The air turned into hell.
The sound of iron screamed with every step of the guards.
The market floor trembled as if it would split open and swallow us whole.
I ran after the short man, my breath ragged, the black sword in my hand growing heavier and heavier, as if feeding on my fear.
I glanced back—
Three of the guards were closing in, their bodies glowing with a cold blue light, their eyes like icy lanterns searching for any human breath.
I shouted:
"Who are they?!"
The short man answered without looking back:
"Soldiers of the Black Ruler… any stranger who enters the market without permission meets death."
My heart quaked.
"Then why are you helping me?!"
He smiled as he ran:
"Because you're different. The darkness loves you… and I hate to see darkness wasted."
Before I could reply, an explosion thundered behind us.
One of the guards leapt over an entire stall and landed in front of us.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
I gripped the sword, feeling heat in my chest…
The Eye of Darkness flared!
> [ Enemy detected ]
[ Level: Shadow Guard – First Stage ]
The guard smiled, his metallic voice stabbing my ears:
"Target… alive or dead."
He raised a massive sword of pure shadow and swung it at me.
I lunged instinctively, but his speed was terrifying.
The blade nearly cleaved me in two, but the short man yanked me aside at the last second.
He whispered:
"We won't survive just by running… it's time for you to prove yourself."
I stared at him in shock:
"Me?! I've never fought anything like this!"
He laughed darkly:
"Then learn now… or die now."
I felt my blood boil in my veins.
I remembered my mother… the faces of those I'd lost… the blood that drowned my life.
I raised the black sword with everything I had.
I felt the darkness coil around my arm, as if it wanted to fight with me.
I screamed from the depths of my soul and charged.
The blades collided.
A black spark burst into the air, the shadows screaming like souls being slaughtered.
The guard smiled, as if the real battle had just begun.
And I…
I understood one thing:
This was my fate.
I would run no longer.