The Waking Wastes stretched for miles — flat, cracked, and dead.
Ruined statues of gods long forgotten leaned half-buried in the sand. The wind howled like lost voices. But Kael didn't flinch.
The sky was grey, as if even the sun feared this place.
[New Zone: The Waking Wastes – Former Battlefield][Visibility: Low. Mana Saturation: Medium. Threats Nearby: Confirmed.]
Zar sniffed the air, tense. "Master… I smell iron. Blood."
Kael nodded. "Then we're not alone."
They followed the trail north.
Ash crunched beneath their feet. Abandoned weapons and bones were scattered along the road. And then they saw it—
A caravan. Burned. Bodies everywhere.And standing beside it, a figure in red armor, holding a spear dripping black.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Alive?"
Zar crouched. "One. Maybe two. Hiding."
A girl screamed from inside a half-crushed wagon.
The red-armored knight turned his head, slow and deliberate. His helm bore the sigil of a crimson fang.
[Faction Identified: Crimson Hunters – Rank C Threat][Alignment: "Purification through Extermination." Objective: Slay all abyss-touched.]
Kael stepped forward without hesitation.
"Leave her," he said.
The knight turned. "You speak, spawn of filth? You think you wear the face of a man?"
"No," Kael replied calmly. "But I'll wear yours if you keep talking."
[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]
In an instant, Kael was behind him — claws bursting through shadow, slicing through armor like silk.
The knight spun, blood spraying from his shoulder.
[Enemy Status: Crimson Hunter Captain – Rank C | HP: 82%]
[Warning: Holy Weapon Detected]
The knight roared and slammed his spear into the ground. Light exploded outward, searing Kael's skin.
[Damage Taken: -12 HP][Holy Resistance: 0%]
Kael staggered. Zar lunged forward, stabbing at the knight's legs.
"Get the girl!" Kael shouted.
[New Objective: Rescue Civilian – Optional Quest Accepted]
The girl was maybe fifteen. Dirty. Bleeding.
Zar grabbed her, shielding her from another blast of light.
Kael leapt back into the fight, shadows boiling around his fists.
[Skill Fusion: Void Scratch + Shadow Step → Ghost Fang Lv.1]
He struck once — through the chest.
The knight fell, coughing blood.
[Boss Defeated: Crimson Hunter Captain (C)][Item Obtained: Fragmented Holy Core][Kael – Reputation Gained: -100 (Human Kingdoms)][New Tag Applied: Abyssmarked]
The girl trembled, staring up at him.
"W-Who are you?"
Kael turned to her, eyes like silver flame.
"I'm what they feared would crawl from the darkness."
He offered a hand.
She took it.
[Follower Request Available: Lira – Human | Rank G | Support-Type: Healer][Accept Follower? Y/N]
Kael clicked his fingers.
[Y]
[Lira: Added to Party. Trust: 15%. Emotion: Fear/Confusion]
Later that night, the wind howled outside their camp.
Kael stared into the flames.
[Kael – Rank: E][Followers: Zar (E), Lira (G)][Faction Hostility: Human Kingdoms – HIGH][Title Progress: Tyrant of the Deep – 74%][New Status: World-Aware – You are now being tracked.]
His enemies had names. Armies. Cities.
Soon, he would too.