The Devourer's Dominion

The corridors of the Obsidian Spire were eerily quiet.

Too quiet.

Aetheron's fists were clenched as he and his team moved swiftly through the east wing. Every step felt like walking on a blade's edge.

Kael had let them go too easily.

And Aetheron didn't trust that for a second.

Finding Aria

They stopped outside a reinforced door.

Kyren pressed his ear against it. "One person inside. No movement."

Rael pulled out a blade. "Could be a trap."

Aetheron didn't hesitate.

He raised his hand.

The mark on his chest pulsed.

Power surged through him, raw and dangerous.

The door shattered.

Inside, a dimly lit chamber was revealed—

And there, chained to the wall—

Was Aria.

Her head jerked up. Eyes widened. "Aetheron?"

Aetheron exhaled sharply. Relief hit him hard, but he shoved it down. "We're getting you out of here."

She blinked, as if making sure he was real. Then—

Her expression hardened.

"No."

Aetheron frowned. "What?"

Aria's chains rattled as she shifted. "It's a setup."

Aetheron turned sharply to Rael.

But he already knew.

The silence. The lack of resistance. Kael's words.

It was too easy.

Then—

The torches in the room flickered.

And a voice echoed from the darkness.

"You're quick."

Aetheron spun—

Just as Kael Veydris stepped into view.

The Fight Begins

Aetheron didn't wait.

He moved.

His fist shot forward, golden energy crackling around it—

But Kael wasn't there.

Aetheron's punch shattered the wall behind him.

Kael's voice was a whisper from the shadows. "Still relying on brute force?"

Aetheron's instincts screamed.

He barely twisted in time as a blade slashed past his face.

Kael was fast.

Too fast.

Rael lunged in, twin daggers flashing. "I hate this guy already!"

Kael sidestepped, grabbing Rael's wrist mid-attack and flipping him into the ground.

Juno followed up, her spear stabbing forward—

Kael caught it with two fingers.

Her eyes widened. "What—"

Aetheron's mark flared.

And for a moment—

Kael hesitated.

Aetheron saw it. Felt it.

That single moment was all he needed.

He swung.

His punch connected.

Kael was blasted backwards, crashing through a pillar.

Dust filled the air.

Aetheron exhaled. "That shut you up."

But then—

From within the rubble—

A laugh.

Kael stepped forward, brushing dust off his coat.

And he was grinning.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

Aetheron's stomach tightened.

Something was wrong.

Kael wanted this fight.

He wanted to see something.

Something inside Aetheron.

Aetheron's fingers twitched.

And deep in his chest—

The mark whispered.

Escaping the Spire

Kyren moved first. "Aetheron! We need to go—now!"

Aetheron's mind snapped back to reality. Aria.

They weren't here to fight Kael.

They were here to get out.

He turned, grabbed Aria's chains—

And his power surged.

The metal melted beneath his grip.

Aria staggered forward, rubbing her wrists. "Took you long enough."

Aetheron smirked. "You're welcome."

Then—

The alarm bells screamed.

Kael sighed. "Ah. Looks like we're out of time."

Aetheron turned to his team. "We're leaving."

Rael took point. "I got the way out. Move!"

Juno grabbed Aria's arm, steadying her.

Kyren threw a smoke bomb. "That'll buy us a few seconds."

The hallway filled with thick, dark fog.

Aetheron spared one last glance at Kael.

He was still watching.

Still grinning.

Like he knew something Aetheron didn't.

Aetheron scowled.

Then—

They ran.

Chasing Shadows

The Spire erupted into chaos.

Guards stormed through the corridors. The pounding of boots echoed off the stone walls.

Aetheron's team moved fast.

Kyren took the lead, weaving through the halls like he'd memorized the place.

Arrows whistled past them.

Rael slashed one out of the air. "They're getting desperate."

Juno shoved a guard into a pillar. "Not desperate enough."

Aetheron glanced back—

Kael wasn't following.

But his presence still lingered.

Like a shadow at the edge of his vision.

Aetheron clenched his jaw.

They burst into the courtyard.

The exit was in sight.

Almost there—

Then—

A figure dropped down from above.

One of the Sovereign's Hunters.

He was huge.

Silver armor. A massive spear resting on his shoulder.

His voice was cold.

"You should've stayed inside."

Aetheron exhaled.

"We don't have time for this."

Rael rolled his shoulders. "Then let's make it quick."

The Hunter shifted his stance.

Aetheron's mark pulsed.

The fight wasn't over yet.