The Awakening of Darkness

The arena was silent as Anil stepped forward, his opponent already waiting. The man wore a strange mask, concealing his face. His presence alone felt unnatural, as if the air itself rejected him.

"Who is this guy?" someone in the crowd muttered.

"I don't know… but something about him feels off," another whispered.

The masked man tilted his head. "You're the one they call Anil, aren't you?" His voice was calm, almost amused.

Anil narrowed his eyes. "And who the hell are you?"

The man chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough."

The referee signaled the start of the match. The moment the fight began, the masked man struck—fast and precise. He moved like a shadow, slipping past Anil's defenses and landing a crushing blow to his stomach. Anil staggered back, gasping for air.

Then, the masked man did something unexpected. He reached into his coat and pulled out a strange artifact—black, pulsing with energy. The very sight of it made Anil's skin crawl.

"This… is not meant for you," the masked man muttered. "But let's see what happens when you take it."

Before Anil could react, the masked man tossed the artifact at him. The moment Anil touched it, a surge of dark energy flooded his body. His vision blurred, and pain shot through his veins like fire. His breath became ragged, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

"This... this isn't right," Anil gasped, trying to drop the artifact. But it was too late.

His body convulsed as the dark energy consumed him. His pupils shrank, his posture shifted, and an eerie, twisted smile spread across his face. His aura changed—no longer the Anil they knew.

The masked man stepped back, satisfied. "And now, let's see what your true potential looks like."

Above them, the sky darkened. Within seconds, black clouds swirled over A1 City, covering an entire district in complete darkness. The ground trembled as something began to emerge. Cracks formed, and from the depths, grotesque creatures clawed their way to the surface—Strays.

Screams echoed through the city as people realized what was happening. The noble family's guards rushed toward the district, but the creatures overwhelmed them instantly.

Anil, now consumed by the artifact's power, raised his hand. "This city belongs to the dead now." His voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "Noble family... your time has come."

The masked man finally removed his disguise, revealing his true identity. Gasps spread through the crowd as his name was spoken in hushed voices.

"That's… Dark Blue 67… the legendary wanted criminal!"

The darkness deepened, and A1 City's fate now hung in the balance.