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

The clearing erupted into chaos the moment the bandit leader fell.

His massive form hit the ground with a resounding crash, sending a plume of dust and fragment-like energy into the air. The remaining bandits froze, their weapons trembling in their hands as they stared at their fallen leader.

But the silence didn't last long.

"You're dead!" one of the bandits roared, charging at Kael with a blade crackling with lightning from fragment energy.

Kael dodged the first swing, his reflexes sharp despite his exhaustion. He countered with a quick slash to the bandit's arm, disarming him before delivering a swift kick to his chest.

The bandit staggered back and fell, unconscious.

Neo's voice broke through. "They're desperate. That makes them dangerous. Stay focused."

Kael nodded, his breathing heavy but controlled. Around him, the remaining bandits were regrouping, their fear giving way to anger and a desperate need for revenge.

"Take him down!" one of them shouted, rallying the others.

Kael's fragment pulsed in his palm, its energy syncing with the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He tightened his grip on his blade, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.

The bandits moved in unison, most of their weapons glowing faintly as they surrounded him. Kael backed toward the edge of the clearing, his eyes darting between his attackers.

"Think, Kael," Neo urged. "You can't let them box you in."

Kael glanced behind him, spotting a narrow gap between two tents. Without hesitation, he darted toward it, narrowly avoiding a fragment-powered arrow that zipped past his shoulder.

The bandits gave chase, their shouts filling the air as Kael weaved through the camp. He used the terrain to his advantage, ducking behind crates and slipping between tents to stay ahead of his pursuers.

But they were relentless, and Kael knew he couldn't run forever.

He skidded to a stop near the edge of the camp, his back to a large boulder. The bandits closed in, their expressions a mix of rage and determination.

"You've got nowhere to go," one of them sneered, raising a glowing spear.

Kael's grip on his blade tightened. "I don't need to go anywhere."

The first bandit lunged, his spear aimed for Kael's chest. Kael sidestepped the attack, using the momentum to drive the hilt of his blade into the bandit's jaw. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Another bandit came at him from the side, swinging a fragment-powered mace. Kael ducked under the swing, slashing at the bandit's legs to send him sprawling.

The remaining three bandits hesitated, their confidence wavering as they saw their comrades fall.

"Keep fighting!" one of them barked. "He's just one man!"

Kael's fragment flared in his palm, its energy surging as he raised his blade. "One man's all it takes."

Th fragment's energy took over him, granting him the power he had used before. Something he could not comprehend or control.

He charged, his movements swift and precise. His blade flashed in the moonlight as he disarmed one bandit and knocked another unconscious with a well-placed kick.

The last bandit dropped his weapon and fled into the trees, his shouts of fear echoing in the night.

Kael stood alone in the clearing, his chest heaving as he surveyed the aftermath. The camp was eerily silent, the once-mighty bandit group reduced to a scattering of unconscious men.

Neo's beautiful voice in his head broke the quiet. "You did it."

Kael nodded, his grip on his blade loosening. "For now."

But his victory was short-lived. A low growl echoed from the shadows, sending a chill down Kael's spine.

He turned slowly, his eyes widening as a figure emerged from the darkness. It was another corrupted, its grotesque form illuminated by the faint glow of fragment energy.

Its skin was stripped away, leaving only exposed muscle and flesh intertwined with jagged metal and glowing crystals. A single, oversized eye dominated its face, gleaming with an unnatural intensity, while rows of razor-sharp teeth curved into a menacing snarl.

Its massive frame loomed over the ground, every movement radiating raw power and menace. Unlike the other corrupted, this one wasn't just massive and muscular—it was built but also had speed, and its presence alone sent a chill through the air.

Neo's voice was sharp. "Kael, you can't fight this thing head-on. It's too strong. And you're too weakened."

Kael gritted his teeth, his blade steady in his hand. "Then I'll find another way."

The corrupted lunged, its claws raking through the air with unnatural speed. Kael dodged, rolling to the side and slashing at the creature's arm. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, but the creature didn't falter.

Kael moved quickly, using the terrain to keep the corrupted at bay. He led it toward the edge of the camp, where the remains of the bandit leader's fallen tent lay in ruins.

'Neo,' Kael said, his voice tight with focus and too tired to think of conversing with his thoughts. "Can I use the fragments in the leader's armor?"

Neo hesitated. "It's risky, but it might work. Aim for the largest shard."

Kael nodded, his eyes locking on the faint glow of a fragment embedded in the leader's chest plate then to a large rock not too far from it.

He lured the corrupted closer, dodging its attacks with stained precision.

When the creature was within striking distance, Kael lunged, driving his blade into the fragment and then quickly jumping behind the rock for protection.

The reaction was immediate. The fragment shattered, releasing a burst of energy that engulfed the corrupted in a blinding flash of light.

Kael shielded his eyes, the force of the explosion knocking him to the ground. When the dust settled, the corrupted was gone, its twisted form reduced to ash and miasma.

Kael pushed himself to his feet, his body aching but intact. He glanced around the camp, ensuring there were no more threats lurking in the shadows.

Neo's voice was soft. "You need to keep moving. There's more to this than just bandits."

Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. He had seen enough to know that this was only the beginning.

With one last glance at the fallen bandit leader, Kael turned toward the forest, ready to uncover the truth behind the darkness that had taken root in the land.

And destroy it.