Eclipse Requiem

The weight of the **Abyssforged Blade** lingered in Kael's hands, even after he had dropped it. The whispers had faded, but he could still feel them, like faint echoes crawling at the edge of his mind.

He exhaled slowly, trying to regain control of his breathing. His **arm** still ached from the surge of energy, but it wasn't just pain—it was something deeper, something that had **latched onto him**.

Lyra knelt beside him, concern in her eyes. "Kael… are you okay?"

Kael didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered toward the **robed woman**, who watched him with an unreadable expression.

"You knew this would happen," Kael said, his voice quieter than before.

The woman nodded. "You needed to understand what you've claimed. The Abyssforged Blade is not just a weapon—it is a contract. Every time you wield it, it will take a piece of you in return."

Kael's fingers clenched. "And what happens if I use it too much?"

The woman's silver eyes **dimmed**. "Then one day, you will find that you are no longer yourself."

The words sent a chill through Kael.

The power he had felt—the speed, the precision, the overwhelming force—it was intoxicating. But if it came at the cost of **who he was**, then was it truly worth it?

Before he could dwell on the thought, a **deep rumbling** shook the chamber.

The torches flickered, their flames swaying as the walls trembled. Dust and stone **rained** from above.

Kael and Lyra tensed.

"What now?" Lyra muttered, her hands reaching for her daggers.

The robed woman turned toward the **exit**, her expression finally shifting—**concern**.

"It seems the outside world has finally noticed your awakening," she said.

Kael's heart **skipped** a beat.

Outside the chamber, a **low, droning hum** filled the air.

Then—

A voice.

"Kael Veyrin…"

The words were **slow**, deliberate. They echoed through the stone corridors, carrying a force that made Kael's blood run cold.

Lyra's eyes widened. "That voice…"

Kael knew it too.

It was a voice from his past. One he **never wanted to hear again**.

Slowly, he turned toward the chamber entrance, his fists clenching.

A silhouette stood in the doorway, barely visible in the flickering torchlight.

A man, clad in **black and silver armor**, his **cape billowing** from an unseen wind. His helmet was adorned with a crest—a familiar insignia.

The **Celestial Church**.

And beneath the helmet, Kael knew what he would find.

A face that had haunted his childhood.

**Inquisitor Veydris.**

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

His father's executioner.

The man who had **ruined his life**.

"Well, well…" Veydris stepped forward, the metallic clink of his boots echoing in the silence. "It seems the heretic's son has finally crawled out of the shadows."

Kael's **rage** flared like an open wound.

Veydris hadn't changed at all—his stance, his cold, calculating presence. The very sight of him **reignited memories Kael had buried deep**.

The day his father was taken. The day his family was torn apart.

Lyra's grip on her daggers tightened. "What the hell is he doing here?"

The robed woman watched Veydris carefully, her silver eyes unreadable. "The Church has always been wary of the Eclipse Seal. Now that it has reawakened, they have come to **eliminate the threat**."

Kael **growled**. "Let them try."

But the moment he took a step forward—

The Abyssforged Blade **twitched**.

Kael flinched, feeling the sword's presence once more. It was urging him, calling to him.

It wanted blood.

Veydris tilted his head slightly. "I see you've acquired a cursed relic." His hand moved to the **hilt of his own sword**, a massive **silver greatsword** with golden inscriptions along its edge. "Then I will grant you a **proper execution**."

Kael felt his **body tense**.

This was it.

There was no running, no hiding.

For years, he had dreamed of this moment—the day he would stand before **his father's killer**.

And now that it had finally come—

He **would not falter.**

Veydris took another step forward, the air around him **crackling with divine energy**.

Lyra positioned herself beside Kael, her daggers gleaming. "We take him together."

The robed woman, however, raised a hand.

"Wait."

Kael and Lyra both turned to her in confusion.

"Are you insane?" Kael snapped. "He's going to kill us if we just stand here!"

But the woman's gaze remained steady.

"You are not ready," she said simply.

Kael's **anger flared**. "Then when?!"

Veydris exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on his greatsword. "Enough of this."

He raised his weapon—

And the world **exploded into motion.**

The air **split apart** as a wave of silver energy **tore through the chamber**, heading straight for Kael.

He barely had time to react—his instincts screamed, and he **dived to the side**, feeling the energy blast rip through the stone floor behind him.

Lyra flipped backward, dodging another **arc of divine power**.

Veydris **didn't stop**. He surged forward with **incredible speed**, his sword descending toward Kael in a brutal downward strike.

Kael's body **moved on its own**.

He reached for the **Abyssforged Blade**—

And the moment his fingers touched the hilt—

The world **slowed.**

The pain from before was gone. The exhaustion, the hesitation—**all vanished**.

The sword's whispers **became clear**.

*"Strike."*

Kael **moved**, parrying the incoming blow. A shockwave erupted as the two swords **clashed**, sending cracks through the chamber walls.

Veydris's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet. "Tch. Faster than I expected."

Kael's **heartbeat thundered in his ears**. His body felt **light**, his reflexes sharper than ever. The Abyssforged Blade pulsed in his hands, its violet fire **dancing** against Veydris's silver glow.

This power—

It was **terrifying**.

But it was also **his**.

Veydris stepped back, lifting his sword in a defensive stance. "It seems the heretic's son has some fight in him after all."

Kael pointed his blade at the Inquisitor, his eyes burning. "I've been waiting for this fight my whole life."

The air between them **crackled with tension**.

One battle had ended.

But another was about to begin.

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