**Chapter 3: First Steps into a New World**
A gust of wind howled through the vast chamber, carrying the scent of damp stone and something ancient—something that had been waiting for him. The torches lining the walls flickered wildly, their flames dancing as if recognizing the presence of something greater.
Kael sat upon the throne, his fingers tracing its cold, obsidian surface. The stone was smooth yet carried an eerie energy, as if countless souls had once touched it before him. It was massive, carved from a single piece of black rock, its armrests etched with symbols that pulsed faintly, as though alive. A shiver ran down his spine as his fingertips brushed over the glowing carvings. They hummed against his skin, whispering in a language he could not yet understand.
His body still tingled with an unfamiliar energy, the raw power surging through his veins like molten fire. It was unlike anything he had ever felt. His hands, once frail and scarred from years of servitude, now felt strong—unyielding. He flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of his own strength. It was intoxicating, almost unreal.
A deep breath filled his lungs, expanding his chest. The sensation was foreign, overwhelming. He had never felt this alive.
**This body… it's different.**
His thoughts were sharper. His senses keener. He could hear the distant dripping of water somewhere in the cavernous hall, feel the subtle shift of air currents brushing against his skin. The chains that had once bound him—both in flesh and in fate—were gone. Now, he was something else. Someone else.
But where was he?
His gaze swept across the chamber, taking in the vast emptiness. The towering stone pillars reached high into the darkness, disappearing into a ceiling lost in shadows. The only sources of light were the torches and the faint glow of the strange markings that adorned the walls. Their shapes were unfamiliar, yet something about them resonated deep within him, as if they whispered forgotten truths only he could understand.
A pressure settled in the air, thick and suffocating. The temperature dropped, an unnatural chill seeping into his bones. His grip on the throne's armrests tightened.
Then, the silence shattered.
A voice—low, guttural—echoed through the chamber, its timbre vibrating through the very stone.
"You awaken at last."
Kael's head snapped toward the sound, every muscle in his body tensing.
From the shadows at the edge of the chamber, something stirred. A massive figure stepped forward, its form obscured by the dim light. Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed as it moved closer. The air around it crackled with an unseen force, heavy with a presence that sent a primal warning through Kael's core.
And then, it emerged.
The creature towered over him, standing at least three meters tall. Its body was wrapped in thick plates of dark armor, each section fused seamlessly to its flesh, as if it had been forged directly into its being. Its face was hidden behind a helm of jagged metal, its eyes burning with an eerie, golden light that pierced through the darkness.
Kael's breath slowed.
The presence before him was not human.
In one massive hand, the being gripped a colossal halberd, its blade curved like the talon of some ancient predator. The weapon pulsed with a faint glow, mirroring the markings on the walls, as if it too was alive.
Kael rose from the throne instinctively. His muscles coiled, ready, though he had never fought a battle before. Yet something in him, something deep and primal, did not fear this creature.
The being tilted its head slightly, as if studying him. Then, it spoke again.
"The trial begins."
Before Kael could react, a sudden force crashed into him.
The impact sent him reeling. The ground beneath him **exploded**, chunks of stone hurtling through the air as his body was flung backward. His back slammed against the cold floor, pain lancing through him like fire. Dust filled his lungs, the taste of earth and blood sharp on his tongue.
But even as pain coursed through his body, something else surged alongside it.
Exhilaration.
He had spent his entire life beaten, broken, forced to kneel. But this time—**this time, he was different.**
His fingers dug into the stone floor, his body steadying itself unnaturally fast. His breath came evenly, his mind clear. He could feel it—his strength, his speed, the potential coiling inside him like an unchained beast waiting to be unleashed.
The warrior did not wait.
It moved with terrifying speed, its halberd a blur as it descended upon him. Kael's eyes tracked the movement—too fast for a normal man, but not for him.
His body reacted before his mind could process it.
He twisted, the halberd slicing past him, carving a deep gouge in the stone where he had just stood. The air pressure alone was enough to tear at his skin, but he was alive. He had dodged it.
Kael's heart pounded.
For the first time in his existence, he wasn't just **surviving**—he was **fighting.**
And gods help whoever stood in his way.