The world felt as though it was holding its final breath.
The voice from the heavens echoed into silence, and then the sky shattered — not entirely, but enough for a towering silhouette to descend. It was neither demon nor god. It was *both*. Cloaked in smoke and embers, its form twisted as though reality itself refused to define it. Horns curved like ancient runes, and eyes like dying stars locked onto Nkosana.
Lwandle dropped to one knee, clutching her chest. "That… thing… it's crushing the air."
Enkai growled, barely able to stay upright. "This isn't a creature. It's a calamity."
Nkosana stood still, the Demon Seed blazing with defiance across his collarbone. His shadow stretched unnaturally, reaching toward the entity as if drawn by kinship — or fate.
"You are the Harbinger," the being said, its voice ancient, heavy with sorrow and flame. "You are born of curse and purpose. Deny me, and the world dies. Accept me, and it burns slower."
"Nice options," Nkosana spat. "But I don't take ultimatums from corpses."
With a flick of his hand, shadow tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around the creature's legs — but it didn't flinch. Instead, it *laughed*, and the sky trembled."You've awakened your power. But you haven't unlocked your memory. You don't know what you really are."
Nkosana's heartbeat thundered. Visions surged — of fire, of a kingdom screaming, of himself… wearing a crown of bone.
The creature vanished from the sky — only to reappear in front of him, palm outstretched. It struck him once.
The world went black.
—
He awoke in a void. Cold, silent, endless. And standing before him was a younger version of himself — eyes glowing red, teeth bared, covered in ancient blood.
*"I remember now,"* it said. *"I am you. The part you locked away. The Ruin you were born to bring."*
Nkosana clenched his fists. "Then let's rewrite the prophecy."
—