At first he was slow, slicing through the air with measured and unhurried motion. The ground soon turned into a sloppy mess of mud. Despite the rough terrain, he adjusted quickly. His stances and strikes all flowed in a smooth motion.

Lighting struck in front of him. Then again, hurtling at the same spot with a powerful force. The bolts directed their strength in a single point. Soon, the loose energy bounced from the ground. Forming a large ball like a lighting anomaly. The power sparked and flowed outward, bouncing from the falling raindrops. Yellow lines etched a pair of legs and a disembodied torso. The head shaped with nothing more than a nose and two empty eye sockets. Its arms were barely formed with its hands thrumming in a plethora of electricity.

It attacked suddenly, sending a beam of power hurtling at Noctis. He slid easily under it. Then sliced up, the arm became disconnected for a brief second before it resembled itself. Words played in Kenan’s ears.

["...They aren’t human, or at least humanoid. Right? So I would think it’s unwise to think that your power flows the exact same. Right?”]

Noctis guided another bolt away with the flat of his blade. It was a mistake. The extra energy forced its way into the sword and into his arms, restricting his muscles. Before the lighting amalgamation had a chance to strike once more, Kenan jumped back. Throwing away the paralysis as he twirled his blade.

Vatr deepened to an unknown amount, all the noise was gone. The scene black as he was suddenly transported into Nonesthic. The lighting creature followed.

The two charged in for another pass. Kenan managed to cut through the thing’s torso and neck, both attacks doing nothing. The thing merely touched him, sending energy to restrict him. Somehow Noctis found the strength to roll away. Midway through the action, he found himself back in the world. Thunder echoing and rain beating. Words once again came to his mind.

["You are a part of Nonesthic. It affects everything about you. Your skin, the blood underneath. Your bones and muscles are influenced by it. Even your magic is touched."]

Noctis ran a circle around the monstrosity, ducking and evading high-powered beams. All the while slashing at nothing. Causing 4 red lines shimmering in the air. He came to a skidding stop. Then released the mental strain building up. Once he did so, he was once again transported to Nonesthic.

Afterburn slammed into the creature, causing it to screech. The fire swirled like a tornado. Then suddenly it was parted with a large beam out of the middle of it. Noctis had no time to dodge, so he simply brought up his sword. The blade intercepted the beam, but It didn't do much. Kenan's body convulsed and fried. Smoke rose from his skin as he involuntarily flexed every muscle in his body. He fell, landing in mud as he was back in the world.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

The creature stood over him, yelling like thunder. It pulsed out another beam into, furthering its damage. It yelled again as it watched Kenan slowly stop moving. A flash of light occurred as it disappeared.

Noctis' mind slowed, almost to a halt. Another set of words came.

["What if there is a part of you, or a truth about you, that you still reject. Therefore you can’t experience the full extent of your power?”]

He was cold. So cold. Freezing at every point in his body. Chilled to the point it was almost choking. Conscience was slipping. Feeling lost. He closed his eyes, then opened them. He was back in Nonesthic.

Right. a living plane that ate souls as it pleased. Did it choose, or just picked at random. Indiscriminate in its hunger. What made it want to eat the original iteration of his soul? What strength did he have to escape its grasp? No. That wasn't it. That was Nattura. Not himself.

Still inside the void realm. Kenan had enough sense to feel a rumble. As the black of the realm, its flesh, started to slowly crawl over him. Piercing him, devouring him.

No he was different. At that moment he was at peace. Wanting to join back with Nonesthic. Why did Nattura have fear? His mind tried to kick start itself once more into finding an answer before he finally died and perished. It ended with a burning curiosity as the void consumed him. Silence.

A thought came. Thoughts. Not from Kenan. No, it was him.

A sudden realization.

He wasn't part of Nonesthic. Never was. Because he was Nonesthic.

The realm rumbled as the black of the void swirled, churning and forming Kenan. He was standing, but barely. Swaying. But given enough power to live. He pulled his shoulders back and screamed. Suddenly he was in the training courtyard. The yell was backed by what sounded like a higher pitched screech and a low rumble. The veins around his eyes popped in a black color, so did some on his limbs and neck. His claws and fangs lengthened and sharpened, his senses widened. Above all, everything felt so cold, to the point of numbness it felt warm.

The Fates cried. Thunder echoed as once again the lighting amalgamation was summoned to finish its sloppy job. Kenan lifted his sword. At its point was a swirling ball of teal, green fire. It was released into a beam of flame, and met with high-powered lighting. The two struggled in a mana-fueled tug of war. One side got the upper edge just for the power on the other side to surge.

Kenan yelled. He pulled on the power of Nonesthic. His power. The fire surged and an understanding came. No, this wasn't simply a cold fire as Nattura had suggested. It was a flame that had the same hunger as the void. Soulfire.

It started to eat at the power of his foe. Turning and morphing its mana and throwing it back. Slowly Kenan overcame the lighting. A final push and the soulfire roared over the creature. It screeched. Yelling as its final whisper of energy petered out.

Kenan sheathed his sword. Then fell back in exhaustion.