Kalen’s footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridors as he made his way back to his chambers. The weight of the power he had absorbed pressed down on him, not just physically, but mentally. Every step seemed heavier, as if the shadows of the Black Sect were clinging to him, whispering of the darkness that now coursed through his veins.

When he reached his room, he closed the door behind him and stood still, eyes fixed on the simple altar at the center. His body thrummed with the energy he had stolen from the disciple—energy that didn’t feel like his own. It felt foreign, as if the remnants of the man’s essence still lingered, resisting assimilation.

Kalen had absorbed Qi before. He had felt the raw surge of power that came with each victory. But this… this was different. The Abyssal Devouring Arts weren’t just about cultivation. They consumed the very soul, leaving behind a hollowness that could not be filled.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes and focusing inward. He had to regain control of his Qi, to settle the storm that raged within him. The icefire in his core flickered weakly, nearly overwhelmed by the dark energy he had taken in. It flared and struggled, trying to cleanse the taint of the Abyssal power, but the sheer volume of it was suffocating.

“This can’t be the path,” Kalen whispered to himself, breathing deeply as he centered his focus. He had to find balance. He had to remind himself that he wasn’t just a tool for the sect’s darkness.

In the stillness of his mind, he reached for his icefire Qi, pulling it forward with every ounce of will he could muster. The chill of the ice and the burn of the flame spread through his meridians, pushing back against the shadow that sought to consume him. Slowly, the two energies began to merge, forming a tenuous balance within his core.

The Abyssal energy recoiled slightly, retreating into the corners of his soul as the icefire stabilized. Kalen opened his eyes, breathing heavily but feeling more in control than before. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough for now.

---

The following day, Kalen moved cautiously through the sect. His mind was still heavy with the events of the previous night, and the upcoming Abyssal Ritual loomed large in his thoughts. The other disciples, ignorant of the darkness that flowed beneath the sect’s surface, trained diligently, unaware of the horrors they were slowly being drawn into.

Kalen observed them with a mix of pity and frustration. They were like sheep, blindly following the path the sect had laid before them, believing that power was the only thing that mattered. If they knew the truth—that their sect was built on devouring the lives of others—they might have reacted differently. Or perhaps not. The allure of power was a dangerous thing, capable of blinding even the most honorable.

He made his way to the training grounds, where several disciples were sparring. He watched them silently, his mind already calculating his next steps. He had three days until the Abyssal Ritual. Three days to finalize his plan, to ensure that when the time came, the sect would crumble.

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But there was one thing he still needed: knowledge. He had learned much about the sect’s techniques, but there were still mysteries he hadn’t uncovered. The sect’s inner library held the answers he sought, but gaining access to it would be dangerous. Only the highest-ranking disciples and elders were permitted to enter, and Kalen knew that drawing too much attention to himself could ruin everything.

As he stood there, deep in thought, a voice pulled him from his reverie.

“Kalen.”

He turned to see Aria approaching, her face as composed as ever, though there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She had become one of the few people in the sect he could tolerate, though even she was shrouded in the sect’s darkness.

“Aria,” he replied, nodding slightly.

“I saw what happened last night. The elders are impressed with you,” she said, her voice low, careful not to draw the attention of others. “But I can see something is weighing on you.”

Kalen remained silent for a moment, considering her words. He had always been careful around Aria. She was sharp, perceptive, and likely had her own motives. But there was something different about her. Unlike the other disciples, she didn’t seem fully devoted to the sect’s teachings. She was a mystery, much like the power she wielded.

“It’s nothing,” he finally replied. “Just the weight of what’s coming.”

Aria raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she gestured for him to follow her, and Kalen, sensing something unusual, complied.

She led him to a quiet corner of the grounds, far from prying eyes and ears. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.

“I know you don’t trust the sect. I’ve seen it in your eyes ever since you arrived,” Aria said, her gaze sharp. “You’re not the only one who feels that way.”

Kalen’s eyes narrowed. Was she testing him? Or was she truly revealing something?

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked, his tone guarded.

“Because I’ve seen what the sect is truly capable of,” Aria replied, her expression hardening. “And I refuse to be part of it any longer.”

Kalen’s pulse quickened. This was unexpected. He had always assumed that Aria was like the rest of the sect—ambitious, power-hungry, willing to do whatever it took to rise through the ranks. But now, she was showing him a side he hadn’t anticipated.

“And what do you plan to do about it?” Kalen asked cautiously.

Aria looked away for a moment, as if weighing her next words carefully. “I don’t know yet. But I’ve been watching you, Kalen. You’re different. You’ve already absorbed their power, but you’re not one of them. Not truly.”

Kalen clenched his fists at his sides, the conflict within him flaring once again. He didn’t know whether to trust her, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words.

“I’m not,” he admitted, his voice low. “And I’m going to destroy the Black Sect.”

Aria’s eyes widened slightly, but there was no surprise in her expression—only understanding.

“Then we might be able to help each other,” she said quietly. “There are others like us. We don’t have much time, but if we can strike during the Abyssal Ritual, we could bring them down.”

Kalen’s heart raced. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for—a chance to strike from within. But could he trust Aria? Could he risk exposing his plan to someone who might betray him at the last moment?

He didn’t have a choice. If he wanted to destroy the Black Sect, he needed allies. And Aria, for all her mystery, was offering him a way forward.

Kalen nodded slowly. “Then let’s make sure the Abyss falls.”