Chapter 1: The Spark of Chaos
The sun hung low in the crimson-hued sky, casting an eerie glow over the village of Ardent Hollow. The settlement, a small pocket of life amidst the vast darkness of Erevos, was home to hundreds of souls who toiled under the watchful gaze of the Shadow Knights. These enforcers of the demon regime patrolled the lands, ensuring loyalty through fear. Their jagged black armor shimmered faintly, the crimson insignia of the demon king etched across their chests like a brand.
Ryou darted through the narrow streets, his laughter echoing between the crooked, timeworn houses. His best friend, Harun, followed closely behind, carrying a hastily constructed wooden sword. They had spent weeks carving it from a piece of driftwood found by the river. Now, they battled imaginary foes, pretending to be heroes of legend rather than the children of farmers and cobblers.
"You'll never take me alive, Shadow Knight!" Ryou shouted, brandishing a stick as though it were a master-crafted blade. He leaped onto an overturned crate, striking a dramatic pose. His unruly black hair stuck to his forehead, damp with sweat from their play.
"Bold words for a doomed rebel!" Harun retorted, lunging forward with his wooden sword. The two collided in a flurry of swings and laughter, their mock battle drawing a few amused glances from villagers passing by.
For a moment, it felt as if the heavy shadow of the knights had lifted from their world. Ryou forgot about the looming threat of patrols, the curfews, and the quiet fear that lingered in every household. He was just a boy, free and alive, if only for an afternoon.
But fate rarely allowed such peace to linger in Erevos.
As their play slowed, Ryou sat on the edge of the crate, looking toward the horizon. "I wish we didn't have to live like this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Harun tilted his head. "Like what?"
"Hiding. Being afraid of them." Ryou's gaze darkened. "The Shadow Knights... I hate them. I wish they'd all just disappear."
Harun's eyes widened, and he glanced around nervously. "Ryou, don't say that! What if someone hears?"
The words hung in the air like a curse. Unbeknownst to the boys, a Shadow Knight stood just around the corner, his blood-red eyes narrowing as he caught the treasonous remark. His gauntleted hand tightened around the shaft of his spear, the metal creaking under his grip.
"You there," the knight growled, stepping into view. The sound of his boots on the cobblestone street was like thunder. "What did you just say?"
Ryou's blood ran cold. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. "I... I didn't mean anything. It was just—"
"Silence!" the knight bellowed, his voice echoing with unnatural power. The villagers who had been watching quickly turned away, scurrying into their homes and shutting their doors. The street emptied in seconds, leaving Ryou and Harun alone with the towering figure.
The knight raised his spear, its blackened tip gleaming wickedly in the dying sunlight. "The punishment for treason is death."
Time seemed to slow as the spear shot forward. Ryou froze, his mind unable to process what was happening. He could see the weapon hurtling toward him, its deadly point aimed straight for his chest.
"No!" Harun cried. Without hesitation, he leaped between Ryou and the spear.
The impact was sickening. The spear pierced through Harun's chest with a wet, crunching sound. Blood sprayed across Ryou's face, warm and metallic. Harun's body convulsed as he fell, his lifeless eyes staring skyward.
Ryou screamed. It was a raw, primal sound that tore from the depths of his soul. His hands trembled as he knelt beside his friend's body, unable to comprehend the horror before him.
Then, something inside him snapped.
A searing pain erupted in his chest, spreading through his limbs like wildfire. His vision blurred, the world around him fading into darkness. When his eyes refocused, they glowed an unnatural green, radiating with an otherworldly light. Symbols began to form in his irises—twisting, spinning patterns that resembled Satanic stars.
The air around him crackled with energy, heavy and oppressive. The Shadow Knight hesitated, momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift. "What is this...?" he muttered.
Ryou's scream turned into a roar, and a wave of destruction burst forth from his body. The cobblestone street shattered, sending jagged shards flying in every direction. Nearby houses crumbled as the shockwave tore through the village. The Shadow Knight was flung backward, his armor dented and broken.
Villagers screamed as their homes were reduced to rubble. Flames erupted, licking at the sky as chaos consumed Ardent Hollow. Ryou stood at the center of it all, his body enveloped in a dark, pulsating aura. His mind was no longer his own—only rage and grief remained.
"Stop!" a voice called out. It was faint, almost drowned out by the roaring flames. Ryou turned toward the sound, his glowing eyes narrowing. An elderly man, one of the village's elders, stood trembling before him.
"This isn't you, Ryou," the elder said, his voice cracking. "You must stop, or you'll destroy everything!"
For a moment, the words seemed to reach him. The glow in Ryou's eyes flickered, and the aura around him began to waver. But the power was too much. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The village lay in ruins. Smoke rose from the smoldering wreckage, and the air was thick with the stench of burning wood and blood. Survivors gathered in small clusters, their faces etched with fear and grief. They looked at Ryou's unconscious form with a mixture of pity and terror.
"What is he?" one whispered.
"A monster," another replied.
As darkness fell over Erevos, Ryou's body was lifted by an unseen force. He vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a broken world and the haunting memory of his unleashed power.