The morning sun slowly rose over the mountains, but the world no longer felt peaceful. Ever since the Abyss Lord appeared, the air itself seemed heavier. Even the wind carried a strange darkness.
Aria stood alone in the valley, practicing with the First Flame. A small orange fire floated above her palm. The flame flickered gently, responding to her breathing.
She focused harder.
The flame grew larger.
Suddenly it burst forward like a wave and struck a large stone pillar.
BOOM.
The pillar shattered into pieces.
Rowan, who was sitting nearby, whistled"Not bad."
Aria wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Still not enough."
Rowan stood up and stretched his arms.
"You destroyed a giant rock with fire. I'd say that's impressive."
Aria shook her head.
"You saw the Abyss Lord's power. What I'm doing right now is nothing compared to that."
Before Rowan could reply, the Dragon Guardian landed behind them with a heavy thud.
The dragon's golden eyes watched Aria carefully."You are improving," it said.
"But improvement alone will not defeat the darkness."
Aria looked up.
"I know."
The dragon opened its massive wings slightly.
"The Abyss Lord is not like the enemies you fought before. His power comes from the deepest darkness of the Shadow Realm."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"So basically we're doomed?"
The dragon ignored the joke.
"Only if the Flame fails."Suddenly, a sound came from the forest.
Branches snapped.
Rowan immediately grabbed his sword.
"Someone's there."
A figure slowly walked out from the trees.
He looked like a traveler, wearing dark armor that had clearly seen many battles. His face was tired, and his clothes were torn in several places.
He stopped a few steps away and raised his hands.
"Relax. I'm not here to fight."
Rowan pointed his sword at him."Then start explaining."
The stranger looked at Aria.
"My name is Kael."
Aria narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?"
Kael glanced around the valley.
"I've been hunting Shadow Creatures for three days straight."
Rowan scoffed.
"Congratulations."
Kael ignored the sarcasm.
"While fighting them, I saw something strange. Fire in the mountains. A dragon flying across the sky."He looked directly at Aria.
"So I followed the trail."
Aria exchanged a glance with Rowan.
The Dragon Guardian stepped forward slightly.
Its eyes scanned Kael carefully.
After a moment, it spoke.
"He carries no shadow corruption."
Rowan lowered his sword a little.
"So he's not a monster."
Kael smiled slightly.
"That's good to hear."
Aria thought for a moment.Then she said, "You can stay with us for now."
Rowan looked surprised.
"You trust him already?"
Aria shook her head.
"No. But if the Shadow army keeps growing, we need allies."
Kael nodded respectfully.
"You won't regret it."
Over the next few days, Kael proved himself useful.
He was incredibly fast with a sword.
During one battle with Shadow Creatures near a ruined village, Kael moved like lightning.His blade cut through the monsters one after another.
Rowan watched in surprise.
"Okay… I admit it. You're good."
Kael laughed.
"Years of practice."
Aria also began to trust him.
Together they fought off several attacks from Shadow Creatures that had started appearing more frequently across the land.
But while everyone else relaxed around the campfire one night…
Kael quietly stood up.He walked away from the camp.
No one noticed.
He moved deep into the forest until the firelight disappeared completely.
The darkness there was thicker.
Almost alive.
Kael stopped walking.
Then he spoke softly.
"My lord… I have found them."
The shadows suddenly twisted.
A dark figure slowly formed in front of him.
Two glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.The Abyss Lord.
Kael immediately knelt.
The expression on his face had completely changed.
There was no kindness anymore.
Only loyalty.
"They trust me," Kael said calmly.
The Abyss Lord's voice echoed through the trees.
"Good."
Kael continued.
"The girl truly carries the First Flame. And the Dragon Guardian is protecting her."The Abyss Lord smiled slowly.
"Even better."
Kael lowered his head.
"What are your orders?"
The Abyss Lord's red eyes glowed brighter.
"For now… stay with them."
"Gain their full trust."
Kael nodded.
"And when the time comes?"
The Abyss Lord's voice became colder than ice.
"You will betray them."Silence filled the forest.
Kael did not hesitate.
"As you command."
Far away at the camp, Aria suddenly opened her eyes.
A strange feeling filled her chest.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
But she didn't know yet…
That the enemy was already standing beside them.
Waiting.
Watching.And preparing for the moment that would destroy everything.