Echoes of the Past

The City Burns

The explosion rattled the ruins of the once-great metropolis, sending fire and smoke spiraling into the night sky. Kael, Elyra, and the old man emerged from the underground chamber just in time to see chaos unfold before them. Buildings crumbled, mutated creatures howled, and above it all, a single figure stood, bathed in crimson energy.

Kael's eyes narrowed. "I know him."

Elyra readied her gun. "You know that thing?"

The old man exhaled deeply. "Not just any monster. That is one of the Forsaken. The ones who thrived in the apocalypse instead of perishing."

Kael felt something stir inside him, memories pushing to the surface. "His name is... Veydris. And if he's here, this is more than just an attack. He's hunting me."

Veydris raised a single hand, and the monstrous horde behind him surged forward. The battle had begun.

---

The Clash

Kael didn't hesitate. With a single motion, he raised the blade he had claimed from the chamber. The air around it crackled, space distorting as if the very fabric of reality feared its presence.

Elyra fired at the advancing creatures, her bullets infused with a faint silver glow. "Whatever you remember about him, I hope it includes a way to kill him!"

Kael smirked. "I don't need to remember how. I feel it."

He vanished from sight—no, not vanished. He moved. Faster than thought, faster than light. One moment he stood beside Elyra, the next, he was in the midst of the horde, his blade cleaving through flesh and bone with terrifying ease.

Veydris grinned. "So, you are waking up. Good. Let's see how much you've remembered."

With a flick of his wrist, the air around Veydris bent and shattered. Energy crackled around his form as he launched himself at Kael, their clash sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

---

A Battle of Gods

Kael met Veydris' attack head-on, their strikes igniting the very sky. Every blow from Veydris was like a meteor strike, but Kael countered with precision, his instincts guiding him beyond mere human limitations. This was no longer just a fight—this was a battle between two beings that had once stood among the divine.

"You were always a fool, Kael," Veydris sneered. "Giving up godhood for this? A fragile human life? Do you even remember why you did it?"

Kael's grip tightened on his blade. "Not yet. But I remember enough. And that's enough to end you."

His energy surged, golden arcs of lightning spiraling around him. The very earth beneath them cracked, and time itself seemed to slow as he unleashed his full power.

---

A Reckoning

Veydris staggered back, his grin faltering. "Impossible… You shouldn't be this strong yet."

Kael stepped forward, his voice carrying the weight of something ancient. "You were right, Veydris. I don't remember everything. But I remember this—I was never your equal. I was always above you."

He raised his blade high, and the sky itself seemed to part. A beam of light, pure and unrelenting, descended like divine judgment, swallowing Veydris whole.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the battlefield erupted in a shockwave so vast it sent the remaining creatures scattering in terror. When the dust settled, Veydris was gone.

---

Aftermath

Kael stood amidst the destruction, his breathing heavy but controlled. Elyra stared at him, equal parts awe and concern in her eyes. "What… the hell was that?"

The old man spoke, his voice quiet but resolute. "That was only a glimpse of what he truly is. And it's only the beginning."

Kael exhaled, staring at the stars above. Who was I before? And more importantly… what am I becoming?