Chapter 4: First Blood
The ash weighed heavier tonight, clinging to Kael's cloak, filling his lungs like sand. Every step dragged, his body still raw from the beast he'd slain.
The System hissed in his vision:
[Warning: Void Fragment Instability 7%]
Absorb or perish.
Kael gritted his teeth. "Yeah, I heard you."
Hunger gnawed at him. He had cheated death, stolen scales and fire, devoured strength from corpses—yet his stomach growled like he was still some office drone skipping meals to meet deadlines.
Then the air shifted. Not wind. Movement.
Figures emerged through the haze—five, moving fast, cloaks rippling though the air was still. Faint turquoise light glowed on their skin. Godmarks.
Kael's gut tightened. Already?
The leader stepped forward, a lean man with twin blades. His chest bore the sigil of the Sky God, blazing like a brand.
"You reek of the Void," he said, voice cold. "The gods were right. Something unnatural walks these plains."
Kael clenched his fists, sparks of black flame crackling. "Come closer. I'll show you unnatural."
The man didn't blink. "Seran Veyth, Windmarked scout commander. My orders are to confirm your existence. If you resist… I erase you."
Behind him, the others spread out: Kira, short-haired, blade twirling in a dancer's rhythm; Dorn, a scarred brute whose muscles looked carved from stone; Seya, silent and crouched like a predator; Renn, youngest, eyes darting nervously.
The System pulsed:
[Survival Priority: Eliminate the Godmarked Threat]
Kael exhaled. "Guess it's now or never."
They moved as one. In a blink, five shadows blurred forward, Godmarks flaring in sync. Wind Step. Resonance.
Kael barely got his arm up—air screamed past, a gale-edged slash carving earth at his feet. Dorn's shockwave slammed into his armor, rattling his ribs.
Kira's blade skimmed across his back, heat blooming as blood welled. "Slow," she mocked, vanishing into wind. "The Void chose a cripple."
Seran's twin blades flashed. Kael caught one on his forearm—Voidscale held, but the other cut deep across his ribs. Hot blood sprayed.
He roared, black fire bursting from his palm, forcing Seran back a step. But a second strike of wind hurled Kael forward, right into the commander's waiting blades.
Instinct saved him. He twisted—the slash tore his shoulder instead of his throat. Pain lanced, white-hot.
Kael's fist cracked against Seran's jaw. The man staggered, eyes narrowing—not hurt, but irritated.
"You fight like prey."
Kael spat blood. "And you talk too much."
They circled again, formation tightening. Kael's mana bled away, Ember Void Strike gnawing at his veins, Voidscale groaning under the strain.
Then—above. A shadow dropped. Seya, blades raining down. Kael rolled, ash exploding where he'd been.
Renn charged next. The youngest. His blade shook in his grip, his Godmark pulsing faint and weak. Fear in his eyes.
For a breath, Kael faltered. He's just a boy—
Then Renn screamed and lunged.
Kael caught the strike barehanded, Voidscale flaring, and slammed Ember Void Strike into his chest.
The boy shrieked. Ash swallowed him whole.
[Essence Absorbed: Lesser Windmarked]
Ability Acquired: Wind Edge.
Kael staggered back, bile rising. His chest heaved, blood dripping from his lip.
The battlefield froze.
"You dare!" Kira shrieked, voice raw with fury.
Resonance shattered into frenzy. Blades and shockwaves hammered Kael, carving blood from his arms and sides. He slipped, gasped, but didn't break.
Seran's calm cracked into venom. "Pathetic Voidspawn. You'll die screaming."
Kael collapsed to one knee, breath tearing ragged from his lungs. Seran loomed, twin blades crossed, wind howling sharp around him.
"Any last words?" the commander asked softly.
Kael coughed blood. A grin split his face. "Yeah. Burn."
His palm erupted point-blank into Seran's chest. Ember Void Strike roared, black fire chewing through flesh and bone.
Seran screamed, mark blazing desperately, wind shrieking against the Void. But the Void was hungrier.
Ash consumed him.
[Essence Absorbed: Seran Veyth – Windmarked Scout Leader]
Ability Acquired: Wind Step, Edge of the Gale.
Evolving with Void Fragment…
[New Skill Unlocked: Galevoid Slash]
Condense wind and Void into a cutting arc that devours resistance.
Kael trembled, body one breath from breaking. His vision swam red. But he was alive. Stronger.
The survivors gaped. "Impossible…" Kira whispered.
Kael bared bloody teeth. "Guess prey bites back."
Wind and Void surged together in his grip. He slashed.
Galevoid Slash screamed across the ash, devouring Dorn's shockwave and tearing through his chest. The brute toppled, choking blood.
Kira and Seya dragged him, retreating into the haze.
Kael swayed, knees buckling.
The System pulsed:
[Warning: Critical Fatigue. Void Fragment Instability 14%.]
"Yeah…" Kael rasped, vision fading. "No kidding…"
Then the ground trembled.
A roar split the night, vast and monstrous. A shadow rose from the plains, runes burning across its titanic frame.
The System chimed cold as iron:
[New Threat Detected: Godmarked Warbeast]
Survive… or be devoured.
Kael's eyes widened. He had survived the storm. Now the mountain was coming.