The battlefield still burned.The air reeked of fire, and the ground was stained with frozen blood.
Nxoz stood, breathing heavily.There was no anger in his eyes — only pain."Do you even know… what you took from me, Drak?"
Drak looked up — calm, emotionless."Every man has a story, Nxoz. Yours… isn't finished yet."
Nxoz shouted in rage,"Story?! You're not the author of my life!"
⚡ The air cracked.Nxoz's katana glowed blood-red.Time slowed — everything stopped.Only he and Drak stood facing each other.
Nxoz moved — lightning fast.His sword tore through the air, flames rising behind him.But Drak blocked it with his blade, Soul Reaper —and the sound that followed… felt like the world itself breaking.
💥 BOOM!
Both were thrown back.Nxoz's shoulder bled, while black smoke rose from Drak's hands.
"You're still trying to stop me?" Nxoz spat.
Drak looked at him, a faint smile on his face."I'm not stopping you, Nxoz… I'm saving you."
"Saving me?!" Nxoz roared. "You're the killer of my village!"
A flash crossed Drak's eyes —a memory: flames, screams, and a small boy — Nxoz — crying amidst blood.
"That night…" Drak whispered. "I wasn't the killer. I was the curse."
Nxoz froze. "What do you mean?"
Drak raised his hand — shadows gathered around him."You'll understand… but first, you have to survive."
⚔️ Another clash erupted.This time, Drak infused his black flames into Nxoz's blade —dark fire and blood aura merged together.A blinding flash consumed them both.
Nxoz fell to the ground, barely breathing.Drak knelt beside him and said softly,
"You're not my enemy, Nxoz…You're the final page of my story."
And with that, Drak vanished into the air —leaving Nxoz half-dead… and half-awakened.
A whisper drifted through the burning wind…
"The Curse of Shadows… begins now."
📖 Next Chapter (Ch. 3): The Blood Pact