*Chapter 13: "The Mark of the Unbound"

The runes on my arm burned like fresh ink on an open wound, pulsing in time with the sword's eerie glow. Around me, the team's expressions ranged from awe to outright terror.

Kaela reached out, then hesitated. "Leo...those are the same runes from the ruins. The ones that warned about the Sleeper."

Lyra's bow was still drawn, her eyes darting between me and the forest's deepening shadows. "And now they're crawling up your arm like living things. That's not disturbing at all."

I swallowed hard. "System, any insights here?"

**SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:**

**USER STATUS UPDATE**

**MARK OF THE UNBOUND DETECTED**

**AFFINITY: VOID/ORDER**

**WARNING: BLOOD MOON SYNCHRONIZATION 12%**

Ryn threw her hands up. "Oh wonderful! Now the sword's turning him into some kind of magical time bomb!"

Garrick's grip tightened on his weapon. "We need to get to Eldrin's Spire. If anyone can decipher this curse, it's the Archivists."

The forest erupted in a chorus of howls—unnatural, guttural sounds that made the hair on my neck stand up.

Kaela's staff flared to life. "We might not have time for—"

A pack of shadow-wolves burst from the treeline, their forms flickering between solid and smoke. Their eyes glowed the same void-black as the figure in the ruins.

Lyra's first arrow took the lead wolf between the eyes. It dissipated into mist...then reformed.

"Of course they regenerate," Ryn muttered, flipping her daggers. "Why wouldn't they?"

I raised Veythari, and the blade's crimson veins brightened. The runes on my arm burned hotter. Without thinking, I slashed—and where the sword passed, the shadows stayed dead.

Garrick barked a laugh. "Well look at that! Rookie's got a specialty!"

We fought our way to the forest's edge, the wolves' numbers dwindling with each of my strikes. But with every kill, the runes climbed higher—now reaching my shoulder.

As we broke into a moonlit clearing, Kaela gasped. The Blood Moon hung swollen on the horizon, its crimson light casting the world in eerie hues.

**SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:**

**BLOOD MOON SYNCHRONIZATION: 19%**

**WARNING: SLEEPER'S INFLUENCE DETECTED**

Lyra grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. "Leo. Whatever this is, we'll fix it."

Her fingers were warm against my skin. For a moment, the burning faded.

Then the ground split open.

A massive clawed hand erupted from the earth, followed by another. The creature pulling itself free was nightmare made flesh—a grotesque fusion of bone and shadow, with the Blood Moon's reflection pooling in its hollow eye sockets.

The Sleeper had awakened.

And it was looking right at me.

**TO BE CONTINUED...**