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

Kael sprinted through the dense forest, his heart pounding in his chest.

The night was full with the sound of insects and the occasional rustle of nocturnal creatures, but Kael barely noticed. His mind was fixed on the horrifying revelations from the Void Bandits' hideout and the looming threat over Raven Town's outskirts.

Neo's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and urgent. "Kael, you have to move faster. The attack has already begun."

"I know," Kael growled, pushing his body harder. His legs burned, and his breaths came in short gasps, but he didn't slow down.

Every step brought him closer to the outskirts, where he knew the people were unprepared for the onslaught heading their way.

The trees reduced as he reached the edge of the forest. Ahead, the open fields surrounding the outskirts of Raven Town stretched out, dotted with small cottages and farmsteads.

In the distance, faint orange glows flickered in the darkness.

"Fire," Kael muttered, his jaw tightening.

As he crossed the fields, the sounds of chaos grew louder. Shouts and screams echoed in the night, mingling with the clash of steel and the gut turning roars of corrupted creatures.

Kael's fragment pulsed in his palm, its rhythm quickening as if sensing the danger ahead.

Neo's voice came calm but tense. "You need to find the towns' Main guards. They'll be the key to turning this around."

Kael reached the first farmstead, its fields trampled and its walls scorched. He paused at the edge of the property, scanning the area. The barn had collapsed in on itself, its remains casting eerie shadows.

Then he saw them—figures moving through the wreckage.

At first, Kael thought they were bandits. But as they stepped into the light, he realized they were something far worse.

The corrupted.

These weren't like the corrupted Kael had fought before. They had not completely turned to monsters. These corrupted were grotesque amalgamations of humans and fragments, their bodies were warped and twisted beyond recognition.

Some had jagged limbs that ended in blade-like appendages, while others crawled on all fours, their glowing eyes fixed on the destruction around them.

Kael gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his blade. He stepped forward cautiously, his movements deliberate.

One of the creatures snapped its head toward him, its hollow gaze locking onto his. It let out a guttural screech, its body convulsing as it charged.

Kael braced himself, raising his blade as the corrupted closed the distance. Its movements were erratic but fast, and Kael barely managed to sidestep its first attack.

He hesitated for a second. "Are these humans or corrupted?" He thought to himself but also to Ne, "No. These are humans who are going through the pain of turning into these. Killing them would only put the out of their misery"

Strengthening his resolve, he countered with a quick slash to its midsection, his blade biting deep into its twisted flesh.

The corrupted shrieked, black ichor spraying from the wound, but it didn't stop. Kael struck again, this time aiming for its legs and then the core, which was the fragment in it's abdomen.

The creature crumpled, its body twitching violently before finally going still.

"Kael, more are coming," Neo warned.

Kael looked up to see three more corrupted emerging from the shadows, their forms illuminated by the glow of the burning farmstead.

"I don't have time for this," Kael muttered, frustration filling his voice.

Kael charged toward the corrupted, his blade a blur as he struck with strained precision and speed. He dodged their attacks.

Despite the tired trembles of his body his movements were fluid and deliberate.

The fragment in his palm flared, its energy guiding his strikes and enhancing his reflexes.

Each corrupted fell one by one, their disfigured bodies collapsing into the dirt. But the exertion was taking its toll on Kael. His arms felt heavy, his breaths labored.

"Neo," he gasped, "how many more of these things are there?"

Neo's tone was grim. "Too many. The bandits have unleashed a controlled horde. This is only the beginning."

Kael clenched his jaw, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The Void Bandits weren't just raiding Raven Town—they were trying to destroy it.

He pressed on, leaving the farmstead behind as he followed the sounds of battle.

The outskirts were in chaos. Small groups of villagers and guards fought desperately against the corrupted, their makeshift weapons and fragment-powered tools barely holding them at bay.

Kael spotted a group of guards near a crumbling stone wall, their armor dented and bloodied. They were outnumbered, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion.

Kael didn't hesitate. He charged into the fray, his blade flashing as he cut down the corrupted surrounding the guards.

The men stared at him in shock as he fought, their disbelief quickly turning to hope.

"Who are you?" one of them asked, his voice hoarse.

"Someone here to help," Kael replied, his tone firm. "What's the situation?"

The guard pointed toward the town. "The bandits are attacking from all sides. They prevented us from contacting the main guards who're out of the town right now. We're trying to hold them off, but these... things are overwhelming us."

Kael nodded, his mind racing. "Get as many people as you can into the town. Fortify the gates, hold the line and try to reach the the main guards."

The guard hesitated but nodded, his expression resolute. "Okay."

Kael moved through the outskirts like a storm, his blade cutting through corrupted and bandits alike.

He used the terrain to his advantage using guerilla tactics to take them out. He was weaving between buildings and striking from the shadows.

But the closer he got to the town, the more resistance he faced. The bandits were well-organized, their fragment-powered weapons and fragment users giving them an edge over the villagers.

The fragment's power, Kael's will and the adrenaline coursing through his veins were the only things that kept him moving.

Kael's fragment pulsed in his palm, its energy surging as he fought. Neo's voice was steady in his mind, guiding him through the chaos.

"Kael, you need to find their leader," she said. "Cut off the head, and the body will fall."

"But be careful. Once your adrenaline runs out you'll be as good as dead"

Kael nodded, his focus sharpening. "Where is he?"

"There," Neo said, directing his attention to a towering figure near the edge of the town.

The bandit leader stood at the center of the chaos, his armor reinforced with glowing fragments. He barked orders to his men, his presence commanding and fearsome.

Kael took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his blade. He would end this—no matter the cost.

The battle raged on as Kael approached the leader, his movements swift and near silent. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of blood, the sounds of battle echoing all around him.

The leader turned as Kael approached, his dark eyes narrowing. "So you're the one causing all this," he growled. "You've made a big mistake."

Kael didn't respond. He charged, his blade aimed for the leader's chest.

The leader raised his weapon—a massive war hammer glowing with fragment energy—and blocked Kael's strike with ease. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, knocking Kael back.

"Who the hell are you kid? You'll regret crossing us," the leader said, his voice dripping with malice.

Kael gritted his teeth, his fragment flaring in his palm. "We'll see about that."

The two clashed in a fierce battle, their weapons colliding with deafening force. Around them, the chaos of the battlefield seemed to fade, the world narrowing to just the two of them.

Kael's movements were precise, since he couldn't see a fragment on him, his strikes aimed at the weak points in the leader's armor. But the leader was fast, his strength and skill making him a formidable opponent.

"You're strong little man," the leader said, his tone mocking. "But not strong enough."

Kael didn't answer. He focused on the fight, his determination unwavering.

The leader then shot a small black orb towards Kael. Fortunately, it was slow and easily dodged by him.

Moments later that orb hit a large rock not too far behind Kael, exploding and destroying it to slithering's.

Kael gritted his teeth. "His fragment ability is slow but formidable."

As the battle raged on, Kael began to notice something. The leader's movements were slowing, his strikes becoming less precise.

Neo's voice cut through his thoughts. "He's burning through his fragment energy. Keep the pressure on."

Kael nodded, his attacks growing more relentless. He dodged a powerful swing from the leader's hammer, countering with a quick slash to his side. The leader growled in frustration, his armor sparking from the impact.

"You'll pay for this," the leader snarled, his voice filled with fury.

Kael's fragment flared brighter, its energy surging as he prepared for the final strike. The leader raised his hammer for a powerful blow, but Kael was faster.

He dodged to the side, driving his blade into the leader's chest. The fragment embedded in the leader's armor shattered, releasing a burst of energy that sent both men flying.

Kael hit the ground hard, the air forced from his lungs.

[A/N: Apologies for not positing in the last 2 days, a power outage caught me off-guard.]