Ascension of the Mortal God

Chapter 8: Duel in the Dark

Kael took a deep breath as he stepped forward into the eerie silence of the cursed land. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the mist swirling around his feet made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. Every step he took felt heavier, as if unseen hands were trying to pull him into the shadows.

He had been walking for hours, his senses on high alert. The moment he stepped into this place, he had felt something watching him. But whatever it was, it refused to reveal itself.

Suddenly, the wind shifted. A whisper of movement—too fast, too precise. Kael barely had time to react before a blade slashed toward his neck.

Clang!

Kael's instincts took over as he brought up his sword just in time to deflect the strike. Sparks flew as metal met metal, and Kael stumbled back, eyes scanning the darkness.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a warrior cloaked in black, their face hidden beneath a hood. Their stance was perfect, their presence overwhelming.

Kael steadied his breathing. This was no ordinary foe.

"Who are you?" Kael demanded.

The figure remained silent but lunged again, their movements eerily smooth, as if they weren't human at all. Kael barely managed to dodge as another strike came for his ribs. He countered with a horizontal slash, but his opponent twisted their body unnaturally, avoiding the attack with ease.

Kael gritted his teeth. This isn't a normal fight.

His opponent wasn't just fast; they anticipated his every move. Every attack he made was dodged with minimal effort, every defense broken within seconds.

A sharp pain erupted in Kael's shoulder as the assassin's blade grazed his flesh. Blood seeped through his torn clothing. Too slow.

His eyes narrowed. He couldn't win by reacting alone. He had to force his opponent into his rhythm.

Taking a step back, he changed his stance. Instead of defending, he let his opponent press forward, striking at him relentlessly. Kael dodged as best as he could, feeling the heat of the blade nearly slicing him apart.

Then, at the last moment, he twisted his body into the attack.

The assassin's blade cut into his side, but Kael ignored the pain. He stepped into his opponent's space, locking their arm with his own and slamming his forehead into their hooded face.

A grunt of pain.

Kael didn't hesitate—he brought his knee up, striking their ribs, then shoved them back.

The assassin skidded across the ground but didn't fall. Instead, they flipped back onto their feet, their hood sliding down.

For the first time, Kael saw their face.

A woman—her skin pale, eyes glowing a strange silver. She had no expression, no emotion.

"You're not human," Kael said, wiping the blood from his lips.

She didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, and for the first time, Kael saw energy gather around her fingers.

His heart pounded. This wasn't just a battle of skill anymore.

It was a battle of power.

(To be continued… in Chapter 9: Breakthrough Under Pressure!)