Chapter 24: The Fire and the Void

  Kael’s lungs burned as he sprinted toward the Shattered Throne, his hammer clenched so tightly his knuckles ached. His muscles screamed in protest, his ribs bruised from where Varyn’s void energy had thrown him, but he pushed forward.

  He had to end this.

  Varyn stood at the base of the throne, waiting, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. His cloak rippled in the unnatural wind, Rift energy coiling around his form like a living shadow.

  Kael knew the others were still fighting below—Sylas, Mira, Rhea, and Lirien were holding the Riftspawn back, barely surviving, barely holding the line. And he was failing them.

  But he could fix it. If he just reached Varyn. If he just brought his hammer down one last time.

  Kael roared, lifting his weapon. Silver fire sparked at the edges of his vision—but he ignored it. He didn’t need the Flame Unseen. He could do this without it.

  Varyn watched him, unbothered. Then, just as Kael’s hammer came down—he moved.

  Not dodging. Not blocking.

  Just stepping aside.

  Kael’s hammer slammed into the stone, shattering the ground, but it hit nothing.

  Varyn stood just inches away, smiling. "Is that really all?"

  Kael’s eyes widened.

  Varyn backhanded him across the face.

  The impact sent Kael spinning, his vision blurring, his body crashing onto the cracked floor.

  He gasped for breath, spitting blood onto the stone, struggling to rise—

  A boot pressed against his back, pinning him down.

  Kael froze.

  Varyn’s voice was calm, almost pitying. "You think you can defeat me… with that?"

  Kael snarled, trying to push up—but Varyn pressed harder, keeping him down.

  "You are making this far too easy," Varyn sighed. "You refuse to use your gift. The power the moons gave you. The power that was meant to shape the world."

  Kael gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling.

  "You cling to your hammer like a crutch," Varyn continued. "Like a child grasping at the past. But this is not a battle of strength, Kael. This is a battle of power. And you? You have already lost."

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  Kael roared, swinging his hammer wildly from the ground—but Varyn stepped back effortlessly, avoiding the desperate attack.

  Kael forced himself to his feet, panting. He was losing.

  No. He had already lost.

  Varyn tilted his head. "I want you to understand something, Kael."

  He stepped forward slowly, taking his time, forcing Kael to backpedal.

  "You were never going to win this fight. Do you know why?"

  Kael said nothing, jaw clenched.

  Varyn chuckled. "Because you do not yet understand the power you hold. And if you cannot wield it, then you do not deserve it."

  Kael’s grip on his hammer tightened. "I’ll stop you. I don’t need my flame to do that."

  Varyn laughed—a full, mocking laugh. "Oh, Kael. You poor fool."

  Then, in a blur of motion, Varyn vanished.

  Kael barely had time to react before a hand gripped his throat.

  He choked, his feet lifting off the ground as Varyn held him aloft, Rift energy coiling around his fingers like living chains.

  "You are nothing without the Flame Unseen," Varyn whispered. "And that is why you will die here."

  Kael gasped for air, his vision fading at the edges.

  Varyn lifted his free hand, Rift energy coalescing into a dark spear.

  Kael struggled, but his hammer was useless here.

  For the first time, true fear settled into his bones.

  Lirien slashed through another Riftspawn, her breath coming in ragged gasps. There were too many.

  Sylas was bleeding, one of his daggers lost in the fray. Mira was pinned against a broken wall, fighting to keep the creatures back. Rhea was still standing, but barely.

  And Kael—Kael was losing.

  Lirien’s eyes darted up the steps, to where Varyn had Kael by the throat, Rift energy swirling in his palm.

  Her stomach twisted in horror.

  "Kael!" she screamed.

  But she was too far.

  And she knew—she wasn’t going to make it in time.

  Kael’s vision blurred as Varyn’s spear of void energy burned in his hand.

  "Goodbye, Kael."

  Then—he struck.

  The spear pierced Kael’s chest.

  Pain exploded through his body.

  For a second, everything went silent. Then—Kael fell.

  The world spun as his body crashed down the steps of the Shattered Throne, rolling, hitting stone after stone, before finally landing at the base of the ruined staircase.

  Lirien’s breath hitched.

  "KAEL!" She ran.

  The others barely fought off the Riftspawn, forcing their way toward where Kael lay motionless.

  Lirien dropped to her knees beside him, hands shaking as she pressed them against his chest—His eyes were open.

  But there was no light in them. For the first time, Kael didn’t move.

  For the first time, Kael had lost.

  Varyn stood at the top of the steps, watching.His smirk never faded.

  The Rift energy around him grew stronger, pulsing, vibrating—the very air distorting around the throne.This was it.

  He had won.

  "You were never ready for this, Kael," he murmured, watching the body below. "You should have accepted that from the beginning."

  Then, he turned toward the throne—his throne. And he stepped forward. The Shattered Throne awaited him. And soon, so would the world.