youaspeed

in a medieval dark fantasy world.In the human kingdom . After centuries of protection, the kingdom decided to extinguish the Eternal Flame, a fire that drove away the darkness but required constant human sacrifice. Some believed this decision would bring freedom, while others feared the consequences.

It wasn't long before shadows began to appear, mysterious otherworldly beings silently watching over the kingdom. Some saw them as messengers of a new era, while others saw them as ominous harbingers of a greater power lurking. Amid this threat,Under this threat, the kingdom is divided into the Guardians of the Flame, who seek to rekindle it, and the Council of Hope., who believed that the time of the flame was over.

But amidst this struggle, there was a greater truth that everyone was unaware of: the darkness was not asleep, but was patiently waiting for this moment to return.

unleash the darkness

The night was quiet, but inside him, a storm raged.

Darius stood at the doorway, watching his mother sleep. Her pale face grew weaker each day. His younger brother lay beside her, his steady breathing the only thing that made him seem at peace in this cruel world.

He stepped closer and whispered into his brother's ear, "Take care of our mother... I'll be back soon."

He knew it was a promise he might not be able to keep.

Turning away, he stepped out of the house without looking back. He couldn't. He knew that one last glance would shatter his resolve completely.

At the village entrance, Adam leaned against a wooden post, idly twirling his dagger as usual. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness, as if searching for an unseen threat.

Adam was the only son of an old poor hunter who died few years ago.leaving his only son alone.Adam lived his life in suffering and hunger as a street rat.He did everything he had to do to survive. He even became the most experienced in illegal and dangerous things. This is why Adam seems to be an adult compared to Darius who lived a normal life.Despite this, he is Darius's best friend and the one who understands him the most. Perhaps this is due to the difference in their natures.

When he saw Darius, he raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

Darius didn't reply, but he felt something burn inside him—something that hadn't been there before.

"Then let's go before anyone notices."

Without another word, they moved in silence, leaving the village behind, heading toward an uncertain fate.

The City of Mercenaries – A Place Without Mercy

Two days earlier, when they met a survivor from a shadow attack, the man could barely stand. His body was covered in wounds, and his eyes held something between despair and madness.

"Where can we go to become stronger?" Darius asked.

The man lifted his weary eyes and let out a bitter laugh.

"Looking for strength? There's only one place."

A city without laws, without mercy. Where the strong impose their will, and the weak don't live long.

Darius wasn't convinced. "Why would someone like me go there?"

The man spat blood and grinned, his smile twisted.

"Because the world doesn't care about the weak. If you can't survive there... you don't deserve to exist."

His words were harsh, but they were true.

Darius wasn't looking for safety. He was looking for strength.

And so, their destination became clear.

Before reaching the City of Mercenaries, they had to cross the forest that separated the world they knew... from the hell that awaited them.

The trees were tangled together, blocking out the moonlight, making the darkness thick—like they were walking through the heart of nothingness. The air was heavy, and the night whispered with strange sounds.

Adam tightened his grip on his dagger, his eyes watching every shadow shifting between the trees.

"If we don't become stronger here, we won't survive there."

Darius didn't answer, but he knew one thing for certain:

path to strength