Ascension of the Mortal God

Chapter 4: The Unyielding Will

Kael's body screamed in agony as he forced himself to stand. Blood dripped from his wounds, each breath a struggle. The battlefield around him was a testament to the carnage he had endured, yet his spirit refused to break. The traitors who had left him for dead had underestimated his resolve. They had crushed his body but not his will.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as Kael clenched his fists, feeling the remnants of power coursing through him. It was faint, barely a flicker, but it was there. He gritted his teeth and took a step forward, his vision blurring as pain threatened to consume him. His mind screamed for rest, but his soul burned with an unrelenting fire.

"Still alive?" A voice sneered from the shadows.

Kael's sharp eyes darted toward the source. Emerging from the mist was one of his former comrades, a warrior clad in dark armor, his blade still stained with Kael's blood. The man's smirk was one of amusement, disbelief, and annoyance.

"You should've stayed down, Kael," the traitor continued, his voice filled with mockery. "It would've been less painful that way."

Kael wiped the blood from his lips, his breathing ragged. "Pain is temporary," he growled, taking another step forward. "But betrayal… that stays forever."

The warrior scoffed and lifted his blade. "Then let's end this misery."

With a burst of speed, the traitor lunged, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kael barely had time to react, his weakened body moving on instinct. He twisted, the blade narrowly missing his ribs as he countered with a desperate strike of his own. His fist connected with his opponent's armor, sending a jolt of pain through his own arm but forcing the traitor to stumble back.

Kael exhaled sharply, his hands trembling. He was too weak. His body wasn't responding the way it should. If he continued fighting like this, he wouldn't last.

"Pathetic," the traitor spat, recovering quickly. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

Kael's mind raced. He couldn't win like this. He needed more strength. He needed to dig deeper, to find that hidden power that had kept him alive until now. His eyes flickered to the dark clouds above. The storm was growing stronger. It was as if the heavens themselves were watching, waiting.

His gaze returned to his enemy. If this was his final stand, he would make it count.

With a roar, Kael charged forward, ignoring the protests of his battered body. His fists became a flurry of strikes, each one fueled by sheer willpower. His opponent met him head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the ruined battlefield.

Steel met flesh, bones cracked, but Kael didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Every punch, every strike, was a declaration that he would not be broken. His enemy's smirk faded, replaced with a look of frustration and unease. Kael was not fighting like a dying man—he was fighting like a beast refusing to be caged.

Then, something happened.

A surge of energy erupted from within Kael, a power unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't just strength—it was something deeper, something primal. His veins burned with a golden glow, his wounds no longer feeling like shackles. His enemy hesitated for just a moment, but that was all Kael needed.

With newfound force, Kael delivered a devastating punch to his opponent's chest, sending him flying backward. The traitor crashed into the ground, coughing blood, his face twisted in disbelief.

Kael stood over him, his eyes glowing faintly. "You thought you had won," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping in. "But I'm not so easy to kill."

The traitor coughed, trying to push himself up, but his body refused. He stared at Kael, fear creeping into his expression for the first time.

Kael took a step back, his own strength fading. Whatever power had just awakened within him, it was unstable, unpredictable. But it had given him what he needed.

For now.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving the battlefield behind. He had survived. He had fought back. But this was only the beginning.

And he would make sure they all paid for what they had done.

End of Chapter 4

To be continued-