The Man in Crimson
The morning mist clung to the trees like a shroud, heavy and still, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Kairo and Zevrin had begun their descent from the Hollow mountains, the forest path beneath them slick from dew ad shadowed by towering trees. Birds chirped in short bursts—then fell eerily silent again.
> "Something's watching us," Zevrin whispered.
Kairo nodded. His new sense—born of the Third Fragment—was pulsing like a warning bell. There was an imbalance nearby. A massive one.
Suddenly, the trees parted.
And a man stepped out.
He wore a long crimson coat, its edges frayed like it had danced with fire. His eyes were deep gray—emotionless, calculating. A long scar slashed from his temple down to his jaw, and his boots crushed fallen branches without hesitation.
He didn't draw a weapon.
He didn't need to.
Kairo stopped.
This man was like no opponent he'd sensed before. Not a beast. Not a rogue hunter. But something… ancient. Like power had simply chosen him.
> "Kairo Velen," the man said. His voice was smooth, unhurried. "You've awakened the Third Fragment. Impressive."
Zevrin stepped forward, sword halfway out of its sheath.
> "Who the hell are you?"
> "I'm not here for you," the man replied. "But I am here to test what the prophecy has delivered."
Kairo didn't hesitate. The moment the words left the stranger's lips, he surged forward, his blade glowing with new power.
But the man in crimson didn't flinch.
He raised his hand—and with a flick of his wrist, unleashed a wave of force that sent Kairo crashing into a tree with bone-jarring violence.
> "You're quick to draw. But not quick enough," the man said.
Kairo gritted his teeth and stood, blood trickling from his lip.
> "Then maybe you should stop talking and start fighting."
The man's expression remained calm.
Then—he vanished.
Appeared behind Zevrin in a blink.
> "MOVE!" Kairo shouted.
Zevrin twisted, barely avoiding a blade of raw energy that carved a trench through the ground behind him.
Kairo dashed in again, this time with Soul Break igniting his blade. A burst of golden light rippled outward, forcing the man to block with a gauntlet of dark steel.
The clash rang out like a bell.
> "Interesting," the man murmured. "You've bonded with the soul of Thalor already. But you're still using it like a child swings a hammer."
> "Then let me show you how hard I can swing."
Their fight ignited the forest.
Blades collided with echoes of thunder. Trees splintered. Light and darkness danced as Kairo unleashed everything he'd unlocked. But even with his new strength, the man was always one step ahead—calm, fluid, deadly.
And then—he stopped.
Just as Kairo prepared for another strike, the man lowered his weapon.
> "That's enough."
Kairo halted mid-step, chest heaving, sweat trickling down his brow.
> "Why stop now?" he growled.
> "Because I didn't come to kill you," the man said. "I came to confirm something."
He pointed at Kairo's chest.
> "You carry more than Thalor's soul now. You're a convergence point. That makes you dangerous… and necessary."
> "Necessary for what?"
The man turned.
> "The war that's coming. The gods aren't idle, Kairo. And they fear what's waking inside you."
> "Who are you?" Kairo demanded.
The man paused, just at the tree line.
> "Call me Vael. And remember this—next time we meet, I won't be holding back."
Then he vanished, leaving only the burning scent of magic and crushed earth behind.
---
Kairo stood in silence, the echo of the battle still ringing in his bones.
Zevrin finally approached, wide-eyed.
> "He could've killed us both."
> "He didn't," Kairo replied. "That means he needs me alive."
> "Or he's waiting until you're stronger—so it'll be a real fight."
Kairo nodded slowly.
> "Either way… I need to get stronger."
His fists clenched.
> "No more delays. The Fourth Fragment… wherever it is, I'm going to find it."
The path ahead wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was about becoming.