His heart slammed loud inside his head.
The Tribunal knows you live.
Out of nowhere, the First Sovereign's voice echoed inside him, steady as pounding on hide-stretched wood. Since coming back, he'd done nothing but dig - scrape through memories long buried beneath silence. Only now does it hit: returning wasn't just change - it carried burden.
He was locked up by the gods, but they did not finish what they started. Stopping him only lasted so long.
Yet here he was, awake - so they'd return soon enough.
Out came Kael's breath, steady, drawn out. His gaze held the First Sovereign's without breaking.
"If they fear my return, then they should."
A quiet nod came from him, those sky-born marks on his skin flickering, dimming like something ancient losing its light. Without more than that look, he made one thing clear - being sure of yourself changes nothing out here. Time has been on their side, stretched across hundreds of years shaping what waits ahead
Kael's hands curled into fists. "And I have had centuries to grow stronger."
A gust snapped through, making them pivot at once. Up stood the Titanborn - still as stone before - and now moving for the first time.
Out of nowhere, a voice growled: "Here they are." .
Footsteps halted as stone dust stirred on its own. Not loud - yet Kael sensed it deeper than sound: reality itself had snagged, like cloth caught on splintered wood.
Something was tearing through the Veil of Eternity.
He let out a breath, shoulders slumping. Quicker than I thought it would be
Kael looked his way. What's coming their way?
The First Sovereign's gaze grew heavy. Not divine. Not now. His hand moved upward, pointing at the heavens - thin splits of gold bleeding through. Trial comes before power. It has happened that way every time
Fissures stretched open under Kael's stare. Out of the dark below came shapes - warriors wrapped in metal that burned like stars.
Air grew thick when they showed up. Just stepping forward, their power pulsed through every inch of earth below. Right away, Kael knew who stood there.
The Sentinels of the Tribunal.
Out of shadow they came, these killers without names. Every breath they took served a single aim - wiping out those who stood against heaven's rule.
This time, it was his turn. They arrived without warning. The moment had finally caught up.
A flash split the clouds - one figure dropped fast, metal armor gleaming like morning on river ice. Stone cracked underfoot when he struck the ground, pieces flying sideways into dust. Sharp edges of his mask gave him the look of some hunting raptor from high cliffs. Face hidden completely, yet Kael sensed anger burning behind those slits - cold, sharp, unshaken.
"Kael of the Forsaken Ash," the Sentinel spoke, his voice carrying the weight of divine judgment. "You were erased from existence by decree of the Eternal Tribunal. Your return is an abomination."
Kael stood still. Yet forward he moved.
"And yet, here I stand."
A sharp glow ran down the sword as the guard held it tighter. This spot is where your path ends
A faint smile tugged at Kael's mouth. Fine - let them show up.
"Then let's see if your gods have the strength to erase me twice."
First, the Sentinel shifted into motion.
Out of nowhere, his sword cut loud, sparking glowing marks behind. Just in time, Kael moved - only to face the strike crashing down like something ripped from the sky.
This time, Kael stood prepared.
A hush fell as he lifted his palm, time stretching like taffy. The air thickened, footsteps fading into slow echoes.
Slowed down, though still moving.
Time pushed back against him, heavy, unsteady, wild. Yet sufficient.
With a single step, he shifted out of the blade's path, his body moving through the slowed reality like a ghost. The Sentinel's eyes widened in surprise Kael struck.
A shock ran through his hand as it struck the Sentinel's chest - then time jumped ahead.
Reality snapped back.
A streak across the sky - stone pillars shattered as The Sentinel tumbled, driven by force unseen. Momentum carried it forward, debris spinning in its wake.
Weapons came up across the line of Sentinels. Slow breath left Kael's lungs.
"Your Tribunal made a mistake." His voice was cold, unshaken. "They should have killed me when they had the chance."
A hush followed his raised palm. Around him, moments stretched thin like light through glass.
"Because now?" His silver eyes blazed. "I will remind them why they feared me in the first place."