The Grey Remnant

Alex Fredrick was just a university student living a quiet life with his dog, Verwel, in the small city of Qwent. He wasn't looking for adventure, but when an unusual Saturday walk takes them deep into the nearby forest, their ordinary evening is shattered by an impossible, apocalyptic event. In a blinding flash and a deafening roar, the city of Qwent is annihilated, not by conventional weapons, but by a burst of ancient, cosmic power. Stumbling through the immediate, horrific aftermath, Alex encounters a dying, shadowy entity—Xerark, the realm's ancient protector. In a desperate, final act, Xerark transfers a piece of his fundamental power to Alex, burdening the average student with a fraction of immense energy and a cryptic understanding of the true, formless horror that threatens existence. Alex survives the initial sacrifice, finding his own body strangely altered and his loyal companion, Verwel, brought back from the brink but fundamentally changed. His city is gone, reduced to a sterile, grey scar upon the earth—the epicenter of Xerark's 'last stand' to create a barrier that saved what lay beyond Qwent's limits. Now, guided by an internal resonance from the power he didn't ask for, and accompanied by his mysteriously transformed dog, Alex must navigate a world forever changed. His journey takes him through unsettling, ancient forests and towards colossal, enigmatic mountains that guard a hidden sanctuary—a place Xerark's echo hinted holds the keys to understanding his new abilities, the nature of the consuming threat, and the role he must now play. From ordinary student to reluctant vessel of ancient power, Alex must race against time to uncover the sanctuary's secrets and learn to control the volatile energy within him. For the barrier Xerark created will not last forever, and when it falls, Alex may be the only one left to make the true, final stand.