The Shattered Sky: Only I Do What the Gods Can't

Kael barely had time to react as the bandit leader raised his weapon.

A massive axe, its edges glowing with fragment energy, swung toward him with terrifying speed. The air seemed to ripple with the force of the swing, and Kael dove to the side, barely avoiding being cleaved in two.

The ground where the axe struck exploded in a spray of dirt and shards, the fragment-enhanced impact leaving a deep gash in the earth.

"You've made a big mistake, kid," the leader growled, his now dark eyes fixed on Kael.

Kael scrambled to his feet, gripping his blade tightly. Around him, the remaining bandits formed a loose circle, their weapons at the ready, eyes glinting with a mixture of fear and malice.

Neo's voice was sharp in his head. "That fragment on his nape—it's the source of his incredible strength. You need to disable it. But be careful—he's stronger than anyone you've faced so far. It's corrupted too. So the more he uses it the more unstable he becomes"

Kael nodded, his pulse pounding in his ears. "Got it," he whispered under his breath.

The leader charged, closing the distance between them in an instant with an ground shattering jump.

Kael brought his blade up just in time to block, the clash of metal reverberating through his arms. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, his boots struggling to find it's footing on the loose dirt.

He twisted away, using the momentum to avoid a follow-up strike. The axe came down again, carving through the air with a deafening roar.

Kael ducked low, rolling to the side and slashing at the leader's leg. His blade struck, but the armor absorbed most of the impact, the fragment-infused metal sparking on contact.

The leader laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a chill down Kael's spine. "Is that all you've got?"

Kael didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste breath on words. Instead, he focused on staying one step ahead, his mind racing as he analyzed the leader's movements.

The other bandits began to close in, emboldened by their leader's confidence. Kael's fragment pulsed faintly, warning him of danger from all sides.

"Stay sharp," Neo urged. "Don't let them surround you."

Kael lunged toward the nearest bandit, his blade flashing in the moonlight. The man swung clumsily, but Kael ducked beneath the attack, driving the hilt of his blade into the bandit's gut. The man crumpled to the ground, wheezing for breath.

Another bandit charged from behind, his spear aimed for Kael's back. Neo's warning came just in time, and Kael spun around, deflecting the spear with his blade before delivering a sharp kick to the bandit's chest.

The leader roared in frustration. "Stop playing with him! Take him down!"

Kael's breathing was ragged, his muscles burning with exertion. He couldn't keep this up forever.

The bandits attacked in waves, their movements uncoordinated but relentless. Kael used every ounce of his training, every survival lesson his father had taught him, and the instinctual movements caused by the fragment to stay ahead.

He dodged, parried, and struck with precision, his blade moving faster than he thought possible.

But the numbers were overwhelming. For every bandit he knocked out, two more seemed to take their place.

"Neo," Kael gasped, his chest heaving. "I can't hold them off much longer."

Neo's voice was calm but urgent. "You need to disrupt their formation. Force them into chaos."

Kael's gaze darted around the clearing, searching for an opening. His eyes landed on a stack of fragment-powered crates near the edge of the camp. An idea began to form in his mind.

"I've got a plan," he muttered.

Neo's tone turned sharp. "I see. So that's what you want to do, you'd better do it fast."

'She can read my mind?!' Kael thought for a brief second before turning back to the crisis at hand.

He feigned a stumble, drawing the bandits closer. Then, with a burst of speed, he sprinted toward the crates, dodging their attacks as he went.

He reached the stack and swung his blade with all his strength, striking the glowing fragments embedded in the crates.

This was just an assumption and if the Gods could hear his pleas then he prayed that it was right.

And they were.

The reaction was immediate. The fragments pulsed wildly, their energy destabilizing in an instant. Kael dove for cover as the crates exploded in a brilliant flash of light and sound, sending shockwaves through the camp.

The bandits were thrown into disarray, their formation breaking apart as they scrambled to avoid the blast.

Kael seized the opportunity, charging back into the fray. He moved like a whirlwind, taking out bandits one by one while they were still reeling from the explosion.

The leader roared in fury, his eyes blazing with rage. "Enough of this!"

He raised his axe, the dark energy swirling around it intensifying. The air grew heavy, the ground trembling beneath his feet as he unleashed a devastating strike.

Kael barely managed to dodge, the impact sending a shockwave that knocked him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, the breath forced from his lungs.

"Kael!" Neo's voice was sharp with urgency. "Get up! He's coming!"

Kael rolled to the side just as the axe came down again, narrowly missing him. He scrambled to his feet, his body screaming in protest.

The leader advanced, his steps deliberate and menacing. Kael's mind raced, searching for a way to turn the tide. His fragment pulsed faintly, its rhythm steady but insistent.

"Neo," Kael said through gritted teeth. "I need help."

Neo's voice was calm but firm. "You know what to do. Trust your fragment. Let it guide you."

Kael closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the fragment's pulse. He felt its energy flowing through him, a steady current that seemed to sync with his own heartbeat.

When he opened his eyes, the world seemed sharper, clearer. The leader's movements slowed, every step and swing more predictable.

Kael lunged forward, his blade moving with newfound precision. He struck at the leader's exposed joints, his attacks fast and relentless.

The leader growled in frustration, his swings growing wilder as Kael dodged and countered with ease.

"Enough!" the leader bellowed, his dark energy surging as he raised his axe for one final strike.

Kael didn't hesitate. He leapt forward, his blade aimed for the fragment on the leader's nape.

The strike was precise, the blade piercing the fragment with a burst of energy. The leader froze, his body convulsing as the fragment's glow flickered and died.

With a final, guttural growl, the leader collapsed, his massive form hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.

The remaining bandits stared in stunned silence, their weapons falling from their hands as they took in the sight of their fallen leader.

Kael stood over the body, his chest heaving, his blade glowing faintly with residual energy.

Neo's voice was soft in his mind. "It's over, Kael. You did it."

Kael nodded, his grip on his blade loosening. But his eyes remained sharp, his body tense.

"There's still more to do," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "The captives need help. And the outskirts... I can't let them fall."

With one last glance at the fallen leader, Kael turned toward the edge of the camp, ready to finish what he had started.