Prologue – A World on the Brink of Chaos

The sky burned crimson as the celestial eclipse cast its haunting shadow upon the land. In the ancient kingdom of Astra, where gods and mortals once walked together, war had begun.

Legends spoke of a prophecy—a child born under a shattered moon, destined to bring either salvation or destruction.

Tonight, that prophecy awakened.

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The Cursed Warrior

A battlefield. A graveyard of fallen warriors.

The wind howled through the valley, carrying the scent of blood and fire. Amidst the corpses, a lone warrior stood—his black armor reflecting the dying embers of war. His sword, a weapon forged from the ashes of fallen stars, dripped crimson.

"Riven Kael..."

The name left the lips of a dying knight, his trembling fingers reaching toward the dark figure. His voice was weak, but his eyes burned with recognition.

Riven turned, his golden irises glowing under the cursed moon. He watched the knight struggle to speak, yet he felt nothing.

No remorse. No guilt.

Only silence.

He stepped forward, boots sinking into the blood-soaked ground, and knelt beside the knight. "Speak."

The knight coughed, a trickle of blood running from his mouth. "The prophecy… It speaks of you. The lost prince… The demon… You will bring ruin…"

Riven's expression remained unreadable. He wiped his blade against his sleeve and stood. "Then die knowing you were right."

With a swift motion, he drove his sword through the knight's heart.

The battlefield grew quiet once more.

But deep within his soul, something stirred.

Something ancient. Something hungry.

The Eclipse Seal over his left eye pulsed, and for the first time in years, a faint whisper echoed in his mind.

"Awaken, Riven Kael…"

And with it, the storm truly began.

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A Kingdom in Fear

Far beyond the battlefield, within the grand palace of Astra, the Emperor sat upon his throne, listening to the terrified whispers of his court.

The High Oracle, an elderly woman dressed in golden robes, stood before him, clutching an ancient scroll. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"Your Majesty… The prophecy has awakened."

The Emperor's grip tightened around the armrest of his throne. "You are certain?"

"Beyond doubt," the Oracle confirmed. "The child of the Eclipse has returned. He walks among us once more."

Gasps filled the chamber. The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. Some whispered prayers. Others clenched their fists in fear.

The Emperor's eyes darkened. "Then we have little time. He must be found… and eliminated."

A young noble stepped forward hesitantly. "But, Your Majesty… If the prophecy is true, then—"

"Silence!" The Emperor's voice boomed, shaking the walls of the chamber. "I will not allow a cursed child to decide the fate of this empire!"

The court fell into silence. The air was thick with dread.

The hunt for Riven Kael had begun.

And the world would never be the same.

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The Assassin's Dilemma

In the ruins of an abandoned temple, hidden deep within the Shadow Lands, a young woman stood over an unconscious body. Her dagger glinted under the pale moonlight.

The man before her—Riven Kael—was barely breathing, his body scarred and battered from battle. Yet, even in his weakened state, his presence was suffocating.

She knelt beside him, brushing aside his bloodstained hair. Her sharp eyes traced the Eclipse Seal over his left eye.

"So, you're the one they fear," she murmured. "The demon prince."

Her grip on the dagger tightened. She had been sent to kill him.

But something held her back.

For the first time in her life, Lyria Vale, the Empire's deadliest assassin, hesitated.

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