Chapter 33: Awakening Horror and Echoes of Escape
Instead of the triumphant cries that echoed through the ruins after Morian's defeat, a wave of sinister energy rose from deeper within, an ancient rage that shook every stone. Kael struggled to his knees, exhausted by the immense power he had just used, as the Chitauri core pulsed wildly in his palm like an alarm. This new threat was infinitely more intense than Morian's; it was as if a horror that had been dormant for thousands of years had awakened, shaking the foundations of the ruins.
Aslan rushed to Kael's side, supporting him. "What is this, Kael? Isn't it over?"
"I think," Kael said breathlessly, "we have merely overthrown a pawn. Now the king comes into play." His eyes fell to the glowing stone tablet. The symbols on the tablet flowed faster and more complexly now, whispering to Kael terrifying information about the nature of this new threat: a mindless but incredibly powerful "Echo of the Void," a pure energy of destruction that had been partially unleashed by the weakening of the Lords of the Void's seal on this planet. Morian was a guardian of sorts that kept this Echo in check, and her death had broken the Echo's chains.
Vortices of dark energy began to rise from the ground in the courtyard at the center of the ruins. The ground cracked, ancient stone crumbled. Kael tried to use the ability he had sensed earlier to manipulate echo energy again, but his body was exhausted. This new power was still raw potential, difficult for him to control, and any use would come at a great cost.
"We must get out of here!" Kael said, rising to his feet with Aslan's help. "We cannot fight this thing right now. Our mission is to strengthen the seal, not to engage such beings head-on."
As if to confirm Kael's decision, the stone tablet illuminated one of the symbols on it brighter than the others. It was like a sort of star map or a compass, indicating the path to the next "echo point." Kael committed the information to his mind.
But the Void Echo had no intention of letting them escape. The dark energy that had overflowed from the courtyard began to reach out towards them like tentacles. Aslan stepped in front of Kael to protect him, trying to cut one of the dark energy tentacles with his blades, but the blades passed through the pure energy with no effect.
Kael focused on the Chitauri core with one last hope. The core had been drained of most of its energy after the battle with Morian, but it still glowed faintly. Using the last bits of energy from the core, Kael created a small, flickering protective shield around himself and Aslan. This shield slowed the Void Echo's initial attacks somewhat, but it was clear that it would not last long.
"Aslan, listen to me!" Kael said, his voice barely audible over the crackling of the shield. "Did you see that sign on the tablet? That's our next target. If I… fail, you must follow that sign. The Echo Bearer's legacy must continue."
"Don't talk nonsense, Kael!" Aslan shouted. "I won't leave you here! Together, we will find a way!"
At that moment, the Void Echo's largest energy tentacle collided with Kael's shattering shield. The shield shattered, sending Kael and Aslan flying back. Kael hit his head on a hard rock, his consciousness drifting in and out. The Void Echo was now right above them, about to devour them.
But Kael did not give up. Even as his consciousness was fading, he tried to feel his newfound "echo energy" in his mind. The subtle vibrations in the ruins' stone, in the soil, even in the Void Echo's own chaos energy… Perhaps he could turn that energy to his advantage. It was an incredible risk, but they had no other choice.
He closed his eyes and focused on that energy with all his being. He felt like a conductor; the ancient power of the ruins flowing into his body through the Chitauri core, clashing with the dark energy of the Void Echo. It was a battle of wills.
And then, something unexpected happened. The stone tablet lit up with a final, brilliant light, and all the symbols on it flowed simultaneously into Kael's Chitauri core. The core exploded with a force more powerful than ever before. The energy swirled around Kael, momentarily repelling the Void Echo, and at the same time, creating a flickering portal in the ceiling of the ruins, opening up to the stars.
It was a way out. But Kael was almost unconscious. Aslan saw this opportunity, lifted Kael onto his shoulders and ran with all his might towards that flickering portal. Behind them, the Void Echo roared in anger, ruins falling upon them.
With one last thrust, Aslan pushed Kael through the portal and jumped after him. When the portal closed behind them, only the destruction and the unending anger of the Lords of the Void remained.
Kael and Aslan found themselves floating among the stars in an unknown void once more. But this time, the Chitauri core was charting a clear course in Kael's mind. With the latest information from the stone tablet, they were on their way to the next echo point, the next haven where they could strengthen the seal against the Lords of the Void. The war was not over; only a new front had been opened. And Kael was only beginning to understand the role he, as Echo Carrier, would have to play in it.