The sky above the Land of Shadows had no stars.
Instead, an endless ceiling of swirling darkness stretched overhead, rippling like black water disturbed by an unseen hand. Towering pillars of obsidian rose from the earth in the distance, connected by bridges that seemed to float in empty space. Rivers of silver mist wound through jagged valleys, glowing faintly beneath the perpetual night.
Nyx slowly stood, his legs still unsteady.
His heart pounded as he looked around, trying to convince himself this was some elaborate dream.
This can't be real… It has to be a hallucination. Maybe I hit my head when I fell…
But the cold wind biting against his skin felt real.
The strange metallic scent in the air was real.
And the heavy pressure pressing against his chest…
That was terrifyingly real.
"You've been unusually calm," Kera observed, turning away from him. "Most humans scream."
"I haven't accepted any of this."
"You will."
Nyx glared at her.
"You keep talking like you know everything about me."
"I know enough."
She began walking down a narrow stone path carved into the black earth.
"If you wish to survive longer than the next hour, follow me."
Nyx didn't move.
"What if I don't?"
Kera stopped but didn't turn around.
"Then something else will find you first."
Silence.
A distant howl echoed across the landscape.
It wasn't the cry of an animal.
It sounded…human.
Then another answered.
Closer.
Kera sighed.
"They've already sensed you."
"What do you mean they?"
The shadows surrounding the cliffs began moving.
Not swaying.
Not shifting with the wind.
Moving.
Dozens of glowing crimson eyes slowly opened inside the darkness.
Nyx instinctively stepped backward.
"What the hell…"
Creatures crawled from the shadows on unnaturally long limbs. Their bodies were thin and twisted, covered in black skin stretched tightly over bone. Their faces had no noses, only mouths filled with needle-like teeth.
Each pair of eyes remained locked onto him.
"They're called Hollowborn," Kera said calmly.
"They feed on fear."
Nyx swallowed.
"Wonderful."
The nearest creature let out a screech that echoed through the valley.
Every Hollowborn charged at once.
"Run!" Kera shouted.
Nyx didn't hesitate.
He sprinted after her as dozens of monsters rushed behind them.
The ground trembled beneath their feet.
One Hollowborn leaped over him.
Its claws sliced through the air inches from his face.
Nyx ducked just in time.
The creature crashed into a stone pillar before twisting its body unnaturally and lunging again.
"They're fast!"
"They're hungry."
"That's not helping!"
Another monster appeared from the side.
Nyx raised his arms instinctively.
The creature's claws should have torn through him.
Instead…
The shadows beneath his feet exploded upward.
A wall of darkness intercepted the attack.
The Hollowborn slammed into it and was violently thrown backward.
Nyx froze.
The wall dissolved into black smoke.
"…What?"
He stared at his hands.
"I…did that?"
Kera finally smiled.
"Your blood remembers."
Nyx looked down.
The shadows around his boots were no longer ordinary.
They curled around his ankles like living serpents before slowly sinking back into the earth.
That wasn't luck.
That came from me.
A strange warmth spread through his chest.
No…
Not warmth.
Power.
It pulsed through every vein like liquid fire.
The scar on his neck burned.
He grabbed it instinctively.
Images flashed through his mind.
A massive throne carved from black crystal.
Thousands of demons kneeling.
A man with silver eyes standing beside him.
"Protect him."
"No matter the cost."
Blood.
Fire.
Screams.
The vision vanished.
Nyx stumbled.
Kera caught his arm before he fell.
"What did you see?"
"I…"
He hesitated.
"I don't know."
Her expression hardened.
"You remembered something."
Before Nyx could answer…
A deafening roar shook the valley.
Every Hollowborn immediately stopped chasing them.
Then, one by one…
They knelt.
The atmosphere changed.
Even Kera's confident expression disappeared.
"…Impossible."
The shadows ahead slowly parted.
Something enormous stepped through.
It stood nearly fifteen feet tall.
Its body resembled polished obsidian covered in glowing crimson cracks.
Two massive horns curved backward from its skull.
Its eyes burned like molten gold.
Each step caused the ground to fracture.
The Hollowborn lowered themselves even further.
Kera whispered a single word.
"Harbinger…"
The giant demon's gaze settled on Nyx.
For several long seconds…
It simply stared.
Then…
To Kera's complete shock…
The monster slowly dropped onto one knee.
Every Hollowborn immediately followed.
The entire valley bowed before Nyx.
His breathing stopped.
"What…"
The Harbinger lowered its head.
"The blood of the Umbrasil King…"
Its voice echoed like thunder.
"…has returned."
Nyx's silver-flecked eyes widened.
King…?
Before anyone could speak again…
A spear made entirely of radiant white light tore through the darkness.
It struck the Harbinger squarely in the chest.
The giant roared in agony.
The explosion illuminated the valley for the first time.
Standing atop a distant cliff was a lone figure dressed in brilliant white armor, a flowing cloak dancing in the wind.
Unlike everything else in this realm…
The figure radiated pure light.
He slowly drew another glowing spear.
His voice carried effortlessly across the battlefield.
"So…"
he said coldly.
"We finally found the last Umbrasil."
Nyx felt every instinct in his body scream.
Not to fight.
Not to run.
But to survive.