Middle-Earth: Kaen, Lord of Light

Boom!

Gandalf unleashed his divine power. A radiant white light flooded the entire chamber, blinding in its intensity. Kaen and Brie were forced to retreat into a corner as the Brilliance surged outward.

The three black-robed cultists shrieked in agony as the light struck them. Their cries were sharp and wretched, like dry kindling set aflame. White fire burst across their bodies, and in mere moments, they were on the verge of disintegrating into ash.

But just then, from the pillar where he was bound, came a beastly roar from Brill.

"Raaagh!"

Dark, churning smoke erupted from his body, clashing fiercely with Gandalf's divine light. The entire chamber was split into two opposing halves—one of blinding white, the other of suffocating black.

Brill was lifted by the dark power, slowly rising into the air. His hair fell out in clumps as two curved, black horns sprouted from his head. His garments tore apart, revealing a body covered in scales of deep obsidian. No longer human, a monstrous being now hovered above them.

He looked down with hatred upon Gandalf, Kaen, and Brie. His voice, now distorted and bestial, thundered:

"Servant of the gods... and two wretched humans."

"You shall all perish! I will offer your lives as a sacrifice to the great Melkor!"

The three black-robed cultists, ignoring their injuries, scrambled to their feet and began chanting incantations behind Brill.

The runes carved into the altar lit up with a bloody glow. Thick black miasma poured from the floor and surged into Brill's body, fueling his transformation.

The dark power grew stronger and stronger, pushing back against Gandalf's light.

"Ugh!"

Gandalf groaned, his face tightening with strain.

As a Maia in mortal form, his powers were restrained—his resistance against the overwhelming dark force showed signs of faltering. But he did not yield. Slamming his staff onto the stone floor, he poured out all his strength in one mighty push, forcing the darkness to retreat once more.

He shouted:

"As a lord, as a man, as one of the Free Peoples—you willingly surrendered yourself to darkness? You dare disgrace the blood of the Secondborn of Eru!"

"There will be no forgiveness. No redemption. Today is your end!"

"You know nothing!" Brill roared back with scorn. "This is power. A power you cannot even begin to imagine!"

Their forces clashed. A whirlwind swept through the chamber, sending robes and hair billowing as the clash of light and darkness raged on.

In the corner, Brie—still in the body of an ordinary human—could not withstand the overwhelming pressure and collapsed, unconscious.

Kaen, seeing the stalemate between Gandalf and Brill, gritted his teeth and stepped forward with his longsword in hand.

"Insignificant worm!" Brill sneered and waved his hand. A blast of darkness shot toward Kaen.

But Gandalf was faster—he hurled a beam of divine power that collided with the dark force, neutralizing it midair.

Both sides were evenly matched. Neither could overpower the other.

But Kaen—he was the weight that would tip the scales.

With Gandalf shielding him, Kaen pressed forward. For every step he took, the light advanced with him, and the darkness was forced to retreat.

He climbed the steps of the altar. As he passed, the glowing crimson runes dimmed and shattered into fragments beneath his feet.

"You pitiful insect! Do you even know what you're facing?!"

"Step back! Take one more step, and death shall be your fate!"

Kaen scoffed, his gaze cold as ice. "You look neither man nor beast—some twisted crossBreed. And you think you're qualified to 'grant me death'?"

"You insolent cur! You will die today!"

Enraged beyond reason, Brill surged with killing intent and prepared to strike Kaen down. But before he could act, a woman's voice rang out from the entrance to the chamber.

"Brill!"

"What are you doing?!"

The voice halted him in his tracks. His head turned slowly toward the source, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Joanna...!"

Elrond followed closely behind her. The Lord of Rivendell took in the chaotic scene and immediately raised his hand—his ring of power flashed with a dazzling emerald glow. A surge of energy joined Gandalf's, pressing down with crushing force upon the darkness.

Overwhelmed by the combined might of two legendary figures, Brill howled in rage, but could do nothing.

Kaen saw his moment.

He dropped into a sliding lunge, arriving behind Brill. His sword swung in a flash of light—

Shing!

The three black-robed cultists were instantly decapitated. Their heads rolled across the stone floor, revealing their true faces: shriveled, pale, and gaunt, their skin like parchment over bone. Their red eyes still glinted with venomous hatred even in death.

 Exp +15

Exp +15

Exp +15

Level: 2 (223/300)

Without hesitation, Kaen spun and flung his longsword.

Thud!

The blade pierced into Brill's lower back. His eyes widened with shock, his body going stiff. He twisted around in disbelief to look at Kaen.

His lips moved, but no sound emerged.

Kaen met his gaze and said coldly, "Your impotent rage means nothing to me. But my sword—it has no trouble piercing through your grotesque hide."

With a heavy thud, Brill's body dropped from the air. The dark power, now uncontrolled, dissipated into nothing, vanishing into the ground.

"Brill!"

Joanna cried out in despair and tried to rush forward, but Gandalf stopped her with an outstretched arm.

"I pity you, truly," he said softly. "But the one lying there is no longer your brother. You approach him now only at your own peril."

Joanna had been gone from home for many years. She never imagined her return would be met with such horror.

Her father was dead.

Her brothers had turned against each other.

And one had fallen into darkness.

Overwhelmed by grief, Joanna collapsed.

And as though something stirred within him at the sight of his sister falling—

The crimson in Brill's eyes slowly faded.

His voice came out faint and broken, "I'm sorry... I didn't want this. I couldn't stop it..."

 Exp +50

Level: 2 (273/300)

Brill breathed his last.

The room fell into silence. All three—Gandalf, Elrond, and Kaen—exhaled in relief.

Elrond gave Brill a solemn glance, then turned to Gandalf.

"How did this happen to him?"

"The price of touching darkness," Gandalf replied grimly.

Then he looked at Kaen, and a warm smile crossed his face.

"Lord Kaen, you've once again shown your courage. We owe today's victory to you."

"It's nothing," Kaen waved him off casually. "If anything like this happens again, feel free to call on me."

Who was he kidding?

Just Brill and those three cultists had already netted him 95 experience points!

Elrond stepped forward and bowed slightly to Kaen. "You must be Kaen Eowenríel. I am Elrond of Rivendell. I've met your companion Zakri. It's an honor to meet you in person—your bravery is truly admirable."

Kaen returned the bow. "And I thank you for coming in person, my lord. Your strength is equally awe-inspiring."

After exchanging a few polite words, Kaen walked over and pulled his sword free from Brill's body.

Elrond glanced at Joanna and at Brie, who still lay unconscious in the corner.

"We should go," he said. "This place is no longer safe—it must be destroyed."

And so, with Elrond and Kaen supporting the unconscious siblings, they departed the chamber. Gandalf remained behind, chanting an ancient incantation.

The stone walls began to tremble. The chamber collapsed in on itself—everything within swallowed by earth and rock, sealed away forever.

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