The Shattered Sky: Only I Do What the Gods Can't

Kael trudged through the dense forest, his boots sinking into the soft earth with every step. Shadows stretched long in the dwindling daylight, and the canopy above cast shifting patterns of green and gold across his path.

He clutched his blade tightly, his senses sharp and strained. Every rustle in the bushes, every snap of a twig set his nerves on edge.

His mind was full of worry. Lira—his sister, his anchor in this shattered world—was somewhere out there, alone. The thought of her limping through dangerous terrain, unprotected and burdened with their supplies, gnawed at him relentlessly.

"You're too far from the battlefield now," Neo's voice chimed in his mind.

"I know," Kael muttered. "But I have to keep moving. If I stay still, I'll lose her for good."

Neo's tone softened, carrying a note of reassurance. "You won't lose her. But survival is not a race. You need to stay sharp—and alive."

Kael exhaled heavily, her words sinking in. He hadn't eaten in over a day, and his energy was waning fast. The forest was alive with sounds of creatures, the tension thick enough to choke on.

He couldn't afford to push himself to the brink—not now, not when Lira was still out there.

Lira, miles away and unaware of Kael's misdirection, was moving just as relentlessly.

Her limp slowed her, but she refused to stop. Each step sent jolts of pain up her leg, but she gritted her teeth and kept going.

The crude markings Kael had left in the dirt had pointed her toward the capital, and she clung to that direction like a lifeline. She couldn't lose hope—not when Kael was out there, somewhere.

She came across a small stream, its clear waters trickling over smooth stones. Kneeling, she cupped her hands and drank deeply, the cold water soothing her parched throat. For a moment, the world felt still, almost peaceful.

But the moment shattered with a low growl.

Lira's head snapped up. Across the stream, the underbrush rustled violently, and a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows.

The creature was massive, its fur bristling with streaks of silver that shimmered faintly. A fragment embedded in its chest glowed like a pulsing heart, its rhythm steady and menacing.

Lira's daggers were in her hands before she even registered the movement. She rose slowly, her injured leg protesting with every inch.

"Let's see what you've got," she muttered, her voice steady despite the fear turning in her gut.

The creature lunged, its massive jaws snapping inches from her face. Lira twisted to the side, her agility saving her by a hair's breadth. She slashed at its flank, her blade scraping against the fragment-infused hide.

It roared, the sound vibrating through her bones.

Kael, meanwhile, had stumbled upon his own trial.

The clearing he entered was deceptively serene. A soft breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and sunlight dappled the ground in golden patches. But something felt wrong—too quiet, too still.

His fragment pulsed faintly, a warning.

A guttural snarl broke the silence, and Kael turned just in time to see a massive boar-like creature charge at him. Its tusks gleamed, each one tipped with faintly glowing shards.

Kael dove to the side, rolling to his feet as the beast skidded to a halt and turned to face him. Its eyes glowed faintly, the same ominous light emanating from the fragment embedded in between its brows.

"Perfect," Kael muttered in frustration.

The boar pawed at the ground, dragging its foot back and forth, preparing to charge again. Kael tightened his grip on his blade, his mind racing.

"Fragments have corrupted these creatures," Neo's voice cut in. "They're stronger, faster, and harder to kill."

"Yeah, I noticed," Kael replied dryly.

The boar charged, its speed defying its massive size. Kael sidestepped at the last second, bringing his blade down hard on the beast's flank. Sparks flew as the fragment's energy met steel, but the cut barely grazed its hide.

It spun around, its tusks swinging dangerously close to Kael's torso. He stumbled back, his foot catching on a root, and fell hard onto the ground.

"Shit!"

The boar loomed over him, its tusks gleaming with lethal intent. Kael raised his blade, ready for the inevitable impact—

Then suddenly, a surge of energy shot through his palm, his fragment flaring to life.

The boar hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as if sensing the sudden shift.

Kael didn't wait. He lunged upward, his blade driving deep into the fragment embedded in the beast's head.

The creature let out a deafening roar as its body convulsed, the fragment's glow flickering wildly. With a final shudder, it collapsed, its massive form hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.

Kael staggered to his feet, his chest heaving. "One down," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"You need to learn how to control your fragment ability," Neo told him. "Next time you won't be so lucky."

Lira's battle was no less brutal.

The beast she fought wasn't corrupted—it had merged with a fragment. This fusion granted the wild animal, a tiger, powerful fragment-based abilities and a terrifying transformation. Its once-natural form had been twisted into something far more dangerous, exuding an aura of raw, unrestrained energy.

The fragment-powered tiger was relentless, each swipe of its claws carving deep gouges into the earth. Lira darted and dodged, her movements a precarious mixture of precision and desperation.

Her injured leg gave out as she leapt back to avoid another lunge, and she hit the ground hard, her breath knocked from her lungs.

The creature seized the opportunity, its jaws snapping as it closed in.

Lira twisted at the last moment, her dagger slicing across its face. The blade struck the glowing fragment in its chest, sending a pulse of energy rippling through the beast's body.

It reared back, its roar a mixture of pain and rage. Lira used the momentary reprieve to push herself to her feet, ignoring the searing pain in her leg.

"You're tough," she said through gritted teeth. "But I'm tougher."

The beast lunged again, but this time, Lira was ready. She sidestepped and drove her dagger deep into the fragment, twisting the blade with all her strength.

The creature let out a final, mournful cry before collapsing, its body twitching once before going still.

Lira fell to her knees, her chest heaving. Her hands trembled as she wiped the blood from her daggers.

"Kael," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Where are you?"

The days stretched into a blur for both Kael and Lira.

Kael's survival skills were tested to their limits. With no supplies, he was forced to scavenge for food, relying on wild berries, roots, and whatever small game he could catch.

Neo guided him where she could, her voice offering advice on foraging and navigation. But the weight of his isolation was suffocating, and the worry for Lira gnawed at him relentlessly.

"I shouldn't have let her go," he muttered one night, staring into the small fire he had managed to build.

"You didn't 'let' her go," Neo replied. "The fragment abilities you can't control did."

Kael clenched his fists. "Is that supposed to make me feel better."

"She's strong, Kael. She'll survive" Neo replied.

Lira's journey was no easier.

Her limp worsened with each passing day, the injury slowing her progress. She used crude splints fashioned from branches to support her leg, but the pain was a constant companion.

Despite the hardships, she refused to stop. Her thoughts were consumed by Kael—his face, his voice, the way he always seemed to know how to soothe her.

"I'll find you," she whispered into the night, her gaze fixed on the stars. "I swear I will."

Kael knelt by the riverbank, his hands cupping the cold water as he drank. The night was silent except for the gentle ripple of the stream, the moonlight shimmering on its surface.

He stared at the distorted reflection of his face, weary and burdened, and let out a shaky breath. Somewhere, he thought, Lira was looking at the same moon. 

Miles upstream, Lira crouched by the same river, her trembling fingers breaking the surface as she splashed water on her face. The cool touch soothed her, but the ache in her chest remained. She gazed at the rippling image in the water—her tired eyes and the silver glow of the moon. 

Unaware of the other's presence, they rose and turned away, their paths growing further apart.