The Rematch Begins
The air around the tower grew heavy as the Void Hunter commander stepped forward, his presence alone enough to silence the battlefield. The dark mist surrounding the structure seemed to react to him, bending slightly as if recognizing his authority.
Kael stood at the front, his eyes locked on the man who had nearly overwhelmed him before. The memory of their previous encounter flashed through his mind—the difference in strength, the gap he had barely managed to survive.
But this time was different.
The Abyss Ring pulsed steadily on his finger, feeding him controlled waves of power. His breathing was calm. His stance stable.
Leon stepped beside him, flames igniting across his arms.
"Try not to fall behind this time," Leon muttered.
Kael smirked faintly.
"You worry about yourself."
Behind them, Seraphine and the others prepared for combat, forming a defensive formation in case more creatures appeared.
The commander raised his blade slowly.
"You've grown," he said, his voice calm but carrying weight.
Kael didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
The moment the commander disappeared, Kael moved.
Shadow Step.
The two reappeared in the center of the battlefield, their blades colliding with a thunderous impact that sent shockwaves across the ground.
The clash was instant.
Violent.
Precise.
Kael felt it immediately.
The commander was still stronger.
But the gap had narrowed.
Their blades moved faster with each exchange, sparks flying as steel met abyss-infused energy. The ground beneath them cracked further with every step, unable to withstand the force of their battle.
The commander's strikes were efficient, aimed to kill.
Kael's were adaptive, reading and responding in real time.
For the first time—
Kael wasn't just surviving.
He was fighting back.