The night air in Cairo was thick with heat, even with the desert winds rolling through the ancient city. Kael adjusted the hood of his cloak, ensuring his face remained in the shadows. Beside him, Elara did the same, her eyes scanning the crowded streets as they moved towards their destination.
"So, remind me again why we're breaking into one of the most heavily guarded sites in Egypt?" Elara whispered, her voice just above the noise of the bustling market.
Kael smirked. "Because somewhere beneath that pyramid lies a secret that might explain why I'm here."
"Right, of course. And sneaking past armed guards is just a bonus adventure."
Kael glanced at her. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"A little," she admitted with a grin. "But I'd enjoy it more if I knew we had a solid escape plan."
They reached a quieter part of the city where the looming structure of the Great Pyramid stood against the star-filled sky. Tall fences, security cameras, and patrolling guards made it clear that this was no simple tourist attraction at night. Kael exhaled and crouched behind a cluster of old ruins, observing the guards' movements.
He couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret that the forces weren't listening to his calls anymore.
"Looks like a patrol every four minutes, cameras covering the entrances, and a couple of motion sensors near the base," Elara noted, her eyes sharp with calculation.
Kael nodded snapping out of his short depression. "We'll move after the next patrol rounds the far side. Keep low and quiet."
As soon as the opportunity presented itself, they slipped through the shadows, moving swiftly toward the pyramid's eastern side. Kael used a small device he had 'borrowed' from a collector in London during one of their many adventures to disable the motion sensors temporarily, giving them a narrow window to scale the limestone blocks. Elara followed close behind, her breathing steady and her steps confident and moving with calculated precision as they ascended toward a hidden crevice near the base of the structure. With a final glance over his shoulder, Kael pulled her inside just as a guard turned back in their direction.
They had done this countless times even when getting into his house in the United States while by passing the military there kept to watch his movements,so their cooperation was almost flawless .
Inside, the air was thick with dust, the scent of ancient stone filling their lungs. Kael lit a small handheld light, revealing a passage that led deeper underground.
"And now for the fun part," Elara muttered, brushing dirt from her hands.
They navigated the winding corridors, following faint inscriptions that Kael instinctively understood. The deeper they went, the stronger the sensation of déjà vu clawed at his mind. Eventually, they reached a massive chamber, its walls etched with cryptic symbols. In the center lay a stone sarcophagus, its lid slightly ajar, as if disturbed long ago.
Kael hesitated before stepping forward. His fingers traced the symbols along the lid, and an overwhelming force pulled at him from within.
"Kael… something feels off about this place," Elara said, her voice edged with unease.
"I know." He barely managed to get the words out before his vision blurred. A rush of memories not his own flooded his mind . He saw wings burning, chains wrapping around divine flesh, a fall from the heavens. The name echoed through his soul: Azazel.
Before he could react, tendrils of black energy lashed out from the sarcophagus, coiling around him. His breath hitched as a surge of power tore through his veins. The weight of another existence pressed into his mind, and then....
Silence.
Kael collapsed to his knees, his body trembling. Power coursed through him, different from before. It wasn't celestial; it was something darker.
"Kael!" Elara knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders. "What happened?"
He didn't reply and his fist were clenched tightly as he pressed his jaws hard as though he was fighting something within him.
After sometime he opened his eyes and exhaled, his golden eyes flickering with something new. "We need to go. Now!."
---
As they emerged from the pyramid. Kael wrapped his hand around Elana's waist and with a slight bang, he dashed into the sandy desert disappearing from sight. The farther he went the more he felt that heavy presence looming over his very being. And as he slowed to look back the air shifted and with great control he came to an abrupt stop making the poor Elana in his hand bite on her tongue violently. Before she could complain...
BANG!!!!!
A spear struck the ground inches from his feet, its impact sending a shockwave through the dunes.
Kael's body tensed. Elana immediately shut her mouth as she could see the silver spear that seemingly descended from the sky. Kael's eyes followed the weapon's trajectory to its owner, a figure standing atop a dune, bathed in the moon's glow.
The Disciple of Light.
"Kael," the warrior's voice was cold and heavy . "You have been deemed a threat."
Kael rolled his shoulders. "Funny. I was just starting to enjoy my freedom."
The Disciple's eyes glowed with an unfathomable brilliance. "You are an anomaly that must be erased. Surrender now, and your end will be swift."
Kael smirked. "Tempting, but I think I'll pass. You sure you want to do this?"
"There is no want. Only purpose."
Kael sighed. "You guys never listen."
Without warning, the Disciple vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly in front of Kael, his spear slashing down with blinding speed. Kael barely had time to dodge, the edge grazing his shoulder as he leaped back.
"Elara! Get back to the pyramid!" he shouted, flinging her away with a surge of unseen force.
Elara barely had time to protest before she was propelled backward, landing near the pyramid's entrance. The moment she hit the ground, she scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding. If Kael was giving her an out, she had to make use of it.
The battle erupted.
Kael dodged another strike, countering with a newfound power black chains lashed out from his arms, striking toward the Disciple. The warrior twisted midair, avoiding them with unnatural speed.
[Celestial corruption detected]
An interface appeared in front of the Disciple.
[Processing countermeasure....]
A burst of light erupted from his palm, slamming into Kael's chest and sending him skidding across the sand.
Kael coughed, his body adjusting to the raw power surging through him. Azazel's essence, his abilities, they were now his to wield. He rose to his feet, flexing his fingers as the black chains coiled around him like living shadows.
"Alright," Kael muttered. "Let's see what this body can do."
The fight escalated ,Kael's movements became sharper, his strikes heavier. He was still getting used to the power, but it was enough to keep up. Chains wrapped around the Disciple's spear, attempting to wrest it from his grasp, but the Demi-God countered with a burst of radiant energy, severing them.
Above them, the remaining Players observed in silence, analyzing. Watching. Waiting.
The desert trembled with each clash, the sands shifting as Kael and the Disciple of Light waged war beneath the indifferent gaze of the heavens.
And the battle was far from over.