Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Chapter 349: Kael

Vengeance of the Son

His arrival back to the Real Realm was thunderous. Kael didnt know where he was, but what he did know was that if he was still in the Settled Territories, his arrival would be heard. So he moved at top speed, putting as much distance between himself and the place where his teacher had ripped open the boundary between the Ethereal and the Real Realm.

A couple of days later, he encountered the first settlement, and found out where he was. And how long he had been gone.

He was in a small kingdom at the edge of the core in the far south, near the coast. He was lucky that he hadnt been thrown somewhere so far away from the Settled Territories that it would take him lifetimes to get back. The settlement was populated by low tiered people, and Kaels presence alone was enough for them to treat him like a king. It made him angry, but he told himself that they just didnt know better. But one day soon, he would have his vision come true. A world where everyone could find their own path. Where they would no longer be bound to follow in the footsteps of others, forced into roles that those who ruled believed were necessary.

He had done the first step, caused chaos that had ignited the world. Brought forth fires that would burn the old, making way for something new to flourish. Or at least he had thought that he had.

The people told him what they knew, of the wars and how they were finally calming down. How instead of people rising to the occasion and breaking free, they were still trapped in the same patterns of the past. And he learned that he had been gone for barely a decade. Such a short period of time, when he spent what felt like centuries in the Ethereal Realm. He couldnt exactly tell, it was a blur, the Ethereal Realm was not a place where people were meant to dwell. Not those who were alive or sane at least. Several years, and already all that he and his people had done was being washed away.

He was going to need to do more, perhaps one dome wasnt enough. He was the Speaker for the Blind. He led the Unchained. He was going to bring about a new order. A world that was truly free. Beyond the limits of the Framework, of the factions that forced people into orderly and small lives.

He knew that there was something behind this law that guided them allthe Framework. He was going to tear down all that it was attempting to do. Show whatever it was behind it, those in the heavens, or even beyondthe Dealmaker and the Threethat they did not need their rules. That they couldnothey would flourish on their own. To show everyone what they could achieve without oppressive elements keeping them down.

His first move was a failure. The spark didnt turn into a wildfire to take down the entire forest, but it burned enough. What was once healthy was now filled with embers. His next move would burn it all down, clear the way for new growth to come after. The leaders had to die, factions had to fracture, laws cease. Only when each person was free to live by their own rules, by only their own personal strength, would the world truly be free.

But before he could make any other moves, he had a promise to keep. His teacher wanted to reach this Realm, and Kael was going to help him. Raazel understood true freedom. Kael knew that the teacher wouldnt follow anyone, that he wouldnt help any cause. He was the true embodiment of what Kael wanted to bring about. Unchained from everything that the world tried to use to tie them down, to hinder them and give the power only to the few. Raazel could see, where most others were blind.

And as much as he wanted to do what he was instructed as quickly as possible; he knew that he couldnt do it alone. He needed his people, and he was already late for their rendezvous, late by a few years. He wasnt exactly close to their meeting spot, their old base, but he was a lot faster now. A few more weeks, and he would finally reunite with his people.

Six days of flying across territories, trying to avoid any signs of civilization as best as he could. His appearance was changed, but someone could still recognize him. Or at least mention that they saw a winged and feathered drake passing through, it would be enough. There were too few of his kind around.

He was anxious. He moved without rest, flying at his top speed, faster than some airships, and still something gnawed at him. Something made him push onward, without any stops or rest. And the feeling was getting worse.

Kael felt naked in a way. He had achieved great power, but he had no items on him, only his simple robes. Relic rarity, which boosted his stamina and was almost useless compared to his new perk which allowed him to fly without rest in the first place. Everything else he had lost either before the Ethereal Realm or in the dungeon. His teacher hadnt given him anything, saying that it was a waste of resources, and Kael was nowhere near as proficient as his teacher in order to make something by himself.

Suddenly he came to a complete stop. He beat his wings slowly, floating above a dark forest beneath him. The moonlight bathed the land in the shadows, making the ground look like a gradient of dark colors. His scales were itching, more than before. His instincts were screaming at him that something was wrong.

Before he could react, chains of light appeared around him and snapped into place. The moment they touched his body, they slipped away, and Kael used [Wraith Dash] to move to the side. A ball of fire manifested in the center of the chains, then it exploded outward the blast hitting Kael and sending him tumbling through the air.

He beat his wings and managed to gain control just above the tree line. That attack was powerful enough that it couldve seriously hurt him if it hit him. The movement restricting attack wouldve bound him in place for it to manifest point blank. If it wasnt for his body, the fact that he was immune to the first such attack when it came at night

More chains manifested, and this time when they touched him, they had an effect. But they barely slowed him down. His body was still resistant, but he knew that the more such attacks came the more effective they would be. He channeled his Qi through his body and entered {Tranquil Fury}. He didnt have the chance to tinker with his techniques yet, their effects were not perfect. Still, his stats rose, and he dashed away again as another ball of fire nearly hit him. This time he was ready, so he evaded the blast with his |Perfect Spatial Evade: As Whisper, In the Wind|.

His senses screamed at him. He turned in the air as a shape exploded out of the tree line, holding a massive double headed axe made out of red fire. Kael tried to summon his awakened bracers on instinct, before remembering that they were gone. He crossed his hands over his chest and took the attack with |Greater Absorbing Block|. The axe smashed into his scales and fire bathed his body as the force of the strike sent him flying up through the air.

He grimaced at the power of the attack, his hands were numb, but the fire only just singed him. His body was made in part of Infraag, a spirit of the Suns Flaming Fury, he was resistant to fire.

He stabilized with his wings and looked down. A shape floated beneath him, the large axe in his arms dissipated into sparks and flew back into his forearm. Kael inwardly cursed as he recognized Heor Darkhoof.

Youve changed, murderer, the Beloved of the Sun said as he floated up to be on a level field.

How? Kael shouldve lost him long ago, and yet here he found him. Separated by so much ground and time. It was impossible.

Ive been waiting for this for a long time, Heor said, his expression calm, not like the sneering arrogance he showed him last time.

Kael had barely survived. He had burned through dozens of items, lost his armor, all his defensive amulets, safe blink talismans, everything that he had amassed over the years. The items that had let him keep his group ahead of all the old monsters that wanted to kill them. Heor had burned them all. He wouldve killed Kael if he hadnt used his last trump card. A gift from his previous teacher. A teleporting talisman that burned through all of Kaels Essence supply, leaving him with nothing in order to send him somewhere far away and safe. And still Heor had pursued him, even then. He had beat the adventurer to Daldvor by only days, when the distance had been months when Kael escaped.

Now, Kael was stronger, but unused to his new body. And he had no items, nothing to protect him. And even if he did manage to escape now, he had no idea how Heor found him again.

He didnt even have the chance to try and come up with a plan. Heor dashed forward, running on air, his boots glowing. He pulled out a large two-handed sword and twisted it as Kael used his movement skill and ability to get out of the way.

The moment Heor twisted the sword, cracks spread through the air, breaking space itself. His movement powers died, and Kael ran into a fast expanding crack, touching it with his forearm. He screamed as his arm cracked, the bone and scales breaking at the point of contact.

Heor dismissed the sword as cracks stopped expanding and pulled out a hammer glowing with blue light. He swung it and Kael changed. He entered his Evolved Form: Dream. In the form of the great stagLapareuhe dashed away, running on moonlight.

Youve gotten stronger, Heor said as he pursued him.

He was using items now. Kael had heard stories of him fighting, all had said that he used such items often. He hadnt during their last fight, he had just burned everything in his way. But then, it was day then, and night now.

Heor swung his hammer from a distance, and cold air smashed into Kaels side, sending him tumbling before he caught himself. He turned his head and looked at Heor, focusing on his eyes. The human-demasi hybrid shook his head as the effect of the Dream Weavers eyes attempted to put him in a dream. Kael could tell that it wasnt going to take effect, so he focused his will and Qi. He used {Release All Restraints} and his stats soared further. While Heor was momentarily distracted Kael pulled back his head and then closed the distance with his Wind Step. Then, he smashed his head and antlers down, hitting Heor in the chest. Something flashed into existence around Heor, an image of armor, it protected him for a moment, but then it cracked and Heor smashed to the ground. He cracked trees and sent debris flying in all directions. Kael turned and ran. He wasnt equipped to fight him, not now without even adjusting his techniques, not without any items.

A scream of rage echoed behind him. Kael glanced back and saw Heor running after him, gaining on him even in this form. It shouldnt have been possible. Kael had gotten so much stronger, and yet He pulled his mind from such thoughts. His opponent was one of the most powerful beings in the world, he had to afford him the respect he deserved.

Running is pointless, murderer! Heor yelled. I am not letting you get away again!

Kael glanced back and saw Heor raised a hand, then

/Oath of the Sun God: Beloveds Call/

The world trembled, and then there was light. The moon shuddered and turned into a sun, and night was banished by day.

/Oath of the Sun God: Churning Nova/

Heor transformed, a blast of fire expanded outward, burning the forests and hills beneath them clean of everything. Kael changed forms, from Lapareu to Infraag in an instant. The fire washed over him, and even in the form of the Suns Flaming Fury, Kael felt his scales burn, but nowhere as near as they had during their last battle. He roared as the heat passed him over. And then Heor was there, his presence making the world shake.

Heor raised his hands and a ball of fire, like the sun, appeared above him. A moment later it was coming for Kael.

Reject

The fire sputtered out and disappeared. Heor laughed.

That didnt work that well for you last time, the man said as his burning form grinned at him.

Kael used his Ascended State and charged at Heor, pushing Qi into his fists to attack before the man had a chance to

Heor pulled out a cannon and blasted him straight in the face. Kael flew back and smashed into a hill, cracking it in half. Heor was there above him again, and then

Sun Fall

The world turned white; light fell from the sky. Terrible burning light that washed everything clean. Kael would die, there were no talismans to teleport him away now, no defensive items to take the brunt of the attack. There was only one thing, and he steeled his will and knowledge. He raised his hands and with the speed of his Ascended State he stabbed his claws into the fabric of reality itself and drew.

Three lines, and a half circle over them, then he whispered.

Vhrom,protection. The world stilled, Essence sputtered, and then it obeyed.