He ran.
The forest blurred as he moved. Speed tore through the trees, wind snapping behind him. The ground cracked under each step as he pushed forward without restraint.
When Eldermire came into view, flames had already taken it. Smoke rose into the sky, thick and choking. But within it, something darker moved.
The black mist.
It spread across the village, forming twisted figures—monsters made of shadow and distortion, rampaging without pattern or purpose.
Renn burst through the burning streets.
The smell of smoke and blood choked the air. Houses collapsed around him, flames consuming everything he had known since childhood.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Villagers ran desperately through the chaos while Mist Wraiths tore through the streets like wild beasts unleashed from hell itself.
Then—
Renn saw his house.
Half of the roof had collapsed inward. The wooden walls were shattered, black mist pouring from inside like smoke from an open grave.
"…Mother…?"
His heartbeat stopped. Renn sprinted forward. He kicked the broken door open— And froze.
"…Mother…!"
Elira lay on the floor. Blood spread beneath her body. Mist Wraiths surrounded her. One rampaged inside his house. Another dragging its blade across the wooden floor. Their hollow eyes slowly turned toward Renn.
Something inside him snapped. His vision darkened. The sounds around him became distant. Muffled. Like the world itself had suddenly drowned beneath rage.
The Mist Wraith nearest to Elira lunged first. Too slow. Renn moved. The herb knife at his side flashed once. A black head flew across the room.
Another charged.
Renn grabbed its jaw. And slammed the knife upward through its skull. Black mist exploded violently.
The third swung its blade.
Renn ducked beneath it. Then carved the knife across its chest with enough force to split the creature in half. He didn't stop. The room became a storm of movement.
A Mist Wraith screamed. Its arm severed instantly.
Another was pinned against the wall before the knife pierced through its throat repeatedly without pause.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Black blood sprayed across Renn's face. But his expression never changed. Only rage remained. Pure. Violent. Overwhelming.
The last Mist Wraith tried to flee. Renn appeared in front of it. The creature froze. For the first time— A Mist Wraith looked afraid.
Renn grabbed its face. Golden light flickered violently beneath his skin. Unstable. Wild.
"…Die."
The knife plunged straight through its skull.
Black mist exploded across the ceiling.
Silence fell.
Renn's breathing trembled violently. The knife slipped from his fingers.
"…Mother…"
He rushed toward Elira instantly, dropping to his knees beside her. Blood stained his hands the moment he touched her.
Too much blood. Far too much.
"Mother… I'm here…"
His voice shook violently. Elira slowly opened her eyes. Weak. Fading.
"…You came back…"
Renn carefully lifted her into his arms. "I'm here," he whispered desperately. "…I'm here…"
Then—
A presence appeared behind him. A massive Mist Wraith emerged from the darkness outside the shattered wall. Larger than the others.
Its massive sword raised high above its head. Renn's eyes widened.
BOOOOM—!!
The entire hill exploded. Wood shattered. Flames erupted outward violently. Villagers hiding inside the chief's house looked toward the hill in horror as fire engulfed Renn's home.
Renn burst through the smoke, clutching Elira tightly in his arms as debris rained behind him. He landed hard against the ground. Elira coughed weakly. Blood poured heavily from the wound at her side.
"Renn! Over here!!"
The village chief waved desperately from the doorway of the shelter. Renn immediately rushed toward them.
Inside, frightened villagers quickly made space as he carefully laid Elira down. His breathing had become uneven. Panicked.
"Doctor Rowend!"
The old doctor hurried over instantly. He opened the side of Elira's blood-soaked clothing— Then froze.
The wound was deep. Too deep. His expression darkened immediately.
"…She's lost too much blood."
Renn's face paled. "No…" He looked up desperately. "…We can still save her, right?" A pause. "…Right?"
Doctor Rowend lowered his head slowly. Regret filled his eyes.
"…I'm sorry, Renn…"
Silence. Renn's body trembled. His eyes flooded with tears instantly.
"…No…"
Elira slowly lifted her trembling hand toward his face.
"…Renn…"
"Mother—you'll be okay…" Renn immediately pressed his shaking hands against the wound. "…Let me stop the bleeding…Please…"
Blood continued slipping through his fingers. Warm. Endless.
Elira smiled weakly despite the pain.
"…Thank you…"
A faint breath escaped her lips. "…Thank you for everything."
Tears streamed down Renn's face.
"…I'm happy…"
Her trembling fingers touched his cheek gently. "…that you are my son, Renn."
"Mother…"
"…Don't die on me…"
Her eyes softened. "…Renn…" A weak breath. "…You are strong."
Her hand trembled against his face.
"…The moment I first held you…I already knew…" Blood stained her lips. But she still smiled. "…You were different."
Her voice weakened further.
"Renn… strength was never meant to stand above others. The stronger you become... the more people you must protect."
Renn shook violently.
"So promise me…if one day you gain the power to change the world…" Her fading eyes met his. "…use that strength to protect."
Her breathing weakened further.
"Not for glory."
"Not for revenge."
A final tear rolled down her cheek. "…But so no one beside you…will ever have to cry again."
Her fingers loosened. The warmth left her hand.
"…Mother…?"
Silence.
"…Mother…?"
Nothing answered. Renn's eyes widened slowly. His breathing stopped. Then—
He screamed.
A scream filled with grief so deep it shook the entire shelter.
Outside— The giant Mist Wraith heard it.
BOOM.
The creature landed outside the chief's house, shaking the ground beneath its massive weight. It roared violently. The walls trembled. Villagers screamed.
Renn slowly lowered his mother's head onto the floor. Carefully. Gently. Then he stood.
"…Renn…"
The villagers stared at him silently. Not with fear. Not with pity. But heartbreak. The cheerful boy they had always known, now stood there broken.
Renn stepped outside. The small herb knife remained in his hand.
The giant Mist Wraith towered before him. It roared again. Violent wind exploded outward.
Renn didn't move. Didn't flinch.
The monster swung its massive arm downward—
BOOOOM—!!
The ground exploded. Dust erupted everywhere. But Renn was gone. The Mist Wraith's hollow eyes widened.
Then—
Pain.
Renn appeared behind it instantly. The knife carved across the monster's entire back. A massive wound exploded open. Black mist poured violently from its body. The creature roared in agony and swung backward wildly.
The impact launched Renn across the street. He crashed hard against the ground— But immediately stood back up. Barely scratched.
The giant Mist Wraith roared again. This time, the remaining smaller Mist Wraiths gathered around it.
Waiting.
Watching.
Renn slowly raised his head. His eyes burned with hatred.
"…It's you…"
Golden light flickered violently around his body. Unstable. Explosive.
"…Because of you…" The ground beneath his feet cracked. "…My mother died…"
The golden aura erupted outward violently.
Pressure exploded across the village. Even the Mist Wraiths stepped back instinctively. Renn's voice broke into a scream.
"IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!"
Then— He vanished.
BOOM.
A sonic explosion tore through the village. Golden streaks flashed everywhere at once. One Mist Wraith split apart instantly. Another lost its head before it could react. Another was cut through the chest. Then another. Then another.
Renn moved faster and faster.
A blur of rage and golden light. The village became a storm of slaughter. And within it, Renn Valehart was no longer fighting to survive.
He was hunting.
The village blurred around him as he cut through every shadow, every fragment of black mist that remained. One by one— They fell.
The giant Mist Wraith roared.
The sound shook the burning village like thunder. Black mist poured endlessly from the massive wound across its back, yet the creature still stood—towering over the shattered streets like a nightmare that refused to die.
Its hollow eyes locked onto Renn. Then, it charged.
BOOOOM—!!
The ground exploded beneath its weight. Entire chunks of stone were crushed apart as the massive creature barreled forward with monstrous speed. Its enormous arm swung downward— Enough force to flatten a house.
Renn didn't move.
The attack descended. Closer and closer. Then—
He vanished.
The strike obliterated the ground. A deafening explosion erupted across the village as dust and debris shot violently into the air.
But Renn was already elsewhere. A golden streak flashed across the monster's side.
SLASH.
A deep cut opened across the creature's ribs. Black mist burst outward. The giant Mist Wraith roared in fury and swung blindly toward him.
Too slow.
Renn ducked beneath the massive arm— Then drove the herb knife deep into its leg.
CRACK.
Golden Aether surged violently through the blade. The creature's knee exploded inward. The giant stumbled. The entire village shook as one knee crashed into the ground.
Renn landed several meters away. Breathing heavily. Golden aura flickering wildly around him. Unstable. Violent.
The Mist Wraith slowly lifted its head. Then roared again. Louder this time. Angrier.
Black mist erupted from its body like flames. The wound on its back slowly began regenerating.
Renn's eyes narrowed.
"…You regenerate…"
The creature suddenly opened its mouth. And unleashed a blast of black mist directly toward him.
BOOOOM—!!
Buildings behind Renn exploded apart instantly. The force tore through the street violently. But within the smoke—
Golden light appeared.
Renn burst through the black mist head-on.
His body coated in unstable golden Aether. The pressure around him distorted the air itself.
The giant Mist Wraith raised both arms to crush him—
Too late.
Renn leapt upward. Higher. Higher. Until he reached the creature's face.
For a brief moment— Their eyes met. Renn's expression was empty. Not fear. Not hesitation.
Only grief and rage.
"…This ends here."
The monster roared. Renn's golden aura exploded.bHe drove the knife forward with both hands. The blade pierced straight through the creature's skull.
Then—
Golden light erupted inside its body. The giant Mist Wraith froze. Its hollow eyes widened. Cracks of golden light spread throughout its massive frame.
Renn screamed. And the golden Aether detonated.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
A pillar of golden light erupted into the sky.
The shockwave blasted outward across the entire village. Flames bent away violently. Windows shattered. The ground cracked apart. For several seconds, nothing could be seen but light.
Then—
Silence.
The giant Mist Wraith stood motionless. Its body trembling. Cracks spreading everywhere.
Then slowly, it began to break apart.
Its massive body crumbled into black ash. The dark mist scattered into the wind.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Renn landed heavily on the ruined ground. The knife slipped from his hand. His golden aura flickered weakly. Then faded.
His body trembled. He had pushed too far. Used something he didn't understand. Forced it out through sheer will alone.
The strength left him all at once. And as the weight of everything caught up—
Renn collapsed.