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Chapter 7: Call of Blood and the System
Ryn's footsteps over the dry leaves were not the only sound in that still night. Despite moving away from the village, he felt a presence following him. He stopped abruptly in a dark patch of the forest. He didn't turn around; instead, he spoke in a cold, steady voice:
"I told you to leave, Leora. The forest will not have mercy on you, and neither will I."
Leora emerged from the shadows, breathless, her face pale under the starlight. She didn't look afraid this time; instead, there was a strange determination in her eyes.
"I won't let you go alone, Ryn. You don't understand the danger of what you carry. My father always spoke of you—not just as a prophecy, but as a responsibility. He used to say that the 'Son of Shadows' is not evil, but the balance itself. If you are left alone to the darkness, it will consume you before you can master it."
She took a step closer and continued in a low voice:
"My father told me that Elara wasn't the only one waiting for you. There are ancient forces beginning to stir now because you have awakened."
Before Ryn could utter a single word, something happened that shook his very being.
It wasn't a sound from the forest; it was a voice inside his mind. A metallic, cold, and clear voice, as if originating from the very core of his soul.
[ Analyzing Host... ]
[ "Eternal Shadow Bloodline" Detected — Compatibility: 15% ]
[ Alert: Soul in state of turmoil. System initializing... ]
Ryn froze in place. He fell to his knees, clutching his head. These weren't just words; a transparent blue screen floated before his eyes, invisible to anyone but him.
[ First Quest: Reach the Temple of Eclipse. ]
[ Reward: Unlock Skill "Abyssal Vision." ]
[ Warning: Time remaining before the arrival of "The Pursuers": 04:59 minutes. ]
Ryn looked at Leora with eyes filled with doubt and terror. "Do you hear this? Do you see this light?"
Leora shook her head, looking at him with deep concern. "I hear nothing, Ryn... what is happening?"
Ryn realized then that his curse wasn't just a tattoo or a changing eye—it had become an "entity" living within him, dictating his steps and counting down the seconds before death.