Kael closed his eyes. His breathing slowed. He reached deep inside, past the broken body, past the weakness, down into the core of his soul.
At first, there was only emptiness. His new vessel was like a dry well, cracked and useless. But then… he heard it.
A whisper.
It was faint, almost lost in the silence, but Kael recognized it instantly.
"…Kael…"
His eyes shot open. The voice was not from outside. It was from within.
He shut them again, focusing harder. The whisper grew clearer, echoing like a ghost in the depths of his soul.
"…you are not broken… you are not weak… you are still the Devil God…"
The words were not his imagination. They were fragments of his former self, buried deep within his soul. The pieces of his old power had survived the destruction of his body.
Kael's lips curled into a thin smile. "So… even here, in this crippled flesh, I am not empty."
The whisper continued, carrying with it a sensation Kael had not felt since his death—a familiar weight, heavy and dark, pressing against his mind.
Soul Dominion.
The ancient power that had once allowed him to command demons, enslave mortals, and bend weaker wills to his own. The very essence of his rule as Devil God.
It was faint, like ashes of a fire long extinguished. But ashes could spark flames again.
Kael's heart pounded. He steadied his breath and reached for it. The moment he touched that fragment, pain exploded through his skull. His vision blurred, and blood dripped from his nose.
But Kael did not let go.
He had been betrayed, slain, mocked, and beaten. He would not stop here. He forced his will deeper, clawing at the fragment of Soul Dominion until it bled into him.
The whisper grew louder.
"…Command… Control… Consume…"
Suddenly, Kael saw visions.
In his mind's eye, armies of demons knelt before him. Mortals screamed in terror. Generals bowed their heads. The world itself shook under his voice.
And then it was gone.
Kael gasped, his body collapsing onto the bed. His chest rose and fell in sharp, ragged breaths. His vision swam, but his lips curled in satisfaction.
Because even in this crippled shell, the fragment was real.
The Devil God's power had not vanished.
It slept, waiting for him to awaken it.
---
The next morning, Kael's body ached, but his spirit was steady. He left his hut and limped to the well to draw water. Disciples saw him and laughed, as always.
"Look, the cripple is still alive."
"Should've died yesterday. What a cockroach."
Kael ignored them. His hands trembled as he pulled the rope, lifting the bucket of water. He drank deeply, washing the blood from his lips.
One disciple, a boy younger than the rest, walked past him carrying firewood. His steps were heavy, his face pale.
Kael glanced at him. His eyes narrowed.
The whisper inside stirred again.
"…Command… Control…"
For a moment, Kael felt it—his will brushing against the boy's weak soul. The boy froze, his eyes glazing over.
"Drop the wood," Kael whispered.
The boy obeyed without hesitation, letting the bundle crash to the ground. He stood still, staring at nothing.
Kael's heart raced. The fragment of Soul Dominion had worked, even if only for a breath.
But the strain was heavy. His head throbbed, his vision darkened, and the connection broke. The boy blinked, confused, then hurried away without realizing what had happened.
Kael leaned against the well, his lips curling into a cold smile.
Weak or not, crippled or not—he had just proven it. The Devil God's power was still his.
---
That night, Kael tested it again. He focused on a small rat crawling near his hut. His eyes locked onto the creature, his will pressing against its fragile soul.
The whisper rose in his mind, clearer now.
"…Obey…"
The rat froze. Its small body trembled, but it did not run.
Kael's voice was low, calm, filled with command. "Come."
The rat scurried forward, stopping at his feet.
Kael's smile widened. He lifted his hand. "Die."
The rat twisted violently, blood spilling from its nose and mouth. Within seconds, it lay dead on the dirt.
Kael exhaled, his body shaking with exhaustion. His nose bled again, and his vision blurred, but his smile remained.
It was a small victory, but a victory all the same.
If he could control rats today, he could control men tomorrow. And if he could control men, he could once again control armies.
---
Days passed.
The disciples continued to mock him. They tripped him during chores, spilled water on him, and treated him like dirt. Elders ignored him, sometimes throwing insults for amusement.
But Kael did not react.
Outwardly, he bowed his head, silent and obedient. Inwardly, he sharpened his will every night, practicing on rats, insects, and stray dogs.
The fragment of Soul Dominion grew stronger with each attempt. His control lasted longer, his reach stretched farther. The strain was still brutal, leaving him dizzy and bleeding, but Kael endured.
Pain was nothing.
Humiliation was nothing.
Every beating, every insult, every drop of blood was fuel.
Because while they saw a cripple, Kael knew the truth.
The Devil God was awakening.
---
One evening, while carrying buckets of water, Kael was cornered by a group of disciples again.
The tall one who had beaten him before stepped forward, smirking. "Still crawling around, Li Ren? You should thank us for letting you live this long."
The others laughed, circling him.
Kael stared at the ground, silent.
The tall disciple shoved him. "Say something, trash."
Kael looked up slowly. His crimson eyes glimmered faintly in the fading light. For a heartbeat, the tall disciple froze, his smile faltering.
A whisper echoed in Kael's mind.
"…Command…"
The disciple's body stiffened. His eyes glazed for a single breath. Kael's lips barely moved.
"Kneel."
The disciple's knees buckled. He dropped into the dirt before Kael, his face pale with confusion.
The crowd gasped.
But the moment ended as quickly as it came. The connection broke, and the disciple scrambled to his feet, rage and shame burning on his face. "You bastard!" He struck Kael hard, sending him to the ground.
The others laughed again, though uneasily. None of them had understood why their leader had fallen to his knees, but they did not question it.
Kael lay in the dirt, coughing blood. His body ached, but his smile was hidden in the shadows.
Because in that single moment, he had proven it again.
The Whisper of Power was no longer just a fragment. It was growing.
And soon, no one in this sect would dare laugh at him again.
---
That night, Kael sat in his hut, blood still staining his lips. He closed his eyes, feeling the fragment pulse inside his soul.
The whisper spoke clearer than ever.
"…Your body is weak, but your soul is eternal. Build it, feed it, awaken it. The world will kneel again."
Kael opened his eyes, crimson light flickering within them. His voice was soft, cold, and steady.