The next morning, Everdark Forest was unusually quiet.
The villagers were repairing their homes.
Broken trees covered the ground.
The remains of the Abyssal Gate had disappeared from the sky, but the darkness it left behind still lingered in the air.
Ryu stood at the edge of the village.
The Shadow Wolf stood beside him.
Kael was checking his weapons.
And Zerach was waiting beneath a dead tree.
Ryu looked at him.
—We’re leaving now.
Zerach nodded.
—The ruins are two days from here.
Ryu frowned.
—Two days?
—If we survive the journey.
The Shadow Wolf growled.
Ryu smiled slightly.
—I’m starting to think you enjoy saying things like that.
Zerach turned away.
—I’m only telling you the truth.
Kael approached Ryu.
—There’s something you should know before we leave.
Ryu looked at him.
—What?
Kael pointed at Ryu’s chest.
The black mark was still there.
—That mark is getting darker.
Ryu looked down.
—Can you remove it?
Kael shook his head.
—No.
—Can you stop it?
—Not yet.
Ryu sighed.
—Great.
The system suddenly appeared.
[New Quest detected.]
[Main Quest: Return to Elarion]
[Objective: Reach the Ruins of Elarion.]
[Reward: Unknown.]
[Failure Condition: Unknown.]
Ryu stared at the message.
—Even the system doesn’t know the reward?
[Correct.]
Ryu became serious.
—That’s unusual.
The Shadow Wolf suddenly looked toward the forest.
Its ears moved.
Ryu noticed.
—What is it?
The wolf growled.
Something was approaching.
Kael immediately drew his sword.
Zerach smiled.
—Looks like we’re not the only ones leaving.
Branches moved.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive beast jumped out of the trees.
It had six legs.
Its body was covered in dark scales.
Two enormous horns curved backward from its head.
The villagers screamed.
[Scanning…]
[Species: Blackhorn Ravager]
[Level: 67]
[Threat Level: High]
Ryu looked at it.
—Level 67?
He smiled.
—That’s not too bad.
The creature roared.
Ryu raised his hand.
—Shadow Bind.
Blue-black chains appeared from the ground.
They wrapped around the monster’s legs.
The Ravager struggled.
Ryu stepped forward.
—King’s Shadow Claw.
A massive claw of blue energy struck the creature.
BOOM!
The beast flew backward.
It crashed into several trees.
Silence.
Ryu lowered his hand.
—That was easy.
Zerach looked at him.
—Don’t celebrate yet.
Ryu frowned.
—Why?
The ground began shaking.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Kael looked around.
—More are coming.
Dozens of red eyes appeared between the trees.
Then hundreds.
Ryu stared.
—You’re kidding.
The entire forest was filled with Blackhorn Ravagers.
The Shadow Wolf stepped forward.
Dark flames covered its body.
Kael raised his sword.
Zerach cracked his fingers.
Ryu smiled.
—Looks like we’re getting some exercise before the journey.
The monsters charged.
ROOOOOAR!
Ryu’s aura exploded.
—Shadow Storm!
A massive wave of blue energy swept across the forest.
BOOOOOOM!
Dozens of monsters were thrown into the air.
The Shadow Wolf disappeared.
SWOOSH!
It moved through the battlefield like a shadow.
Every strike dropped another beast.
Kael created dozens of black chains.
—Abyssal Chains!
The monsters became trapped.
Zerach raised one hand.
Purple flames spread across the ground.
The remaining beasts stopped.
Their eyes widened.
Then they fled.
Ryu looked at Zerach.
—You could have done that yesterday.
Zerach smiled.
—You didn’t ask.
Ryu sighed.
—You’re annoying.
They continued their journey.
For the rest of the day, they walked through the forest.
As night fell, they stopped beside a river.
Ryu sat near the water.
The black mark on his chest suddenly pulsed.
Pain shot through his body.
Ryu grabbed his chest.
—Ah…
Kael immediately stood.
—Ryu!
The world around Ryu began to distort.
The river disappeared.
The forest disappeared.
Everything became dark.
Ryu found himself standing in an enormous throne room.
Hundreds of people were kneeling.
At the end of the room stood a golden throne.
Someone was sitting on it.
Ryu slowly walked closer.
—Who are you?
The figure didn’t answer.
Ryu looked down.
His hands were covered in blood.
He stepped backward.
—No…
The figure finally spoke.
“You came back.”
Ryu froze.
That voice.
It was the same voice from the Abyss.
Ryu looked at the throne.
—Who are you?!
The figure slowly stood.
But before Ryu could see the face—
The entire vision shattered.
Ryu opened his eyes.
He was back beside the river.
Kael was holding his shoulder.
—Ryu!
Ryu breathed heavily.
—I’m okay.
Kael looked worried.
—What did you see?
Ryu hesitated.
—A throne.
Zerach, who had been sitting nearby, suddenly looked at him.
—What else?
Ryu stared at him.
—People were kneeling.
—And?
Ryu lowered his voice.
—Someone was sitting on the throne.
Zerach’s expression changed.
—Did you see the face?
Ryu shook his head.
—No.
Zerach slowly looked away.
—Good.
Ryu narrowed his eyes.
—Why?
Zerach didn’t answer.
Ryu stood.
—You know something.
Zerach remained silent.
Ryu walked toward him.
—Don’t make me ask twice.
Zerach finally looked at him.
—The person on that throne…
He paused.
—Wasn’t a king.
Ryu frowned.
—Then who was he?
Zerach’s eyes became serious.
—He was the reason Elarion was destroyed.
Ryu stared at him.
—And what was his name?
Zerach whispered—
“The Hollow King.”
A cold wind swept through the forest.
Ryu’s black mark suddenly glowed purple.
[Unknown entity recognized.]
[Name: Hollow King.]
[Status: Deceased.]
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—Deceased?
The system continued.
[Correction.]
[Status: Unknown.]
Ryu’s expression changed.
Somewhere far beyond the forest…
A stone door slowly opened.
Behind it was a gigantic underground chamber.
At the center stood an ancient throne.
Empty.
But a voice echoed through the darkness.
“My king has finally returned.”
Two purple eyes opened.
“Prepare Elarion.”
The journey had only just begun.
To Be Continued…