Kael's eyes snapped open. Cold stone pressed against his cheek, and the air smelled of damp and ash. His head throbbed as memories from his past life—the betrayal, the murder, the fire—rushed back like a tidal wave. I… I'm alive?
A faint blue light hovered in front of him. Floating letters formed in midair:
"System Activated: Dark Sovereign Rebirth. Progress Tracking Enabled."
Kael's chest tightened. A voice, deep and echoing, resonated in his mind.
"You have one chance to reclaim what was stolen. Fail, and your soul will be lost forever."
He swung his legs off the cold floor and stood. The room was small, stone-walled, and abandoned. Outside, a storm raged, lightning splitting the sky. Kael's fingers tingled as power—his power—flared within him. It had been dormant for a lifetime, but now it demanded release.
He tested a flick of his wrist, and a shard of black energy spiraled into the wall, leaving a scorching mark. Yes… it's real. I'm back.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor. Not human. Something large… something dangerous. Kael crouched, instincts sharpening. He didn't have a weapon—yet—but that didn't matter. The System guided him, and power surged through every vein.
As a massive shadow lunged toward him, Kael smiled—a cold, unyielding smile. You were supposed to end me once. Now… I end you.
The first strike shattered stone and night alike, and Kael felt the thrill of battle ignite something he had buried for centuries: vengeance.
Outside, the wind howled, carrying the whispers of a prophecy long forgotten. And Kael? He was ready to rise.