Shadowborn: The Forsaken Oath

Strength wasn't enough. Caution wasn't enough. If I had been smarter… my sister would still be alive." Blood dripped from the edge of Raven Solace's blade, his enemies' lifeless bodies littering the cold, concrete floor of the warehouse. The mission was over—another task completed in a long, blood-soaked career. Another step closer to securing his sister's safety. For years, Raven had been a weapon—a mercenary feared in every dark corner of the underworld. Not for joy, not for sport, but for survival. He was unmatched, ruthless, and deadly. But tonight, something felt... wrong. The air was heavy as he neared the safe house, the place where his sister, Lena, had been waiting. The faint but unmistakable scent of blood mingled with the sharp tang of iron, setting his nerves on edge. His pulse quickened, a low warning echoing through his veins. Something was amiss. Inside, the dim glow of the lights revealed the scene. His closest friend, Dante Vale, stood over Lena's lifeless body, his face twisted in a smirk of cruel satisfaction. "Sorry, Raven. There was only room for one of us at the top." The words hit like a slap. Betrayal. Cold, calculated betrayal. Raven's body moved before his mind could catch up. He surged forward, the weight of the world on his shoulders. But Dante's men were already on him—figures emerging from the shadows, weapons drawn, their faces twisted with contempt. Blades flashed. Bullets ripped through the air, sharp and unforgiving. Raven fought like a force of nature, each swing of his blade cutting down his foes, each step leaving a trail of blood. The sound of gunfire was deafening, but his focus never wavered. He fought with the fury of a man who had nothing left to lose. But even Raven had limits. Blood seeped from deep cuts. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision began to blur. The world around him spun, each breath a struggle. He collapsed to the floor, beside Lena's lifeless form, a tear slipping down his cheek. He wanted to scream, to curse the gods that had led him to this moment, but the words wouldn't come. "If only I had been stronger. If only I had been smarter. If only..." But there were no more "if onlys." The world around him went black.