VoidSpecter

Betrayed. Forgotten. Erased from history.

Kael Draven was once a loyal knight of the Divine Order, an elite warrior who fought in their name. But when he uncovered their darkest secrets, they silenced him—branding him a traitor and executing him without hesitation.

Yet death was not the end. An unknown force grants Kael a second chance, sending him twenty years into the past. Now, in his seventeen-year-old body, he has one goal: to bring down the Divine Order from the shadows.

Armed with knowledge of the future and a system that grants power at a deadly cost, Kael must rebuild his strength, gather allies, and navigate a world where his enemies still hold absolute control. But the deeper he digs, the more he realizes—the Divine Order’s corruption runs far deeper than he ever imagined.

The world believes the Divine Order is untouchable. Kael will prove them wrong.

This time, he won’t fight for them. He will bring them to ruin.

Eclipsed monarch

The campfire flickered in the night, casting shadows over the gathered mercenaries. Kael sat near the edge of the group, listening as the hired swords laughed and drank, unaware of his silent observations.

His eyes drifted toward the carriage.

It was too well-guarded for a simple transport mission. Four armored knights from House Veltrion kept watch, positioned strategically to prevent anyone from getting close. Kael had noticed the divine sigils etched into the carriage's wooden frame—subtle, but unmistakable. This wasn't just noble cargo. It was something connected to the Divine Order.

And that made it worth investigating.

As the night deepened, the mercenaries gradually fell into slumber. Kael remained still, waiting for the perfect moment. When the last of them settled into sleep, he moved.

Silent as a phantom, he approached the carriage, staying out of the knights' line of sight. He crouched low, slipping into the darkness behind a supply crate. From here, he could hear the muffled whispers of the guards.

"Lord Veltrion will not be pleased," one muttered.

"He should've sent more men," another replied. "If word of this reaches the Divine Order…"

His gaze shifted to the carriage's rear. A heavy iron lock secured the entrance, reinforced with runic carvings. Breaking it open wasn't an option—not without drawing attention. But that didn't mean he couldn't learn something.

A sudden rustling in the trees made him freeze. The knights snapped to attention.

Then, an arrow whistled through the air, striking one of the guards in the throat.

The attack was swift and precise. Figures emerged from the darkness—bandits, but not ordinary ones. Their movements were too coordinated, their tactics too refined. These weren't common raiders.Kael didn't move. He watched.

The knights fought back, but they were outnumbered. The mercenaries, now awake, scrambled into the fray. Steel clashed, and screams filled the night.

Then Kael heard it—a sound from inside the carriage.

The carriage suddenly shook, as if something inside was trying to break free. The iron lock strained against the force.

Whatever was inside… wasn't human.

Chapter 21: The Forbidden Cargo