Adetoye_Eniola

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In a world where technology and mysticism intertwine, Dante Kieran wakes up to a reality altered beyond recognition. A mysterious artifact has bonded with him, rewriting his destiny and unlocking powers beyond human comprehension.

Hunted by secret organizations, feared by the elite, and drawn into a battle older than time itself, Dante must navigate a treacherous path of betrayal, ambition, and forbidden knowledge. Alongside three breathtakingly powerful women—each harboring secrets of their own—he will uncover the truth behind the artifact, his past, and the cosmic forces at play.

But power comes with a price, and as the line between hero and villain blurs, Dante must decide: Will he be humanity’s savior or its destruction?

The Genesis has begun.


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ROUGE GENESIS

Chapter 20: The Hunter's challenge.

The underground air was thick with tension. Dante stood in the dimly lit training chamber, his body still pulsing with dark energy. He could feel it—the hunger, the power—but for once, it wasn't devouring him.

Lyra and Cain watched in silence, their usual banter absent. They felt it too.

A sound echoed through the tunnels—a slow, deliberate clap.

Dante's golden eyes snapped toward the entrance.

A shadow detached itself from the darkness.

Tall. Broad. Moving with the confidence of someone who knew he could kill everyone in the room.

The stranger wore a black combat suit reinforced with silver plates. A sleek hunting blade rested at his hip, pulsing faintly with energy. His hair was a stark white, tied at the back, and his piercing crimson eyes locked onto Dante with an unsettling intensity.

"So you're the one everyone's been whispering about," the man drawled, tilting his head. "Dante Kieran. The Shadowborn Experiment."

Cain stiffened. "Tch. Great. A damn Hunter."

Lyra's voice was quiet but firm. "Stay alert. He's not just any Hunter."

The man placed a hand on his blade, smirking.

"My name is Soren Velcrux." He flexed his fingers, power crackling in the air.

"And I've come to see if you're worth killing."

Dante barely registered the motion before the Hunter was in front of him, blade flashing. He dodged on instinct, but too slow—the blade grazed his ribs, slicing through fabric and drawing blood.

The pain barely registered before his shadows reacted.

They surged around him, tendrils snapping at Soren like vipers.

The Hunter twisted, effortlessly dodging. His movements were sharp, precise. Every step calculated.

Dante ground his teeth. He wasn't just fast.

"Oh?" Soren chuckled. "Not bad. But not good enough."

He vanished—and reappeared behind Dante.

Lyra's eyes widened. "Dante, move—!"

Dante spun—his arm snapping up—shadows forming a shield.

Sparks flew as steel met solidified darkness. The force of the blow sent Dante skidding backward.

Cain whistled low. "Damn. This guy's no joke."

Dante steadied himself, his breath coming fast. The cut on his ribs stung, but his body was already adapting. The shadows around him flared, pulsing with raw potential.

Soren smiled. "Good. You learn fast."

"Let's see if you can survive the next one."

THE HUNTER'S CHALLENGE.