Chapter 3: The Ashen Plains
The sky was the color of old bruises, and the wind tasted of ash. Every step Kael took sank into brittle soil that crumbled into dust behind him, as if the land itself wanted no memory of him.
The ruins of the village still smoldered on the horizon, black smoke clawing upward. Kael didn't look back.
Only forward.
[Quest: Survive the Ashen Plains]
Destination: Ruins of Valthor.
Failure: Soul Collapse.
He tightened his grip on the scavenger's bent spear. His ribs still ached, but the toughness he'd stolen from the marauder kept him upright.
The world stretched around him in gray desolation—charred trees like skeletal fingers, jagged stone like broken teeth, air heavy with the stink of rot.
This wasn't just a wasteland. It was a graveyard that hadn't finished feeding.
⸻
Hours passed in silence, broken only by the crunch of ash underfoot. His mind was louder. Adrian's grin burned in his memory. His so-called friend. His betrayer.
Kael's teeth ground together. Never again.
A sound cut through his thoughts.
Wet. Guttural. Wrong.
He spun, spear raised. From behind a ridge, it came—massive, hunched, hide fused with jagged plates of iron. Steam hissed from its body. Eyes glowed red with hunger.
[Target Identified: Ashen Beast — Mutated Predator]
Ability: [Ironhide] (low-tier).
Kael's lips curved. "Then let's see if Ironhide keeps you alive."
The beast roared and charged. Kael dove aside—stone shattered where he'd stood. His spear jabbed, sparks flying uselessly off metal flesh.
Too strong. Too armored.
The monster's bulk slammed into him, claws raking air. Kael rolled, grit cutting his palms raw. Pain flared as its strike grazed his ribs.
If steel won't pierce you, fire will.
Kael summoned the void-flame. It raced down the spear, black and red.
The beast lunged. Kael braced. Thrust.
The flaming spear jammed into its hide. The Void-fire burrowed deep, burning flesh beneath the armor. The beast shrieked, thrashing.
But it didn't fall.
Its claw slammed into Kael, sending him skidding across stone. His chest screamed. Blood filled his mouth.
The monster pounced. Jaws wide.
Kael jammed the spear upward into its throat. Black fire exploded inside. The beast convulsed, eyes bursting into ash. It collapsed, smoking.
Kael dropped beside it, lungs heaving, sweat stinging his eyes. Every muscle trembled.
[Ability Absorbed: Ironhide]
Evolving through Void Fragment…
[New Ability Acquired: Voidscale Armor]
Skin manifests shifting void-scales. Damage reduced. Ambient mana consumed.
Dark scales shimmered across his arms before fading. He flexed his hand. Stronger. Harder. Hungry.
A ragged laugh tore from his throat. Not joy. Not relief. Something darker.
Every kill makes me stronger. Every corpse feeds me. This world will kneel—or burn.
⸻
By dusk, a thin smoke rose on the horizon. Not ruins. Campfire.
Caution flared. Kael crept closer.
A man slumped by a dying fire, chest pierced with arrows, blood soaking his tunic. His breaths rattled shallow.
His eyes flickered open. "You… Void-touched…"
Kael froze. "What did you say?"
The man's hand shot out, clutching his wrist with startling strength.
"They'll… come for you," he gasped. "The Godmarked Clans. They hunt all touched by the Void. They won't stop… until every fragment is theirs."
His eyes dimmed. His hand fell limp.
Kael stared down, silence heavy. Another warning. Another corpse.
"Then let them come," he muttered.
The wind shifted. A whisper carried through the ash:
"He is marked. Begin the hunt."
[System Warning: Host Detected by Godmarked Trackers]
[Danger Level: High]
Kael's head snapped up. On the ridge, half-hidden by smoke, eyes glowed crimson—watching.