The Grandmaster's Reincarnation

The ruins stretched on, endless and quiet. Too quiet.

Kael led the way, his footsteps light on the ashen ground. The others followed, moving cautiously. The whispers were gone, but the air still felt wrong.

Like something was watching.

Like something was waiting.

The Descent

The broken door had led them underground. A staircase, carved from obsidian stone, spiraled downward. The deeper they went, the colder it became.

Frost clung to the walls. The air turned thick, heavy, as if the darkness itself was pressing down on them.

Darian grunted. "Yeah, this definitely isn't cursed or anything."

Kira rolled her eyes. "You scared?"

He scoffed. "No. I just think this is a stupid idea."

Verrian glanced at Kael. "You're sure about this?"

Kael didn't answer immediately. His gut told him this was the only way forward. But something else—something buried deep—was telling him to turn back.

Too late for that now.

"…Yeah."

Verrian nodded. "Then let's keep moving."

The staircase finally ended, opening into a massive hall.

And in the center—chains.

Prisoners of the Past

They stretched from floor to ceiling, massive links of dark metal. Some were shattered, broken pieces lying like corpses across the stone. Others were still intact—and they were moving.

Kael felt his breath hitch.

The chains were writhing.

Not like normal metal. Not swaying from wind. They were alive.

Then, something shifted in the shadows.

Figures.

Not the veiled ones from before. These were different.

They stepped forward—men and women, but not quite human.

Their eyes glowed white. Their skin was marked with symbols that pulsed faintly.

And around their wrists, ankles, and necks—chains.

But unlike the ones in the ruins, these were not broken.

They were tight. Unyielding. Binding.

Kael's pulse quickened.

They weren't just prisoners.

They were still bound.

The Chainbearers Speak

One of them, a tall man with ashen hair and golden eyes, stepped forward.

His voice was calm. Too calm.

"You should not have come here."

Verrian tensed. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head. "You do not know?" His gaze flickered to Kael. "And yet… you still walk the path of the forsaken."

Kael's fingers curled. "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he studied Kael closely, like he was searching for something.

Then—he smiled. Slow. Knowing.

"You bear the mark, but you do not remember."

Kael stiffened.

The mark.

Not just the one on his hand—the one on his soul.

Before he could speak, the man continued.

"You broke the first chain." His voice darkened. "Will you break the rest?"

A cold sensation crawled up Kael's spine.

"...What happens if I do?"

The man smiled wider. "Then the cycle will begin again."

Kael swallowed.

This wasn't just about this place.

This was about something bigger.

The Offer

The Chainbearers watched in silence.

Then, the ashen-haired man lifted his hand.

The chains around his wrist rattled—but didn't break.

"Your power is incomplete," he said. "But we can change that."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"What are you saying?"

The man's gaze was steady. "You want answers, don't you?"

Kael didn't respond.

The man chuckled. "Then break our chains."

Kira inhaled sharply. "That's—"

The man's eyes flickered to her. "Are you afraid?"

Kira clenched her fists. "I just don't trust you."

The man hummed. "Wise."

Darian muttered, "For once, I agree with her."

Verrian remained silent, his grip firm on his sword.

Kael, however, was still staring at the chains.

Something inside him stirred.

He could feel it.

If he reached out, he could do it.

Break them.

But his instincts—they screamed against it.

Something wasn't right.

If he freed them, what would happen?

The ashen-haired man tilted his head. "You hesitate."

Kael exhaled slowly. "Yeah."

"Good." The man smirked. "Then you are not a fool."

Kael frowned.

The man continued. "We are not your enemies. But nor are we your allies." He turned slightly, gesturing toward the broken chains scattered across the floor.

"The first was already broken." His gaze darkened. "And now… it's only a matter of time before the others follow."

Kael stiffened.

"You are not the only one who walks this path, Harbinger."

The words felt like ice.

Kael's hands clenched.

"Someone else… is breaking them?"

The man nodded.

Kael inhaled sharply.

They weren't the first ones here.

And worse—they weren't the only ones trying to break the chains.

Someone else was already ahead of them.

Already setting things into motion.

Kael's chest tightened.

This wasn't just some ruin from the past.

This was an active battlefield.

And they had just stepped into the middle of it.

A Choice and a Warning

The Chainbearers did not move.

They simply watched.

Waiting.

The man finally spoke again.

"We will not stop you," he said. "If you wish to leave, you may."

Kael didn't move.

The man's voice lowered.

"But if you wish to understand your power… then you must make a choice."

Kael exhaled.

A choice.

Break the chains… or walk away.

His pulse pounded in his ears.

His instincts screamed not to do it.

But deep inside—a whisper.

A voice, buried in his own soul.

"You broke the first one."

"You will break the rest."

Kael's fingers twitched.

This wasn't over.

Not yet.

But for now—he stepped back.

"…We're leaving."

The ashen-haired man smiled.

"A wise decision."

His eyes gleamed.

"For now."