The winged presence loomed before him its vast form blotting out what little remained of the moonlight the stars themselves seemed to bend around its wings as though reality could not bear the weight of its existence its eyes were endless voids swirling with broken constellations and its voice rolled through the ruins not like sound but like truth whispered directly into the soul
Voice : Koda bearer of the Nexus you stand at the threshold rise or vanish
Koda tightened his grip on the blade of fractured stars though his arms trembled though his chest burned with the heat of the mark carved into his flesh he did not fall his legs shook his body screamed at him to run yet something in the voice held him rooted a pull that went beyond fear
Koda : Who are you what do you want from me
The figure spread its wings the motion tearing at the very air shreds of reality falling like glass
Voice : I am not your enemy nor your savior I am the Gatekeeper the first trial every bearer must face before they can wield the Nexus in truth your power is not yet yours to command it must be tested it must be earned
Koda swallowed hard his throat dry his heart hammering though he wanted to shout to demand answers he knew there was no escape if he refused if he faltered this would be the end
Koda : Then I will fight you
The Gatekeeper did not move yet the world shifted the broken city dissolved the ashes the towers the streets all faded into dust and suddenly Koda stood in an endless void a horizon of swirling galaxies beneath his feet a sea of stars above his head he stumbled his breath stolen by the sheer immensity of it all the battlefield had been chosen
Voice : This is the Astral Crucible here your strength your will your very soul will be weighed against eternity prepare yourself
Without warning the Gatekeeper raised its hand from the void formed a spear carved of collapsing suns its weight alone bent space as it hurled it forward Koda barely had time to raise his blade the impact struck like a thunderclap sending him crashing backward stars shattering beneath his body he gasped pain flooding his chest but the Nexus pulsed and he forced himself upright
Koda : I will not fall not here
He dashed forward the blade burning in his grip arcs of starlight trailing behind each strike he swung at the Gatekeeper sparks scattering across the void but the being barely shifted its form each strike meeting a wall of power far beyond his reach its wings beat once and Koda was hurled away again tumbling through the endless night
The Nexus burned brighter within him whispering urging him to endure
Voice : Do you see now Koda power without resolve is nothing a blade without purpose is only a burden
Koda forced his feet against the void halting his spin his breath ragged his arms numb but his eyes burned with fire
Koda : You speak of resolve you speak of purpose then let me show you mine I will not bow to the Abyssborn I will not be chained by rulers or broken by gods if this power chose me then I will carry it even if it breaks me
For the first time the Gatekeeper tilted its head its voidlike eyes narrowing and in the silence Koda surged forward again this time not swinging blindly but with intent each strike sharper each step firmer the Nexus sang with his resolve and the blade of fractured stars burned brighter
The Gatekeeper raised its spear to block the clash rang out like thunder across eternity sparks scattering into galaxies the impact tore cracks through the void itself but Koda did not falter he pressed harder teeth gritted muscles screaming until at last the Gatekeeper shifted a single step backward
Koda : I can push you back I can fight you
The Gatekeeper spread its wings once more the force sending shockwaves across the void its voice echoed deeper heavier yet tinged with something almost like approval
Voice : You endure you rise even when crushed beneath the weight of infinity yet this is only the beginning
It thrust the spear downward and the entire void split apart stars collapsing into rivers of fire galaxies tearing themselves into storms Koda stood at the center his body shaking yet his eyes unyielding he lifted the blade above his head and with a cry that tore his throat raw he swung down light erupting brighter than creation itself
The clash shattered the Crucible the void exploding into fragments and when the storm of fire and stars faded Koda found himself kneeling in the ruins of the forgotten city once more his chest heaving his body broken yet still alive the mark on his chest glowing faintly the blade humming softly in his hands
The Gatekeeper stood before him wings folded its vast form shrinking its eyes dimming
Voice : You have endured the first trial Koda bearer of the Nexus but greater storms await the Abyssborn will not stop the kings of men will not yield and even your own shadow will turn against you if you falter
It leaned closer its voice now softer though no less heavy
Voice : Remember this your greatest enemy will never be them it will be you
Then the Gatekeeper dissolved into starlight vanishing into the night leaving Koda alone once more the ruins silent the air heavy his body trembling yet within him a fire that refused to die
Koda looked at the blade still glowing faintly in his hands and whispered to himself
Koda : If my greatest enemy is myself then I will fight even that I will endure
Far above the rift in the sky pulsed darker wider the Abyssborn still waiting still watching and in distant lands kings and hunters stirred at the first whisper of a new Nexus bearer the world would come for him soon but Koda had taken his first step into the path of eternity and he would not turn back