The Grandmaster's Reincarnation

Kael's breath was ragged. His vision blurred at the edges, his body burning like fire was crawling under his skin.

The shockwave from his body had knocked everyone back—friend and foe alike. The air was thick with dust, the ground cracked beneath him.

"Kael!"

Seraphina's voice cut through the haze, but his mind was slipping.

He could still hear that whisper. You are not ready.

His knees buckled.

Then—Riven moved.

Like a streak of silver, he lunged through the dust, sword aimed straight for Kael's heart.

CLANG!

Verrian intercepted, his blade locking against Riven's in a violent clash.

"You're in my way," Riven said, eyes glinting with amusement.

Verrian didn't respond. He twisted his sword, forcing Riven back. The two warriors vanished into a blur of motion, their blades ringing like a battle hymn.

Kael tried to steady himself, but his hands wouldn't stop shaking. His body felt wrong—like something else was inside, clawing to get out.

Seraphina was beside him in an instant, eyes scanning him with concern. "What the hell was that? What's happening to you?"

Kael clenched his fists. "I... don't know."

But whatever it was, it wasn't normal.

And judging by Kira's calculating gaze, they knew something he didn't.

A Battle on the Edge

Darian danced between Vale's strikes, his twin daggers deflecting each deadly arc of steel. "You're fast," he admitted. "I hate fast people."

Vale smirked. "And I hate talkative people."

Their blades clashed, a flurry of sparks lighting the darkened woods.

Meanwhile, Verrian and Riven were still locked in a deadly exchange, each strike fast enough to cut the air itself.

"You fight like a man with too many secrets," Riven mused between swings.

Verrian's gaze didn't waver.

"You talk like a man who won't live long," he replied.

Riven chuckled. "Oh, I like you."

He **vanished—**reappearing behind Verrian in an instant.

Verrian barely dodged, twisting just as Riven's blade grazed his cheek.

A thin line of blood trailed down his face.

But he didn't react.

Instead, he smirked.

Riven's expression flickered. "Huh."

Verrian moved.

Faster than before.

Riven barely blocked as Verrian's blade came crashing down—the impact shaking the ground beneath them.

Riven's smirk faltered. "Oh... maybe I should start taking you seriously."

Kael's Awakening

Kael's breathing was growing heavier.

The burning inside him wasn't stopping.

The ground beneath his feet felt unstable.

Seraphina kept a firm grip on his arm, her concern deepening. "Kael. You need to pull it together."

But how could he?

His vision flickered.

And for a brief moment—he wasn't standing in the woods anymore.

He was somewhere else.

Somewhere dark.

Chains rattled in the void, stretching endlessly in all directions.

A figure stood in the distance, bound by them.

Its eyes were pure white—burning like twin stars.

It stared at him.

And then it spoke.

"You are the vessel."

Kael's chest tightened.

He knew this voice.

He had heard it before.

The moment he had touched the seal.

The moment his life changed.

And then—

The chains snapped.

Back in Reality

Kael gasped.

The vision shattered.

He was back in the woods—but something was different.

His body wasn't burning anymore.

It was overflowing.

The energy inside him wasn't hurting him now. It was moving—like a second heartbeat, pulsing with something dangerous.

Kira took a step back, eyes narrowing. "This isn't good."

Riven noticed too, his playful smirk fading. "Oh? That's new."

Kael exhaled slowly.

Something was changing inside him.

And for the first time since this whole mess started—he wasn't sure if he liked it.

A Sudden Retreat

Riven studied Kael for a moment, then sighed dramatically. "As much as I'd love to see where this goes..."

He twirled his blade, stepping back.

"We're done here."

Verrian's grip on his sword tightened. "Running away?"

Riven smirked. "Retreating. There's a difference."

Kira and Vale exchanged looks before stepping back as well.

Kael frowned. "Why leave now?"

Riven's smirk widened. "Because now I'm interested."

His silver eyes gleamed.

"I want to see what happens next."

Then—they vanished.

Just like that.

The tension in the air lingered even after they were gone.

Kael could still feel his heart pounding. Could still feel the strange power inside him.

Darian sheathed his daggers. "Well. That was fun."

Seraphina glared at him. "Fun? We almost died."

Darian shrugged. "Almost."

Verrian, however, wasn't laughing. His gaze was fixed on Kael.

Kael swallowed. "What?"

Verrian's voice was quiet.

"What did you see?"

Kael hesitated. The memory of those white eyes burned in his mind.

But he didn't know how to explain it.

So he just said, "Nothing."

Verrian didn't look convinced.

But he didn't push.

Instead, he turned to the road ahead. "We need to keep moving."

Kael nodded, even as his hands clenched at his sides.

Because deep down, he knew the truth.

That wasn't nothing.

That was something far worse.