Kaelith The Void 2

Kaelith stood tall amidst the wreckage, the twin-dragon-edged sword in his grip gleaming under the dim sky. The spirals in his eyes shimmered like unending whirlpools, carrying an air of mystery and menace. His stance was firm, almost regal, as he surveyed the squad with a condescending smirk.

"You might as well come at me all at once," he taunted, raising the blade to rest on his shoulder. "Anything less will be boring."

The squad exchanged brief glances. Ubel's brow furrowed as his sharp mind calculated the variables. Velvet's body crackled with blue lightning, their hands tightening around their guitar-axe. Leo clenched his fists, his determination radiating like a silent inferno. Kouneli's eyes glimmered with an unsettling crimson hue as blood energy pulsated around him, raw and volatile. Eris held her divine greatsword aloft, her face calm yet fierce.

"Together, then," Ubel commanded, his voice cold and precise.

They launched themselves at Kaelith simultaneously, a blur of synchronized motion. Leo was the first to close the distance, his fist glowing with windy energy as he swung at Kaelith's head. Velvet unleashed a barrage of lightning-charged javelins, while Kouneli sent a wave of blood spikes ripping through the ground. Eris came from above, her greatsword cleaving down with fiery might.

Kaelith's eyes gleamed. "Predictable."

He moved with impossible speed, his sword dancing like a living serpent. Each attack was effortlessly deflected, the squad's blows redirected with flawless precision. The spirals in his eyes flared, and suddenly their own attacks turned against them. Velvet's lightning bolts curved back toward them, forcing them to deflect with a desperate spin. Kouneli's blood spikes veered and nearly impaled him, while Eris narrowly avoided being struck by her own fiery slash.

"What the—?" Leo gritted his teeth as his fist was caught by a spiral portal, nearly slamming into Ubel, who ducked just in time.

Kaelith laughed. "I see all your spirals. Past, present, and future. Your paths are nothing but threads waiting to be woven—or unraveled."

Ubel's eyes narrowed. "He's manipulating space and trajectories with those spirals. We need to break his control somehow."

Kaelith twirled his blade, the twin dragon edges gleaming. "I was trained by the first prophet himself, the true master of the Lord's Stance. Compared to him, you're all nothing but blind children swinging sticks."

"The first prophet?" Ubel's curiosity piqued despite the dire situation. "Who is that?"

Kaelith's expression darkened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "The strongest mortal to ever live. The Lord of Everything. The man who will take everything from this world."

Before Ubel could press further, Kaelith lunged, his sword slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The squad barely managed to dodge as the ground erupted from the force of his strike.

"We can't keep this up!" Leo growled, panting. "He's too fast."

"Then we make him slower," Ubel said, his mind racing. "Velvet, Kouneli, focus on disrupting his movements. Eris, cover us with heavy strikes. Leo, you're with me."

They sprang back into action. Velvet's body surged with blue lightning as they zipped across the battlefield, creating arcs of electricity that forced Kaelith to stay on the defensive. Kouneli unleashed a torrent of blood tendrils, forming barriers and traps that limited Kaelith's maneuverability. Eris unleashed devastating slashes, each one shaking the ground.

Kaelith's movements began to slow, but his expression twisted into a wicked grin. "Impressive. But I'm just getting started."

The spirals in his eyes intensified, and his body began to unravel. Tendrils of dark energy erupted from his form, twisting and writhing like serpents. His limbs distorted and reformed, grotesque and powerful.

"He's sacrificing his body for power," Ubel realized, his voice grim. "That's his Resonance—Unravel."

Kaelith roared, his voice echoing through the cavern. He moved with newfound ferocity, each strike carrying the force of a tempest. The squad struggled to keep up, their defenses faltering under the onslaught.

Velvet was flung across the battlefield, their body crackling with sparks. Kouneli's blood tendrils were shredded by Kaelith's spirals. Eris gritted her teeth as she blocked a devastating blow, her arms trembling from the impact.

"We can't win like this," Leo panted, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead.

Ubel's eyes gleamed with cold determination. "Then we outsmart him."

He whispered a plan to the squad, his voice calm despite the chaos. They nodded, their resolve renewed.

The battle resumed, but this time their movements were calculated, precise. Velvet and Kouneli created a diversion, their attacks wild and chaotic to draw Kaelith's attention. Eris and Leo positioned themselves strategically, while Ubel prepared the final move.

Kaelith laughed. "Desperation won't save you!"

He lunged at Velvet, but they dodged with a sudden burst of speed, leading him toward a blood trap set by Kouneli. Kaelith stumbled, momentarily disoriented. Eris seized the opportunity, her greatsword slamming into him with the force of a meteor.

Kaelith roared in pain, but before he could recover, Ubel's voice rang out. "Now!"

Leo and Ubel unleashed a combined attack, their energies intertwining into a blazing spiral of fire and wind. The blast struck Kaelith square in the chest, sending him crashing into the ground. The spirals in his eyes flickered and dimmed.

Kaelith's body lay in a crater, battered and unraveling. The spirals in his eyes flickered weakly as he struggled to prop himself up. His sword lay shattered beside him, twin dragon edges dulled and broken.

The squad surrounded him, each of them wounded but standing tall. Ubel's expression was cold and calculating as he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the defeated Voidwalker.

"You lost," Ubel stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "But you're not dead yet."

Kaelith's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Is that supposed to be mercy?"

"No," Ubel replied sharply. "It's an opportunity. Tell me about the first prophet."

Kaelith's expression twisted with pain, but the hint of arrogance lingered in his spiraling eyes. "The first prophet... is the lord of everything. The strongest mortal to ever walk this cursed world. He will reshape it all, taking everything for himself."

"What's his name?" Ubel demanded, stepping closer.

Kaelith hesitated, his voice faltering. "His name is—"

Suddenly, Ubel's sharp senses flared. His eyes widened as he felt it—a surge of malicious ether that crashed over the battlefield like a tidal wave. No, two surges. One colossal and chaotic, the other controlled and suffocating in its greed.

"Everyone, back!" Ubel shouted, leaping away from Kaelith.

The squad followed his command without hesitation, retreating to defensive positions. From the shadows, two figures emerged.

The first was short and wiry, his frame brimming with unnatural energy. His wild eyes glinted with madness, and his grin stretched disturbingly wide, sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. His body emanated a malevolent aura, flickering with chaotic energy that twisted the air around him.

The second was taller, draped in shimmering gold-trimmed robes. His face was obscured by a hood, but the glint of cold, calculating eyes shone through. Rings of various precious metals adorned his fingers, each gleaming with unnatural etheric power. His entire presence exuded avarice, as if the very air around him bent to his desire for possession.

The short one cackled gleefully as he bounded toward Kaelith. "Oh, Kaelith, you were fun while you lasted! But now it's time for dinner!"

"No!" Kaelith's voice wavered, but his body was too weak to resist.

Before anyone could react, the short figure opened his maw impossibly wide, rows of jagged teeth glinting like a monstrous void. With a sickening sound, he devoured Kaelith whole, spirals and all, leaving not even a trace behind.

"Kaelith!" Velvet shouted in shock.

The short figure wiped his mouth with a satisfied grin. "Mmm, delicious." He turned to the squad, his eyes gleaming with unholy glee. "You can call me Baitenkaos Vorare, the Sixth Prophet of the Ministry. I represent gluttony. And that," he gestured toward the taller figure, "is my good friend."

The taller figure stepped forward, his voice smooth and commanding. "I am Orvenis Vassal, Fifth Prophet of the Ministry, representing greed."

Ubel's gaze hardened. "Prophets, huh? What are you doing here?"

Baitenkaos licked his lips. "Cleaning up Kaelith's mess, obviously. He was a bit... expendable."

Orvenis's eyes gleamed. "We were also curious about you."

A tense silence hung in the air, the weight of their presence pressing down on the squad like a suffocating fog. Ubel clenched his fists, his mind racing for a strategy. This was far from over.