Kael stared at the black orb, its crimson light pulsing like a living heart. His hands twitched. His whole body buzzed not with fear, but with raw, uncontrollable excitement.
This was it.
This was his path.
A twisted grin crawled onto his face. His fingers itched to touch it, to claim it, to make it his own.
"Hehehe... AHAHAHAHAHA!" His crazed laughter echoed in the empty void. Wild. Unhinged.
"THIS IS IT! THIS IS WHAT I WANTED!" His voice cracked, and his hands reached out while trembling not from hesitation, but from the sheer thrill of it.
But then—
BOOM!
The orb EXPLODED.
A massive wave of black and red energy erupted, swallowing everything.
Kael's mind went blank. His body froze. The force was like a thousand screaming voices crashing into his soul.
Then came pain.
Unimaginable, searing, mind-breaking pain.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" His scream tore through the darkness, his body convulsing violently. It felt like his very existence was being rewritten.
