The Road to Power
The path to power was never straight.
It was a labyrinth of choices, sacrifices, and opportunities.
And Kael was about to take his first step into the next level of the game.
He walked alone, the dirt road stretching endlessly before him, the ruins of the Black Fortress fading into the horizon behind him. The cold night wind tugged at his cloak, and the moonlit path stretched ahead like an invitation.
He didn't look back.
That chapter was finished.
Now, it was time to move forward.
But where?
He needed information.
He needed to understand more about this world.
And most of all… he needed more power.
So, he would go to Myr.
A city large enough to hold answers.
And dangerous enough to offer new challenges.
The City of Myr
Myr wasn't just a city.
It was one of the largest trade hubs in the Kingdom of Eldoria.
And where there was trade, there was information.
And where there was information… there was power.
Cultivation sects passed through regularly.
Mercenaries recruited fresh blood.
And rumors of conflicts between powerful factions were worth their weight in gold.
Kael would blend in. Watch. Learn.
And then, choose his next move.
Pulling his hood over his head, he continued his journey.
But what he didn't know…
Was that Myr had its own dangers.
And before he even arrived—someone was already waiting for him.
The First Obstacle
The road to Myr wound through a dense forest.
And by now, Kael had learned an important lesson about this world…
No one traveled alone without a good reason.
Either you were strong enough not to need companions.
Or you were stupid enough to die alone.
Kael was neither.
He wasn't alone.
He felt it before he even heard it.
Movement between the trees.
Silent footsteps, keeping pace with his own.
Shallow, controlled breathing.
Hunters.
Or rather…
Predators who thought they had found prey.
Kael smiled faintly.
They were about to learn their mistake.
He kept walking, waiting for the first move.
And then—
The whistle of an arrow through the air.
Straight for his chest.
Kael moved at the last second.
The arrow missed by inches.
And now, he had his first target.
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Shadow Step—Activated.
Kael vanished into the darkness of the forest.
The moment his pursuers revealed their position, they lost their advantage.
Now, it was his turn to hunt.
He moved like a wraith through the trees, silent and unseen.
If the Ironbloods had taught him anything…
It was that killing in the dark was always easier.
And his enemies weren't ready for what came next.
He spotted the first one—
An archer perched in the branches, breath steady, waiting for his next shot.
Expecting Kael to move predictably.
Fatal mistake.
Kael scaled the tree beside him without a sound.
And before the archer even sensed him—
A black dagger pressed against his throat.
Kael whispered against his ear.
"Who sent you?"
The archer's breath hitched.
He started to move—
Too late.
Kael slit his throat in one clean motion.
The body fell lifelessly into the undergrowth.
Now, the others knew.
He was here.
And fear began to spread.
The Forest Battle
The others wasted no time.
Three of them.
Two swords. One spear.
They weren't amateurs.
But they weren't good enough.
Kael twirled his dagger between his fingers, waiting.
They would come to him.
The first one lunged, aiming for his flank.
Kael sidestepped, using a tree branch to push himself backward.
He didn't need to overpower them.
He just needed them to make mistakes.
Dark Mantle—Activated.
For a single moment, Kael vanished into the shadows.
And when he reappeared—
He was already behind one of them.
A single thrust.
Blade slipped between ribs.
The man collapsed to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth.
The other two hesitated.
And hesitation was all Kael needed.
The third one tried to retreat.
Kael didn't let him.
Shadow Step.
Kael appeared in front of him before he could even turn.
The dagger sliced clean across his throat.
Two dead.
One left.
The last warrior stumbled backward, his hands shaking around his spear.
He knew he was outmatched.
Kael could see the fear in his eyes.
But he felt no pity.
He spun his blade slowly.
"Last chance," he murmured. "Who sent you?"
The man swallowed hard.
"The Scarlet Sect… they paid us to kill you!"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Scarlet Sect?
He had never heard of them.
But now…
They were on his list.
If someone had sent assassins after him—
He would find them.
And make them regret it.
Kael smiled.
"Thank you."
Then, he cut the last man's throat.
The Road to Myr Continues
Silence returned to the forest.
Kael stood still, his blade dripping red.
Then, without another glance, he continued walking.
Myr was still waiting for him.
But now, he had a new purpose.
He would find out who the Scarlet Sect was.
And then—
He would make them pay.