Orion tried to summon flames with his own hands, but the sharp crack of bone and the agonizing pain forced him down to his knees. Because of his injury, he couldn't do anything even if he wanted to. At that moment, Kyle's eyes fell upon a little girl who stood frozen in fear beside a rock, while a massive goblin raised its mace, ready to bring it down on her.
Kyle's blood boiled. He cast aside his weakness and screamed within his mind, "Draken! I need more power! Now!"
Draken's voice echoed like a starving demon, "So, you've finally decided to trade your soul? How delightful!"
In the very next instant, a black and violet haze erupted from Kyle's body. His speed became so terrifyingly fast that no eye could properly follow him. He grabbed a heavy wooden club lying near the rock and leapt straight into the swarm of goblins. With every strike, the system's voice resounded inside his mind:
[Level Up: Level 1 -> Level 2]
[Level Up: Level 2 -> Level 3]
[Level Up: Level 3 -> Level 4]
[Level Up: Level 4 -> Level 5]
[New Skill Unlocked – Healing Magic]
Kyle fought like a machine. His wounds had reopened, yet he felt no pain. One by one, he severed the heads of five goblins.
[Congratulations! You have eliminated the Goblin Horde.]
[Your Level has reached Level 5!]
[Warning: Excessive use of Draken's power has increased Corruption Meter by +5%.]
[Total Corruption: 6.5%]
When the last goblin fell, Kyle stood before the little girl, drenched in blood. The entire village watched in stunned silence. There was no radiant light around him—yet the black energy swirling at his side was more than enough to tell everyone that he was no longer the same "weak" Kyle.
Goblin corpses lay scattered across the field, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. Kyle still stood like a shield in front of the girl. The violet-black mist rising from his body slowly began to calm, but his eyes had not yet fully returned to normal.
The villagers, who had moments ago been running for their lives, now stood frozen in place. The silence was so deep that Kyle's heavy breathing could be heard clearly. He had thought he would be honored today, but instead of gratitude, there was an unfamiliar fear in their eyes.
They couldn't understand what they had witnessed. Until now, they had only seen white, green, or blue light. This black and violet energy was beyond their comprehension. The highest Level in the village belonged to the Chief, who was merely Level 15. To sense a contract with an ancient shadow like Draken required power above Level 25.
So they didn't understand the contract itself—but the dark power surrounding Kyle terrified them.
"What… what is this monster?" Oriyan staggered back. He couldn't see Draken within Kyle, but he could feel the chilling aura emanating from him. "Chief! Look at him! This is no ordinary magic. He has nurtured some evil omen. Have you ever seen a warrior spit out black fire like this?"
The villagers, who knew very little about the magical world, began to see Kyle as 'Cursed.'
"Run from here! This boy will bring calamity upon our village! That light… it's a sign of death!"
Kyle's expression darkened. He had thought he would become a hero, but instead he had turned into an 'unsolved terror' in their eyes. Draken laughed inside his mind, amused. "Foolish humans… They don't even realize they just stood before a harbinger of death. Let them think you are cursed, Kyle. Fear is far more powerful than respect."
At that moment, Baelin stepped forward. He moved toward Kyle and turned his sharp gaze toward the crowd.
"Silence!" Baelin's voice carried a mysterious resonance. "You fear this because you do not understand it. But do not forget—this very 'fear' is what saved your necks from the goblins' blades today."
Baelin grabbed Kyle's hand. He could feel the dark lightning coursing through his veins. "Come with me, Kyle," he said, supporting him as he led him through the crowd toward his hut.
Inside the hut, Baelin sat down heavily on his chair. "Kyle, no one in this village has a Level high enough to truly understand what lies within you. But your energy itself is proof that you are no longer ordinary. Reaching Level 5 so suddenly, and this black aura… it is a sign that the ancient shadows of Aethelgard are stirring once more."
Kyle looked at his palm. "Baelin… will I never be normal again?"
Baelin stood and picked up the bundle Kyle had brought from the ancient ruins. He placed it on the table and pulled out a map, spreading it open. As soon as the map unfolded, Kyle felt a strange heaviness in his eyes. He stared at Baelin closely, remembering how, when everyone else was afraid, only Baelin's face had shown no trace of worry.
"The time to be normal has passed. Now you must learn to turn this 'darkness' into your strength before it devours you completely. The villagers will not let you stay here. By tomorrow morning, Oriyan and the others will declare you 'Cursed' and banish you from the village."
Kyle fell into thought. His voice carried weight as he finally asked, "Baelin… who are you really? And how did you know something like this would happen today?"
Baelin's hands paused over the map. In the dim light of the hut, the wrinkles on his face seemed deeper. He did not look at Kyle, only out the window toward the dense forest.
"What do you think, Kyle? Why would a man who understands ancient scripts and the dark history of Aethelgard so well choose to live in a small village like this?" His voice echoed like an old memory. "Some people study history… and some become a part of the history the world wishes to forget."
Kyle stood up, faint violet mist still rising from his body. "Why didn't you warn me before I touched that strange stone—the Soul-Stone? You knew Draken would awaken!"
Baelin turned and looked directly into Kyle's eyes. "The time has come for me to tell you the truth. Your touching the Soul-Stone and Draken's awakening—these were written in your fate long ago. Draken had to awaken, Kyle."
Kyle's voice grew heavier. "Enough of the riddles, Baelin. Tell me clearly—what are you trying to say? What is written in my fate?"
Suddenly, the glow of torches appeared outside, along with Oriyan's shouting voice. The villagers were approaching the hut.
"Bring that cursed boy out! He's a danger to our children!"
Baelin placed a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "This is not the time, Kyle. For now, you must survive. Take this."
He handed Kyle a small black ring.
"This ring will conceal your dark energy. As long as you wear it, no warrior below Level 20 will be able to see your true nature. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"When you formed a contract with Draken's soul, the entire world sensed that Draken had awakened. You must be extremely careful. People believe that anyone who contracts with Draken will be transformed by his black power into a ruthless monster—one who would destroy the entire world without mercy, whether human, demon, or even an innocent child."
"Remember this as well—Draken can be freed by breaking his curse."
Baelin picked up the map from the table and placed it in Kyle's hands. "You must reach the Chronos Guild as soon as possible. The Chronos Guild is a scholarly organization that studies the world's history, magic, and curses."
"As much as possible, use your power without removing this ring—only for self-defense. If you take it off, any enemy will be able to sense who formed the contract with Draken's soul. Right now, the world only knows that Draken has awakened. No one knows who the contractor is."
Kyle took the ring and the map, giving Baelin one last look. He realized that the man he had thought was merely an old mentor might be hiding the greatest secret of Aethelgard.
Cliphanger:–
Kyle slipped the black ring onto his finger and stepped into the darkness, gripping the map tightly. Behind him, the villagers' anger and the blaze of torches grew closer, but Baelin's words echoed in his mind.
"Chronos Guild… what awaits me there?"
Kyle did not know whether this journey would set him free—or draw him even closer to Draken.
Author Note:–
"Friends, if you're enjoying the story, please share your thoughts in the comments.
Don't forget to support with Power Stones and increase the library count to keep me motivated!"