The doors of the cathedral burst open, splinters of wood flying in every corner. Dust and smoke flooded the sacred hall as more than twenty men swarmed in, their blackened armor clacking with every step they took. Etched on their breastplate was a sigil—a broken sun stabbed by a dagger—confirming my thoughts.

Skarr.

Their gaze swept through the place before finally landing on me. “There!" a man snarled from within the group. He pushed through the men as he came out into view.

Standing taller than the others and with caped armor was Skarr, leader of the inquisition. On his face was a jagged scar that ran down the right of his cheek, splitting his lip and vanishing into his chin.

He was here for my blood.

I stood naked on the shattered steps of the altar. My skin was searing red with runes that ran down my body like veins. They glowed with each thud of my heart. My breath fogged in the chill air and my hands shook—not with fear, but with restrained hell that stirred within me, waiting to be unleashed.

"Kaelen Blackwood," Skarr growled, walking towards me. “You think you can steal from me, murder my men and go scot-free?" His hands widened and two black claymore swords materialized out of thin air. "You thought wrong.”

I cocked my head, watching as Skarr dragged his sword along the jagged ground, sparks erupting with each step he took. His men fanned out, encircling me as they unsheathed their swords, rage in their eyes.

The runes on my arms seared and I brought my gaze to the floor, waves of fire coursing through me. My eyes blazed.

I felt a hand clasp my shoulder, lips dropping to my ear.

Thrakos.

"Let them come."

“YOU'RE DEAD!!!" Skarr yelled as his men raced towards me, their swords gleaming in the moonlight.

My hands shook, the runes on my arm exploding with sparks. A loud roar erupted from my throat as black chains burst forth from the runes, aglow with red embers.

I swung the chains forward and they coiled like snakes, impaling the first two men through the chest. I yanked both chains back, and their bodies were lashed across the cathedral, crashing into pillars with a wet crunch.

The others screamed, keeping on with their charge.

I spun around, thrusting one hand to the left and a cascade of chains burst forth from my hand, whipping across the air. One of the men raised his shield to block them, but the chains seared through it like butter and wrapped themselves around his neck. I pulled forward and his head flew off.

One after another, they came, but my chains brought them down before they could even get close. The others began to waver at the sight of their comrades’ lifeless bodies on the ground.

“RETREAT!!!" one screamed, and the rest turned to run.

I stomped on the ground and the runes on my feet burst into chains that shot through the floor, writhing through the dirt as they followed each man. Before they could reach the door, the chains shot back up, slicing every one of them in two. Blood poured down like rain as they slumped to the ground, dead.

My gaze turned to the last man standing.

Skarr.

He moved one slow step forward, sword extended, his eyes never leaving mine. "You've done something to yourself," he said to me, his tone raspy like sandpaper. His gaze shifted to the drenched spell book by the altar and he smirked.

“Used the spell book you stole from me to summon Thrakos and bind him to you?” He lifted his sword up, his muscles tensing. "No matter. You're dead anyways.”

I remained silent.

The runes on my arms burned with increased intensity, shimmering like hot metal. Heat waves roared from me, the bodies near me began burning. Skarr, unfazed by this sight, snarled and attacked, his twin claymores leveled.

With a loud roar, he kept into the air, bringing his sword down at me. His blades rang and embers sparked as they hit my chains. Skarr struck again and again, each blow powerful and brutal blows as he tried breaking my defence.

I moved to the side, dodging his first blow and blocked the second with a cuff of black chains that erupted from my wrist. The third blow grazed my shoulder, tearing flesh, but I didn't flinch.

I flung my arms, more chains pouring from my hands. I twisted, wrapping the chains around Skaar’s arm. My eyes glowed as I embedded my feet in the air and pulled.

“ARGH!!!" Skaar screamed as the chains bit through his arms, cutting through muscles and bones. His flesh sizzled as my chains cut clean through.

“You made a mistake coming for me," I growled as I moved quickly, wrapping another chain around his neck.

The chain began burning his skin when he grabbed me by the neck and pulled me over his shoulder. I landed on the ground with a loud thud.

“You fucking bastard,” Skarr roared as he brought his sword down at me. Chains burst forth from the ground, deflecting Skarrs blow. The diversion knocked Skarr off balance, giving me a chance to attack.

I spun on the ground, kicking Skarr back before landing back on my feet. A smirk played at my lips as I stretched my hands forward. Chains flared from my arms, shooting directly through Skarr's chest and exploded out his back with a spray of blood.

Skarr gasped, his sword dropping from his hand. He pulled at the chain, the bloody stump on his other hand staining it crimson red.

“Now, you die," I whispered as my eyes burned red.

Fire streamed from my wrists and swept along the chains to Skarr in an instant. He screamed, flailing as the flames consumed him. His armor melted into his body, bones cracking, and in a split second, his body disintegrated to ash.

My chains clanked as they slid free and sprang back into my arms, settling onto the runes curling up my hands.

Every muscle in my body trembled, the runes flickering like dying embers. The force that had surged through me before washed away in an instant. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground.

A sickening crack resounded through the empty court as my face hit the cold stone pavement. I struggled to lift my head as a warm liquid dripped down my forehead. I was… empty.

Then I heard the sound of footsteps approaching me. I turned my head to see Thrakos stepping out of the darkness, a cruel smile etched on his face.

He crouched beside me, his hand cupping my face as he gently caressed my cheek.

"You've done well," he whispered as his other hand traveled down to my crotch. "Now, you need to recharge."

And the world went black.