The Awakening Of The Shadows
Chapter 58: First Death

Chapter 58: First Death

Lian barely had time to react.

The other Lian was on him before he could even raise his guard.

A punch struck his stomach with crushing force. The impact was so intense that he felt his bones tremble, the air ripped from his lungs. His body was thrown back, sliding across the dark ground of the void around him.

He tried to get up, but his reflexes were too slow.

Before he could regain his breath, a brutal kick hit his face, sending him crashing down again. His vision flickered, pain radiating through his entire body.

Lian spat blood, his mind struggling to process the insane speed of his opponent.

His other self laughed.

"Is that all?"

Lian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to rise. His shadows flickered around him, responding to his determination. He raised his fists, preparing to attack.

But the other Lian was already moving.

This time, he came wielding Oblivion. The black blade shone with a dense aura, exuding pure and uncontrollable power. Lian tried to dodge, but it was too late.

The blade cut through the air.

Pain.

Lian looked down and saw the blood gushing from his chest. Oblivion had pierced his body with ease.

Shock overwhelmed his mind.

His body trembled, his heart faltered. His vision darkened.

He tried to breathe, but all he tasted was iron in his mouth.

The cruel laughter of his other self echoed in the distance.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?"

Lian tried to respond. But his voice failed him.

His body lost all strength.

And then... everything disappeared.

The void swallowed him whole.

Lian awoke with a strangled gasp.

The air around him felt heavy, each breath uneven and filled with panic. His heart pounded against his chest as if it would explode, and his entire body trembled.

He touched his chest with trembling hands. The place where Oblivion had pierced him before... was intact. No wounds, no blood. But the phantom pain still lingered, burning in his mind like smoldering embers.

He abruptly rose from the throne, his eyes wide and disoriented. He looked around.

The grand, dark chamber was still there. The cold stone floor, the ancient pillars, the torches that emitted no heat. Kael stood in the exact same place as before, watching him.

Nothing had changed.

But Lian felt as if he had gone through something far beyond what any physical training could offer.

"I..." Lian tried to speak, but his voice failed. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I died."

Kael nodded slowly.

"Yes."

Lian took a deep breath, trying to process it. He had died. He had felt the pain, felt his body fail, felt the void consume him. But he was back.

It was real.

"How did that happen?" he asked, still trying to catch his breath. "I was there. I felt everything. But now..."

He looked down at his hands, which still trembled slightly.

"I came back?"

Kael crossed his arms.

"That, Lian, was your first lesson."

Silence hung in the air.

Lian narrowed his eyes.

"My... lesson?"

"You are weak," Kael declared bluntly.

The words cut like an invisible blade.

Lian gritted his teeth.

"I already knew that," he replied, his voice filled with frustration.

Kael let out a low chuckle.

"No, you didn’t know." He pointed at Lian. "You thought you knew. But now you felt it."

Lian opened his mouth to argue, but the memory of the blade piercing his chest resurfaced. He clenched his fists.

Kael took a few steps forward, the darkness around him seeming to move with him.

"You have experienced death. And you will experience it as many times as necessary."

Lian blinked, his heart still pounding.

"What?"

Kael stopped in front of him.

"This training is not about winning. Not yet." He stared at him. "It’s about breaking you."

A chill ran down Lian’s spine.

"I told you before. There are fates worse than death."

Kael raised a hand, shadows dancing around his fingers.

"From now on, every time you die..." He raised one finger. "... you will return."

Lian swallowed hard.

"You will return," Kael repeated. "You will feel every pain. Every defeat. Every failure."

Lian looked at his hands again. The idea of dying over and over... it was something he couldn’t even begin to process.

"What is this supposed to prove?" he asked, his voice firmer now.

Kael stared at him for a moment before answering.

"That you can endure."

The silence between them grew heavier.

Lian gritted his teeth.

"This isn’t training. This is torture."

Kael smirked slightly.

"Yes. But if you want to survive what’s coming... this is the least you will have to endure."

Lian took a deep breath.

He had no choice.

He couldn’t fail.

"Then let’s do it," he said, his eyes determined. "Let’s begin."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Good. But first..."

He lifted his hand.

Lian felt the world spin again.

The ground opened beneath his feet, and he fell.

Again.

Lian crashed onto the dark ground.

He struggled to stand and looked around.

He was back in the void.

And his other self was there, waiting.

This time, there was no taunting. No mocking words.

The dark version of Lian simply raised Oblivion and charged.

Lian tried to react, tried to summon his shadows to defend himself, but the strike came too fast.

The blade sliced through his shoulder, pain exploding like fire.

Lian screamed, falling to his knees.

The other Lian kicked his face, sending him crashing to the ground.

Blood filled his mouth.

He tried to rise, but another blade pierced his abdomen.

His eyes widened.

The other Lian pulled the sword out.

Lian felt his body fail once again.

And then...

The void.

He returned.

He woke up again on the throne, gasping for air.

Kael was there. Waiting.

"Again."

Lian didn’t have time to respond.

He fell once more.

And died.

And returned.

"Again."

And died.

And returned.

His mind was fracturing. He began to lose track of time.

How many times had this happened?

Ten?

Fifty?

A hundred?

Each time he returned, his body was intact, but his mind was more shattered.

But there was something new as well.

He was starting to react better.

His eyes began to catch the other Lian’s movements more clearly.

His reflexes were becoming faster.

But it still wasn’t enough.

He still died.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Lian woke up once more, drenched in cold sweat, his body trembling.

He looked at Kael with vacant eyes.

"This... This can’t go on..." His voice was hoarse, nearly devoid of emotion.

Kael studied him and smiled.

"Now you’re ready for the real training."

Lian felt his stomach turn.

If this wasn’t the real training...

Then what was coming next?

He didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to become strong enough to face what lay ahead...

He would have to endure.

No matter how many times he died.

He wouldn’t give up.