Bab 3: The Realmwalker’s Burden
The path through the Wastelands of Dusk was treacherous, littered with jagged rocks and uneven terrain. The gray mist that clung to the landscape was suffocating, obscuring the horizon and muting every sound. Kael followed Zen in silence, his mind replaying the battle with the Shade Stalker. The raw power he had unleashed still lingered in his veins, both thrilling and terrifying.
"How many of those creatures are out here?" Kael finally asked, breaking the oppressive silence.
Zen glanced back, his expression calm but serious. "The Wastelands are teeming with them. The longer a realm remains fractured, the more its essence corrupts. Creatures like the Shade Stalker are born from that corruption. The farther we go, the more dangerous they become."
Kael swallowed hard, gripping the hilt of a dagger Zen had given him before they left the temple. It was crude and simple, but it was all he had. "You make it sound like we're heading straight into their den."
Zen gave a faint smile, the first hint of warmth Kael had seen from him. "Every step forward brings us closer to the fractured realms—and closer to the truth you seek."
They continued walking, the silence between them broken only by the crunch of their footsteps. Kael's thoughts wandered, and with every step, more questions bubbled to the surface. Why had he been in the temple? Why did he possess such immense power? And what exactly was Zen's role in all this?
"Zen," Kael began cautiously, "you said I was called here. Do you know why?"
Zen stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "I have my suspicions," he admitted, his voice low. "But the answers lie within the fractured realms themselves. That is why we must keep moving."
Before Kael could press further, a sudden, bone-chilling howl echoed through the mist. The sound was otherworldly, a twisted symphony of rage and hunger.
Zen's expression darkened. "We're not alone."
Kael tightened his grip on the dagger, his pulse quickening. The mist ahead began to shift, swirling as figures emerged. A pack of creatures, smaller than the Shade Stalker but no less menacing, crept toward them. Their eyes glowed faintly, their gaunt bodies hunched as they moved with predatory intent.
"Voidhounds," Zen muttered, his hand resting on the staff he carried. "Fast, relentless, and deadly in numbers."
Kael took a step back, his breath hitching. "Can we outrun them?"
"No," Zen replied, his tone firm. "We fight."
The Voidhounds growled, their teeth bared as they closed in. Kael felt the familiar surge of power within him, the light and darkness stirring in response to the threat. He glanced at Zen, who stood calm and composed, his staff beginning to glow with a faint blue light.
"Focus your energy," Zen instructed, his voice steady. "Do not let fear control you. You are stronger than they are."
Kael nodded, though his hands trembled. He took a deep breath, reaching for the power within him. The light came first, warm and steady, but it was quickly followed by the cold, consuming presence of shadow. The two forces clashed inside him, vying for dominance.
The Voidhounds lunged.
Kael reacted instinctively, thrusting his hands forward. A burst of light shot out, striking one of the creatures and sending it flying back. The others scattered, circling him like wolves around prey.
Zen moved with practiced precision, his staff sweeping through the air as arcs of blue energy crackled and lashed out, striking down two Voidhounds with ease. "Stay focused, Kael!" Zen called out. "Do not lose control!"
Kael barely heard him. Another Voidhound charged, and he spun to meet it, slashing with his dagger. The blade connected, but the creature's momentum knocked him to the ground. Its snarling jaws snapped inches from his face, and Kael panicked.
The shadow within him erupted, coiling around his arm like living tendrils. With a roar, he punched upward, the dark energy exploding from his fist and obliterating the Voidhound in a cloud of ash.
Kael scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily. The remaining creatures hesitated, their glowing eyes flicking between him and Zen. Sensing the shift in momentum, they retreated into the mist, their growls fading into the distance.
Zen lowered his staff, his expression unreadable as he approached Kael. "You survived," he said simply.
Kael glared at him, his frustration boiling over. "You could have helped more!"
Zen raised an eyebrow. "And rob you of the chance to learn? Every battle you face will teach you something. You must embrace the challenge, Kael, or you will not survive the journey ahead."
Kael clenched his fists, the remnants of shadow still flickering around his fingers. "I barely know how to control this power. What if I lose control and hurt someone?"
Zen's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "Control will come with time and experience. The fact that you harnessed both light and shadow in balance today is a step forward. Do not let doubt hold you back."
Kael exhaled, his anger fading as exhaustion took over. "What's next?"
Zen gestured toward the path ahead. "We rest when it is safe. For now, we continue. The first gate to the fractured realms is near."
Kael nodded, though his body ached and his mind swirled with uncertainty. He followed Zen once more, the mist parting before them as they pressed on.
Above them, the gray sky churned, and in the distance, a faint glimmer of light pierced the gloom—a beacon, or perhaps a warning, of what lay ahead.
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone