The air was suffocating. The final chain rattled violently, its glowing inscriptions flickering like a dying flame. Ethan could feel it. The Gate of the Forgotten was seconds away from breaking and the thing inside was waiting and his mark burning hotter than ever. The six S-Rank adventurers stood ready, their expressions grim but composed. Ethan’s team wasn’t as calm. Leah’s hands trembled around her staff. Kara’s knuckles were white, gripping her sword too tightly. Gareth’s usual stillness was broken by the faint tension in his stance. They all knew. This wasn’t a battle they were supposed to win. This was a battle to survive. And for the first time in his life—Ethan wasn’t sure if survival was an option.
Veylan Stormrider, the leader of the S-Rank team, exhaled slowly. “We only get one shot at this.” His voice cut through the tension like a blade. Darius Ironheart, the Unbreakable Guardian, planted his massive tower shield into the stone floor. “We’re forming a defensive perimeter,” he rumbled. “Whatever comes out of that thing—we hold the line.” Kaela Ravencrown, the Arcane Executioner, flicked her wrist. Floating runes formed around her fingertips, crackling with raw power. “I’ll suppress whatever magic leaks through,” she said. “If it tries to use spells, I cancel them.” Razik Thornfang, the Phantom Slayer, chuckled darkly. “And if something too fast gets through—” He twirled a blackened dagger. “I take care of it.” Lira Moonveil, the Celestial Healer, whispered a soft prayer, her aura glowing with golden light. “We have no idea how corrupting this thing is,” she murmured. “I’ll keep us stable—but if anyone feels influenced, say something immediately.” Orin Blackthorn, the Arcane Juggernaut, cracked his neck. “And me?” His grin widened. “I break things.” Ethan nodded slowly. “And me?” Veylan’s gaze locked onto his. “You stay alive.”
A deep rumble shook the ruins. The final chain cracked. Then— It shattered. A wave of black energy exploded outward—so powerful that even the S-Rank adventurers were forced to brace themselves. Ethan’s vision blurred. The whispers turned into a roar.
“THE SEAL BREAKS.” “WE ARE FREE.” “COME FORWARD, LITTLE PREDATOR.”
The Gate of the Forgotten cracked open. And something stepped through.
At first, it was just darkness. A void-like mist spilling from the gate, crawling along the ground like living tendrils. Then—the shape formed. A shifting figure, too tall and too thin and its limbs twisted unnaturally, moving with an unnatural grace and its ‘face’ was an empty void, a gaping abyss where no features should exist, black sigils burned across its skin, shifting constantly, as if reality itself couldn’t define what it was. Ethan’s heart stopped. Because it wasn’t just a monster. It was a forgotten entity. Something that shouldn’t exist. Something that had been sealed away long before the System came into this world. Something that had been waiting for this exact moment. And when it spoke—it didn’t use words. It used thoughts. It used power. It used everything. “You are late.”
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The thing moved first. Not with steps. It glided. One moment, it was standing still. The next— It was inside the group. A blackened claw lashed toward Leah. Darius slammed his shield down, intercepting the strike with a force that shook the entire chamber. [Titan’s Wall – Activated.] A shockwave rippled outward. The creature hissed, recoiling slightly. But not much. Kaela raised her hand. [Mana Disruption – Activated.] A ripple of anti-magic surged forward— But the creature simply absorbed it. Then flickered forward. Kaela barely had time to blink away, reappearing a few feet back. Orin cursed. “It’s fast.” Veylan’s sword glowed with void energy. [Void Slash – Activated.] His blade cut through the air— And landed. A deep gash appeared across the creature’s chest— Only for the wound to stitch itself back together instantly. Ethan’s stomach dropped.
His mark pulsed violently. The entity turned toward him. “You hold the Key.” Ethan staggered. His mind blurred. And suddenly— He wasn’t in the ruins anymore.
He stood in a world of shadows. He saw them. The ancient sorcerers who had sealed this thing away. The warriors who had fought and died to stop it. The final survivor, carving the sigil into their own chest—the same mark Ethan now bore. And then— He saw what was coming. A future where the seal was completely gone. A world where this thing walked freely. A world without light. A world where no one survived. And Ethan realized— He wasn’t supposed to fight it. He was supposed to seal it again. Back to Reality Ethan gasped, his body snapping back to the present. The battle was still raging. The S-Rank adventurers were pushing the creature back, but barely. It wasn’t losing. It was learning. Adapting. Waiting for the moment it could completely escape. And Ethan knew— They didn’t have the strength to kill it. But they might have the strength to bind it. We have to seal it again. His voice rang out. “We need to restrain it—not kill it!” Veylan’s head snapped toward him. “You’re certain?” Ethan nodded. “Then tell us how.” Ethan swallowed hard. Because he had seen it. The ritual. The ancient binding. And now—he had to recreate it. Before the creature broke free completely. And before it was too late.
