Ashes of Obedience
The chains clattered against stone as Kael stood motionless bathed in the low red glow of the undermines sulfur flames Bodies lay in heaps around him broken miners crushed overseers mangled guards each a testament to his rebirth The last scream had already faded and in its place silence
But Kael heard something else
The whispering The demons voice The oath
Burn what chained you Desecrate what named you weak
He clenched his bloodslick hands Something stirred in his chest not just hatred not just rage but clarity He was no longer the obedient tool who once bowed his head and accepted fate No He was the weapon now The flame The end
Kael stepped over the corpse of Overseer Bragg whose face still wore a mask of disbelief shattered jaw dangling like meat skull crushed inward by Kaels bare hand
You always said I was nothing but a grunt Kael thought coldly
Now youre a stain on the floor Thats something
He moved to the iron gate at the end of the passage Two armored guards were stationed there clearly terrified blades trembling in their grip One of them bolted smart but Kael didnt chase him Not yet
The other tried to speak
You you were supposed to die in the pit
Kael was already on him
With a sickening crunch he buried his fingers into the guards ribcage and tore out his lungs The man didnt even scream just dropped gurgling choking on blood that poured from his mouth like vomit
Kael flung the lungs against the gate They slapped wetly leaving red smears across the iron bars
Your fear is the purest thing in this place Kael whispered
Then he burned the gate
Not with torches or tools — but with demonic fire that roared from his palms searing through metal like parchment This was the magic the demon had given him Pyredrake Flame the cursefire of lost kings
The gate screamed as it melted open
Beyond the gate lay the upper mining fortress Kael had only seen it once before when they dragged him down here twelve years ago Back then he was a boy Shackled Defeated
Now he was the goddamn executioner
Guards scrambled to respond Horns blared
A dozen of them formed a wall shields up blades drawn Behind them mages began chanting purification spells
Kael stepped through the smoke
He didnt run
He just raised one hand and the ground exploded
Flame surged in a spiral melting armor boiling flesh A captain screamed as his skin peeled from his bones like wax under a torch One of the mages tried to shield himself but Kaels fire punched through the barrier and cooked him alive from within eyes melting like jelly
In seconds the blockade was gone
Just red ash and charred limbs
This is justice This is balance Kael thought as he stepped over burning corpses
They fed me rot and called it mercy Now I feed them ruin
As he reached the main keep — the Wardens Hall — the doors opened before him Not out of welcome
Out of fear
Inside Warden Karran stood waiting dressed in ceremonial crimson armor sword drawn flanked by his two bodyguards
Youve become something different Karran said voice tight Demonic Cursed
Kael said nothing
Youll never escape this region Even if you kill me the Empire will burn you down
Kael walked slowly forward
Youre not reborn Karran continued raising his sword Youre just corrupted
Still no answer
Then Kael tilted his head You burned my village to appease your god You flayed my father and made me watch Ive spent twelve years with those memories sewn into my bones
He stepped closer eyes glowing with molten fury
So now Warden His voice dropped to a whisper
Let me return the favor
Karran charged
Kael moved like a demon unchained
He caught the sword midswing — bare hand — and shattered it with his grip The metal cracked like glass Karrans eyes widened in horror
Kael drove his knee into the Wardens gut lifted him by the throat and slammed him into the stone wall hard enough to crack the masonry The guards charged Kael flicked a wave of flame backward and ignited them alive
Their screams were short
He turned back to Karran holding him up by the neck faceto face
Do you feel holy now Kael asked tilting his head
Do you feel your god Does he whisper to you now the way mine does
Karrans mouth opened
Kael shoved his entire arm through the mans chest tearing out his heart He didnt even look at it as he crushed it in his fist
The Warden slid off his arm and slumped dead to the floor
One more grave for the empire
Kael stood in the silence of the hall chest heaving
He wasnt done Not even close
There were still nobles Priests Lords who paid for his suffering He would carve through cities if he had to And now that his power was awake — now that the demons pact was sealed — he had more tools than fire
The souls of the dead are yours to command the demon had whispered
Will you make them scream again Kael
A slow merciless grin spread across his face