Chapter 12 – The Path Forward
Kael sat against the cold stone of the ruin, breathing evenly as his body adjusted.
The pain from the altar's ritual had faded, but the effects lingered. His muscles felt heavier, his senses sharper. It wasn't just physical—something within him had shifted.
He looked down at his palm, flexing his fingers. [Abyssal Progenitor – Dormant].
The words had appeared in his mind the moment he touched the altar. He didn't understand what they meant, but the weight behind them was undeniable.
More importantly, nothing about this felt unnatural.
Kael had seen knights blessed by divine power, their abilities manifesting in strange ways. This wasn't so different. It was just another path—one that demanded something in return.
But he still had control.
For now.
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The Watchers' Test
The hall remained silent. The robed figures still stood motionless, observing him. They had done nothing when he passed earlier, but something told him that would not be the case anymore.
Kael rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders.
If they wanted to stop him, now would be the time.
He took a step forward.
The air shifted.
One of the figures moved.
It wasn't a normal motion—it was too smooth, too controlled. Like a puppet being guided by unseen strings.
A second figure stepped forward. Then a third.
Kael didn't hesitate. He had already learned his lesson in the underground fights—waiting for his enemy to strike first was a mistake.
He moved.
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Battle in the Abyssal Ruins
Kael's first strike was clean, aimed directly at the closest figure's neck.
His blade met resistance.
Not armor. Not flesh. Something else.
The figure didn't flinch. Instead, it retaliated with an unnatural speed, forcing Kael to pivot and deflect the attack.
He immediately adapted.
Testing their reactions, he feinted—then struck low. The second blow connected, but the impact felt off.
Like hitting something that wasn't entirely solid.
Kael gritted his teeth and stepped back. These things didn't fight like normal enemies. They weren't bound by the same physical limits.
He had to change his approach.
Lowering his stance, Kael focused on precision. Instead of relying on brute force, he aimed for weak points—joints, gaps in movement. He wasn't just attacking; he was observing.
How do they move? How do they react? What patterns do they follow?
Within seconds, he found an opening.
A subtle delay between their movements. A fraction of a second where their defenses dropped.
Kael exploited it.
His sword pierced through, and this time, the figure staggered. A deep gash tore across its robe, revealing something shifting underneath—something black and formless.
But it wasn't invincible.
That was all Kael needed to know.
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End of the Test
The figures stopped.
Not because they were defeated, but because they had seen enough.
They retreated, moving back to their positions. Whatever test they had given him, he had passed.
Kael exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip on his sword. He had fought countless enemies in his past life, but these were different.
Stronger? Maybe not. But unfamiliar.
He would need time to understand them fully.
For now, there was no reason to stay here.
He had what he came for.
Kael turned and left the hall, the whispers fading behind him.
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Returning to the Surface
The climb back was uneventful. The ruins were silent, undisturbed.
As Kael emerged from the underground, the cold night air hit him. The sky above was dark, the city distant in the background.
He took a moment to breathe.
Everything had changed.
He wasn't the same as when he entered. His body, his abilities, his understanding of the world—everything had taken a step forward.
Now, he needed to decide what came next.
One thing was certain.
The path ahead would not be easy.
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