The mysterious man smiled a cold smile beneath his mask, continuing in a cryptic tone, "By using this power, Neral, you've caught the attention of forces much greater and far more dangerous than you can imagine. You're opening a gateway to a bloodstained and secretive past, and the very earth itself will start responding to this call. Are you prepared to face the consequences?"
Neral felt an unusual sense of confusion and unprecedented fear. The words echoed in his mind, leaving a deep feeling of impending danger. "What can I do? If this power is a threat, how can I control it or stop it?"
The mysterious man looked at him intently, as though pondering the question's depth. "Control is nothing but an illusion, Neral. This kind of power is not controlled; it is embraced and learned. But first, you must be ready to walk a long and challenging path, a path filled with sacrifices."
Before Neral could respond, the man slowly turned away, fading into the darkness. His voice echoed like a whisper on the wind: "I'll be waiting for you in the depths of this world… when you're ready. Then, you'll know where to go."
The man vanished into the shadows, leaving the group in complete silence. Aryan was the first to break it, looking at Neral with eyes filled with concern. "I don't think this was just a warning… it was a threat."
Eldar, unusually silent, seemed deep in thought, as if what had just happened had stirred questions within him he didn't want to ask. Finally, he spoke firmly: "If what he says is true, then we have many challenges ahead. We need to be strong and prepared for anything."
Neral looked up at the darkened sky, feeling the weight on his shoulders grow unbearably heavy. "If this is the fate I must face, then I will continue to the end. But I won't face it alone."
Aryan moved closer to Neral, patting his shoulder gently. "We're with you, Neral. No matter what comes next, we'll face it together."
Those words were a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. They gathered themselves, determined to move forward despite the dangers that lay ahead.
In a distant place, deep within an unknown land untouched by the feet of ordinary creatures, a dark energy was slowly seeping through rocks and soil, as if coming to life. With each pulse, the energy spread, coiling around itself like a living entity feeding off the air and darkness. At the core of this energy were red eyes gleaming fiercely, watching in silence, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal themselves.
In that very moment, shadow-like creatures began appearing out of nowhere, bound to an unknown force they didn't fully understand but recognized as dangerous. Ancient rites had been broken in a single moment, releasing these beings from their eternal prison.
As Neral and his friends made their way through the forest, they began to sense something following them, as if sinister spirits were encircling them from all directions. Arian glanced around quickly, a cold shiver running down her spine. "Do you feel that?" she asked in a low voice, trying to contain her fear.
Eldar, who had been keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings, nodded and replied in a hushed tone, "Yes, something's closing in... something unnatural. I feel it surrounding us from every side."
Neral, still wrestling with the chaos in his mind after the encounter with the mysterious man, couldn't fully concentrate, but a sense of unease grew within him. "We need to stay alert, but don't let fear control you. Whatever these creatures are, we'll face them together."
But before he could finish speaking, faint footsteps echoed from the darkness, and shadows began to shift around them, expanding and coiling as if breathing. Emerging from within those shadows was a dark creature, its eyes glowing with a demonic red glint. Its body wasn't fully solid, moving like smoke, yet its features were clear enough to send chills through them.
Arian shouted, aiming her arrow at the creature, "Who are you?! Stay away from us!"
But the creature remained silent, emitting a strange sound, a blend of overlapping whispers, and began advancing toward them with an eerie speed, as if darkness itself were pursuing them. Neral rushed forward, trying to protect his friends, though he knew this battle would not be an easy one.
Eldar shouted, gripping his sword tightly, "Get ready! Looks like we're facing a creature from the ancient realms, and this is no ordinary fight!"
And thus, the battle began.