Pain consumed every part of Kael’s body.

It felt as if molten fire was flowing through his veins, burning away everything he once was. He collapsed onto the cold stone floor, unable to breathe.

The giant black wolf stood only a few feet away, its glowing crimson eyes fixed on him. It growled softly, confused by the strange darkness swirling around the boy.

The other students had already reached the cave entrance.

“Kael!” one girl screamed.

“We have to help him!”

An instructor grabbed her arm.

“No!”

His voice trembled.

“Look at him…”

Everyone turned.

The black mist surrounding Kael had become a violent storm. It twisted through the cave like living smoke, swallowing the light from the glowing crystals on the walls.

Even the monsters hesitated.

Deep beneath the cave, an ancient heartbeat echoed through the darkness.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Kael slowly opened his eyes.

The world looked different.

He could hear every heartbeat inside the cave.

Every movement.

Every breath.

Even the frightened whispers of the students near the entrance sounded perfectly clear.

The giant wolf roared and charged.

Its claws ripped through the stone floor as it rushed toward him.

Kael didn’t move.

For the first time in his life…

He wasn’t afraid.

The wolf leaped into the air, aiming straight for his head.

At the last possible moment, Kael stepped to the side.

The monster crashed into the ground where he had been standing only a second earlier.

Its claws dug deep into solid rock.

Kael stared at the beast.

Without thinking, he raised his hand.

Black shadows gathered around his fingers like streams of liquid smoke.

The darkness shot forward.

It wrapped around the wolf’s neck.

The beast struggled violently, but the shadows refused to let go.

Kael tightened his fist.

The shadows became sharper.

With a loud crack, the wolf was thrown across the cave and smashed into a stone pillar.

The impact echoed through the cavern.

Silence followed.

The students stared in disbelief.

“Did… did Kael just defeat it?”

“Impossible.”

“He was only F-Rank.”

The wolf slowly stood again.

Blood dripped from its mouth, but its eyes burned with even greater rage.

It let out a terrifying howl.

More wolves answered from the darkness.

One.

Three.

Five.

Then dozens of glowing red eyes appeared inside the cave.

The instructors’ faces turned pale.

“We’re surrounded.”

The wolves attacked together.

One instructor raised his shield, but three beasts knocked him to the ground.

Another tried to cast a fire spell, only to be overwhelmed from behind.

Chaos spread through the cave.

Kael watched everything unfold.

The darkness inside him whispered.

“Protect them.”

“Devour your enemies.”

He clenched his fists.

“No…”

The whispers grew louder.

“Accept us.”

“Become stronger.”

Kael closed his eyes for a single moment.

When he opened them again…

His pupils had turned completely black.

He rushed forward.

His speed shocked everyone.

Within seconds, he reached the nearest wolf.

The creature lunged.

Kael ducked beneath its attack and struck with his sword.

The blade sliced cleanly through the monster’s neck.

Before the body even hit the ground, another wolf attacked from behind.

Kael spun around and kicked it directly into the cave wall.

The impact shattered the stone.

Dust filled the air.

The remaining wolves hesitated.

For the first time…

The hunters had become the hunted.

Kael walked toward them slowly.

Each step echoed through the silent cave.

The shadows around his feet stretched across the ground like living creatures.

The wolves backed away.

Then all at once, they fled into the darkness.

Nobody chased them.

Nobody moved.

Everyone simply stared at Kael.

The instructors exchanged uneasy glances.

One of them whispered,

“That isn’t an F-Rank ability.”

Another shook his head.

“It isn’t any ability I’ve ever seen.”

Kael looked down at his hands.

The black shadows slowly disappeared.

His body still felt strange, as though an unknown power had awakened inside him.

Before anyone could speak again, the cave began shaking violently.

Cracks spread across the walls.

Large rocks crashed onto the ground.

A freezing wind swept through the tunnel.

From the enormous crack in the earth came the sound of heavy footsteps.

One.

Then another.

Each step made the mountain tremble.

A massive armored figure slowly climbed out of the abyss.

Its body was nearly twenty feet tall.

Ancient black armor covered every inch of its body, marked with glowing crimson symbols.

Its face remained hidden behind a cracked iron helmet.

Only two burning red eyes could be seen.

The creature looked directly at Kael.

For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then the giant slowly removed its sword from its back.

The blade was taller than any man.

Its edge was stained with ancient blood.

The monster smiled.

“So…”

Its deep voice echoed across the cave.

“The heir of the Void has finally appeared.”

Kael tightened his grip on his sword.

“I don’t know who you are.”

The giant laughed.

“You will.”

It raised the enormous blade above its head.

“And if you survive…”

“I shall tell you why the world fears the name of the Void King.”

The sword came crashing down toward Kael.