A Storm of Shadows
The air grew heavy. Kai's fingers curled into fists as the System's notification echoed in his mind.
[The First Sovereign Awakens]
The sky darkened unnaturally, as if the very world recognized the danger that was about to unfold. From the distant horizon, black storm clouds twisted and churned, but they weren't natural. They moved like living things—hungry, waiting.
Vale stepped back, gripping his sword tighter. "This isn't normal."
Selene's eyes flickered with caution. "It's worse than that. This feels… wrong."
Kai swallowed hard. His System interface still refused to respond beyond the ominous notification. No quests. No explanations. Nothing.
That only made his gut tighten further.
Lyra took a step forward, her expression grim. "If what that masked bastard said is true, we just unleashed something that was never meant to wake up."
Kai exhaled sharply. "We need to move."
But before they could react, a sound ripped through the air.
A deep, bone-chilling howl.
Not of an animal. Not even of a beast.
Something ancient. Something that had been waiting.
The First Sign of Power
The ground beneath them split with a violent tremor. Black energy surged from the cracks, and suddenly, the shadows began to take shape.
A figure emerged from the swirling darkness—a towering being clad in jagged, obsidian armor. Its face was obscured by a helm of cracked bone, glowing with deep crimson lines. A king of the forgotten era.
And then, the System finally responded.
[Warning: Sovereign Detected!]
[Name: Darius, the Shadow Tyrant]
[Title: The First of the Seven]
[Power Level: ???]
Kai's throat went dry. Power Level: ???
The System couldn't even quantify it.
Darius, the Shadow Tyrant, lifted his head. When he spoke, his voice was like echoes from the abyss.
"Who dares wake me from my slumber?"
His gaze landed on them—and the world itself seemed to freeze.
Selene's breathing hitched. "Kai—run."
A Battle They Can't Win
Before Kai could process it, Darius moved.
He didn't step. He didn't lunge.
He vanished.
And then—Vale screamed.
A dark blade of pure shadow had impaled him through the chest.
Selene reacted instantly, throwing her daggers, but the moment they touched Darius' armor, they disintegrated into nothingness.
Kai's blood turned ice-cold.
They weren't just outmatched.
They were completely, utterly helpless.
Darius tilted his head, as if disappointed. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he hurled Vale's body aside like a discarded rag.
Kai barely caught him before he hit the ground. Blood poured from the wound—Vale's breathing was shallow.
"Kai—" Vale choked, eyes flickering.
He was dying.
Kai's rage surged. His fists clenched as his System interface glitched, desperately trying to react to the overwhelming force.
But it was too late.
Darius lifted his blade again, preparing to strike them down.
And then—
A second presence appeared.
An Unexpected Savior
A brilliant silver light exploded between them and the Sovereign, forcing Darius to step back.
A woman now stood in front of Kai. She was draped in robes of flowing starlight, her silver hair glowing like the moon itself. In her hands, she held a radiant spear—one that pulsed with an energy unlike anything Kai had ever seen.
Darius narrowed his gaze.
"You… I remember you."
The woman didn't flinch. Instead, she turned her gaze to Kai.
"If you want to survive, listen to me."
Kai barely nodded.
The woman's next words sent a shiver down his spine.
"Run. Now."
The Hunt Begins
A Desperate Escape
Kai didn't hesitate.
He grabbed Vale's limp body and ran.
Selene and Lyra were right behind him, their faces pale with fear. The ground beneath them quaked as Darius, the Shadow Tyrant, took a step forward, his crimson eyes locked onto them.
"You cannot run from me."
His voice boomed through the ruins, shaking the air itself.
Kai gritted his teeth. Every instinct screamed that staying meant death. Even with the mysterious woman's interference, Darius was too strong.
"Keep moving!" Kai shouted. "We need to—"
A sudden shockwave blasted through the area. Kai barely managed to shield Vale's body as a dark force tore through the ruins, sending debris flying like knives.
Selene cursed, barely dodging a massive chunk of stone. "We won't make it at this rate!"
Kai's mind raced. If they stayed on foot, Darius would catch them in seconds.
They needed a way out.
A Gate to Salvation?
The mysterious woman turned back to them, silver light flaring around her. "There's a portal in the valley ahead! If you reach it, you can escape!"
Kai's heart pounded. "Where does it lead?"
Her gaze hardened. "Anywhere but here."
Not exactly reassuring.
But with Darius closing in, there was no time to argue.
"GO!" she commanded.
Kai pushed forward, his legs burning as he sprinted toward the valley. The sky above them twisted into a swirling storm, dark tendrils reaching down as if trying to devour them.
Darius raised his shadow-forged blade, and a massive surge of black energy exploded outward.
"You are mine."
The wave of power rushed toward them—fast, deadly, inescapable.
Selene screamed. Lyra raised her arms, but it was too late.
And then—
The woman slammed her spear into the ground.
A blinding barrier of light erupted around them, blocking the attack just in time.
The force of the impact sent Kai flying forward. He crashed into the ground, rolling painfully before coming to a stop near the edge of the valley.
Dizzy, bruised, but alive.
Ahead, just as the woman said—
A glowing portal shimmered in the air.
Through the Rift
Kai didn't look back.
He hoisted Vale's unconscious body over his shoulder and lunged forward.
Selene and Lyra were right behind him.
As they dove into the portal, the last thing Kai saw was the silver-haired woman standing against Darius—alone.
The last thing he heard was her voice, soft but firm.
"You will not take them."
And then—
Darkness swallowed them whole.