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Hollowstone, a small city beyond the Sun City, stood as alone by the veil—a barrier between the realms of light and shadow. Shrouded in perpetual darkness, its skies were painted in endless hues of gray. Even during the day, the sun remained hidden, its light swallowed by the ominous clouds. Nestled between the Dark Lands and the Sun City, Hollowstone bore the weight of its precarious existence, living on the edge of human territory, always under the looming shadow of encroaching danger.
Monsters of varying ranks often intruded upon the city through unstable gates—fractures in reality that spilled creatures into the human world. These incursions were dealt with by sentinels, stationed warriors who stood as humanity's first line of defense. They were transcendents, individuals gifted with extraordinary abilities, trained to confront and eradicate the monstrosities that threatened humanity. Occasionally, a shadow gate would form, summoned by the will of Spectres—entities of immeasurable power. Such gates were rare, but their appearance heralded calamity, as they unleashed beings far beyond the capabilities of ordinary sentinels.
Despite the ever-present danger, the residents of Hollowstone carried on, their lives molded by the oppressive gloom. For them, the gloominess was normal; they had never known a world any brighter.
A young boy of five stood in a dimly lit room, his small face illuminated by the flickering glow of light dancing across his father's fingertips. His father, a transcendent, demonstrated his ability with a gentle smile. The light was soft, harmless, yet captivating to the child, whose wide eyes sparkled with excitement.
"See? It's all about focus," his father said, his voice steady and warm.
"Will I have powers like that one day?" the boy asked, his voice filled with curiosity and hope.
"Maybe," his father replied after a thoughtful pause. A small smile tugged at his lips as he crouched to meet his son's gaze. "But you'll need to eat well and grow strong to wield it."
"Then I'll be as strong as you?"
"Even stronger," his father said, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately.
The boy's face lit up, and he eagerly began shoveling spoonfuls of bland porridge into his mouth, suddenly finding its taste bearable. Despite their grim surroundings, the boy and his father shared a bond of light and laughter that made their modest home a haven.
His father was a sentinel, the lowest rank a transcendent could ever attain—a title that tethered him to Hollowstone indefinitely, with little hope of promotion. Stationed sentinels rarely left their posts, their lives defined by duty and sacrifice. Yet, the boy saw his father not as a lowly guard, but as a hero—invincible, unshakable, and always victorious.
The fragile peace was shattered by the wail of the city's alarm, a sound that made the boy's heart pound in his chest. His father's biosync, a device strapped around his wrist like a wristwatch, lit up with a vivid red glow. The boy knew what it meant—his father had explained it multiple times. A red light signaled a monstrosity, a third-rank threat, the kind that could level entire city blocks.
Without hesitation, his father grabbed the his hand, his movements swift but gentle. "Come with me," he said, his voice calm yet firm. He led his son to a hidden room, a sanctuary within their home. It was a place they had prepared for emergencies, known only to the two of them.
"Stay here," his father instructed, crouching to meet his son's wide-eyed gaze. "Lock the door and don't come out, no matter what you hear. Not even if someone knocks. Promise me."
The boy hesitated, his small hand clutching his father's sleeve. Before he could reply either in agreement or protest, his father placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and gently guided him inside. The door clicked shut, leaving the boy alone in the darkness.
He crouched in the confined space, hugging his knees to his chest. His young mind clung to optimism, certain that his father would unlock the door as he always did, wearing a reassuring smile and carrying tales of another victory.
But the sounds outside told a different story. The alarm blared without pause, its shrill tone blending with distant shouts and screams. The ground trembled, a deep rumble that made the walls shudder. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and the boy's breathing grew shallow, fear coiling tightly around his chest.
Time stretched painfully, losing all meaning as he sat in the dark, each second stretching into eternity. The muffled chaos outside grew louder, more urgent. Unable to bear the uncertainty, the boy finally moved to the hidden door. His small fingers trembled as he entered the code his father had taught him. The latch released with a soft click, and he stepped into a world unrecognizable.
Hollowstone lay in ruins. Smoke and ash filled the air, stinging his eyes and searing his throat. The streets were littered with rubble and bodies, their stillness more horrifying than any scream. Buildings stood as hollow shells, their structures broken and crumbling.
The boy's feet carried him forward, his wide eyes scanning the devastation. His chest tightened with every step, his voice caught in his throat as he searched desperately for his father.
Then he saw it. A shadow, immense and towering, loomed over the street. The creature was monstrous, its form shifting and writhing as if it were made of living darkness, towering above the buildings. Its crimson eyes burned with malice, and its maw stretched impossibly wide, revealing multiple rows of gleaming, razor-sharp teeth.
The boy froze, paralyzed by the creature's gaze. The crowd that had surged around him moments earlier had scattered, leaving him alone in the beast's shadow. The monstrosity advanced, its massive claws gouging deep furrows into the ground with each step.
As its jaws opened to swallow him, a blinding light erupted between them. His father stood there, radiant and defiant, his power blazing like a shield. He faced the monster alone, his figure small but unwavering.
"Run!" his father shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The boy hesitated, his legs rooted to the ground.
"Go!" his father bellowed, his light shield cracking under the force of the monster's next attack.
The creature's massive claw swiped through the air, catching his father in its grip. Before it could finish him, a portal of swirling darkness opened beneath them. The monster and his father disappeared into the void, leaving only silence.
The boy stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the spot where his father had been. Among the rubble, something glimmered faintly—a purple gemstone pendant, broken and battered. He reached for it with trembling hands, clutching it tightly to his chest.
"D-Dad..." he whispered, his voice breaking as tears blurred his vision.
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