Chapter 7: Trial of the Abyss

The guardian's roar was a death knell.

The air cracked, pressure crushing down on Kael like an invisible vice. The beast moved, and the world trembled—chains snapping apart like brittle twigs as it lunged.

Kael's instincts screamed. He barely managed to dodge as a massive claw tore through the space he had just occupied, carving deep gouges into the obsidian floor. The impact alone sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, throwing debris into the air.

This thing… is beyond anything I've fought before.

The guardian turned, its hollow violet eyes locking onto him. No hesitation, no doubt—just raw, unrelenting aggression.

Kael clenched his fists. If he hesitated, he was dead.

His power surged.

Dark tendrils of abyssal energy coiled around his arms, crackling with unstable force. He had barely begun to grasp the nature of his abilities, but there was no time for restraint. If this thing was a test, then he'd break it.

The guardian lunged again.

Kael met it head-on.

He sidestepped the monstrous claw, his enhanced reflexes barely keeping him ahead of its sheer speed. In the same motion, he drove his fist forward—unleashing a concentrated blast of abyssal force.

The impact connected—a direct hit to the guardian's side.

For a moment, Kael felt resistance, as if punching into a fortress of solid steel. Then—BOOM.

The shockwave detonated, hurling the beast sideways. It crashed into one of the towering pillars, shattering it upon impact.

Dust and debris filled the air.

Kael exhaled sharply, his own arm throbbing from the force of his own attack.

That should've at least—

The dust settled.

The guardian was already rising.

It growled, its obsidian hide barely scratched. The violet flames in its eyes burned brighter, and the runes across its body began to shift—reshaping, realigning.

Kael's stomach dropped.

It's adapting.

The guardian's body expanded, its muscles tightening as the very chains that once bound it now merged into its form, becoming part of its flesh. Its power was rising, and fast.

And then—it vanished.

Kael's eyes widened.

A shadow loomed over him.

Behind me—?!

He barely had time to react before a massive claw struck him in the back, sending him flying across the chamber like a broken doll. The world spun.

CRASH.

He slammed into the far wall, coughing up blood from the sheer impact. His vision blurred, his body screaming in pain.

But he had no time to recover. The guardian was already moving again.

Kael's mind raced.

Fighting it head-on wouldn't work. He was strong, but this thing was on another level. It was evolving mid-battle, adjusting to his attacks. If he kept fighting the way he was, he'd be dead in minutes.

No.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stand.

There had to be another way.

His eyes flickered toward the throne—the center of this chamber. The place where it had been bound.

A realization hit him like lightning.

This trial isn't about strength.

It's about control.

Kael grinned, blood dripping from his lips.

"Fine," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "You want a real fight? Let's see how you handle this."

The guardian charged again, its claws poised to tear him apart.

Kael stepped forward—but this time, he didn't attack.

Instead, he raised his hand, fingers curling into a grasping motion.

And the abyss responded.

The shadows around the chamber twisted—not just around him, but around the guardian itself. The chains that had once bound it reacted, as if sensing his intent.

The beast's violet eyes widened in the first hint of hesitation.

Kael's voice was cold, controlled.

"Kneel."

For the first time, the guardian staggered.

The chains coiled around its limbs like living serpents, dragging it down. The very runes on its body flickered in resistance. The beast let out a defiant snarl, but it was too late.

Kael clenched his fist.

The abyssal energy flared, and the throne behind him pulsed with power.

And then—the guardian fell to one knee.

The chamber trembled. The test was over.

The watching figure—still shrouded in darkness—let out a soft chuckle. "Interesting…"

Kael exhaled, his body still aching from the battle. But despite the pain, one thought echoed in his mind.

This throne… was meant to be mine.