CHAPTER 1:BE A PAWN

Their numbers were scant, barely a dozen, perhaps a few more. Yet, they moved with a chilling synchronicity, a chilling echo of a bygone ideology.We, the victims, were left with only raw terror as they began their systematic slaughter.

Family, friends, loved ones – all vanished in a macabre ballet of violence.What truly petrified me was their unnatural prowess. They moved with a speed and precision beyond human limitations, their bodies seemingly impervious to harm.

And the armor... black as night, it mirrored the legends of medieval knights, a grotesque parody of chivalry.In the depths of that nightmare, I christened them: The Black Order.

"Huff... Huff... Huff..." Gasping for air, the boy dashed through the inky blackness of the tunnel. Fear, raw and primal, propelled him forward. His body, battered and bruised, screamed for rest.

But he couldn't stop.A chilling image flickered in his mind: a shadowy figure, inhuman and relentless. The creature's pursuit had turned his peaceful life into a nightmare.

"Why me?" he muttered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

Just when despair threatened to consume him, a glimmer of hope appeared. A figure stood at the tunnel's end, a beacon in the darkness.

"Help!" he cried, his voice hoarse. "I'm a survivor!"With renewed determination, he pushed himself harder, his legs aching with every stride.

The sound of the pursuing footsteps had faded, but the fear lingered."I'm going to make it," he thought, his breath ragged. "I'll survive this hell."The finish line was within reach, a tantalizing prize. He pushed himself harder, each step a victory.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans. A blood-curdling scream tore through the air, a harbinger of doom. A sharp pain lanced through his side, and he collapsed to the ground.

Blood pooled around him, a crimson stain on the unforgiving earth. He tried to rise, his body rebelling against him. A single thought echoed in his mind: the finish line.

He was so close.But then, a chilling realization dawned upon him. The figure that had been pursuing him was gone, vanished into thin air. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Hope, his only solace, was shattered.

Despair washed over him as the familiar sound of footsteps approached. The end was near, and he was powerless to stop it.

"I don't wanna die...I just... don't wanna die..." he pleaded, his voice a mere whisper, his eyes squeezed shut in terror.

"A prey's plea... such hollow words in a hunter's ear," a cold, dismissive voice replied. A figure emerged from the darkness, a hulking man clad in half-black armor, a bow held with deadly precision.

His eyes, cold and calculating, bore into the boy.The boy tried to struggle, but the wound was too severe.

"There's no point," the man taunted. "Struggling will only make it worse."

"Why? Why are you doing this? What did we do to you? Is this some kind of sick game?" the boy demanded, his voice filled with anger and confusion.

The man smirked. "A game? Perhaps. A game of life and death." He raised his bow, the arrow aimed at the boy's heart.

Just as the arrow was about to be released, a swift, powerful figure intervened. A blur of motion, a clash of steel, and the armored man was defeated.

The savior, a towering, muscular figure, stood over the injured boy.

"You're safe now," she reassured him.The pair double blade from her hand diminshied to white light.The boy, overwhelmed with relief, could only stare in awe. He had been saved by a guardian angel, a hero in the darkest hour.

"Whitehead...from head...to...toe..." he thought, a wave of relief washing over him.But the relief was short-lived. A sharp pain shot through his side, and he realized his wound had reopened.

Blood was gushing out, staining the ground. His vision blurred, a dark fog descending upon him.

Panic seized him."No, no, no!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. Regret and sorrow consumed him.

"Please, help me," he pleaded, desperation in his voice. "I've lost everything. Please, don't let me die."

The woman smirked. "You want this to end? Interesting. I can grant you that wish, but there's a price."Without waiting for his answer, she continued, "Your survival is guaranteed, but you must agree to one condition. Are you ready?"

The boy, weak and terrified, could only nod before he blacked out.

He woke up in a strange, empty room. The pain was gone, and he felt strangely refreshed.

"Where am I?" he asked in confusion.The boy checked his wounds, astonished to find no scars. It was as if his injuries had never existed."

You're with us now, kid. This is our shelter," the woman said, a warm smile on her face.

The boy glanced around the room. The woman was joined by a man with a thin beard.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said gratefully.

"No, the credit goes to him," she replied, pointing to the man.

"Thank you for saving me," the boy said to the man.

"Good attitude," the man replied, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Now, let's get you up. I have a lot to explain."The man continued, "Remember our deal? You agreed to help us end this nightmare.

"The boy's brow furrowed. "I... ah yeah."

"That's why I'm here to remind you. You're going to be part of us, an alliance formed to defeat them at their own game."

"...a way to fought back?"

"Boy what is your name?"

"Lux," he replied, his voice still shaky.

"Lux," Freya echoed, "Look at your shoulder."

Lux lifted his shirt hesitantly. There, etched onto his skin, was a circular white symbol.

"What is...?" he began, but Freya interrupted him."An approval," she explained. "You're part of this ride now. I'm Freya, and this is Pierre."

The man with the beard nodded curtly.Pierre leaned forward, his gaze intense.

"Lux, young one," he began, his voice low, "are you prepared to be the heart of our resistance? The one who never falters, who pushes forward even in the face of overwhelming odds? Can you be the pawn who sacrifices himself to see a new dawn?"

Lux's breath hitched. He thought of his family, his friends, the life ripped away from him. A fierce resolve hardened his eyes.

He may have been scared, but he wouldn't let his fear consume him. Not anymore.

"I don't have any clue of this yet.I accept this role!"