The weight of destiny pressed against Kael's shoulders as he walked through the familiar streets, his mind racing with the knowledge of what was to come. The world had a mere twenty-four hours before everything changed. He had to move fast.
---
Strengthening the Vessel
Kael knew his body was still adapting. His divine power was vast, but his human form could not yet bear the full brunt of it. He needed to push himself, to force his mortal shell to evolve beyond its limits.
Finding an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, he entered and locked the doors behind him. Dust floated in the dim light, the scent of rusted metal thick in the air. It would do.
He stood in the center of the room, closed his eyes, and focused inward. The golden glow that had faintly pulsed in his palm earlier now spread, veins of shimmering light threading through his skin. His power was awakening, but it needed control.
With a sharp breath, he struck forward.
BOOM!
The air cracked as his punch sent a shockwave through the warehouse. The walls trembled, dust and debris falling from the ceiling. Kael staggered back, gripping his wrist. The force had nearly shattered his arm.
"Tch… My body still can't handle it."
He exhaled and steadied himself. He had no time for gradual growth. He needed results now.
Pushing himself to the limit, Kael began a relentless cycle—punching, dodging, controlling bursts of time, forcing his body to adapt with each movement. Hours passed in moments, his divine energy stretching his human form beyond its natural constraints. Sweat dripped from his brow, his breathing ragged.
Then, suddenly, a shift.
A click, deep within his core. His cells burned with power, his muscles no longer straining under the pressure. His strength had begun to stabilize.
Kael smirked. Now we're getting somewhere.
---
Finding the First Piece
Training was only the beginning. He needed allies. And he knew exactly where to find his first one.
In his past life, the apocalypse had birthed countless warriors, but only a few had reached true power. One of them was a man named Dain Voss—a ruthless hunter whose abilities had made him a legend. However, in the original timeline, Dain had been too late. He had lost everything before he had grown strong.
This time, Kael would change that.
Night had fallen by the time he arrived at a secluded bar deep in the underbelly of the city. It was the kind of place where dangerous people gathered, where whispers of the underground world thrived. And there, sitting in the farthest booth, was Dain.
He was exactly as Kael remembered—tall, rugged, his sharp gaze scanning the room like a predator assessing prey. He hadn't yet unlocked his true potential, but Kael could already sense the dormant power within him.
Kael approached.
Dain barely spared him a glance. "Not interested."
Kael smirked. "You will be."
He slid into the seat across from him, meeting Dain's piercing stare. "Something's coming. Something worse than anything you can imagine. And if you don't listen, you'll be dead within the next twenty-four hours."
Dain raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly do you know?"
Kael leaned in, his voice low. "I know about the virus. I know about the mutations. I know that by this time tomorrow, the world will be in chaos. And I know that you—Dain Voss, the man who will become one of the strongest survivors—are completely unprepared."
Dain went still. His hand hovered near the knife strapped to his belt, eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"
Kael smiled. "Someone who can help you survive. But only if you trust me."
A tense silence stretched between them. Then, finally, Dain exhaled and leaned back. "You're crazy. But fine. I'll listen."
Kael's grin widened. Step one was complete.
---
The Countdown Begins
With Dain on board, Kael now had a crucial piece of his future team. But there were more pieces to gather, and less than a day to do it.
And beyond that, he still had to find Elyra. She was out there, somewhere, completely unaware of the impending catastrophe.
Kael clenched his fists. He would not lose her again.
The clock was ticking.
And tomorrow, the end would begin.
---
To be continued…