The sky above Graystone Mountain turned black.

Thunder echoed across the kingdom as rain poured over the ancient forest. Hunters from nearby towns looked toward the mountain, sensing an overwhelming pressure that made even experienced warriors uneasy.

Inside the cave, silence remained.

Kael stood motionless, staring at his hands. The strange black markings covering his arms slowly faded beneath his skin, but the feeling of power remained.

The giant warrior lowered its sword.

For the first time, it knelt before him.

Every student and instructor froze.

“What…?”

The giant bowed its head.

“My name is Darius.”

“I was once the First Guardian of the Void Kingdom.”

“For one thousand years, I have protected this seal while waiting for the return of its true master.”

Kael frowned.

“You keep calling me your master.”

“I’m just an ordinary student.”

Darius looked directly into his eyes.

“No.”

“You were ordinary.”

“But the Void has chosen you.”

“From this day onward, your enemies will no longer be ordinary monsters.”

Before Kael could ask another question, the ground trembled again.

This time, the shaking came from the cave entrance.

Several dark figures walked slowly through the dust.

Each of them wore long black robes marked with a silver crescent symbol.

Their faces were hidden behind white masks.

The leader stopped a few meters away and looked at Kael.

“So…”

“We finally found the new vessel.”

Darius immediately stepped in front of Kael.

“The Shadow Cult.”

“You arrived sooner than I expected.”

The masked leader laughed softly.

“We have searched for the Void King’s successor for centuries.”

“And today…”

“Our search ends.”

He slowly removed his mask.

A long scar crossed his left eye, and strange black veins covered half of his face.

His cold smile never reached his eyes.

“My name is Varek.”

“I am the Third Apostle of the Shadow Cult.”

He pointed his sword toward Kael.

“Come with us willingly.”

“And no one here has to die.”

Kael tightened his fists.

“I don’t even know who you people are.”

Varek sighed.

“That’s unfortunate.”

He raised one hand.

The other cult members drew their weapons.

Without warning, they attacked.

One assassin disappeared into the shadows and reappeared behind Kael.

A poisoned dagger shot toward his neck.

Before the blade could touch him, Darius swung his massive sword.

The assassin was thrown across the cave, crashing into the wall.

Another cultist released dozens of black chains from his sleeves.

The chains wrapped around Darius’s arms and legs.

For a brief moment…

The giant guardian couldn’t move.

“Now!” Varek shouted.

Three assassins rushed toward Kael at once.

Kael picked up a fallen sword.

The first attacker slashed downward.

Kael blocked the strike and pushed him backward.

The second appeared behind him.

A dagger cut across Kael’s shoulder.

Pain shot through his arm.

The third attacker aimed directly for his heart.

At the last second, Kael twisted his body.

The blade missed his chest but pierced his side.

Kael gritted his teeth.

He refused to fall.

Instead, he grabbed the assassin’s wrist.

The darkness beneath his feet suddenly spread like flowing ink.

Black shadows wrapped around the man’s legs.

The assassin struggled.

“What is this?!”

Kael instinctively pulled his hand backward.

The shadows obeyed.

The assassin was dragged across the cave floor and slammed into a stone pillar with terrifying force.

The remaining cultists hesitated.

Their expressions changed from confidence to fear.

Varek narrowed his eyes.

“So the legends were true.”

“The Void answers his commands naturally.”

He smiled.

“Excellent.”

“This makes you even more valuable.”

Meanwhile, Darius finally shattered the enchanted chains binding him.

With one mighty swing of his sword, he forced the cultists to retreat.

The cave shook from the impact.

Large cracks spread across the ceiling.

Rocks began falling everywhere.

Varek looked toward the collapsing tunnel.

“This place won’t survive much longer.”

He pointed at Kael.

“Listen carefully.”

“We are not your greatest enemy.”

“There are far worse beings waiting beyond this mountain.”

“When they discover you’ve awakened…”

“They will come for you.”

He slowly stepped backward into the darkness.

“We’ll meet again, Void King.”

One by one, the cultists disappeared into the shadows.

Only silence remained.

The cave continued collapsing.

Darius looked toward Kael.

“We must leave.”

“The ancient seal has been broken.”

Kael nodded.

The surviving students helped the injured instructors toward the exit while Darius remained behind, holding up part of the collapsing ceiling with his enormous strength.

As Kael reached the cave entrance, he turned back.

“Darius!”

“Come with us!”

The giant smiled beneath his cracked helmet.

“My duty was never to leave this place.”

“It was only to find you.”

The ceiling cracked again.

Massive boulders began crashing down.

Darius planted his sword into the ground.

“This mountain will become their tomb.”

“But you…”

He looked at Kael one last time.

“You must survive.”

A deafening roar echoed through the cave.

The entrance collapsed between them.

Kael was thrown outside by the explosion.

He watched helplessly as the entire mountain caved in.

Dust rose into the sky.

The ancient cave…

And Darius…

Disappeared beneath thousands of tons of stone.

Kael stood frozen in the rain.

His fists trembled.

He had known the guardian for only a short time.

Yet he had sacrificed everything to protect him.

Far away, hidden on a distant cliff, Varek watched the destruction with a faint smile.

He turned toward another masked figure standing beside him.

“The heir has awakened.”

The second figure nodded.

“Shall we inform the Supreme Apostle?”

Varek’s smile widened.

“No.”

“Inform the Emperor.”

“The hunt…”

“…has officially begun.”

The sky above Graystone Mountain turned black.

Thunder echoed across the kingdom as rain poured over the ancient forest. Hunters from nearby towns looked toward the mountain, sensing an overwhelming pressure that made even experienced warriors uneasy.

Inside the cave, silence remained.

Kael stood motionless, staring at his hands. The strange black markings covering his arms slowly faded beneath his skin, but the feeling of power remained.

The giant warrior lowered its sword.

For the first time, it knelt before him.

Every student and instructor froze.

“What…?”

The giant bowed its head.

“My name is Darius.”

“I was once the First Guardian of the Void Kingdom.”

“For one thousand years, I have protected this seal while waiting for the return of its true master.”

Kael frowned.

“You keep calling me your master.”

“I’m just an ordinary student.”

Darius looked directly into his eyes.

“No.”

“You were ordinary.”

“But the Void has chosen you.”

“From this day onward, your enemies will no longer be ordinary monsters.”

Before Kael could ask another question, the ground trembled again.

This time, the shaking came from the cave entrance.

Several dark figures walked slowly through the dust.

Each of them wore long black robes marked with a silver crescent symbol.

Their faces were hidden behind white masks.

The leader stopped a few meters away and looked at Kael.

“So…”

“We finally found the new vessel.”

Darius immediately stepped in front of Kael.

“The Shadow Cult.”

“You arrived sooner than I expected.”

The masked leader laughed softly.

“We have searched for the Void King’s successor for centuries.”

“And today…”

“Our search ends.”

He slowly removed his mask.

A long scar crossed his left eye, and strange black veins covered half of his face.

His cold smile never reached his eyes.

“My name is Varek.”

“I am the Third Apostle of the Shadow Cult.”

He pointed his sword toward Kael.

“Come with us willingly.”

“And no one here has to die.”

Kael tightened his fists.

“I don’t even know who you people are.”

Varek sighed.

“That’s unfortunate.”

He raised one hand.

The other cult members drew their weapons.

Without warning, they attacked.

One assassin disappeared into the shadows and reappeared behind Kael.

A poisoned dagger shot toward his neck.

Before the blade could touch him, Darius swung his massive sword.

The assassin was thrown across the cave, crashing into the wall.

Another cultist released dozens of black chains from his sleeves.

The chains wrapped around Darius’s arms and legs.

For a brief moment…

The giant guardian couldn’t move.

“Now!” Varek shouted.

Three assassins rushed toward Kael at once.

Kael picked up a fallen sword.

The first attacker slashed downward.

Kael blocked the strike and pushed him backward.

The second appeared behind him.

A dagger cut across Kael’s shoulder.

Pain shot through his arm.

The third attacker aimed directly for his heart.

At the last second, Kael twisted his body.

The blade missed his chest but pierced his side.

Kael gritted his teeth.

He refused to fall.

Instead, he grabbed the assassin’s wrist.

The darkness beneath his feet suddenly spread like flowing ink.

Black shadows wrapped around the man’s legs.

The assassin struggled.

“What is this?!”

Kael instinctively pulled his hand backward.

The shadows obeyed.

The assassin was dragged across the cave floor and slammed into a stone pillar with terrifying force.

The remaining cultists hesitated.

Their expressions changed from confidence to fear.

Varek narrowed his eyes.

“So the legends were true.”

“The Void answers his commands naturally.”

He smiled.

“Excellent.”

“This makes you even more valuable.”

Meanwhile, Darius finally shattered the enchanted chains binding him.

With one mighty swing of his sword, he forced the cultists to retreat.

The cave shook from the impact.

Large cracks spread across the ceiling.

Rocks began falling everywhere.

Varek looked toward the collapsing tunnel.

“This place won’t survive much longer.”

He pointed at Kael.

“Listen carefully.”

“We are not your greatest enemy.”

“There are far worse beings waiting beyond this mountain.”

“When they discover you’ve awakened…”

“They will come for you.”

He slowly stepped backward into the darkness.

“We’ll meet again, Void King.”

One by one, the cultists disappeared into the shadows.

Only silence remained.

The cave continued collapsing.

Darius looked toward Kael.

“We must leave.”

“The ancient seal has been broken.”

Kael nodded.

The surviving students helped the injured instructors toward the exit while Darius remained behind, holding up part of the collapsing ceiling with his enormous strength.

As Kael reached the cave entrance, he turned back.

“Darius!”

“Come with us!”

The giant smiled beneath his cracked helmet.

“My duty was never to leave this place.”

“It was only to find you.”

The ceiling cracked again.

Massive boulders began crashing down.

Darius planted his sword into the ground.

“This mountain will become their tomb.”

“But you…”

He looked at Kael one last time.

“You must survive.”

A deafening roar echoed through the cave.

The entrance collapsed between them.

Kael was thrown outside by the explosion.

He watched helplessly as the entire mountain caved in.

Dust rose into the sky.

The ancient cave…

And Darius…

Disappeared beneath thousands of tons of stone.

Kael stood frozen in the rain.

His fists trembled.

He had known the guardian for only a short time.

Yet he had sacrificed everything to protect him.

Far away, hidden on a distant cliff, Varek watched the destruction with a faint smile.

He turned toward another masked figure standing beside him.

“The heir has awakened.”

The second figure nodded.

“Shall we inform the Supreme Apostle?”

Varek’s smile widened.

“No.”

“Inform the Emperor.”

“The hunt…”

“…has officially begun.”