Nkosana slammed into the cloaked figures with unnatural speed. His fists glowed with the same violet energy that now throbbed along the demon mark on his neck. The shadows tried to entangle him, writhing like sentient vines, but he tore through them with raw fury.
Two fell instantly—thrown into trees with bone-cracking force.
The leader raised his hand. "He's awakened too fast! Bind him!"
A dark mist surged from their robes, forming into beasts with elongated limbs and hollow eyes. They weren't real—not entirely—but they could hurt him. One lunged at Nkosana, claws raking across his shoulder. Blood flew.
Pain lanced through him, but it only fueled the fire building inside.
He gritted his teeth. "You want the Demon Seed? Come take it."
The forest trembled. The sky above shimmered, then darkened unnaturally—as if reality itself was reacting to him.
Then came the voice.
*"He is not ready yet… but he is mine."*
The attackers froze, their shadows retreating in fear. Even Nkosana staggered as the presence filled the air—ancient, primal, watching.Suddenly, the ground beneath him cracked open, and violet light shot upward. The attackers fled without hesitation, vanishing into the forest mist.
Nkosana fell to one knee, panting. Lwandle rushed from the shadows. "What was that?!"
He looked at her, eyes still glowing.
"The Demon Seed… it's waking up," he said. "And something else with it."
---