Night creeps upon the World his world.

Far down the lone road leading to the village, a single car hurtles through the dark, chased by a shadow of despair.

"BRING IT ON, YOU DEVIL! WE'VE BEEN DODGING YOU FOR YEARS! YEARS! YOU THINK YOU CAN GET US NOW? HA!" The man inside the car shouts, his voice thick with defiance. Behind him, the shadowy figure roars, dark and relentless.

The man's heart pounds, echoing in his ears over the roar of the engine as it races past 200. Thank God it's a straight road, he thinks.

Quickly, he reaches beneath his seat and pulls out three grenades. Biting down on the pins, he braces himself—just as the beast crashes into the left back tire, tearing it off entirely.

The car veers off the road and flies into the night.

In the chaos, the grenade pins rip his teeth, sending blood spilling from his mouth. Ignoring the pain, he hurls the grenades out the window, aiming straight for the monster's face. An explosion rips through the air as his car skids off into a soybean field.

With a push, the driver's door bursts open, and the man stumbles out, battered, bleeding, and clutching his ribs. He looks back at the road, where he sees the dark mist of the beast shuddering.

The creature's head rises, revealing a long, sinewy neck. It twists, fixing its gaze on the man. A broad, tattered wing tries to lift its hulking form forward, but it collapses, panting heavily, momentarily subdued.

The man limps toward Pownaper, his nose broken and bleeding, his steps uneven. "Nox… I have to reach him… unlock his potential. I can't do this anymore. It's too strong." His voice is a low murmur, almost lost to the night. It's your turn now, my son.

Suddenly, a dim blue light appears, floating over a young boy's shoulder, growing brighter and brighter until it illuminates his face.

"TIME… Now."