Chapter 38: The Authority WithinScene 1: When Kael Met Kael
The battle didn't begin with weapons.
It began with silence.
Two versions of Kael stood face-to-face in the unraveling mirror dimension. One—the Kael we knew—worn by trials, tempered by empathy. The other—draped in darkness, radiant with raw power—was the True Kael, unburdened by morality or restraint.
The others backed away as the air between the two Kaels twisted like coiled lightning.
Zeraphin whispered, "That version… he doesn't just have Kael's strength. He has all his potential, fully awakened."
Nyssel hovered above them, casually peeling reality like fruit. "Oh yes. You're about to witness what happens when someone touches the edge of the highest Authority Rank."
Scene 2: Understanding Authority Ranks
Elenai turned to Nyssel. "Explain. What's an Authority Rank?"
Nyssel laughed. "You've felt their pressure before, haven't you? The Thrones of Time, Space, Death, Fire? They don't just wield power—they embody universal functions."
He extended four fingers.
"Most beings stay at Mortal Rank. Some ascend to Ascendant Rank—manipulating elements, bending time lightly."
One finger folded down.
"Above that is Transcendent Rank—where you start rewriting existence. That's where Kael's been hovering."
A second finger curled in.
"Next is Apex Rank—rarer than gods, capable of creating planes and collapsing timelines. That's where the Thrones sit."
A third finger lowered.
"But above all… is True Authority Rank. It's not about power. It's about function. You become the law you govern."
The last finger folded. "Kael was designed to reach that. But he ran from it. Now? He's fighting the version of himself who didn't."
Scene 3: Clash of Potential
The True Kael moved first—without sound, without warning.
A blade of memory—shaped like the first time Kael had killed—formed in his hand and slashed toward the current Kael. Kael blocked with a barrier made of hope—but it shattered on contact.
Elenai gasped. "He's using emotions as weapons."
Mira's eyes widened. "That's not magic. That's identity manipulation."
The clash grew metaphysical. Kael struck with conviction, and the True Kael dodged with regret. Each moment, reality blinked—stars formed and died with every swing.
Nyssel swooned like an audience member at an opera.
"Ohhh this is rich. Kael is trying to defeat his truth. But that truth... is stronger than anything else in existence."
Scene 4: The Intervention
Kael was losing.
The True Kael didn't speak, didn't taunt. He fought with the cold determination of someone who believed. Kael tried fire, illusions, gravity compression, even weaponizing paradoxes.
Nothing worked.
Elenai shouted, "You can't beat him like this!"
Kael, bloodied and bruised, fell to one knee. "Then what should I do? He's everything I refused to become!"
Zeraphin said softly, "Then accept him."
Kael looked up.
Mira added, "You keep thinking you can fight your past. What if… you embraced it instead?"
The True Kael paused—as if waiting.
Scene 5: Authority Rank Initiation
Kael rose slowly.
His wounds stopped bleeding.
He looked into the eyes of his darker self—and opened his arms.
"You are not my enemy. You are my foundation. You are the pain I carried. The strength I buried. The truth I feared."
"And I need you."
The True Kael smirked. "Finally."
He stepped forward—and merged into Kael's body.
Reality exploded.
A thousand lights burst across the mirror dimension. Stars folded into Kael's chest. His aura changed—no longer warm, no longer cold. Just… complete.
His voice echoed with harmony and finality.
"I accept my full Authority."
Above him, a new symbol formed—neither godly nor mortal. It was a sigil of balance between light and void, stitched with paradox.
Nyssel gasped. "He's entered the Proto-Authority Rank… one step below True Authority. And he did it through self-integration."
Scene 6: The New Threat
The mirror world vanished.
The team stood once more at the edge of the Shattered Crescent—a floating island at the border of the next Realm.
Kael was different. He didn't glow. He didn't radiate power.
But even the air bent slightly around him.
Zeraphin spoke reverently. "You're not just a player anymore. You're… part of the board."
Elenai smiled. "Then we move forward?"
Nyssel floated toward them. But this time… he bowed.
"You passed the test. Which means... I now serve you, Kael of the Proto-Authority."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You? Serve me?"
Nyssel grinned. "Of course. You'll need a jester when you challenge the Eternal Parliament."
Everyone froze.
"The what?"
Nyssel whispered, "The final game. The masters behind the Thrones. The ones who invented the concept of Authority."
To Be Continued in Chapter 39: The Eternal Parliament