The charged air within the Obelisk of Storms hummed with an energy that thrummed through Kael's veins, heightening every sense. The narrow corridor they had entered pulsed with veins of glowing energy, and the symbols etched into the obsidian walls shifted, as though reacting to their presence. It was a living enigma—one that promised both power and peril in equal measure.
Kael Thorn moved forward, his steps deliberate, his focus unyielding. Behind him, Liana Sevier remained close, her grip firm on the hilt of her blade. The tension in the air was suffocating, yet Kael seemed unaffected. If anything, the oppressive weight of the place only sharpened his resolve.
"Let me guess," Liana said, her voice cutting through the hum. "You're going to tell me this is exactly what you were expecting."
Kael smirked over his shoulder. "It's better than I imagined."
"That's your way of saying we're about to die, isn't it?" she muttered, though her sarcasm was laced with unease.
Kael stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as they landed on the end of the passage. The faint glow of lightning illuminated a vast chamber, its walls lined with spiraling inscriptions that seemed to crackle with raw energy. At the center of the room stood a massive crystalline structure , its surface refracting light in a mesmerizing display of shifting colors. Around it, arcs of lightning danced like serpents, striking the ground with deafening force.
Liana stepped up beside him, her eyes widening as she took in the sight. "That's... unsettling."
"It's magnificent," Kael breathed, his tone reverent.
Before Liana could reply, a deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The lightning intensified, and the air grew heavier. From within the swirling storm, a figure began to take shape—a construct of pure energy, its form humanoid but fluid, as though the lightning itself had been woven into a sentient being. Its eyes burned with an unnatural glow, and the sound of static accompanied its every movement.
Kael's heart raced—not with fear, but with exhilaration. This was no mere artifact. It was a guardian, a sentinel left behind by the Eternals to protect the shard. And judging by the intensity of its presence, the shard hidden within the obelisk was far more powerful than the first.
"Tell me that's not another test," Liana whispered, her voice taut.
Kael grinned. "It's a challenge."
Liana groaned. "I hate that word."
The Keeper of Lightning , as Kael instinctively named it, raised an arm. Arcs of electricity coiled around its fingers before lashing out, striking the ground near them. The force of the blast sent Liana stumbling back, but Kael held his ground, his gaze locked on the construct.
"It's testing us," Kael muttered, more to himself than to Liana.
"Testing us?" Liana spat, regaining her footing. "It's trying to fry us!"
Kael ignored her outburst, his mind already racing. The Keeper moved with purpose, its strikes precise but not lethal. It wasn't mindlessly attacking—it was gauging them, as though assessing their worthiness. To Kael, this wasn't a fight to the death; it was a game of wit and will.
"Cover me," Kael said abruptly, drawing his glowing dagger.
"Cover you?" Liana echoed, incredulous. "With what? A prayer?"
Kael shot her a smirk. "You'll think of something."
Before she could argue, Kael surged forward, his dagger blazing with blue light. The Keeper reacted instantly, launching a volley of lightning bolts in his direction. Kael moved with agility, dodging the strikes with a precision born of both instinct and calculation. The chamber crackled with energy, each clash illuminating the ancient inscriptions that covered the walls.
Liana cursed under her breath but didn't hesitate. Drawing her blade, she darted around the edge of the chamber, drawing the Keeper's attention with a series of feints. The construct turned its glowing eyes toward her, giving Kael the opening he needed.
Kael reached the base of the crystalline structure and pressed his free hand against its surface. The energy coursing through it was almost overwhelming, but he welcomed the sensation. He could feel the shard's presence deep within, its power resonating with his very soul.
"I need time!" he shouted over the cacophony of thunder and crackling energy.
"Time isn't exactly on our side, genius!" Liana shot back, narrowly avoiding another lightning strike.
Kael ignored her sarcasm, focusing entirely on the inscriptions carved into the crystalline surface. They were different from the ones on the walls—more intricate, more layered. It was a puzzle, one that required both intellect and intuition to solve. Kael's mind worked furiously, deciphering the patterns and aligning the symbols in his mind.
The Keeper, sensing his intent, turned its full attention back to him. It raised both arms, and the chamber trembled as arcs of electricity converged into a single, devastating strike aimed directly at Kael.
"Kael!" Liana screamed.
Kael's eyes snapped open, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Got it."
At the last possible moment, he activated the dagger's runes and plunged it into the crystalline structure. The dagger absorbed the incoming lightning strike, redirecting the energy into the inscriptions. The chamber erupted in a blinding flash of light, and the Keeper let out a distorted roar as it disintegrated into a cascade of sparks.
When the light faded, Kael stood at the center of the chamber, his hand gripping the second shard. It pulsed with a power even greater than the first, its glow bathing him in an eerie blue light. He turned to Liana, his expression one of pure triumph.
"That," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos they had just endured, "is how you win."
Liana stared at him, a mixture of relief and exasperation on her face. "You're insane."
Kael chuckled, slipping the shard into its protective container. "And yet, here we are."
As they left the obelisk, the storm outside began to subside, as though acknowledging their victory. But Kael knew this was only the beginning. The shard's power was intoxicating, and its whispers were louder now, their words clearer. The path ahead was dangerous, but the rewards were worth every risk.
Kael Thorn was not just chasing eternity—he was claiming it.