In the midst of the chaos of the apocalypse, Rosario was moving cautiously through a ruined city. The shadows of crumbling buildings rose up like sleeping giants, and every step she took echoed in the eerie silence that surrounded her. His heart was pounding hard, reminding him of the nightmare he had lived after returning from a world that seemed to be falling apart around him.
While Rosario was reflecting on his own journey, in the northeast of the neighborhood, near the dark forest of the elves, Julian faced a terrifying fate. Suddenly, a group of black dogs, grotesque and putrid, surrounded him. The eyes of these monsters glowed with an insatiable hunger, and their stench was so overwhelming that Julian felt his stomach churn. With a quick movement, he activated his teleportation magic, disappearing just as one of the dogs lunged at him with a heart-rending howl.
He reappeared five meters away, his body was fading and materializing with the fluidity of a shadow. Julian moved in a zigzag, dodging the attacks, and with a knife imbued with paralyzing dark magic in his hand, he launched a precise attack. His movements were a deadly dance; he bent and turned, the edge of the knife cutting the air with an almost musical whistle. He cut the throats of the dogs, who were falling to the ground like withered leaves, their howls dying out in a desperate gurgle.
But the danger was not over. Looking up, he saw motorcycle-sized fire bats streaking across the sky, their wings generating flares that lit up the dark night like lightning in a storm. Julian felt the pressure of his skill and, with a cry of defiance, he threw himself into the air, trying to overcome the five meters that his magic allowed him. But the bats were relentless, their fury-filled howls echoing as they launched flares that lit up the horizon with an ominous light.
It was then that Ibarra appeared like a flash of lightning. He was a stocky young man, 1.69 meters tall, with short hair that fell just above his neck. His black jacket, made of lava lizard scales, glowed with a fiery glow. With a determined shout, Ibarra threw himself into combat, his body cutting through the air with the precision of lightning.
Ibarra: - Are you okay?
Before Julian could respond, Chino, his companion nicknamed for his peculiar appearance, joined the fray. Wearing his tight-fitting tank top that exposed his muscular arms, Chino jumped into an aerial spin, kicking the fire bats with gravity-defying force. Each kick resounded like thunder, knocking down five of the monsters, who fell like puppets without ropes. With a confident smile, Chino landed, dazzling Julian and Ibarra.
Julián: - That was amazing!
However, the calm was short-lived. More than 30 fire bats and 10 humanoid bats emerged from the abyss, their bodies black as night. They launched flames and dark lightning in a coordinated attack, creating a terrifying spectacle that could have scared any warrior. It was at that moment that a 1.70 meter young man emerged from the shadows, his hand extended forward.
Russo: - Were they planning to make such a fuss at this time of the morning?
Chino and Ibarra let out nervous laughs, while Julian stared without understanding.
Ibarra: - Russo!
Relieved to see his partner, with a decisive movement, Russo closed his fist, and a dark barrier formed in front of them, absorbing the bats' attacks. The dark energy pulsed, creating an impressive visual spectacle. With a gesture, compressing the barrier, Russo made it explode violently, filling the air with black smoke that smelled of cooked blood, enveloping the battlefield in a dark fog while Russo had some after effects that gave him his overwhelming power making him bleed a little from his mouth while clutching his head in a little pain.
In the midst of the explosion, a roar echoed behind them. A low-ranking dungeon boss, a bat with a human body of about three meters, was approaching with a terrifying calm, his muscular figure standing out in the darkness. Despite the dread that could have come over anyone, the three of them stood their ground. Even though Julian had never seen a dungeon boss before, his mind was full of confusion.
Just at that moment, a 1.70-meter thin woman burst into the scene, breaking the wall of a two-story house. She walked with an eerie tranquility, humming a soft melody that contrasted with the horror that surrounded her. His presence was almost surreal, causing the three young men to feel a shiver run down their spines.
With the sunlight illuminating her soft white skin, and her dark blue hair waving in the wind, the woman stood in front of the monster, challenging him. Her crimson lips were flashing, while her fixed and determined gaze penetrated him.
Valentina: - Do you want me to kill you slow or fast? That depends on how painful you want it to be.
Without warning, the monster threw a devastating blow at him. His hand slammed into her with brute force, and the cracking of bones echoed as the woman was thrown through the air, breaking her neck, arms and a leg as she crashed into a building. Horror seized Julian.
Julian: - No!
He got up from the ground with an uncontrollable fury, but Ibarra and Chino held him down, begging him not to come closer, although without explaining why.
As the monster slowly advanced, a shadow slipped behind him. Suddenly, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Turning around, he found the woman who, despite the brutality of the attack, was settling her neck with an unsettling grace. Her gaze was sweet and seductive, but there was something about her that made the monster recoil, sensing the danger.
Valentina: - You shouldn't treat a lady like that. I should teach you some manners, for your sake.
As Julian watched in amazement, his companions began to explain that she possessed extraordinary abilities, granted by the god who chose her: Lucifer, the king of demons. His ability, "The Blood Demon", allowed him to instantly regenerate from any wound.
Without further ado, the woman pounced on the monster. With superhuman speed, she slammed him to the ground as if he were a doll, and tore off his arms with the force of a predator. With an indescribable ferocity, he penetrated his chest and extracted his heart, making the monster kneel down in a sign of surrender. In a final act of defiance, she ripped his head off with her bare hands, dropping some blood on his torn white blouse.
With the sun shining behind him, he walked towards Julian, who was in a state of shock, feeling how hope was beginning to be reborn in his chest. Rosario knew that the red zone, as she called it, was an unexplored territory, full of unclassified monsters. But he also knew that there was a chance to survive there, and with the strength of their companions, they were ready to face any challenge that came their way.
In a room they called the "training camp," a space where sweat and determination intertwined, the group sat in circles. The walls were adorned with marks of blows and scratches, silent witnesses of the numerous battles that had been fought there. This place was their refuge, a sanctuary where they practiced and increased their strength and skills. But it was also a home, where they ate, slept and planned their strategies to clean up the red zone.
While the atmosphere was filled with a tense air, Julian began to relate what had happened during his encounter with the monster. For him, only a few hours had passed, but his companions knew that, in his absence, five years had passed in a hell of loneliness and despair. Their voices, although tired, reflected the experience and suffering they had accumulated.
Julián: -I'm really sorry, I wasn't there for you, when you needed me the most I failed you as a friend, I thought it had all been just a few hours. I can't believe what's happened... I'm so sorry for everything.
Ibarra, who was sitting in a corner, taking a sip of coffee, looked at him with a mixture of mockery and complicity. His smile was casual, as if he was enjoying the spectacle of Julian's self-pity.
Ibarra: - Oh, come on.. Stop exaggerating. You're not to blame for anything, man. Life is crazy, and we have survived. That's what matters, don't you think?..
Ibarra's words echoed in the air, and although Julián continued with his gaze lost in his thoughts, his companions could not help but smile at Ibarra's carefree attitude
Ibarra's words echoed in the air, and although Julián continued with his gaze lost in his thoughts, his companions could not help but smile at Ibarra's carefree attitude. The latter, with his dark hair and flaky jacket, radiated an unshakable confidence. He was the kind of person who could make even the bleakest moment feel a little lighter.
Chino, who had been watching intently, nodded in agreement, putting aside his own training.
Chinese: - Exactly. If you were in our place, maybe you would feel differently. But we managed to survive together. Now we just have to keep going and fight to clean up this area.
This Chino was saying, while he was exhausted from the training, letting his aura full of pale red electric sparks shine, while he was sweating slightly, and bleeding from his nose, as well as lifting his hair, somewhat disheveled
This Chino was saying, while he was exhausted from the training, letting his aura full of pale red electric sparks shine, while he was sweating slightly, and bleeding from his nose, as well as lifting his hair, somewhat disheveled.
In that instant, a presence that no one had noticed until that moment became apparent on the training ground. A small, thin woman, with short hair that reached to her neck and a lock that covered her forehead, appeared out of nowhere. She was no taller than 1.65 meters and had an almost childish appearance, but there was no time to underestimate her figure. Without warning, he launched a violent attack on Julian, trying to kill him.
Julian, in an instant of pure adrenaline, activated his momentary teleportation ability, dodging the attack by a hair. However, when he reappeared, he found the girl already waiting for him in the place where he had appeared, unleashing an intense speed combat. The sharp daggers of the two collided violently with each other, producing sparks that lit up the atmosphere. Such was the speed of their movements that it was difficult to follow them, unless they stopped at the clash of their daggers.
Finally, the girl managed to stop an attack by Julian, positioning herself firmly on the ground. Taking advantage of his stability, he turned nimbly, throwing a kick that made him lose his balance. Julian disappeared into the air, trying to escape, but to his bad luck, she was waiting for him with a double kick in the stomach that crashed him to the ground. Before he could react, he placed his dagger on her neck and smiled at her tenderly.
Victoria: - You lost.
With a friendly look, she picked Julián up, introducing herself as Victoria, one of her classmates and best friend of another member of the group whose whereabouts were a mystery. After that demonstration of ferocity and speed, her presence changed drastically, transforming from a killing machine to an adorable little girl. Julian, still nervous and not knowing how to react, looked at the others, who were somewhat uncomfortable and sad, unable to do anything.
Julian: - Uh, I'm a little busy right now. If you need anything, talk to me later. (nervous giggle)
Victoria, with her kind smile, nodded her head and disappeared in an instant. Julian, upset, turned to Ibarra, almost shouting at him, demanding answers about why they did not help him and why they did not teach him to stay calm in an apocalypse, instead of being in a playground.
Julián: - Ibarra! I was about to die and you just stared! What's the matter with you? Are you enjoying the show? !!
However, Russo became violently angry. His eyes were tinged with a crimson red as he stood in front of Julian, speaking with a threatening tone.
Russo: - I don't care if you're my friend. If I have to break a couple of your teeth to get you to behave, I will. And don't talk if you don't know anything.
Julian, keeping his composure, replied coldly.
Julian: -If you want to fight, I will be happy to disfigure your face with my knife.
Both of them exuded an imposing aura, each one challenging the other, until Ibarra, with a blow on the ground, cracked the ground between them, creating a clear separation.
Ibarra: - Calm down! (turning first to Julian) You! Stop acting like you're in a fucking comedy. This is not a game, and we don't have time for your dramas.
Then, turning to Russo, he went on steadily.
Ibarra: - And you, let down your guard. We're not here for infighting. We have much more dangerous enemies out there.
The tension in the air dissipated a little as they both stood in silence, Ibarra's gaze imposing and focused on each one. Julian, still with a racing heart, took a deep breath and sat down, ready to listen to the explanation about the strange turn of events.
Five years ago, when Rosario managed to escape from school with everyone during the beginning of the apocalypse, the outside world turned into a vast desert of shadows and despair. The city they reached, located in the center of the country, was revealed to be an even scarier place than their home. The streets were infested with monsters, beings that defied logic and reason. They were known as national monsters, and among them the outer constellations moved, creatures that seemed to come out of the worst dreams.
The survivors had no choice; the only alternative was to return to the neighborhood they had left behind. But as they reached the entrance, a bolt of terror materialized in front of them: the highest level zone boss. His presence was a shadow that crushed the air around him. None of them could clearly remember their shape; each one carried in his memory a distorted image, a reflection of fear that paralyzed them. However, a protective instinct pushed the four to confront that dark entity, allowing Rosario to flee with the weakest.
They fought bravely, wounded the monster, but that victory felt ephemeral. For two years, they watched him from a distance, a relentless hunter who tortured humans who fell into his trap, feeding on their desperation. The stories of other survivors told of their insatiable hunger.
Ibarra, remembering those moments, spoke with a trembling voice, impregnated with pain.
Ibarra: -Every night, we heard the screams of those he was catching. Do you remember? We could never do anything but stand there, standing, like watching shadows of our own failure.
One fateful night, the eerie calm was interrupted by a stampede of monsters. Thousands of them, roaring with ravenous hunger, rushed through the darkness. Ibarra and his group could hardly believe their eyes, the chaos unleashed before their eyes. On their flight, they saw Victoria, standing tall in front of the horde, her figure fragile in the midst of barbarism.
Ibarra: - I saw her there, like a lighthouse in the middle of the storm. He shouted, and we could do nothing but watch. She was there, facing the inevitable, and we were too weak to help her.
The horror was unleashed. Monsters tore Victoria apart, while they, standing in a corner of despair, could only watch, paralyzed by their helplessness. That night, guilt settled in their hearts, becoming a shadow that would never leave.
Ibarra: - No one slept that night. Guilt became our companion. Each of us wondered if we could have done something, if we had been faster, stronger...
The next day, they decided to look for his body. With heavy steps and broken hearts, they arrived at what looked like a scene straight out of a nightmare. A mountain of monsters was rising up before them, and at the top, Victoria was sitting, crying. The image was heartbreaking, her face soaked in tears, as she wondered why she was still alive.
Ibarra— - We approached her. I saw her in her agony, her fragility exposed. How could she be alive in the midst of such horror? That's when she asked me if I knew how to kill her. It was as if her suffering had consumed her.
They recognized the deep sadness in her gaze; she had been alone, wandering through the abyss of despair. They decided to take her with them, take care of her, but for two years, her voice remained silent, as if pain had robbed her of the ability to speak.
Ibarra: -It was as if she was carrying a burden that kept her silent. Every time there was a stampede, we were forced to stop it. But his strength was overwhelming. Every time she came back, she looked stronger, and we could do nothing but stare at her, helpless.
Finally, after five years, she broke her silence, revealing an even more cruel truth. I couldn't die. Anubis, the god of death, had chosen her, and her ability, "the eternal return," was a condemnation disguised as a gift.
Ibarra: - He told me that he could not die, that his god did not want. That revelation was like a stab to the heart. How do you live with the burden of eternity in a crumbling world?
Victoria, in an instant of vulnerability, approached Julian, her sad eyes reflecting a deep melancholy.
Victoria: - Don't feel sorry for me. Even though I want to die, that doesn't mean I want to see others die. (Her words, soft and heartbreaking, echoed in the air like a sad song.)
Ibarra looked around, the pain palpable in the atmosphere. He understood that the struggle to survive was not only against the monsters from the outside, but also against the demons that everyone carried inside. Every face around him bore the mark of despair and sadness, a burden that united them in their shared grief.
Julian just wanted to say something, he looked at Victoria and tried to articulate some word, maybe to give her encouragement:
Julian: h-he... and-me...
However, at that very instant, an explosion echoed outside the base. The shaking was so strong that everyone lost their balance. The explosion made every corner of the shelter vibrate. When the shaking subsided, everyone ran to the roof to observe what was happening. From there, they saw a bright light rising from the direction of the school, an unmistakable sign of the divine power of Rosario, who continued to defend the place with an implacable ferocity. At the same time, a crimson aura stood out among the shadows, recognizing in her the presence of Duck.
They knew that Pato had gone to the city of the dwarves in the western zone, but now they understood that something even more dangerous was unfolding. They noticed that the big explosion came from the dark forest, guarded by the dark elves, who were now facing a horde of monsters. Determined to help, they started to move, but suddenly a quick attack was launched towards Ibarra, who was saved by Victoria, who received the direct hit to his chest. The wound made her bleed profusely, but her body began to regenerate quickly, not without great pain.
The attack came from a low/medium level boss, known as the Dog of Darkness, leader of the black dogs they had faced at the beginning. Its shape was terrifying: a quadrupedal and at the same time humanoid body, with long and sharp claws. Its head, similar to that of a dog, had a gigantic mouth and long fangs, accompanied by more than nine large eyes that protruded from its forehead and covered almost its entire head.
Ibarra: Damn it! We have to face it!
Russo: There's no time to hesitate, we're leaving now!
Julian looked at the boss and thought about everything his friends had been through. He couldn't let them keep risking a fight while he was watching. So, with determination, he closed the roof door and put a temporary seal so that they could not open it. Then, he jumped outside, placing another seal on the door to secure it. In addition, he added an even stronger seal on the building to protect his friends from the monster.
Desperate, his friends came to the window and started shouting at him, trying to stop him.
Valentina: Julian, don't do it! You don't have to do this alone!
Chinese: Don't blame yourself, we fight together! You are not weak or useless!
Julian looked at the floor for a moment, then looked up and smiled kindly at them, turning his back to them.
Julian: I'm not doing it just for that. I must also become strong... so that I don't have to always depend on you guys to come and save me. Wait a minute... I'm coming back alive.
Julian: "Corvo, constellation of the Black Raven, I'm calling you."
In response, Corvo materialized in front of him, an imposing and majestic shadow. With a deep and resonant voice, he asked Julian what he wanted.
Corvo: "What do you wish for, young warrior?"
Julian: "I want the temporary union of the soul. Give me a part of your power so that I can fight this creature."
Corvo looked at him seriously, understanding the gravity of what Julian was asking.
Corvo: "I'm not just any god. I am a constellation, a being superior to the high-ranking gods. If you accept this, you won't be able to use my power for more than 10 minutes. Afterwards, your body might not be able to resist."
Julian nodded, determined.
Julian: "10 minutes is more than enough. That thing in front of me is not worthy of this power."
Corvo smiled approvingly and placed a hand on Julian's head.
Corvo: "You're stubborn, kid. I'm glad I chose you. Don't die, I command you."
With those words, a black light enveloped Julian. Celestial energy was flowing through his body, and two ebony-black wings emerged from his back, surrounding him with a protective warmth. A black aura, dense and full of divinity, covered him.
Julian looked at the monster with an unshakable firmness and a defiant smile
Julian looked at the monster with an unwavering firmness and a defiant smile.
Julian: "I hope you're ready, because right now you're going to die in my hands."
He took a firm step towards the monster, giving off a black aura like the emptiness of space, while the monster, intelligent but arrogant, looked at him with a mocking smile.
Julian was watching the battlefield with a cold intensity, the air around him crackling with dark energy. The fusion with Corvo had raised his power to unimaginable levels, but he also knew that time was limited. Opposite, the Wolf of Darkness stood up with an imposing presence, his quadruped and humanoid body covered with an armor of fur black as the night. Eyes of a deep red watched him with a calculating intelligence, while their fangs gleamed in the moonlight, sharp and deadly.
Wolf of Darkness: "I am not a simple 'dog', human. I am a Wolf of Darkness, a warrior born in the shadow, trained in the arts of hunting and combat. I respect the strong... and you have proved yourself worthy of my respect. We will fight with honor."
The Wolf's voice was low and resonant, filled with an unusual calm for such a formidable creature. Julian nodded silently, acknowledging his opponent's dignity. They both knew that this would not be a simple confrontation, but a battle between warriors who understood the true weight of the struggle.
At the base, his companions watched nervously. Ibarra maintained his composure, although his eyes did not move away from Julian. Valentina and Victoria, on the other hand, were fighting an internal impulse, a feeling of desperation that pushed them to want to break the seal that kept them locked up. Both of them began to beat the walls furiously, trying to open a breach by sheer brute force, but without success. Julian's barrier was too powerful.
Meanwhile, Julian decided to attack first. He launched himself forward, his black wings flapping hard, letting him fly towards his enemy with the speed of lightning. With a quick movement, he formed a dark energy long sword in his hand, a blade made of pure darkness that cut through the air with a high-pitched whistle. The Wolf of Darkness responded with an impressive dexterity, dodging the attack by a hair and countering with a paw that split the ground under his paws in two, creating a deep crack.
Wolf of Darkness: "You are fast, human, but not enough."
The Wolf jumped into the air, spinning in a fluid motion, and released a series of dark spheres from its mouth. These spheres, surrounded by a chaotic energy, flew towards Julian with the force of meteorites. Julian raised his free hand, creating a wall of shadows that absorbed the impact. However, the resulting explosions shook the terrain, sending shockwaves that broke nearby trees and kicked up clouds of dust.
Julian wasted no time. He fired a shower of shadow daggers at the Wolf, each one charged with concentrated energy that exploded on contact. The Wolf of Darkness spun in the air, deflecting some of the daggers with its claws while dodging the rest with agile movements. Upon landing, it dug its claws into the earth and let out a roar that made the earth tremble, releasing a shockwave of dark energy that leveled everything in its path.
Julian teleported away just in time, reappearing behind the Wolf. With a battle cry, he activated the "Shadow Dance", a technique that surrounded him with dark duplicates, all attacking in unison from different directions. The Wolf was hit repeatedly, his senses confused by the speed and accuracy of the attacks. But he was not a creature to give up easily. With a burst of energy, he scattered the duplicates and lunged straight at Julian, his fangs glowing with an unnatural light.
Julian blocked with his sword, but the force of the impact was such that it made him retreat several meters, leaving a trail of blood in the air. Still, he didn't give up. He channeled more power into his sword and counterattacked with a series of quick slashes, each aimed at the Wolf's vital points. The fight turned into a deadly dance, with both fighters moving at superhuman speeds, their attacks unleashing increasing devastation on the surroundings.
From the base, Ibarra, Russo, Valentina, Victoria and Chino watched in silence, each feeling the tension in their bodies. Each blow echoed in their hearts, knowing that any mistake could be the last for Julian.
Julian: "I can't afford to fail... I can't lose any more people..."
At that moment, Julian unleashed one of his most powerful abilities: "The Raven Cut", a technique that condensed all dark energy into a single shadow blade, capable of cutting anything in its path. The Wolf of Darkness saw it coming and knew that this was an attack he could not take lightly. With a roar, he summoned a dark energy shield around his body, strengthened by his own abilities. When Julian's cut hit, the shock was titanic, sending a wave of destruction across the battlefield.
The ground split, trees were uprooted, and a cloud of debris covered the entire area. But when the dust settled, the Wolf of Darkness was still standing, although seriously injured. His shield had held, but barely. His claws were bleeding, and his eyes were shining with a controlled fury.
Wolf of Darkness: "Awesome... but not enough, human. You have power, but you lack experience. I have lived for centuries in the dark, perfecting my art of war."
Julian was breathing hard, feeling the exhaustion begin to take over him. But I also knew I couldn't back down. Not now. He decided to risk everything and unleashed his final ability - "Soul Union", completely merging his being with Corvo, which gave him a massive increase in power at the cost of extreme exhaustion.
Julian's wings spread to the fullest, now surrounded by black flames that devoured the darkness around him. His body was wrapped in a pure shadow armor, and his eyes shone with a light that was both divine and cursed. With a last effort, he launched himself towards the Wolf of Darkness, his movements now much faster and more precise.
Wolf of Darkness: "Come on, human! Let's fight to the end!"
The wolf did not retreat. Despite his injuries, he lunged forward with terrifying speed, his claws cutting through the air as he unleashed a series of dark techniques that they had perfected for centuries. Julian and the Wolf collided in the center of the field, their attacks unleashing explosions that shook the earth and tore the sky.
The final battle was a whirlwind of destruction. Each blow of Julian split the earth, each paw of the Wolf cut the air like a scythe of shadows. The dark energy was pouring over the battlefield like a river, fueled by the fury and determination of both fighters. Despite the brutality of the fight, there was a mutual respect, an understanding that they were fighting with everything they had.
In a moment, the Wolf managed to catch Julian with his claws, digging them deep into his flesh. The blood gushed out in a stream, staining the Wolf's black fur. Julian cried out in pain, but did not back down. With a titanic effort, he broke the Wolf's grip and released a burst of dark energy at close range, causing the Wolf to let out a howl of agony.
Julian: "This is for all those who have fallen! I won't die here!"
Finally, with a shout that echoed throughout the battlefield, Julian concentrated all his power in a single blow. With amazing speed, he charged towards the Wolf of Darkness, slashing the air with his shadow sword. The Wolf tried to block, but Julian's power was too much. The blow cut through the Wolf's shield, piercing through his dark armor and digging deep into his flesh.
The Wolf of Darkness let out one last sigh, his body starting to fade into the darkness. Before she disappeared completely, her eyes met Julian's, and in them there was a glow of final respect.
Wolf of Darkness: "Good fight, human... I hope you survive in this dark world."
And with those words, the Wolf vanished into nothingness, his body transforming into shadows that dissolved into the
The group ran towards him as soon as the barrier he had created vanished. Julian saw them coming, but he didn't have the strength to move. He dropped to his knees, his wings fading into the air, and looked up at the sky, where the glow of the moon illuminated the battlefield.
Julian: "I succeeded... This time... I didn't disappoint them."
With those words, he finally let exhaustion get the better of him, falling to the ground as his friends caught up with him. Silence reigned for a moment, broken only by the heaving breathing of them all. They had survived, but the price had been high.
The wind was blowing gently, carrying with it the ashes of the monster and the unspoken words of those who had fallen. The world was still a dark and dangerous place, but at that moment, they had achieved a small triumph. One that Julian, with all his power, had achieved at an almost devastating cost.
The group gathered around their friend, who was lying unconscious but alive. The scars of combat marked his body, but on his face there was an expression of peace. He had protected his own, and that was all that mattered.
At that very moment, a black shadow remained sitting on the edge of a ruined building, watching the battlefield from above. The figure, wrapped in a dark cloak that seemed to merge with the night, was holding a phone in his hand, talking quietly to someone on the other end of the line.
???: "Yes, it looks like he succeeded. They have become stronger... but there are still three more to go. The elf forest is still under attack, and the yellow zone keeps burning."
The voice that answered from the phone sounded serious, with a tinge of satisfaction.
Mystery man: "That's fine. Call me when you have information about others. Soon, 'it' will come, and we have to be ready... Bye."
The black shadow nodded silently, stowing the phone in a pocket hidden under his cloak. From his position, he observed Julian, who was barely standing after the fierce battle. A faint smile was drawn on the figure's face before disappearing into the darkness, whispering in barely audible voice:
???: "We'll see each other again soon, guys..."
Meanwhile, in a place unknown to the others, a group of mysterious figures was gathered in a room lit only by a dim light. In front, a man whose presence commanded respect, had just hung up the phone. Next to her, a female silhouette, noticeably short and slender, stepped forward and asked in a soft but charged with concern voice:
Silhouette One: "How are the preparations going?"
The mysterious man, with a calm but calculating expression, replied without taking his eyes off the star-filled space flame spinning in his hand.
Mystery Man: "Everything is going well so far. We have only one week left before the difficulty of the system increases."
Another figure in the room, a tall woman with a firm posture, spoke in turn, her voice reflecting a mixture of impatience and concern. Next to him, a tall man in a long cape stood quietly, listening intently.
Silhouette Two: "Shouldn't we go back already, then? What are we waiting for?"
The mysterious man looked up at his companions and replied with a calmness that contrasted with the urgency in his words.
Mystery man: "No, not yet. If we did it now, the difficulty would automatically increase as a whim of the evil gods. Be patient... Soon we will be able to go to save them. Soon... the national event will begin."
With those words, the flame slightly lit up his face, revealing a dark blue eye that shone brightly. he observed the flame in his hand, and with a gentle movement, he closed his fist, making the light disappear.
While the tension in the room was palpable as the shadows of twilight lengthened, giving way to another night in that world plunged into darkness.