Chains of the Godslayer

The boy's rusted blade trembled in his hand, its chipped edge catching the faint glow of the radiant figure before him. The godlike envoy descended slowly, each deliberate step shaking the earth beneath its feet. The master stood firm between the envoy and the boy, his glowing blade raised and ready. The storm above churned with fury, streaks of lightning illuminating the cracked, desolate battlefield.

Behind the master, the boy struggled to steady himself. The chains inside him burned hotter than ever, their pulsing rhythm growing faster and heavier.

"Stay back," the master said, his voice sharp but steady. He didn't look back, his focus entirely on the envoy. "This isn't your fight."

The boy clenched his teeth, anger surging. "I can fight!" he shouted, his knuckles whitening around the blade's hilt.

The master gave a dry laugh, though his tone was grim. "Fight? With that relic? Boy, you don't even know what a fight is yet. This one's not yours—not today."

The envoy's voice cut through the storm, resonating like a temple bell. "You defy the heavens' will. You shield an abomination, a crack in divine order. Surrender the child, and your death will be swift."

The master smirked, his glowing blade shifting slightly in his grip. "Swift? I've heard that before, but I'm still standing."

The envoy tilted its head, golden flames dancing along its spear. Its glowing eyes narrowed. "You delay the inevitable."

---

The envoy moved first, its spear slicing through the air with a burst of golden light. The master deflected it with a ringing clash, sparks flying as silver and gold energy collided. The ground beneath them cracked and split, sending tremors rippling outward.

The boy staggered back, shielding his face from the shockwave. The chains within him flared violently, sending waves of searing heat through his chest.

"You cannot protect him forever," the envoy sneered, its voice dripping with disdain. "You think defiance changes fate?"

The master sidestepped a second strike, his glowing blade a blur as he countered with a sharp, deliberate arc. "No," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "But it changes the story."

The envoy flickered as it dodged, its spear spinning in a deadly arc that cut through the storm. The master parried with precision, his movements honed through years of battle.

---

The boy's breath came in shallow gasps. Each clash of weapons pulled at the chains within him, their pulse syncing with the vibrations in the air. The burning heat grew unbearable, forcing him to his knees.

His vision blurred, the battlefield fading into darkness. Suddenly, he was somewhere else—a void filled with towering shadows. In the center stood a massive figure, its body bound in chains that stretched infinitely into the void. Its glowing eyes, filled with sorrow and rage, locked onto him.

Its voice was a whisper, low and guttural: "Break them, or be broken."

The boy gasped as the vision shattered, leaving him trembling on the cracked ground. He looked up to see the master driven to one knee, his blade locked against the envoy's blazing spear.

"You're faltering, mortal," the envoy said coldly, its radiant form towering over the master.

The master grinned, blood dripping from his lips. "Faltering? No. Just catching my breath."

---

The master surged forward, his blade igniting with a blinding white light. The envoy staggered, caught off guard as the strike forced it back. The boy's heart swelled with hope as the master pressed the attack, each swing sharper and more relentless than the last.

But the envoy recovered quickly, its spear spinning in a radiant arc that sent the master retreating.

"You prolong the inevitable," the envoy said, its voice steady, almost mocking.

The master smirked, his breathing heavy. "Good. I'm not a fan of short stories."

Behind him, the boy pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling. The chains inside him burned brighter than ever, their pulse a drumbeat of pain and defiance. Yet, beneath the agony, he felt something stir—a faint spark, raw and untamed, waiting to ignite.

"Master!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the storm.

The master glanced back, his expression softening briefly. "Not yet, boy. You're not ready. Stay where you are."

The envoy's gaze shifted to the boy, its glowing eyes narrowing. "He is not worth your sacrifice. He will undo himself before he undoes the heavens."

---

The boy clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. The chains coiled tighter around him, their weight threatening to crush him, but for the first time, he pushed back.

"I won't be a burden," he growled through gritted teeth.

The chains flared violently, their golden glow brightening. Pain surged through his body as he forced himself forward, each step a battle against the burning heat and crushing weight.

The envoy's radiant gaze locked onto him fully now, its expression unreadable. "Foolish child. You do not know what you are."

The boy raised his blade, its dull edge trembling but steady. "Maybe not," he said, his voice shaking but resolute. "But I know what I'm not. I'm not yours."

The envoy's hollow laugh echoed through the storm. "Then kneel and die."

---

The master surged forward again, his blade slicing through the storm as he struck with renewed force. The envoy staggered, its golden light flickering as the master drove it back.

"He's not yours to take," the master growled, his voice raw with defiance.

The boy watched, his resolve hardening. The chains within him burned, their pulsing rhythm syncing with his heartbeat. He could feel their resistance, but also their potential—as if daring him to break them.

"Break them, or be broken," the shadowy figure's words echoed again.

The boy gripped his blade tighter, his knuckles white. He wasn't ready yet, but he wouldn't run. He wouldn't kneel.

"Not today," he muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the battle. "But soon."