The fight between Kael and Marcus Stone should have ended in under a minute. That's what all the statistics and analysis suggested. Marcus was Level 24 with decades of combat experience. His anti-System field suppressed abilities within twenty meters. He was a perfect counter to everything Kael represented.
But statistics didn't account for desperation. Or adaptability. Or sheer bloody-minded refusal to die.
Kael stayed at the edge of Marcus's suppression range, using Void Step to teleport around the plaza while launching ranged attacks. Void lances, projectile weapons, waves of entropy—anything he could throw without getting close enough for the suppression field to neutralize his powers.
Marcus defended with pure skill. He deflected Void attacks with his ordinary steel sword, moved with economy of motion that spoke to years of training, and slowly, methodically closed the distance.
"You're good at running," Marcus called out. "But you can't maintain this forever. Your energy will deplete. You'll make a mistake. And then it's over."
He was right. Kael's Void Energy was dropping fast from constant ability usage.
[Void Energy: 250/450]
He needed a different strategy. Something Marcus wouldn't expect.
Kael stopped teleporting and charged directly at Marcus, Void blades in hand. The older man's eyes widened slightly—surprise at the sudden change in tactics.
They met in the center of the plaza, blade against blade. The moment Kael entered the suppression field, he felt his System abilities weaken dramatically. His Void blades flickered, becoming less stable. His enhanced attributes dropped by thirty percent.
[WARNING: System suppression active][All abilities reduced to 40% effectiveness]
But Kael had spent a week fighting in dungeons, facing enemies with overwhelming advantages. He'd learned to adapt, to overcome, to win through technique when raw power wasn't enough.
He fought Marcus with pure skill now. The combat techniques he'd absorbed from dozens of defeated enemies. The footwork learned from the mercenary captain. The blade work from Vorcen himself.
Marcus was still better—decades of experience against Kael's one week. But Kael had one advantage the Breaker didn't expect.
He wasn't fighting to win. He was fighting to survive long enough for an opportunity.
They exchanged blows for thirty seconds, Kael slowly being driven back. Marcus's sword found openings, carved shallow cuts across Kael's arms and chest. Nothing fatal, but death by a thousand cuts was still death.
[Health: 520/670]
Then, in the middle of their duel, something changed. The air itself seemed to shift, growing charged with power that made Kael's Void markings tingle in recognition.
Both combatants paused, sensing the new arrival.
A figure descended from the sky, landing in the plaza between them with enough force to crack the stone. She stood in a crater of her own making, clearly having jumped from a nearby rooftop.
She was young—early twenties at most—with long black hair that had natural silver streaks running through it. Her eyes were bright amber, almost gold, and they glowed with power that rivaled Kael's Void energy. She wore light armor decorated with celestial designs—stars, moons, constellations—that glowed faintly in the sunlight.
And covering her exposed skin were luminescent tattoos that mirrored Kael's Void markings, but hers showed celestial bodies and shimmered with golden light instead of purple darkness.
[Sera Nightveil][Level: 20][Class: Celestial Sovereign (Unique)][Status: Unknown - Neither hostile nor friendly]
Another System user. The counterbalance the starlight woman had mentioned in his dream.
"That's enough," she said, her voice carrying an authority that made both men pause. "You're causing a scene in the middle of the city, and frankly, you're both being idiots."
Marcus recovered first. "This doesn't concern you. By order of the Continental Council—"
"I am the Continental Council," Sera interrupted, pulling out a badge that gleamed with official seals. "Or at least, I represent them. Sera Nightveil, Special Investigator for supernatural threats. And I'm countermanding your authorization for lethal force, Breaker."
Marcus's expression went from surprise to anger. "On what grounds? This System user is a clear threat—"
"On the grounds that I just cleared an A-Rank dungeon yesterday and evaluated him during his own dungeon run." Sera turned to look at Kael, her golden eyes meeting his purple ones. "Kael Draven is powerful, yes. Growing fast, absolutely. But he's not a threat to regional stability. He's actually been remarkably restrained given his power level."
"You were watching me in the dungeon?" Kael asked, unsure whether to be angry or impressed.
"I was clearing the dungeon next door—Fire Depths, also D-rank. We were essentially racing without knowing it." She smiled slightly. "You finished about an hour before I did. Congratulations, by the way. Solo clearing a D-rank at your level is impressive."
Marcus wasn't backing down. "With all due respect, Investigator Nightveil, you're Level 20. Only one level lower than Draven. Doesn't that create a conflict of interest? You're evaluating someone who could become a rival or ally."
"It creates perspective," Sera corrected. "I know what it's like to have a System. To deal with rapid power growth. To face people who fear what you might become rather than what you are." Her eyes hardened. "And I know the difference between someone who'll become a tyrant and someone who's just trying to survive. Kael's the latter."
"You're certain?"
"Certain enough to stake my reputation on it. File your report as 'potential asset, recommend monitoring but no suppression.' If I'm wrong, and he goes rogue, I'll handle it personally."
That seemed to satisfy Marcus, at least partially. He sheathed his sword but didn't relax his guard. "Fine. But I'll be noting in my report that you vouched for him. If he becomes a problem, it reflects on you."
"Understood." Sera turned back to Kael. "And you—stop picking fights with Continental officials. It's a bad look and it makes my job harder."
"He attacked me," Kael pointed out.
"After you refused to accept reasonable supervision. Which, between you and me, I probably would've refused too. But you could have been more diplomatic about it." She glanced between the two men. "Are we done here? Can everyone go back to their corners without more attempted murder?"
Marcus gave Kael one final measuring look. "This isn't over, Draven. I'll be watching your progress. One wrong move, one innocent harmed, and I'll be back. And next time, there won't be anyone to interrupt."
He turned and walked away, leaving the plaza without looking back.
That left Kael and Sera alone, studying each other from twenty feet apart. Up close, Kael could see details he'd missed initially. She had a thin scar across her left cheek. Her celestial tattoos moved slowly across her skin, stars and moons shifting positions. And her eyes... there was something ancient in those eyes, despite her youth.
"So," Sera said, breaking the silence. "You're the Voidborn everyone's talking about. The man who killed Vorcen, cleared a D-rank dungeon solo, and apparently has a death wish given that you challenged the Breaker to open combat."
"I didn't challenge him. He came after me."
"Because you refused supervision. Can't really blame him for that." She walked closer, and Kael noticed her celestial markings glowed brighter as she approached his Void markings. Light responding to darkness. "You know what we are, right? Chosen opposites. Void and Celestial. Entropy and Creation. The end and the beginning."
"I had a dream about it," Kael admitted. "A woman made of starlight told me we'd meet."
"The Celestial Spirit. She told me about you too. Said I'd meet my counterbalance, the Voidborn." Sera stopped about ten feet away, close enough to talk comfortably but far enough to react if things turned hostile. "She didn't mention you'd be reckless and suicidal."
"She didn't mention you'd be judgmental and interfering."
Sera laughed—a genuine sound of amusement. "Fair enough. We're off to a great start." She sobered. "Look, I intervened because I need you alive. There's something coming. Something big. The Celestial Spirit has been sending me visions of it—shadows spreading across the continent, ancient powers waking up, a war that could reshape everything."
"And you need me for this?"
"We need each other. Light and Void are strongest when they work together, not against each other." She extended her hand. "So what do you say? Temporary truce? See if we can tolerate each other long enough to figure out what's coming?"
Kael looked at her offered hand, then at her face. He saw no deception there. Just determination and what might have been hope.
He took her hand.
The moment their skin touched, both their marking blazed with light—purple and gold mixing, swirling together. Power flowed between them, and for just a second, Kael saw what they could become together. Void and Light combined, balanced, unstoppable.
Then the vision faded and they released hands, both breathing slightly harder.
"Well," Sera said. "That was intense."
"What was that?"
"Resonance. Our Systems recognizing each other. We're compatible—our powers can work together instead of canceling out." She looked thoughtful. "That's rare. Most System users can't combine abilities because the power sources conflict."
"So what now?"
"Now we figure out what's coming and how to survive it. But first, you need to get stronger. Level 21 is good, but it won't be enough for what's ahead." Sera started walking toward the plaza exit. "I know where there's a C-rank dungeon that appeared three days ago. No one's claimed it yet. Want to see if we can clear it together?"
Kael caught up with her. "You trust me enough to dungeon dive together? We just met."
"I trust that we're stronger together than apart. And I'm curious to see how Void and Celestial abilities interact in actual combat." She grinned. "Besides, if you try anything stupid, I can incinerate you with starlight. Good deterrent."
"Fair enough." Kael glanced back at the plaza where he'd nearly died fighting Marcus Stone. Then at Sera, this mysterious woman who represented everything opposite to what he was.
This was going to be interesting.
"One condition," Kael said. "We split the loot fifty-fifty."
"Deal. But I get first pick on any celestial-aligned items."
"And I get first pick on void-aligned ones."
They shook on it, and Kael felt the resonance again—weaker this time but still present. A connection that suggested they were linked by more than just opposing Systems.
The Voidborn and the Celestial Sovereign.
This was either going to save the world or destroy it.