The mountain wind tore at their cloaks as Kaito and Riven rode Varnax eastward along the ancient Highwind Road. The crumbled stone path once linked the five sacred towers of the empire—now, only ruins and bones marked the way.
Beneath them, the world grew darker.
"Kaito," Riven said, voice steady. "The next crystal is held in the Tower of Mourning. But we'll pass through Vel's Hollow first—a Veilborn stronghold."
"I'm not avoiding a fight," Kaito replied, gripping the hilt of Nightcleaver.
Riven smirked. "Didn't think you would."
Suddenly, Varnax growled, banking hard left.
Below, the hills moved.
It wasn't an illusion—*hundreds* of cloaked figures marched silently through the mist, led by a towering beast made of iron and bone. Its arms ended in jagged blades. Its head was covered with a crown of writhing smoke.
Riven cursed. "A Death Herald. They only come for awakened souls."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Then it's here for me."
Varnax landed with a quake. The two leapt from the dragon's back as the cloaked horde surrounded them.
"Hold nothing back," Riven said.
Kaito nodded—and then the Herald struck.
Its blade-arm came down like a falling tower—Kaito rolled, countered, and brought Nightcleaver up in an arc. Sparks flew. Riven danced through the crowd, cutting through the lesser Veilborn.
But the Herald was strong.
It moved like it anticipated Kaito's strikes, parried with unnatural precision, and roared with magic that shook the ground.
Then Kaito closed his eyes—and listened.
The crystal inside him pulsed.
Memories surged.
A duel in the arena. A massive warrior with a greatshield. Kael Varenth, moving like water, striking once—twice—ending it clean.
Kaito opened his eyes.
The Emperor's instincts returned.
He dashed forward, Nightcleaver glowing with inner fire, and struck the Herald's chest. The blade cut through, igniting the dark within. The creature screamed.
Riven threw two glowing blades that pierced its legs.
Kaito leapt—and brought the sword down with both hands.
CRACK.
The Herald exploded in shadow and light.
Silence followed.
Breathing hard, Kaito wiped the blade clean.
Riven nodded. "You've regained your battle rhythm."
Kaito looked at the scorched ground. "And that wasn't even the worst of them, was it?"
"No," Riven said. "But the world is watching. Heroes are awakening. Old enemies stir. And you, Kaito… you're becoming dangerous again."
The dragon roared above.
They mounted once more—and rode toward the Tower of Mourning.
Where more truth—and more memory—waited.