The Grandmaster's Reincarnation

The air grew colder the deeper they went.

Kael could feel it—something was wrong.

The forest had been silent before, but now, it was worse. The wind had stopped. The trees no longer moved. It was as if the world itself had turned into a painting, frozen in time.

Verrian led the group, his sword drawn, eyes sharp. "We're close."

Ahead, massive stone structures loomed through the mist, half-buried in vines and dirt. The Ruins of Elaris.

Kira exhaled, gripping her staff. "This place… It's older than anything I've ever seen."

Vale ran a hand along the nearest pillar, his fingers tracing ancient carvings. "This language… It's not from any known kingdom."

Darian smirked. "Great. So we're walking into an unknown ruin with unknown dangers and zero information. Fantastic plan."

Seraphina nudged him. "You can turn back if you want."

Darian scoffed. "And miss all the fun? Not a chance."

But Kael wasn't listening.

His gaze was locked on something else.

The ruins were whispering to him.

Not in words.

But in feeling.

A pull.

A presence.

Like something was waiting.

The Broken Gate

They found it at the heart of the ruins.

A massive doorway carved into the mountain, cracked and broken with age. Its edges were burned, as if something had tried to force its way out.

Kael's stomach twisted. That's not normal.

Verrian studied the markings. "Sealed. Whatever was locked in here, they didn't want it getting out."

Seraphina glanced at Kael. "So why do I get the feeling we're about to break it open?"

Because it was already breaking.

Kael could feel it.

The whispers in his head grew louder.

Something inside the gate was alive.

And it had sensed him.

The First Warning

A low hum filled the air.

Then—movement.

The ruins shifted.

Cracks spread across the stone. Dust rained down. The seal on the gate flashed red.

Then, from the shadows—

They came.

Dark figures, cloaked in tattered robes, emerged from the cracks in the stone. Their faces were hidden, but their eyes burned gold.

Verrian's sword was up in an instant. "Not alone."

Kira froze. "They're not wraiths… they're something worse."

The robed figures moved in unison, surrounding them. Their voices merged into one.

"You should not have come."

Kael's breath hitched.

The whispers in his mind—they sounded just like them.

Seraphina aimed an arrow. "If we're not supposed to be here, maybe try a sign next time?"

Darian twirled a dagger. "Or a 'keep out' sign? Just saying."

The figures didn't react.

One of them stepped forward, raising a skeletal hand.

The air collapsed inward.

An invisible force slammed into the group, sending them flying.

Kael crashed against a pillar, pain jolting through his ribs.

Verrian landed on his feet, sword slicing through the air, but the robed figures didn't dodge.

Because they didn't need to.

The blade passed through them.

Like mist.

Kira cursed. "They're not physical!"

"Great," Darian groaned. "How do we kill something that doesn't have a body?"

Kael's hand trembled as he pushed himself up.

And then—his vision blurred.

The ruins vanished.

And he was somewhere else.

Inside the Gate

Kael stood in darkness.

Not empty darkness.

Living.

Something moved around him, unseen but felt.

Then—chains.

They coiled in the shadows, stretching across an endless void.

And at the center—

It.

A shape, too large to fully see. A presence so vast it felt like it could swallow the world.

And it spoke.

"You are close now."

Kael's chest tightened.

The chains rattled.

"I am waiting."

A single eye opened in the void.

And Kael's vision snapped back.

The Awakening

Kael gasped, stumbling forward. The ruins returned. The robed figures remained.

But something had changed.

The gate was breaking.

And his body felt different.

Verrian noticed it first. "Kael…?"

Kael didn't respond. He couldn't.

His hand moved on its own.

And the shadows answered.

Black energy pulsed around him, wrapping around his arm like liquid smoke.

The robed figures reacted instantly.

They backed away.

Fear.

Not caution. Fear.

Kira's breath hitched. "They're afraid of you."

The whispering stopped.

The figures turned—and fled.

Seraphina lowered her bow. "Okay. That's new."

Kael's breathing was ragged. The black energy flickered and then vanished.

But the feeling remained.

Something inside the gate recognized him.

And it wanted him to come closer.

The Aftermath

No one spoke for a long moment.

Then Darian cleared his throat. "Sooo… any chance we're gonna pretend that didn't just happen?"

Seraphina shot him a glare. "No."

Kira approached Kael carefully. "You felt it, didn't you?"

Kael exhaled, his hands still shaking.

He didn't answer.

Because he didn't have to.

Verrian's gaze darkened. "We need to decide. Do we open the gate?"

The group fell silent.

They all knew the answer.

Because at this point—they had no choice.

The gate was already opening.

And whatever was inside was waiting for Kael.