The Grandmaster's Reincarnation

The ruins trembled.

Kael felt it before he saw it—the shift in the air, the pull in his chest. Something inside the gate was waking up.

The others felt it too.

Verrian's grip tightened on his sword. Kira's hands hovered near her staff, her eyes darting around. Darian's usual smirk was gone.

The gate wasn't just breaking.

It was being forced open.

A deep, resonating pulse came from within, like a heartbeat too large for any living thing.

Then the chains rattled.

And the ground split apart.

The Guardian Appears

The first thing to emerge wasn't a monster.

It was a figure.

Massive. Cloaked in silver armor, its body wrapped in layers of broken chains. Its head was covered by a helmet, its face hidden. The only thing visible was its single burning eye.

It stepped forward, the weight of its presence alone sending cracks through the ruins.

The air grew heavy.

Kael's legs almost buckled.

Kira whispered, "That's… not normal."

Darian exhaled. "No kidding."

The armored figure slowly lifted its hand. The remaining chains surged toward it, wrapping around its arm like living metal.

Then, for the first time—it spoke.

"The seal is weak. You must leave."

Verrian took a step forward. "Who are you?"

The figure's gaze locked onto him.

Then onto Kael.

And the moment their eyes met—Kael felt something inside him snap.

A flood of memories that weren't his.

Pain. War. A battle so massive the skies burned.

And at the center of it—this very gate.

The armored figure exhaled. "You carry the mark."

Kael's chest burned. His vision blurred. He fell to one knee, gripping the ground.

Kira rushed to him. "Kael!"

The figure took another step.

"The seal must not break. If you go further, you will not return the same."

Kael gritted his teeth. "What… what's behind the gate?"

The figure paused.

Then, with a voice like distant thunder—"The end of all things."

Silence.

Kael forced himself up, panting. "That's a little dramatic."

The armored figure said nothing.

Then—it raised its chained arm.

And the ground exploded.

The Guardian's Trial

Verrian reacted first. His sword flashed, meeting the incoming shockwave head-on. The sheer force sent him skidding backward.

Seraphina's arrows were already in the air, but the moment they got close, the chains moved, blocking them effortlessly.

Darian threw a dagger—it vanished.

Literally. The moment it got near the figure, it was just gone.

Kira's eyes widened. "It's distorting space…"

The Guardian moved.

Not fast—instant.

One second it was standing before the gate, the next—it was in front of Kael.

A massive fist came down.

Kael barely reacted.

His own power flared to life, black tendrils of energy coiling around his body. His instincts screamed, and he moved.

The fist slammed into the ground where he had just been—shattering it.

Kael flipped backward, the black energy crackling around him. He felt… different. Stronger. Like whatever had been dormant inside him was waking up.

The Guardian turned to him. "You are unshackled."

Kael clenched his fists. "I don't even know what that means."

The Guardian vanished again.

Verrian's sword intercepted, clashing against its chains, the impact sending a shockwave through the ruins.

Kira's staff glowed, summoning a surge of fire, but the flames died the moment they got close.

Darian muttered, "Oh, that's fair."

Seraphina aimed another shot—this time, her arrow split into five mid-air, curving in unpredictable angles.

One got through.

It struck the Guardian's shoulder.

And nothing happened.

The arrow disintegrated on impact.

The Guardian turned its single burning eye toward her.

Seraphina's heart pounded. Oh. That's bad.

It raised its arm—but this time, Kael reacted first.

Something deep inside him surged forward.

He raised his own arm—and the shadows obeyed.

A pulse of black energy erupted outward, clashing against the Guardian's chains.

For the first time—the Guardian paused.

Its head tilted slightly.

Then, it lowered its arm.

And stepped back.

A Decision to Be Made

The Guardian looked at Kael.

"You do not yet understand what you carry."

Kael wiped sweat from his brow. "That makes two of us."

The Guardian's burning gaze lingered on him.

Then, it turned to the rest of the group.

"The gate is opening. If you pass through, you will not return unchanged."

Darian crossed his arms. "We get it. It's dangerous. What else is new?"

Kira frowned. "You keep talking about the gate like it's the worst thing imaginable. What's actually inside?"

The Guardian didn't answer.

Instead, it raised a single hand.

And from the ground—a vision emerged.

A battlefield. A thousand warriors clad in black armor, fighting against something too large to be seen.

A monstrous shadow, its body covered in golden chains, trying to break free.

And at the center of it all—

Kael.

Holding a sword made of the same black energy now flowing through his veins.

Kael staggered back.

"What…?"

The Guardian let the vision fade.

Then spoke one final time.

"This is not the first time we have met."

Silence.

Kael's heart was hammering in his chest.

The others were watching him.

Even Verrian looked uncertain.

Kael forced out a laugh. "Alright. Great. So now I'm apparently part of some ancient war I don't remember. Fantastic."

The Guardian didn't react.

It stepped backward, fading into the ruins.

"The choice is yours. But choose wisely. For once you enter… there is no return."

Then—it was gone.

The ruins fell silent.

The gate was still opening.

And the only thing left was a choice.

Verrian turned to Kael. "So. What's the plan?"

Kael exhaled.

Looked at the gate.

And stepped forward.