The air at dawn was thin and cold as Nightborne stood at the base of the hill, map clenched in one hand and Flying Shadow Daggers in the other. Despite the endless night above, the horizon glowed faintly, as if the island itself was exhaling. He tightened his cloak, feeling the weight of two weeks' preparation settle around his shoulders.
"Okay," he muttered, "time to see if all this training actually sticks."
He glanced north, where the rocky path wound upward through broken trees and shattered stone. Every twisted stump and jagged boulder spoke of battles long ago. Somewhere up there lay the shadow creature that ruled the summit, and he planned to bring it down.
---
The climb began with easy footing—loose gravel crunched under his boots, and low shrubs brushed the sides of his legs. But as he gained elevation, the path narrowed and steepened. Rivulets of water carved fine channels in the rock, and slick patches forced him to move with caution.
Suddenly, a low hiss filled the air. He froze. Half-hidden among the rocks, a pack of Shadow Wraiths hovered—creatures of living darkness, their forms flickering between solid and mist. They had no eyes, but he could sense their hunger.
"Great," he said, drawing a deep breath. "Another Tuesday, right?"
He activated Darkness Empowerment:
[10 MP consumed | Darkness Empowerment ACTIVE]
Shadows pooled around his feet, giving him weightless confidence. The wraiths swirled forward.
Nightborne moved like a ghost. He leapt and teleported between pits of darkness, throwing a ShadowSteel Dagger at each wraith's throat. They dissipated into inky mist with soft sighs. One malfunctioned mid-attack and collided with another, causing a ripple of fog.
He landed on the slope below, blades recalled and sheathed. His heart thundered, but his grin was unstoppable.
"50 more and I get a badge?" he joked to no one.
A soft chime confirmed Tier 1 crystals collected. He tucked them in his bag and pressed on.
---
Higher up, the air grew drier. Patches of black moss covered the stones, glimmering like burnt embers. The path curved beneath the ruins of an ancient watchtower. Broken battlements leaned precariously, and moss-draped banners flapped in a wind that smelled faintly of ozone.
He skirted inside, expecting more wraiths. Instead, he found carvings on the walls—scenes of radiant warriors wielding swords of light against serpentine shadows. A single line of text, etched deep and gilded still: "Cesar's Light Prevails."
He frowned. "Funny that that didn't age well."
A spike of emotion churned in his chest. He touched the carving, half-expecting it to crumble. But beneath his fingertips, the stone was cool and solid, unmoved by millennia.
He lingered for a moment, then stepped back. This was a climb, not a history lesson. He holstered his thoughts and resumed ascent.
---
On the final slope, the gradient was so steep he had to use handholds. Loose pebbles tumbled past; each slip threatened to send him sliding. But training in the forest had readied him for this exact test. He found purchase on a narrow ledge and vaulted upward.
Near the summit, the moonlight coalesced into a dark mist. His daggers' edges gleamed—sacrificial runes faintly aglow. He swallowed and whispered:
"Here goes nothing."
He stepped into the clearing at the hill's peak.
---
The summit was a ring of ancient stones, arranged in a wide circle. Moonflowers bloomed between cracks, their petals like pale stars. And at the center stood the monster: a human-shaped mass of shadow, towering nearly eight feet tall, faceless save for two pits of absolute darkness. Its arms hung low; its form flickered, as though it existed between worlds.
Nightborne drew a slow breath. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
He readied his daggers and activated Darkness Empowerment once more:
[10 MP consumed | Darkness Empowerment ACTIVE]
Shadows whipped around his body like ribbons.
The creature moved first—its steps silent, impossible. It raised an arm and flicked its shadow-hand; tendrils lunged for him. He met them with a teleport-blur, flashing behind a standing stone. His daggers flew, two at each tendril. The blades cut deep, sending waves of mist crashing to the ground.
He landed in the open, heart racing.
The shadow monster reformed. It teleported sideways in a streak of black light, reappearing before him with jagged claws extended.
"How about a proper test, huh?" Nightborne shot back.
He tossed a dagger to the left—then vanished. The blade sailed past. He reappeared at its flank, fists blazing with shadow energy. With a vault and spin, he delivered a triple strike: a dagger to the shoulder, a blade-swipe to the ribs, and a finishing kick that sent the creature staggering.
Yet it persisted, shrugging off wounds like water off stone.
---
The fight turned savage. The summit rang with impact—bone-piercing slashes, bursts of black energy, teleportation clashes. Each time Nightborne found an opening, the creature was gone, only to materialize behind him. His MP bar glowed dangerously low.
He gritted his teeth. He needed more than instinct; he needed imagination.
He remembered the ability's promise: "One with darkness can imagine any shadow-based power." He closed his eyes for a split second, breathing deeply. He pictured shards of shadow—hundreds of them—swirling like a storm.
Opening his eyes, he took a wide stance and whispered: "Shadow Storm."
Magnetized by his will, every blade, every fragment of shadow in his vicinity hurled toward the creature: daggers, wire loops, shards of darkness. They struck like meteorites, pinning its form to the stones. It roared, a soundless scream of static.
Lightning flashed across the sky—impossible in eternal night—and in that instant, he vanished.
He reappeared at the creature's neck, daggers doubled and Wire wrapped tight. With a final pull, the faceless form shredded, scattering into puddles of black mist. The runic stones exploded outward, showering the summit in a glowing rain.
Silence.
The stones' glow faded, and the summit returned to stillness.
Nightborne stood alone. His chest heaved. Darkness Empowerment toggled off:
[Darkness Empowerment OFF]
He sank to one knee, exhaustion weighing him down. But beneath him, the runes in the stones pulsed once, then snapped off.
A portal of swirling light opened at his feet, humming with energy.
He hoisted himself to his feet and smiled weakly.
"Guess this is it."
---
In an instant, the world flipped. He felt as though he was falling, tumbling through colored lights and half-remembered echoes. Then, with a lurch, he landed hard on soft ground.
He blinked up at a sterile ceiling, bright and alien. White walls surrounded him, and the scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils. Someone gasped beside him.
A woman in a crisp white coat crouched at his bedside.
"He's awake!" she exclaimed. Her eyes were soft behind her glasses.
Nightborne sat up, wincing. "...Where am I?"
The doctor smiled, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "You did it. You passed Warp 1. Welcome back to Earth." She held out a hand.
"Warp 1? I… That mountain…" he rasped, mind reeling.
She nodded. "Congratulations, Nightborne. I'm Dr. Hale. We've been monitoring your progress."
He glanced down at his pack—but it was gone. No Wire, no daggers, no crystals.
The realization of being broke made
His heart sink. "I can't bring any of that here..."
Dr. Hale's smile faltered a fraction. "Not until after you complete the second warp. But you've earned the right to return. Rest now, and prepare for what comes next."
Nightborne closed his eyes, the weight of his journey and the loss of his tools pressing on him. He let out a long breath.
"Yeah," he said softly, "I'll be ready."
His hand wrapped around hers, and for a moment, he let himself believe in light again.
To be continued