CHAPTER 1
Night had fallen. The narrow streets of the town were swallowed by silence, the cobblestone paths trembling under the pale moonlight. The occasional light seeping from the windows of small houses fractured the darkness slightly but a scream broke the quiet.
A young hunter, Ren, was running breathlessly. His hands gripped his sword tightly, his heart pounding between fear and anger. On his last mission, he had gone hunting a night creature with his brother but the creature had been so powerful that his brother had disappeared.
Following the bloody trail, he entered the darkness of the forest. A whisper came from between the trees a voice that made the skin crawl:
"You too… will lose."
Shadows moved swiftly. A creature! But it was no ordinary enemy; its eyes glowed red, its claws shimmering like light in the darkness. Ren drew his sword, bracing himself. A fiery battle began.
As sword met claw, the forest echoed. Ren's heart ached; with every strike, he shattered the creature's darkness, yet fought simultaneously against his own fear.
Just as the creature was about to strike, a bright seal ignited on Ren's chest. A sharp, burning energy coursed through his body. The pain, fear, and anger in his heart transformed into power.
Ren drew a deep breath. This power was necessary to find his brother and break the creature's curse. His sword blazed with fire; determination shone in his eyes.
"No matter what… I will find you," he whispered, stepping deeper into the forest.
Yet he did not know that this was only the first step. In the darkness of the forest, far stronger and more insidious shadows were rising.
The darkness of the forest seemed ready to swallow Ren whole. With every step, the dry leaves crackled; the wind whistled through the branches, composing an eerie melody. Ren felt the warmth of the seal on his chest; it was as if the power within him was guiding him toward his lost brother.
Suddenly, something moved in the bushes. Small, fast… and clearly not human! Its red eyes locked onto Ren. Its claws glided like shadows, ready to strike.
Ren raised his sword. The seal's power had sharpened his reflexes; when the creature lunged, time seemed to slow. His sword met the claws, cutting through the shadow.
But the creature did not die. Angrier than before, it retreated, its claws gleaming like a terror reflected from the depths of the forest. Ren, breathing heavily, realized: this was only the beginning. Larger and more dangerous creatures awaited, guarding his missing brother.
Following the trail, Ren ventured deeper into the forest. Along the way, he spotted an ancient ruin broken walls, moss-covered stones and between the walls, a mark: a bloody handprint, fresh and warm. It came from the path his brother had taken.
"You're here… aren't you?" Ren whispered, a mix of hope and fear in his voice. The light of the seal continued to glow, seemingly guiding him.
But as he progressed, the shadows thickened. The creatures were not just waiting for him; the forest itself seemed alive, setting traps at every turn. Ren knew this path was one only the brave could walk and he was willing to risk everything to save his brother.
Another shadow lunged at him. Ren swung his sword, drawing a flame across it. The battle began. Every strike, every defense, strengthened him and solidified his resolve.
Yet from the depths of the forest rose an even darker, greater threat.
A being emerged from between the trees, from the shadows, and from the hums that broke the silence. Unlike the other creatures, its eyes burned like fire, each step echoing across the ground. A grim power surrounded it, commanding the wind and shadows as if under its control.
Ren bent his knees slightly, gripping his sword with both hands. The seal on his chest blazed brighter, the hot energy coursing through his veins. This was the power he needed to overcome the threat before him.
"This… is not a creature…" Ren whispered, barely finding his own voice. "This… is something else…"
The massive being moved slowly. With each motion, it absorbed the smaller shadows around it, devouring them in its darkness. Ren realized the previous creatures had only been tests; now, the real nightmare stood before him.
The being struck, its claw tearing through trees as it swept toward Ren. He raised his sword, the seal's energy igniting at its tip to meet the attack. The clash shattered the forest's silence; shadows cracked, leaves flew.
With every blow, Ren discovered his own power, learning to control the energy granted by the seal. Yet the force before him… knew no limits. It was deadlier and smarter than any creature he had faced.
And then Ren realized: defeating this being with only a sword would not be enough. To save his brother, overcome this dark threat, and unravel the forest's mysteries, he would need to awaken a deeper, unknown power within himself.
Ren bent his knees slightly, drew a deep breath, and closed his eyes. The seal on his chest burned like fire, energy rippling through his veins. His brother's voice echoed in his mind:
"Ren… awaken… the power… within…"
Ren inhaled the pain, fear, and anger in his heart. The warmth of the seal spread through his body, and a crimson light ignited in his eyes. Time seemed to slow; the shadows around him froze, as if under Ren's control.
Suddenly, energy surged at the tip of his sword. The flames became brighter, sharper, lethal. Ren stepped forward, striking at the being. Its claws and shadows shattered under the crimson energy, each strike dissolving its darkness.
The being roared in pain and fury, retreating into the depths of the forest. Though not entirely destroyed, it was defeated.
Ren collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The seal's glow slowly faded, but determination burned in his eyes. Now he knew: the power he had awakened within himself would allow him to face even greater dangers.
And from the forest's depths, even darker, more insidious shadows began to rise…