Soulbound Rebirth: The Devouring War God

The wind howled across the ridge as Kael, Elira, and Ashen emerged from the Black Archive. The glyphs on Kael's arm still pulsed with residual energy, glowing faintly beneath his skin. The air felt heavier now—each step forward closer to a fate none of them were ready for.

"We'll need a soulbinding circle," Kael said, voice sharp with urgency. "If the Gatebind Protocol works, we can delay Ashen's awakening by tethering him to me."

Ashen frowned, exhaustion painting dark rings under his eyes. "And if it fails?"

Kael didn't look at him. "Then you lose control… and we lose everything."

Elira scanned the horizon. "We can't perform the tethering here. The leyline's fractured. But there's a soul temple an hour east, buried in the hollow cliffs."

Kael nodded. "Lead the way."

---

Two hours later

The ruins of the Soul Temple stood like broken bones jutting from the cliffside. Cracked pillars bore ancient Sealbearer script, and at the center of the shattered floor lay a massive faded glyph circle built for binding rituals.

Perfect.

Kael drew the updated seal formation using soul-chalk mixed with his blood, while Elira held Ashen steady, his body trembling harder with every passing minute.

System Warning:

Carrier Node Resonance: 94%

Mental Containment Barrier: Cracking.

Soul Distortion Detected.

Ashen gritted his teeth. "I can hear him. The voice behind the Gate. It's getting clearer…"

Kael stepped into the circle. "We don't have time. Begin the tether."

Elira activated the formation, and the ritual surged to life.

---

Pain exploded through Kael's chest.

The circle drew his soul toward Ashen's two threads being woven, forcefully, desperately.

Kael saw flashes of Ashen's memories: cages, pain, whispers in the dark, betrayal by scientists claiming to be protectors. And beneath it all fear. Fear of becoming the thing he was made to stop.

Kael clenched his jaw. "You're not alone anymore."

Ashen's eyes glowed gold as the ritual reached its peak.

A pulse burst from the ground shattering nearby stones and lighting the ruins in blinding silver light.

System Alert:

Gatebind Protocol Activated.

Resonance Suppressed: -12%

Tether Duration: 5 Days (Max).

Kael fell to his knees, gasping. The glyph on his arm burned but Ashen was stable again.

For now.

Then the shadows moved.

---

Dozens of figures stepped from the edges of the cliffs, silent and lethal.

Devourer Inquisitors.

Their armor bore the mark of the Hollow King, and their eyes glowed with corrupted soullight. At their center stood Serin, fully turned her Devourer sigil now fused to her spine.

She raised her hand. "Seal them."

Chains of cursed glyphs lashed out. Kael reacted fast, drawing Emberfang in a blazing arc that cut through the first wave of attacks. Elira released a flashflare, blinding several Inquisitors, while Ashen dropped into a crouch, whispering runes Kael had never heard.

From the ruins, ancient soul guardians stirred stone giants half buried in time. Kael's earlier ritual had activated them unknowingly.

They roared to life.

Elira grinned. "Guess we brought friends."

---

The battle turned chaos.

Kael fought like a man possessed each swing of Emberfang absorbing Devourer energy and sending it back amplified. The tether had strengthened his soul connection, giving him glimpses of enemy movements through Ashen's heightened awareness.

But it wouldn't last.

The Inquisitors adapted quickly using binding sigils and teleport cuts.

One stabbed Elira.

Another shattered part of the glyph circle.

Kael screamed, slamming his blade into the earth and releasing the last reserve of his sealfire in a burst of light.

Final Seal Technique: Soulflare Rejection!

Everything went white.

When the smoke cleared, only Serin remained standing, shielded by a dark barrier. She smiled at Kael, blood dripping from her lips.

"You bought yourself five days," she said. "The King only needs three."

Then she vanished.

---

Ashen collapsed. Elira knelt, pale but alive.

Kael looked at the sky dark clouds swirling with unnatural energy.

The war had begun.