Chapter 44 — The Shattered Blade

Kael’s lungs burned, each breath like swallowing knives. His vision swam crimson, but his grip on the blade never loosened. The Sovereign loomed, chains whipping with the fury of a collapsing star.

“Fall, anomaly!”

The next strike hit like the weight of creation itself. Kael met it head-on—and his sword shattered.

The sound tore through the battlefield like thunder. Shards of blackened steel spun into the void, and Kael was flung back, blood arcing across the ruins. He hit the ground hard, coughing crimson, his broken weapon useless in his hand.

The Sovereign raised its arm, shadow eclipsing the ruined city.
“It ends here. You are not written. You are not real.”

Kael tried to push himself up, but his limbs betrayed him. For the first time, he felt it—the abyss of defeat, yawning just beneath his will.

And then the toll rang again.

Not the Sovereign’s. The counter toll. Louder. Closer.

The silver-eyed girl staggered forward, clutching her chest. Her lips trembled as she whispered, not to Kael, not to the god, but to herself.
“…It’s awake… because he’s awake.”

The Sovereign froze mid-strike. Its countless eyes turned to her, recognition twisting into rage.
“You. You are the key.”

Kael blinked through the haze of blood. His focus locked on her trembling figure.
“What… do you mean?”

Before she could answer, the Sovereign’s chains surged toward her, intent on silencing the revelation.

Kael roared, forcing his body to move, throwing himself into the path of the attack. His broken blade caught the chain for an instant—just long enough for black fire to erupt from his hand, burning away the strike.

His knees buckled. His chest heaved. But he stood between her and the god.
“You’ll have to erase me a thousand times before I let you touch her.”

The Sovereign’s voice thundered, its fury absolute.
“Then so be it.”

The battlefield split once more, the clash threatening to consume them all.