Chapter 1 – The Walk of Shadows
The forest was silent, even the wind refused to move as two figures emerged from a glowing rift.
One was cloaked in black robes stitched with crimson runes — Malvek, his face hidden beneath a hood, eyes burning faint purple. Beside him walked a man who looked… wrongly familiar — the same build, same jawline as Strom, but with pitch-black eyes and aura like broken glass. His steps cracked the ground with each movement.
Dark Strom: "Master, you said this one's a worthy opponent… Don't lie to me like before. I'm tired of killing weaklings who think they're warriors."
Malvek chuckled, voice smooth but cold:
Malvek: "Ohh, my boy… you're so strong now that everyone feels weak. That's not my lie… that's your power."
Dark Strom smirked, resting his corrupted spear on his shoulder, the dark energy around it hissing like a venomous snake.
Dark Strom: "It's because of you, master… You gave me the Dark Dragon Aura, gave me the true power. You're the reason I keep winning."
Malvek slowed, leaning on his black crystal staff. The ground warped slightly under its tip.
Malvek: "Heh… my knees may fail me, son… but you? You're my edge against this world. Just—" he looked ahead, toward Strom's village "—don't take too long. Killing him fast saves my energy."
Dark Strom's smirk grew into a grin:
Dark Strom: "Fast? Oh no… I want to enjoy this one."
The two continued toward the village, their combined aura twisting the very air, warping reality as if the world itself feared their arrival.
Chapter 2 – Birthday Chaos
Astrid's house was lively, decorated with a few handmade streamers and a cake big enough to feed an entire barracks. The smell of roasted meat filled the air as laughter echoed around the room.
Strom leaned back in his chair, raising a glass:
Strom: "So, Astrid… how many years now as a full Guardian? Or should I say knight?"
Sam smirked, leaning on the table with an apple in his hand:
Sam: "Yeah, and while we're at it, how many more years before you officially become my girlfriend instead of this almost girlfriend nonsense? I'm tired of convincing you."
Astrid blinked, then slowly turned toward Sam with a glare sharp enough to split stone:
Astrid: "You little mage… can't you just be happy for me on my birthday? That's why you don't have a girlfriend — you think being goofy is enough."
Strom snorted, nearly choking on his drink:
Strom: "Yeah, Sam, you need a teacher for that. Might as well dive into the ocean, find that mud monster from last time… he could probably teach you better."
Wraith, calmly sipping tea, shook her head:
Wraith: "Stop, all of you… our little mage is going to feel shame."
Sam stood up, pointing at Wraith dramatically:
Sam: "Hey, you can't roast me about height, alright? I'm 5'9" — same as you! That's basically a tie!"
Astrid crossed her arms, smirking:
Astrid: "Yeah, but as a girl being 5'9" is insane. You? You better be at least 6 foot, or I'll leave you."
The room burst into laughter as Sam facepalmed:
Sam: "This is my life… bullied on birthdays of everyone ."
Astrid, still smiling:
Astrid: "Exactly. My day, my rules, little mage."
The gang continued eating and laughing late into the evening, completely unaware of the dark presence slowly creeping toward the village from beyond the plains…
Chapter 3 – Morning Challenge
The next morning, Strom stepped out of Astrid's house, stretching his arms. A faint breeze carried a strange metallic smell, and right in the middle of the street, a glowing purple rune pulsed on the ground. Above it floated a magical scroll.
He picked it up and read aloud:
Strom: "Hey you knight, want a fight with some equal-level combat, then come?"
He blinked, looked around, then sighed:
Strom: "Oh… great. A new enemy. Okay, time to break some bones… but when I'm ready. For now, everyone, go rest."
Astrid nearly dropped her cup of morning tea:
Astrid: "Someone challenges you to a duel and you're thinking about rest?!"
Strom shrugged casually:
Strom: "Yeah, girl. I don't want to ruin my morning. Let him fight the sun while waiting for me."
Wraith leaned against the doorframe, smirking:
Wraith: "Disrespecting villains… still your favorite hobby."
Sam raised a finger dramatically:
Sam: "Not just villains!"
Astrid glared at him instantly:
Astrid: "You again opened your mouth, little mage, when the elders are talking."
Sam froze mid-gesture:
Sam: "Hey, I'm 22, okay? If you look at it right, I'm basically the third eldest here. First Aunt Dravyss, then my almost-mother-in-law Flowra, and then me."
Astrid tilted her head slowly, eyes narrowing:
Astrid: "I'm talking about height, not age, you little guy with your old stick."
The room burst into laughter, leaving Sam sulking as he muttered:
Sam: "…this house is toxic…"
Meanwhile, Strom twirled the scroll, still unfazed:
Strom: "Alright, whoever wrote this, I'll deal with them. But only after breakfast."
Outside, far beyond the village, Dark Strom smirked at Malvek:
Dark Strom: "He's arrogant. I like that. Can I crush him now?"
Malvek: "Patience, my boy. Arrogance makes bones easier to break."
Chapter 4 – Reflection in Darkness
The group reached the abandoned quarry where the rune glow still lingered, signaling the duel spot.
Dark Strom was already standing there, arms folded, scarf covering his face.
Dark Strom: "Took you long enough… what were you doing? Playing cards with the girls?"
Strom smirked, tilting his head:
Strom: "First, don't be jealous of me if you don't have one. Second… why hide your face? Did a cat beat you up?"
The whole gang laughed hard. Even Wraith nearly doubled over.
Sam: "That's brutal, bro!"
Dark Strom growled and ripped off his scarf dramatically.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Wraith: "…That… can't be real."
Astrid: "Strom, you have a twin brother?!"
Sam: "Even villains look like you now?! Oh, God, what the hell is this…"
Strom stepped forward, eyes narrowing but still with a cocky grin:
Strom: "Hey man, you look exactly like me… That's going to make it so hard to destroy my charming face. But okay…"
He gripped his spear, stepping closer—
Suddenly, a black rune flared at Strom's feet.
His pendant pulsed once and then… nothing. The Dragon Aura link severed. Pain hit his chest like a heavy hammer, forcing him to one knee.
Strom: "Wha— Mom?!… what happened?!"
From behind, Malvek appeared, his eyes glowing purple:
Malvek: "Looking for your mommy dragon? She's a little… busy right now."
Dark Strom laughed mockingly, hands behind his head:
Dark Strom: "Aww… no mommy for you? Poor little knight."
Malvek: "Your precious dragon is locked away, knight. No calling for help this time."
Strom clenched his teeth, standing slowly, rage burning in his eyes:
Strom: "You'll pay for that… both of you."
Dark Strom: "Talk less… fight more. Let's see which one of us deserves this world."
The duel was about to begin.
Chapter 5 – Mirror Against Mirror
The air between the two Stoms tightened like a drawn bowstring.
Even the wind went silent.
Dark Strom smirked, holding his dark dragon-forged spear—an almost twisted reflection of Strom's weapon.
Dark Strom: "This will be quick."
Strom rotated his own spear with one hand, aura flaring faintly:
Strom: "You talk too much… let's fix that mouth."
They clashed.
Spear against spear, each strike sending shockwaves across the quarry. Sparks rained as mirrored movements collided—every move Strom made, Dark Strom anticipated and countered like looking at his own reflection but corrupted.
Astrid whispered to Wraith:
Astrid: "I… I can barely see their strikes."
Wraith: "No… he's… he's exactly like Strom. Every step, every feint. This is insane."
Dark Strom kicked off the ground, spinning midair, smashing Strom with a reverse kick to the ribs. Strom stumbled but instantly recovered, sweeping low.
Dark Strom leaped over it, laughing:
Dark Strom: "You're slower than me."
Strom: "No… you're just predictable."
He faked left, thrust right—only for Dark Strom to parry perfectly, countering with a slash that grazed Strom's cheek.
Sam clenched his fists:
Sam: "This… this feels wrong. It's like fighting a demon wearing his soul."
Malvek stood a few steps away, calmly observing, staff in hand, smiling faintly.
Malvek (thinking): Good… break him. Show him what real despair looks like.
Strom powered up, dragon aura bursting, his spear glowing blue.
Dark Strom's aura flared black and purple in response, clashing violently.
They locked weapons—face to face, eye to eye.
Dark Strom: "Give up. You can't beat yourself."
Strom: "I'm not fighting myself you fool…"
He headbutted Dark Strom, breaking the lock and sending him back a step.
Strom: "…I'm fighting your master's mistake."
Dark Strom wiped blood from his mouth, smiling madly:
Dark Strom: "Good… GOOD! Show me your rage."
Malvek finally chuckled:
Malvek: "Yes… let the darkness through, my knight…"
The ground trembled as both warriors charged again, faster and deadlier, neither giving an inch.
Chapter 7 – When Auras Collide
Malvek raised his staff, symbols glowing.
Malvek: "With this seal, you will kneel, dragon knight."
A flash of blue light—Strom's dragon-forged blade flew past, grazing Malvek's arm and throwing him off balance.
Strom (cold): "No more tricks, wizard freak."
Dark Strom's corrupted eyes burned crimson.
Dark Strom: "You dare touch my master!"
He charged, spear swinging like lightning. Strom blocked with his blue spear, sparks igniting as both auras clashed—black corruption versus blue dragon force.
Wraith: "That power… it's almost like Strom's, but twisted."
Astrid: "Almost? It is Strom's!"
Strom ripped Dark Strom's spear away and snapped it, shards scattering.
Strom: "No weapon? Then come at me yourself."
Dark Strom grinned, throwing his helmet aside.
Dark Strom: "Hand to hand. No excuses when you lose."
They clashed like two storms:
Strom slammed a fist into Dark Strom's ribs, making him stagger.
Dark Strom retaliated with a sharp elbow strike, clipping Strom's jaw.
Strom ducked a spinning kick and countered with a palm strike, sending a shockwave of blue aura rippling.
Malvek, bleeding from Strom's earlier strike, began casting again.
Sam: "He's still up—!"
Astrid: "Not for long!"
Before Malvek finished, Strom grabbed Dark Strom by the collar mid-combat, spun, and hurled him directly into Malvek, sending both tumbling across the field.
Strom (serious tone): "Enough running, enough tricks. This ends here."
Chapter 8 – Rage Unleashed
Strom charged like a storm, shoulder-tackling Dark Strom out of the way and snatching Malvek by the collar, lifting him off the ground with one arm.
Strom (angry): "You even look like him( Darkius )… and I already hate him enough."
Malvek, struggling but still grinning, hissed:
Malvek: "You think rage will help you? You've seen nothing yet."
A crash behind—Dark Strom, using a shattered spear piece, lunged at Sam, Astrid, and Wraith. Astrid blocked, sliding back on her heels, Sam barely holding his staff upright, Wraith taking a sharp hit to her side.
Astrid: "He's still fighting?!"
Sam: "This guy's built different!"
Strom looked back—seeing Wraith slammed into the wall, Astrid staggered, and Sam bleeding from his cheek.
Strom (growl): "Enough."
He threw Malvek aside like scrap and blurred forward, catching Dark Strom by the neck mid-swing. The ground cracked as Strom slammed him down, then again, shaking the battlefield.
Strom (cold rage): "You don't listen… do you?!"
Dark Strom struggled, but Strom dragged him up and slammed him back down, leaving a crater. His corrupted aura flickered under Strom's sheer pressure.
Before Strom could end it, Malvek whispered an incantation. Runes spiraled up as he yanked Wraith into a dark portal.
Wraith (shouting): "Strom!"
Strom (turning): "No—!"
A final flash, and Malvek was gone—Wraith's scream fading into silence.
The battlefield went quiet. Astrid and Sam pulled themselves upright, bruised and limping. Dark Strom lay twitching, aura broken from Strom's strikes.
Sam (panting): "Uh… did we… win?"
Strom (clenched fists, blue aura rising): "No. This… just started."
Chapter 9 – The Pain That Teaches
Dark Strom lay on the ground, his corrupted aura flickering like a dying flame. He grinned despite the blood on his lips:
Dark Strom: "Do your worst… I don't feel pain. My heart doesn't beat for anyone like you, fool."
Strom crouched slowly, palm pressing against Dark Strom's chest, right over his aura core.
Strom (calm, cold): "Then I'll teach you a new type of pain you've never imagined."
Blue dragon aura poured from Strom's hand—not as heat, but as crushing weight, sinking into Dark Strom's very essence. The corrupted aura began to splinter like shattered glass, and for the first time, Dark Strom's face twisted in agony.
Dark Strom (gritting teeth): "Wh-what is this…?"
Strom: "This… is what it feels like to lose everything you think makes you strong."
Dark Strom's body arched violently as his corrupted power recoiled, black energy leaking from his mouth like smoke. His once cocky tone cracked into a scream:
Dark Strom: "STOP—! STOP, I'LL TALK!"
Strom leaned closer, voice cutting like ice:
Strom: "Beg."
Dark Strom's voice faltered, pride shattered:
Dark Strom: "P-please… just stop… Malvek… he took her… to the Fractured Realm…"
Strom held the aura lock a moment longer, letting the fear etch deep, then released. Dark Strom collapsed, shaking, gasping like he'd touched death and barely survived.
Strom (standing, voice cold as steel):
"Next time you lie to me… you won't breath again."
Even Astrid and Sam froze behind him, silent. For a moment, the unstoppable warrior they knew looked terrifying even to them. Sam muttered:
Sam (quiet): "Bro… that was… different."
Strom's eyes burned, no hesitation left:
Strom: "We're going after her. And Malvek's world won't save him again."
Chapter 10 – No Mercy, No Rest
Dark Strom coughed, barely able to lift his head. His corrupted black core crystal—the very anchor of his dark aura—pulsed weakly at his side.
Strom (cold voice): "But that's not enough."
He stepped forward and crushed the crystal under his boot. The black energy shattered like glass, vanishing into dust.
Dark Strom screamed, body convulsing as his power drained away completely.
Strom (stoic, looking down): "Don't you dare move until I come back."
Dark Strom collapsed, eyes wide, trembling… for the first time in his life looking afraid.
Astrid and Sam stood frozen. Astrid whispered:
Astrid: "Strom… you almost killed him…"
Sam added quietly:
Sam: "He can't even heal now… that's… brutal"
Strom ignored them, picking up the broken dark spear from the ground. He held it out to Sam.
Strom: "Take this. Use your spells, trace its energy. Find the way to Malvek's realm."
Sam nodded but glanced at Strom nervously.
Sam: "Yeah… sure, but… bro… are you okay?"
Strom didn't answer, eyes burning with focus.
Astrid (softly, worried): "Strom… stay cool, we'll find her, I promise."
Strom finally looked at her, voice sharp and heavy:
Strom: "You don't need to promise anything, Astrid. I will bring her back… and that wizard will pay more."
He turned away, gripping his spear tight as blue dragon aura rippled around him, darker and heavier than ever before.
Even Astrid—used to his confidence—shivered slightly. Sam muttered under his breath:
Sam: "This isn't just about saving Wraith anymore… Strom's on Knight mode."