Lost In Chaos

Kaz gasped at the realization—it could have been him. The evidence was undeniable; the talisman was in his Sanctuary. Before he could process it further, Ryuma's sudden shout jolted him out of his thoughts.

"What are you doing here?" Ryuma yelled, his voice filled with frustration.

Kaz looked up, catching sight of Axion. His diamond-like eyes gleamed against his onyx-black skin, an unreadable expression on his face. Kaz couldn't discern his intentions. Then, Axion spoke, his voice even and composed.

"I told my sister I'm not marrying anyone. Everything is chaotic right now, and I refuse to be forced into a setup."

Ryuma bristled, still shouting, but Axion ignored him completely, his gaze fixed on Kaz. "You don't have to be my suitor."

Without another word, he turned and walked away. Kaz stood there, stunned. He really just came here to say that? What was he planning? It didn't make sense. Kaz sighed, dismissing the thought. There were bigger things to focus on. He turned and headed to his room, leaving Ryuma standing there in confusion.

Inside, Kaz sat down and opened his Sanctuary, ready to check his status.

Name: Kazeem Steel

True Name: Enemy of Order

True Name Description: You are attracted to chaos and hate order, yet order always seems to find you.

Kaz frowned. The description changed? That was strange, but he pushed the thought aside and continued reading.

Soul Crystal: Shard

Features: [Prime] [Surpassed] [Prosperous]

Traits: Son of Chaos

Talismans: Lonely Star, Stingpoint Armor, Eyeless Sense

Feature Descriptions

Prime: Most gods and champions claim dominion over elements. You have no divinity, no profane allegiance. You transcend both, requiring no mortal necessities to survive.

Kaz re-read the description and nodded. It made sense. He never felt hunger or thirst, and extreme temperatures didn't bother him. Ryuma constantly complained about the cold, but Kaz had never noticed it.

Surpassed: You have been touched by something beyond the cosmic scale. Where stars shine with light, you embody their void. Where shadows reside, you manifest their unyielding depths.

Curious, Kaz looked down. His shadow was gone. No— not gone, but replaced by nothingness. A void in his shape. No light, no distortion, just a complete absence. That's useful. If his shadow didn't exist, then movement wouldn't disturb it—making him harder to detect. This could be very effective.

Finally, Kaz turned his attention to his most frustrating feature.

Prosperous: You will be thrust into danger, but you will always prosper. No matter how harrowing the changes, you will thrive.

Kaz scowled. He despised this one. It was the reason he had been stranded in the desert world, but also why he had met Ryuma and found ways to survive. Even that damned imp—always clinging to his shoulder—was a result of this feature. It never let him pet it, either. He sighed and moved on to his Trait.

Trait Description

You are imbued with the essence of chaos, thriving in tumultuous environments. Strength, speed, and perception increase with exposure to chaos. You can control fragments of chaos to your will, shaping them to your needs. Prolonged exposure to chaos may alter your thoughts, pushing you toward creating more turmoil. In times of intense chaos, you radiate a bright violet glow.

Initiate Abilities:

[Chaos Control]

Allows the user to levitate small objects using Chaos Energy.

Requires a small amount of chaos to activate.

Warning: Using Chaos Energy increases the Chaos Counter.

[Frenzied Chaos]

When the Chaos Counter reaches 100/100, the alter ego takes over at night.

If the counter exceeds 200/100, the alter ego takes over instantly, regardless of time.

Kaz grinned. Now we're getting to the good stuff. This ability felt like second nature. He raised his hand, summoning Chaos Energy. A smoky, ethereal glow radiated from his palm. It was unlike other telekinetic or energy-based abilities. It wasn't pulsing, nor was it a solid glow. Instead, it was a chaotic swirl of light and darkness, constantly shifting.

He focused on a water bottle across the room. The energy wove around it like tendrils before suddenly zipping it toward him. Fast. He checked his Chaos Counter—1/100. The increase was minimal, about one point every thirty seconds. Decent ratio, but is it viable in combat? He'd have to test that later.

Finally, Kaz reviewed his talismans.

Talisman Descriptions

Lonely Star

Type: Jian (weapon)

Rank: Aberration

Description: Forged with Rift-infused materials. Powered by the user's strongest emotions.

Stingpoint Armor

Type: Armor

Rank: Riftspawn

Effect: Grants resistance to poison. Any creature that makes contact with the armor is poisoned for a short duration.

Eyeless Sense

Type: Talisman

Rank: Aberration

Effect: Enhances sensory perception, even in total darkness. Functions similarly to echolocation.

Thorny Fist

Type: Weapon/Armor

Rank: Aberration

Effect: Forms gauntlets around the hands. Can transform into gloves if needed.

Kaz clenched his fists. He was getting stronger. The Rift had pulled him into dangerous places before, but next time, he'd be ready. In a few months, when the Rift came calling again, he wouldn't just survive.

He would thrive.