# Chapter 12: Rumors of Power
The streets of the ruined city were silent now, save for the distant groans of shifting debris and the occasional whisper of wind through fractured buildings. Kael and Lyra moved cautiously, side by side, their senses alert. The mutant hunt had left both of them invigorated, their strengths enhanced, their bond tempered in combat. But the ruins were far from safe, and Kael could feel the Codex pulsing with impatience, demanding new challenges.
"They say someone's been moving through the western sector," Lyra said quietly, her eyes scanning the shadows. "A figure that doesn't just survive… he dominates. Leaves nothing standing, and people whisper his name like a curse."
Kael's crimson eyes narrowed, intrigued. "A rumor? Or a challenge waiting to be claimed?"
Lyra shrugged. "Could be both. But the stories match what I've seen. Someone strong… maybe even stronger than either of us."
The Codex pulsed violently at her words, a surge of energy coursing through Kael. Hunger. Desire. Anticipation. He had long ago moved beyond fearing others, but the thrill of a real challenge—someone capable of threatening him—was irresistible.
"Then we'll find him," Kael said, voice low and commanding. "If he's strong, I want to see it. If he's weak, then…" He let the sentence hang, a promise and a warning both.
They moved through the city, following the trail left by whispered rumors and subtle signs: footprints in ash, displaced debris, and the occasional mark carved into a wall—a signature of someone who left chaos in his wake. The ruins seemed to guide them, bending around Kael and Lyra as if acknowledging the presence of a new force rising.
As they neared the western sector, the air grew heavy with tension. Kael's senses tingled, the Codex thrumming with awareness of an approaching presence. Something powerful awaited them. Not a mutant, not a scavenger—but a human, and one unlike any they had encountered.
Ahead, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, imposing, and moved with a predator's grace. His eyes were sharp, calculating, and cold. Kael could feel the aura radiating from him, a blend of strength, intelligence, and ruthless intent. The Codex pulsed violently, sensing the energy of a true rival.
"You must be Kael," the figure said, his voice calm but carrying an edge that cut through the ruins. "I've heard of you… the one they call the God of Ruin."
Kael's grin widened, crimson eyes blazing. "And you are?"
"Name's Dren," the man replied. "And I've come to see if the rumors are true. If the God of Ruin is truly worthy of the name."
Lyra's grip on her staff tightened, her body coiled and ready. "This isn't going to be easy," she muttered, almost to herself.
Kael's heart raced—not with fear, but with exhilaration. The rumors were true. A rival, strong and dangerous, had entered the ruins. The Codex pulsed, hungry for the confrontation, feeding on Kael's anticipation and the raw energy of the coming battle.
"Then let's see who truly deserves the title," Kael said, stepping forward, the ruins around them seeming to shiver in response. "I've waited long enough for a challenge like this."
Dren's eyes glinted, and without another word, he lunged. The air crackled with the energy of their imminent clash, the city holding its breath as two forces of power prepared to collide.
The God of Ruin was about to face his first true rival—and the rise of Kael Dra
ven would never be the same again.