Ashfall lay in quiet ruin. The scorched earth, twisted trees, and shattered stone bore witness to the battle that had raged mere hours ago. Yet for Kael Viren, there was no time to savor victory or even recover.
The Empire would respond. Faster. Smarter. Deadlier.
And now… something else was coming.
Kael's gaze lifted to the heavens. Stars blinked strangely tonight. Not their usual rhythm, not their usual shine. A faint distortion shimmered across the sky, like ripples on water, as if reality itself had thinned.
Harvester stirred within his consciousness, shadows slithering along Kael's arms.
> Anomaly detected. Otherworld interference. Probability: 87%.
Kael's eyes narrowed. He had survived three years of experimentation, the palace betrayal, and the Empire's deadliest hunters—but Otherworld beings were a different league entirely. They did not adhere to imperial law or mortal morality. They existed on a scale he had yet to comprehend.
A sudden roar of thunder split the night. It was not a storm. The air vibrated with energy, dense, oppressive, and alien.
From the horizon, a light emerged. Brilliant, unnatural, oscillating between colors that no human eye could normally perceive. It approached swiftly, faster than any bird, faster than even the fastest cultivators Kael had encountered.
Rion staggered, gripping his staff tightly. "Kael… whatever that is… it's not human. It's not from here."
Kael's jaw tightened. "I know."
The sky cracked, and a massive figure descended, leaving trails of energy that scorched the atmosphere. Its form was humanoid, but elongated, with limbs that bent at impossible angles. Crystalline wings unfurled, radiating light that seemed alive. Its head was crowned with a halo of shifting glyphs that whispered in a language Kael could almost understand—an ancient Otherworld tongue.
It landed in the center of the forest clearing, massive enough to dwarf the trees, yet moving with absolute precision. Energy pulses radiated outward, destabilizing the terrain. Rocks floated briefly before falling. Birds exploded into the air, fleeing.
Kael felt it immediately. His consciousness quivered at the edge of comprehension.
> Harvester: "It's… beyond sovereign. Perhaps even Celestial. Kael… be careful."
Kael didn't respond. He stepped forward, letting Dragonfire flare briefly from his aura. A warning, not an attack.
The being spoke. Its voice was layered—multiple tones, each resonating differently within Kael's mind, bypassing ears entirely.
> "Kael Viren… you have exceeded expectations. You have manifested fragments, resisted imperial suppression, and drawn attention beyond this world. You are… interesting."
Harvester hissed. Shadows coiling like serpents inside Kael's mind.
> Observe carefully. This entity is not aligned with humans. Its motives are… unknowable.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "I don't care about being interesting. What do you want?"
The being's wings shimmered. Energy pulsed, rearranging the very air between them.
> "You carry genes that should not coexist. Human, Otherworld, dead hero—fragments of power that have been sealed for centuries. You survived the experiments. You broke free. You will either become a keystone in the war to come, or… you will die."
Kael's grip tightened. "And if I refuse?"
> "Then the universe will adjust. Others will intervene. And you will regret defiance."
The being's form flickered. It did not attack. It did not retreat. It simply observed, radiating pressure that made even Harvester shiver.
Kael exhaled slowly. "I don't care who sent you. I'm not dying here."
The entity tilted its head. A ripple of light coursed through the forest. The ground cracked beneath Kael's feet, but he remained standing, Dragon Hybrid energy flaring lightly.
> "Good. Resistance is… expected. But know this: you are no longer merely a fugitive of the Empire. You are now a player in a war far larger than your world."
Before Kael could react further, the being extended a hand. A sphere of concentrated Otherworld energy formed, suspended in midair. The sphere pulsed, revealing images within:
The Empire's capital, lined with hunters and soldiers.
Otherworld territories, strange landscapes of floating islands, inverted oceans, and twisted cities.
Shadowed armies, some angelic, some monstrous, each moving under silent command.
Kael's mind spun as he processed the visions. This being—whatever it was—was showing him the scope of conflict.
> "Your survival has not gone unnoticed," the Otherworld entity said. "There are those who will see your power as a threat, and those who will see it as an opportunity. You must choose carefully who you trust… if you wish to live."
Harvester coiled tightly, a dark snarl echoing inside Kael's head.
> We must strike first. Neutrality is impossible.
Kael shook his head. "Not yet. I need control first. I need Rion. And I need the rest of my fragments."
The entity's form shimmered again. It seemed to smile—or at least Kael interpreted the distortion as such.
> "Wise… for now. But do not linger in indecision. The threads of fate move quickly. One hesitation, one misstep, and the consequences will be irreversible. I will return when necessary."
With a final pulse of light, the entity vanished, leaving a faint distortion in the air, like a bruise on reality itself.
Kael turned to Rion. The thread master's eyes reflected exhaustion and awe.
"You just… saw that too?" Rion asked. "Did it speak to you?"
Kael nodded. "Yes. And we have no choice. The Empire's reinforcements aren't the only ones coming. Something far bigger has noticed me now."
Rion swallowed. "You think they're… Otherworlders?"
Kael's expression hardened. "Yes. And they're watching. That's why we need to act carefully. I can't just rush headlong into the Empire anymore."
Harvester stirred again, quieter this time.
> We prepare. We train. Each fragment must awaken. Dragon Hybrid is strong, but alone we are vulnerable.
Kael exhaled, staring at the night sky. The stars above had returned to normal—or at least, the illusion of normalcy. But he knew better. Somewhere beyond the atmosphere, beings who operated beyond mortal laws had taken note. His every move would now be scrutinized by forces that made even the Empire look small.
> "First," Kael whispered, "we find a safe place to train. Then… we awaken the others."
Before they could leave the forest, a figure emerged from the shadows, moving with silent grace.
Tall. Hooded. Familiar aura.
"Kael Viren," the figure said. "You've attracted attention… beyond even the Empire's capacity to handle. It's… impressive. But dangerous."
Kael tensed. "Who are you?"
The figure lowered its hood. Silver hair, piercing blue eyes. One arm was covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly.
"I am Selara," she said. "An envoy of the Otherworld. I was sent to observe you. To… see if you are a threat—or a tool."
Harvester snarled internally. "A tool? They already see us as that."
Kael's hand rested on his hip. "And you? Which are you?"
Selara smiled faintly. "Neither. For now. But know this—if you awaken all your fragments, you will no longer be just a threat. You will be a force that could topple worlds. The Empire fears you… the Otherworld fears you… and even the Law watches you."
Kael's eyes burned. "Then I guess I have no choice. I awaken the others. And no one will stop me."
Selara nodded once. "Good. But remember—power without control will destroy you from the inside. You must master your avatars, or you will lose yourself before you face your enemies."
Kael turned, gazing at the horizon. The Empire would come, otherworld forces would intervene, and Law would test him in ways he could not yet imagine.
He clenched his fist.
> "Let them come. I am Kael Viren. And they will all learn—nothing, and no one, controls me."
Behind him, Harvester coiled like a living shadow, Dragon Hybrid energy simmering, and Rion—his teacher—stood ready.
The war was only beginning.