the last battle god

Kael climbed the winding path, his legs heavy and his breaths shallow. His body ached from the battle with the Sentinel of Fire, but the mark on his chest pulsed with a strange warmth, as if feeding him strength. The cliffs loomed higher around him, their jagged peaks casting eerie shadows that seemed to shift and writhe in the dim, otherworldly light.

The path narrowed, hugging the edge of a steep drop into endless darkness. Kael moved cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. He had learned quickly that the Abyss was unpredictable, its challenges as mental as they were physical.

As he rounded a sharp bend, a faint sound reached his ears—a soft, rhythmic tapping, like the click of boots on stone. Kael froze, his senses sharpening. The sound was coming closer.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice echoing off the cliffs.

The tapping stopped. For a moment, there was only silence, and then a figure stepped out from the shadows ahead.

---

It was a young man, slightly older than Kael, with sharp features and a wiry build. He wore a long, tattered cloak that billowed in the faint breeze, and his dark hair fell over one eye, giving him a roguish look. In his hand, he held a thin, curved blade that glimmered faintly, as though it were alive.

"Well, well," the stranger said, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. "What do we have here? Another poor soul wandering the Abyss?"

Kael tensed, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"

The stranger smirked, twirling the blade in his hand. "Just a traveler, like you. Though I'd wager you're not as far along the path as I am."

Kael's fists clenched. There was something unsettling about the stranger's demeanor—too casual, too confident. "Are you here to challenge me?"

The stranger laughed, a sharp, biting sound. "Challenge you? No, no. I'm here to observe. Though…" He stepped closer, his blade gleaming dangerously. "If you think you can handle me, I wouldn't mind a little fun."

Kael didn't move, his instincts screaming at him to be ready for anything. "I don't have time for games."

The stranger tilted his head, his smirk widening. "You've already passed three trials, haven't you? Impressive. Most don't make it past the first. But here's a question for you, boy: Do you even know why you're here?"

Kael frowned, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"

The stranger's eyes glinted. "The Abyss doesn't just test anyone. It chooses its champions carefully. So tell me, what makes you worthy?"

---

Kael felt a surge of anger. He didn't need this stranger questioning him, not after everything he had endured. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

The stranger chuckled. "Touchy, aren't we? Fine, keep your secrets. But a word of advice: The Abyss doesn't care about your pride. It'll strip you bare and make you confront the darkest parts of yourself. If you're not ready for that, you'll never make it out."

Kael's eyes narrowed. "And you've made it out?"

The stranger's smirk faltered for a brief moment, replaced by a shadow of something darker—regret, perhaps, or pain. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

"Let's just say I've seen enough to know how this place works," he said cryptically.

Kael didn't trust him, but he also couldn't ignore the possibility that this stranger knew more about the Abyss than he did. "What do you want from me?"

The stranger shrugged. "Maybe I'm just curious. Or maybe I see potential in you. Either way, I think I'll stick around for a while. Who knows? You might surprise me."

Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't need your help."

The stranger's smirk returned. "Maybe not. But you might need it sooner than you think."

---

Without another word, the stranger turned and walked past Kael, his footsteps echoing on the stone path. Kael watched him go, torn between suspicion and curiosity.

"Wait," he called out.

The stranger paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"What's your name?" Kael asked.

The stranger hesitated, his smirk fading. For a moment, he seemed almost… vulnerable.

"Call me Darius," he said finally. Then, without another word, he disappeared into the shadows.

---

Kael stood there for a long moment, the name echoing in his mind. Darius. Was he an ally? A rival? Or something else entirely?

The mark on Kael's chest throbbed again, and he felt a strange pull, as if urging him forward. Whatever Darius's intentions, Kael couldn't afford to dwell on them. There were more trials ahead, and he couldn't let anything—or anyone—distract him.

With a deep breath, Kael turned and continued up the path, his resolve unshaken.

But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that his encounter with Darius was only the beginning of something far greater.