The air around Xiao trembled as he stepped beyond the crumbling gate of the ancient temple, leaving behind the scent of ash and rusted iron. The wind whispered through the toppled columns, as though the place groaned with the memories of forgotten gods. This was no ordinary temple… It had borne witness to the beginning of transformation.
His body still weighed heavy with exhaustion, and the scar left by that mysterious vision in the heart of the temple still burned on his chest—as if some force from the old world had chosen to mark his soul. He looked at his right hand, where traces of blood from the ritual still glistened, damp despite the time that had passed, as if refusing to dry.
"Do you feel it?" came Jin's voice from behind, soft but taut with tension.
Xiao nodded without turning, his voice emerging deep and hoarse:
"It's like… something has awakened—but not fully. It's watching."
A chill ran down his spine. That sensation wasn't new—but this time, it was different. Not fear… something more like the anticipation of a being older than time itself.
Jin stepped closer, her eyes shimmering with worry and wonder.
"That specter… the one who spoke to you. Did he give a name?"
Xiao shook his head, watching the sky as crimson clouds began to gather.
"He didn't. But he gave me something. Something that's moving inside me now. There's a fire… and I can't put it out."
No sooner had he spoken the words than a scream echoed in the distance, from the north. It was human—laced with pain and terror. Then came the sounds of snarling and lurching, as if a beast had emerged straight from the pits of hell.
Xiao clenched his fist, eyes glowing faint red as he turned toward the noise.
"They're coming."
---
Just a few miles away, the abandoned city they had passed earlier had turned into a killing ground. Creatures tainted with blood—half-human, half consumed by shadow and corruption—were feasting on the remains of the mercenary soldiers who had preceded Xiao in the march to the Black Mountain.
"Damn it… These aren't just regular curses," Jin whispered, peering through the spirit-vision of her summoned bird.
"This is an ancient blood-curse… it feeds on fear."
---
They raced toward the source of the cries, finding the road strewn with torn corpses. Everything around them was drenched in an eerie silence broken only by the wind, as if the world itself had paused—watching the balance of power unravel.
But what awaited them was something unexpected.
From amid the rubble, a figure cloaked in black emerged, his entire body shrouded in shadow, eyes gleaming like dried blood.
"Xiao..." he spoke in a voice quiet but terrifying,
"I never thought you'd make it this far. It's time we set things right."
Jin raised her sword at once, but Xiao extended an arm to stop her.
"This is not the time for battle, Jin… This is the time for understanding."
"Who are you?" Xiao asked, his voice flat and cold.
The stranger smiled, raising his hand slowly.
"I am you… or who you could have become… if you had chosen shadow instead of light."
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