Divine Ascension

reeked of bloo

loyal comrades stood before him, their faces cold, their blades still slick with the blood of those who h

" a familiar voice murmured

The man he trusted most. Now,

ing up despite the agony. "I hope the

traitor's blade. "Some thing

lade

wallowed K

he jolted upright, lungs burn

't on the b

t of decay. His fingers curled, brushing against rough fabric-sil

the ab

st his forehead, fingers adorned with rings he had never worn. He lifted his trembling hands

his

ar and foreign. Panic clawed at his throat. This

a wh

izing... Welco

one altar, heart pounding. The name ec

graced prince. Murde

one slipping from his grasp, poisoned lips whispering false promises. And

ressing into him. He was Kael Zephyr, warrior of a thousa

inhabited told

ing... Awakening

e flooded him-this world, its rules, the power locked within hi

only one who n

hitch. He had no weapons, no armor. Only the cere

a woman draped in black. A hood shadowed h

d, stepping closer. "You we

dagger. "Bad lu

curled on her lips. "O

A shiver ran through him-not from fear, but from something far more

ed, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "

er his chest, where a scar from a wou

rist, voice low

enemy. Depends on

a predator, amusement fli

re dead," she said. "The t

ching her closely. "And y

fate just got

the crown. Your enemies celebrate. The people curse your name.

ightened. "And what do y

shed his ear, voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not helping you. I'm

slowly. A slow, dan

e them regret e

med. "That's the answ

crypt as the iron door slammed

emained oblivious to the s