ECHOES OF THE VOID

Kael's chest was significantly burdened by an unnatural silence that persisted in the aftermath of the altercation. There was an uncomfortable stillness. The shadows' residual presence persisted, despite their disappearance into thin air, much like a trace of something that was beyond the ordinary. The air was filled with the delicate pulse of a force that gnawed at the boundaries of reality, like the murmuring of an old memory that refused to expire.

Selene stood in the center of the room, her silver eyes shining brilliantly in the feeble light. Kael could sense a more profound emotion within herself, despite her expertise as a combatant. It was a silent strain, as if she were carrying burdens that were significantly heavier than those of the average person. Legendary pragmatist Vexar appeared to be contemplating the shadows with his brow furrowed.

Kael approached Selene, despite the fact that his footfalls were inaudible on the woodland floor. The night air was pleasantly chilly against his skin, and the scent of damp soil and moss enveloped his senses. He briefly contemplated the circumstances that had led her to this precarious position, this treacherous struggle against forces that none of them fully understood.

He murmured, "You fought very well," in an attempt to break the stillness.

Selene's lips were slightly curved, despite the fact that it was not a smirk. "I've been through my fair share of trials." She effortlessly cleansed her blade, as if she had done so before. "However, these—these things—are not the same."

As his eyes shifted to the location, Kael's attention was directed toward the center of the shadow creatures. What precisely were they?

"Echoes," Selene continued, her voice becoming more reflective with each repetition and her voice becoming deafening. The remnants of a long-gone entity remain. Nevertheless, this is not entirely accurate. The Void has the capacity to generate worlds, but it also has the capacity to eliminate them. The ruins of a catastrophe, a conflict between forces that predate the Primordials, may be observed in this location. She paused briefly and glanced at him. "Kael, I can certainly discern the manner in which you gaze at me."You are interested in acquiring additional information. Ask yourself, "Are you prepared to receive the response?"

He experienced the weight of her words as a consequence. The new information that she had just shared with him was causing his thoughts to race as he endeavored to make sense of it. Has a battle been raging since the Primordials? Is it still possible for debris to traverse the Void in this manner? It was conceivable that the Nothingness, the power that pulsed within him, was somehow associated with these forces.

In a voice that was barely perceptible above a murmur, Selene concluded, "Everything in this world has its place." The Void contains a contradiction. Life and death—creation and destruction—are all components of this. Conversely, it is not necessary to retain all information. There are specific items that were intended to be disregarded.

I do not subscribe to the notion of forgetting. Kael's demeanor was frigid, even when he listened to his own voice. "Please permit me to understand." I must be cognizant of the competition I encounter in order to comprehend this power.

Something flickered in her silver irises, which could have been a trace of humor or something sinister. What do you mean? Kael, the object you are currently holding is an entity that existed prior to the formation of the universe. You are engaging in a game with forces that even the gods are hesitant to confront. The Void is indeed calling out to you. Nevertheless, it refrains from disclosing its insights publicly.

Kael took one step forward, his expression growing more determined. Next, I will take them with me.

A brief pause ensued between them, and Selene abruptly interrupted the silence with a new voice, this one bearing the weight of her years of experience. "This is not the first time someone has sought Void guidance." Before you, there were others who thought they could exert control over it. Most of them are gone, either consumed by the darkness they sought to control or cast asunder.

"Are you lost?" On Kael's forehead, there was a frown. "What is it?"

Selene approached him with a steady gaze and advanced by one step. "And by becoming an excessive amount of what they desired." The Void ultimately governs you; you are not in control of it. It consumes your entire being, your own essence, from the inside out. Even the best cultivators have been unable to cover some expenses, Kael, even though you may be experiencing its full force.

The shard of Nothingness pulsing within Kael and the startling clarity that followed were remembered when his mind returned to waking. He had a profound connection to the power, as if it were a part of himself, a force that he could manipulate to suit his desires. However, her remarks persisted, and a sense of ambiguity began to permeate.

Subsequently, he inquired, "Why do you persist in your opposition?" "If it's so risky, why should we continue doing it?"

Although Selene's lips were quivering in anticipation of speaking, Vexar abruptly terminated them with a voice that was both authoritative and abrasive.

He stated, "I have had enough of this." He added, "At this moment, there is something more significant."

Upon turning to confront the elderly man, Kael observed a momentary glimmer of irritation in his eyes. "What should we do now?"

Vexar was already making his way toward the edge of the clearing, which he was approaching with deliberate steps. We are not the only ones.

A peculiar murmur began to resound through the atmosphere before Kael could react. It was a low, nearly imperceptible sound that seemed to interact with the ground beneath their boots. They could hear a vibration emanating from the trees that encircled them, as if something were moving through them and distorting the space. The Void within Kael responded in an inherent manner, resulting in an increase in his senses. He extended his hand to sense the energy pulse that was emanating from the disturbance.

"This is it," Vexar murmured, his expression remaining as bleak as ever. Far sooner than I had anticipated, this is transpiring.

As the ground beneath them began to fracture, a figure emerged from the depths of the earth. It was an apparition that no one could identify as a body; it was towering and shrouded in darkness, and its form fluctuated like smoke. The light that radiated from its pupils was not of the natural variety; it was the same faint radiance that Kael had previously observed in the shadows.

The figure's voice carried a profound, resonant tone that seemed to resonate in Kael's consciousness, and the atmosphere became more congested as she spoke. The Void is communicating with her. More darkness will ensue. Kael Voidbreaker, you are the one who will direct us to the destination.

When he faced the entity, Kael's pulse faltered. He was unable to dislodge the weight of the thing's presence, which was exerting a force on him. The words that were being spoken may contain something ancient and dreadful. There was a sense of connection to the force of Nothingness that he had unleashed.

In spite of her enigmatic demeanor, Selene inched closer to Kael. Her irises were acute. As she spoke, she murmured, "I told you, Kael." "The pursuit of knowledge is invariably accompanied by a price." The cost of this is significantly higher than what you may have anticipated.