, sending pieces of shadow scattering into the air.
It dissolved, but the others pressed on. The chains rattled louder, and the air grew heavier. Li Tian's vision blurred, the pressure threatening to overwhelm him. Each step the shadows took increased the weight bearing down on him.
"Control it!" the figure barked. "Focus your will!"
Li Tian roared, drawing the void inward. The orb in his palm flared, and the tendrils of energy thickened, becoming blades that carved through the shadows. The chains snapped, falling lifeless to the ground, but more shadows rose to take their place, their movements growing faster and more erratic.
Desperation clawed at Li Tian's chest. He pushed harder, but the void resisted, its hunger growing with every strike. It wanted more—more energy, more chaos. He could feel it slipping, pulling away from his control like a raging storm barely held in check.
"No!" Li Tian shouted, slamming his hands together. A shockwave burst outward, throwing the shadows back. For a moment, the chamber fell silent, but the void still simmered, seething just beneath the surface.
The chained figure stepped forward. "Better. But you are still holding back."
Li Tian's knees buckled. "If I let go, it will consume me."
"Only if you allow it," the figure said. "The void is power, but it is also hunger. Feed it what it craves—but on your terms."
Li Tian's eyes snapped open. He drew the void inward again, this time channeling it into the orb. The energy flowed, but he didn't resist. Instead, he shaped it, molding the chaotic force into sharp, focused lines. The orb pulsed brighter, its light pushing back against the shadows.
The shadows surged again, but Li Tian met them head-on. Tendrils of void energy danced around him, cutting through the figures like a storm. Chains shattered, and the shadows screamed as they dissolved into mist, but the echoes of their cries lingered, leaving a weight in the air that made Li Tian's skin crawl.
The orb pulsed, brighter now, and Li Tian could feel it responding to his will. It no longer fought him—it obeyed.
When the last shadow fell, the chamber grew still. The runes along the walls dimmed, and the oppressive weight of the void lessened. Li Tian staggered but remained standing.
The chained figure approached. "You have done well," it said. "But the void is not yet fully bound. Its heart is yours, but its dominion is not. That will require more."
Li Tian looked at the orb, its surface swirling with dark energy. The voices were gone, replaced by a low hum that felt almost like approval, yet the hunger remained, coiled and waiting.
"What happens now?" he asked.
"Now you learn to wield it," the figure said. "You have bound the heart, but true mastery requires sacrifice. The void does not give without taking."
Li Tian's chest tightened. He knew the words were true. Already, he could feel the void demanding more—testing him, waiting for him to falter.
"I'll face whatever comes," Li Tian said, his voice steady.
The figure nodded. "Then your training begins."
The shadows stirred once more, but this time, they did not attack. Instead, they coiled around the chamber, forming patterns along the walls and floor. The chains rattled, but they did not bind.
Li Tian stepped forward, the orb pulsing in his palm. The void was his now—or so he hoped.
The figure's voice echoed once more. "Prepare yourself. This was only the first battle. The war is yet to come."