The wind around Kaelion stopped. The trees stood still, as if nature itself held its breath. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
The knight stepped out from the shadows, black armor glinting faintly with strange symbols carved into its surface. A long, curved blade shimmered with ghostly blue light in his hand. His voice was cold and calm.
"You're not ready for what you've awakened."
Kaelion took a shaky step back, fists clenched. His body still buzzed from the strange energy of the stone that had sunk into his chest only moments before. He didn't understand how it worked—but he could feel it, like a storm buried under his skin, waiting to erupt.
"I didn't ask for this," Kaelion growled. "But I won't give it up either."
Without another word, the knight lunged forward.
Steel met stone-sharpened instinct. Kaelion raised his arms just in time, and from his hand, a burst of jagged earth shot upward—a wall of rock splitting the ground between them. The knight crashed through it like a hammer through glass, sending Kaelion flying back.
Dirt sprayed. Trees shook. Kaelion rolled through the grass and coughed, staggering to his feet.
Come on… he thought. I need more. Just—do something!
The stone inside him pulsed.
The ground beneath the knight cracked and surged. Spires of rock erupted upward in wild, uncontrolled bursts. Kaelion shouted, not in anger, but in fear and instinct. The earth answered.
But the knight didn't flinch. He danced between the pillars, fluid like water, and struck again—this time cutting Kaelion across the shoulder.
Blood hit the ground.
Kaelion gritted his teeth, the pain burning like fire through his arm. He stumbled back, eyes locked on the knight as the armored figure advanced with terrifying calm. Every move the knight made was precise—no wasted energy, no hesitation. He was a blade forged in discipline and darkness.
"I'll say this once," the knight said, lowering his sword. "Give up the stone, and you won't suffer."
Kaelion laughed bitterly, wiping blood from his lip. "Too late for that."
With a surge of will, Kaelion slammed his palm into the ground. This time, the earth obeyed.
A jagged shockwave split the soil beneath the knight's feet, throwing him off balance. Kaelion followed it with a punch to the ground that caused a pillar of stone to erupt upward, slamming into the knight's side and sending him skidding across the clearing.
This power… it's like the ground is listening to me now.
But his vision blurred. His body trembled. The strain of using the stone was already catching up to him.
The knight rose slowly, cloak torn, armor cracked. His helmet tilted.
"Interesting. You're adapting."
Kaelion tried to steady his breathing. "I'm just getting started."
The knight vanished in a blur.
Kaelion barely raised a wall of stone in time—the sword cracked through it like thunder, sending pieces of rock flying. A kick slammed into his ribs, launching him into a tree. He hit the trunk hard and collapsed, gasping, the world spinning.
The knight stood over him now. Sword raised. Shadowed face. A voice like cold wind.
"You weren't supposed to survive the stone. But now… the Soul King will want to see this himself."
Kaelion's strength was gone. His vision flickered. As darkness closed in, he heard a strange hum—ancient and deep, like the stone was protecting him.
Then everything went black.