Destiny(Main)

Door 5: Destiny.

The suffocating shadows of the underworld melted away as Kayn materialized in a cavernous throne room, its vast expanse illuminated by the dim, ethereal glow of countless crimson flames. The air was thick and heavy, carrying the oppressive weight of untold souls trapped in eternal rest.
Kayn's gaze darted around the room, his heart pounding as he searched frantically for his companions.

His attention was drawn to the throne, carved from obsidian and bone, its jagged edges exuding an aura of dread. A towering figure sat upon it, the embodiment of power and command. The man wore a menacing helm adorned with twisting horns, and from within its depths emanated a fiery light that pulsed like a living inferno. One hand rested casually on the armrest of his throne, while the other supported his chin in a pose of calculated observation.

The figure’s penetrating gaze fixed on Kayn, who instinctively dropped into a defensive stance, his hand inching toward Dawn. His voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

“Who are you? Where are the others?!” Kayn demanded, his tone sharp, though the faintest tremor betrayed his uncertainty.

The man tilted his head slightly, his voice rolling out in a deep, commanding tone that seemed to reverberate through the very foundation of the room. “You’ve finally arrived. I was beginning to wonder if you’d answer my call.”

The figure rose from his throne, his imposing presence seemed to fill every corner of the room. With deliberate movements, he reached for his helm and lifted it, revealing his face. Dark red hair framed a chiseled visage, his beard meticulously shaped into a sharp goatee. Two obsidian horns curved upward from his head, completing the visage of a god whose domain thrived on fear and respect.

Kayn breath hitched as recognition dawned upon him. “Hades,” he whispered, his voice tinged with both awe and unease. For the first time, he stood face-to-face with the god of the underworld.

“Indeed.” Hades’s lips curled into a faint smirk as he stepped closer. “And you, Kayn. You made me wait longer that I would have liked."

Kayn’s suspicion flared, his brows furrowing as he straightened his posture. “You’re the one who took us from the Styx? You couldn’t wait a little longer for us to get here on our own?”

Hades let out a low chuckle, the sound rolling like distant thunder. “Patience is not a luxury I can afford. Time is fleeting, Kayn, and these are **** times. Besides,” he added, his tone sharpening, “the underworld is not a kind place for those who are unprepared. I saw it best to ensure your safe arrival.”

Kayn’s jaw tightened as his eyes scanned the room again. “Safe arrival?” he said, his voice edged with disbelief. “I don’t see my companions here. How safe can they be if I’m standing here alone?”

Hades’s smirk deepened, his sharp features casting shadows that danced ominously in the crimson light. “They are safe,” he said, his words measured, “as long as they pass their trials.”

“Trials?” Kayn’s voice rose slightly, frustration seeping into his tone. “What trials? Where are they?”

Hades sighed, raising a hand as tendrils of shadow coalesced into four smoky mirrors. Each one shimmered with images of Kayn’s companions, locked in situations that seemed perilous and deeply personal. Their struggles played out in eerie silence, and Kayn’s chest tightened as he watched.
“They’re here,” Hades said calmly. “Each of them faces a test I’ve crafted specifically for them.”

“Why?” Kayn’s fists clenched as he turned back to Hades. “Why subject them to this? What purpose does this serve?”

Hades’s gaze hardened, his fiery eyes locking onto Kayn’s with an intensity that made the younger man take a half-step back. “Because I must know if they’re ready,” he said, his voice deepening. “Mentally, emotionally, spiritually. This war against the Erebosians will break the unworthy, and last night…” He let the words linger, their weight heavy in the silence. “Last night showed me how fragile your unity is.”

“So, you threw them into **** traps to prove a point?” Kayn’s voice was sharp with anger. “And what about me? What’s my test?”

Hades’s smirk returned, colder this time. “Your test is already underway.”

Before Kayn could respond, Hades moved. The scythe appeared in his hand in a flash, its blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. Kayn barely had time to dodge, the weapon’s edge missing him by inches.

“What the—” Kayn’s words were cut off as another strike came his way, forcing him to roll to the side.

“DEFEND YOURSELF, CHOSEN!” Hades roared, his voice a tempest that rattled the room.

Kayn scrambled to his feet, gripping Dawn tightly as its blade shimmered with golden light. He steadied his breath, squaring his stance. “If this is a test, let’s get it over with,” he said, his voice firm and measured, eyes locking onto Hades.

Hades prepared himself as well, his scythe sharp in a burst of fiery shadows. Its curved blade gleamed ominously as it exuded raw, otherworldly energy. “Show me what you’ve learned, Kayn,” he commanded, his tone heavy with authority. “Prove to me you’re not the broken shadow you once were.”

Without hesitation, Kayn surged forward, closing the gap in an instant. His enchanted speed spell activated, golden sigils flaring briefly at his feet. Dawn’s blade whistled through the air as he swung, aiming for Hades’ midsection.

Hades parried with effortless precision, the clash of their weapons sending shockwaves through the throne room. The **** staggered Kayn slightly, but he recovered, launching into a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more calculated than the last.
“Impressive,” Hades remarked, his movements fluid as he deflected Kayn’s attacks. “You’ve regained much, but brute **** won’t win here.”

Kayn gritted his teeth, weaving in spells with each strike. He cast a minor flame enchantment, causing Dawn to ignite as he feinted left and slashed toward Hades’ exposed flank. The god sidestepped with uncanny grace, countering with a sweeping arc of his scythe.

The blade came dangerously close, grazing the edge of Kayn’s armour as he ducked low. Using the momentum, Kayn rolled to the side, hurling a burst of kinetic energy toward Hades’ chest.
The spell connected, pushing Hades back a step.
“Clever,” the god admitted, his expression unchanging. “But you’re still holding back.”
Hades retaliated, his scythe spinning with terrifying speed. The weapon cleaved through the air, forcing Kayn to dodge repeatedly. Each missed strike left fissures in the obsidian floor, glowing with molten heat.

One misstep. Hades caught Kayn off-guard, his scythe hooking the younger warrior’s leg and sending him crashing to the ground. Before Kayn could react, the god loomed over him, the tip of the scythe mere inches from his throat.

“Disappointing,” Hades said coldly. “The Kayn I once knew could defeat me without breaking a sweat.”

Kayn glared up at him, a wiry smile tugging at his lips despite the situation. “You’re right,” he admitted, voice steady. “But I’ve learned something new since then.”

Intrigued, Hades raised an eyebrow but didn’t lower his weapon. “And what’s that?”

“Being crafty.”

Kayn’s free hand shot up, a burst of radiant light erupting from his palm. The blinding spell engulfed the room, forcing Hades to shield his eyes with a growl.

Taking advantage of the moment, Kayn rolled to the side, swept Dawn upward, and disarmed Hades with a sharp strike. The scythe flew from the god’s grasp, embedding itself in a distant pillar.

Kayn didn’t hesitate. In one fluid motion, he closed the distance and leveled Dawn at Hades’ neck, its glowing edge humming with restrained power. “It’s over,” Kayn declared, his voice calm but resolute.

Hades blinked against the fading light, his vision clearing to see Kayn standing victorious. A slow smile spread across his face, a mix of pride and amusement. “Well done,” he said, clapping his hands in measured applause. “You’ve come a long way.”

Kayn stepped back, lowering Dawn and offering a hand to help Hades up. The god accepted, his grip firm.

“Thank Noor for that,” Kayn said, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Say what you want about her, she’s an efficient teacher.”

“Indeed. It seems you draw strength from your companions, and they from you. That bond is what I need from all of you,” Hades explained. With a snap of his fingers, he opened a portal, a swirling vortex of shadow and faint whispers. “Follow me. I have something for you.”

Kayn hesitated, glancing back at the faint images of his companions in the smoky mirrors. Then, squaring his shoulders, he stepped into the portal after Hades.

The air shifted instantly, chilling him to the bone. They emerged in a cavernous abyss, the depths of the underworld laid bare. The sound of dripping water echoed, distorted by the oppressive silence. The air was heavy, thick with the weight of countless lost souls. In the center of the cavern stood a solitary stone pedestal, and embedded within it was a sword.

The blade was a stark contrast to Dawn’s radiance. It emanated an aura of pure shadow, flickering as if alive. Tendrils of darkness coiled around its hilt, pulsating with a strange, otherworldly rhythm. The air around the sword seemed to hum with a low, eerie melody that only Kayn could hear, as though it called to him, tempting him to reach out.

“So, what are you waiting for?” Hades said, his deep voice echoing through the cavern.

Kayn tore his gaze away from the sword, his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Are you not going to reclaim it?”

“That sword… is mine?” Kayn’s voice was laced with disbelief, his eyes flickering between Hades and the weapon.

Hades tilted his head, a faint smirk on his lips. “You don’t remember? Of course, you wouldn’t.” He folded his arms across his chest. “That blade is Eclipse, the counterpart to Dawn. When Hephaestus forged your weapons with Athena and Apollo’s blessings, he sought the power of both Helios and Nyx to imbue them with unmatched might. Dawn carries the essence of the sun, a conduit for your raw power. Eclipse…” He gestured toward the blade. “Eclipse holds the night’s shadows. It’s a reflection of the darkness within all of us, and in your case, it’s something far more potent.”

Kayn’s gaze returned to the sword, his pulse quickening. “You’re saying I should just pull it out?”

“Yes,” Hades replied simply. His tone was even, but there was a weight behind his words. “It will help you recover what you’ve lost. Another one of your memories is locked within, if my theory is right.”

Kayn’s jaw clenched. “And how can you be so sure about this?”

Hades sighed, his expression darkening. “I’ll do my best to shield you from the curse embedded in your mind, but it cannot be fully stopped.” He hesitated, as if reliving a distant memory. “After your fall, the Erebosians retreated, but not without losses on both sides. You were our greatest loss. We managed to recover Dawn from their grasp, but Eclipse was taken. They hid it deep within my domain, a place even I rarely tread. The sword, alive and clever, sent out faint signals, guiding me to its resting place. When I found it, I realized what lay within.” He motioned to the cavern around them. “This place was their prison, once. Now, it holds your past.”

“All of this… just for a memory?” Kayn asked, his voice softer now. He saw something in Hades that he hadn’t noticed before, a paternal protectiveness, masked by his severe demeanor. Athena had been right. Hades was a man of his word.

“Not just a memory,” Hades said, stepping closer.
“You’re still far from ready, Kayn. You must be stronger, and so must your group. This war will demand sacrifices, perhaps even yours or someone you hold dear.” His gaze bore into Kayn’s, unflinching. “Can you accept that?”

Kayn swallowed hard but nodded. “I understand.”
He stepped toward the pedestal, the melody from the sword growing louder, its shadows writhing eagerly. His fingers brushed the hilt, and the world seemed to tilt. The shadows reached for him, curling around his arm like chains. “Hello, old friend,” he murmured. “Ready to come back to the fight?”

Gripping the hilt tightly, Kayn pulled. A wave of searing pain shot through his arm, spreading to his chest and mind. Images flashed before his eyes, fragmented memories, battles, and faces he couldn’t fully place. Gritting his teeth, he pulled harder. The shadows resisted, burning against his skin, but he refused to let go.

With a final, **** heave, Eclipse came free. Shadows exploded from the blade, spiraling outward in a violent storm. One tendril of darkness pierced Kayn’s chest, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, Eclipse still clutched in his hand.

A burst of celestial light erupted from within him, clashing with the encroaching darkness. Kayn’s body trembled as the pain overwhelmed him, his vision blurring. The cavern was filled with a blinding radiance as he slipped into unconsciousness, his mind plunging into another memory locked deep within his soul.
Hades stood over him, watching with an unreadable expression. “Good,” he murmured.

“Very good.”