The sun barely broke through the mist of the Misted Valley as Kael and Ravik continued their journey. The Trial of Fire and Stone was behind them, but the canyon's lessons lingered in Kael's mind. Every step forward now felt heavier, not from exhaustion, but from anticipation.
Ravik spoke first. "The Klyn does not act openly. Its agents move silently, shaping the world without leaving footprints. We may have escaped the canyon, but the true challenge begins now."
Kael tightened his grip on Oath-Render. The sword felt alive in his hand, resonating with the tension in the air.
"I am ready," he said, eyes scanning the forest ahead. "Let them come."
THE FIRST SIGHTING
The forest seemed calm at first. Birds sang faintly, leaves rustled, but the feeling of being watched did not fade. Kael noticed movement—shadows that did not belong to trees.
Ravik whispered, "Watch the edges. The Klyn's agents are masters of disguise. They strike when you are distracted."
Kael's eyes narrowed. A figure appeared among the trees: tall, cloaked in dark cloth, eyes glowing faint red beneath the hood.
The figure stepped forward, yet the ground made no sound. It was almost invisible, blending with the shadows.
Kael's pulse quickened. "So they've found us."
Ravik nodded. "The Klyn moves slowly, but always watches. These are scouts. Testers. Do not underestimate them."
THE FIRST CONFRONTATION
The cloaked agent lunged suddenly. Kael raised Oath-Render, parrying with precision. Sparks flew as steel met a strange, shimmering material that the scout carried—stronger than any sword Kael had faced.
Another agent appeared from the shadows, striking from the left. Kael blocked with the flat of his blade and pivoted, feeling the air slice against his armor. The guardians reacted instantly. The echo-wolf leapt at one agent, snapping and growling, while the phoenix dove toward another, flames streaking through the morning air.
Kael's mind cleared. He realized this was more than a physical fight. The Klyn's agents were testing his reaction, his focus, his judgment.
"Strike with force," the scout whispered, though no voice left their lips.
"Strike to answer," Kael reminded himself silently.
He moved like water, blocking, dodging, and guiding his strikes to keep the agents off balance. Light from Oath-Render flared as he connected with one of their weapons, sending a shockwave that threw the figure back.
The agents did not retreat. They circled him, fluid and silent, forcing Kael to anticipate each move.
THE LESSON OF PRESENCE
Kael stepped back and took a deep breath. He remembered the canyon. The fire and stone had taught him patience and endurance. This trial required presence—awareness of every movement, every shadow, every breath.
He began to read the agents' patterns: the subtle twitch of a wrist, the shift in a foot, the pause before an attack. He anticipated their moves before they happened, using their own momentum against them.
Ravik shouted from behind: "Kael! Don't let them surround you!"
Kael spun, striking one agent away and blocking another. Sparks and shards of energy danced through the morning mist. The forest echoed with metallic clangs and the low growl of the echo-wolf.
After what felt like hours, but was only minutes, Kael struck the final blow—not to kill, but to disarm and disable. The agent staggered back, then dissolved into shadow, vanishing as if it had never been there.
THE AFTERMATH
Kael's chest heaved. Sweat ran down his face. His armor was scorched in a few places, but his mind was sharper than ever. The agents were gone, but the presence of the Klyn lingered, heavier now, like a storm about to break.
Ravik approached. "Few endure the agents without hesitation. You have not only fought—they tested your patience, your judgment, and your clarity. You have passed this trial in spirit, if not by their rules."
Kael sheathed Oath-Render, scanning the forest again. "They will return," he said, voice steady. "And next time, they will not hold back."
The phoenix landed on a nearby branch, flames flickering softly, eyes observing. The echo-wolf padded beside Kael, muscles still tense. The pride-dragon circled above, wings wide, silent but approving.
Kael felt the weight of his name press into his chest. Kael Varros—the one who had dared to meet Vryllos Belyx, to walk the fire and stone, and now to face the Klyn's hidden agents.
He took a deep breath. "Every step we take counts. Every choice matters. The Klyn will strike again, but we will be ready."
A WARNING IN SHADOW
As they prepared to move on, a chill ran down Kael's spine. From the edge of the forest, a shadow moved differently than the others. It paused, watching, waiting.
Ravik noticed it too. "That is not a scout. That is something else… something the Klyn holds back for its most important tests."
Kael did not flinch. "Then let it wait. We are moving forward, and nothing—no shadow, no fear—will stop us."
Above, the pride-dragon let out a low, warning roar. The phoenix flared its flames once, golden and bright. The echo-wolf growled low, muscles coiled.
The world had changed, and the Klyn's agents were only the beginning.
Kael's journey was far from over.
But for the first time, he felt the full weight of his own presence. And he knew: he would not be a shadow in the Klyn's game. He would be the force it had not expected.
Kael faces the Klyn's agents for the first time in the open world. Shadows, speed, and hidden power test him—can he survive, and what does the Klyn want with him?