Elian was one of the most powerful warriors of his time. His best friend, who had been through so much with him, became his brother in spirit and an ally in battle. But one day their paths diverged. Elian became too dangerous — not only for the world, but for himself. In a battle where they faced each other, his friend, realizing that Elian could destroy everything around him, made a decision: to seal him in a barrier created specifically for him.

This barrier was not just a prison, but a space where time did not exist. Elian was locked in a void where he neither aged nor lived. His mind changed, and his body became something else. He communicated with shadows and entities within the barrier that altered him. He was neither human nor something entirely foreign.

One day, the barrier shattered. The reasons behind this remained a mystery. Perhaps Elian had grown stronger than the barrier, or perhaps someone from the outside deliberately destroyed it. The world he knew had changed. He found himself in a place where no one remembered him. But his enemies — those who had sealed him — were still alive, and they were beginning their hunt.

Elian was no longer sure that his release had been a blessing. He could not forget his friend, who had become his enemy. His goal was to find the one who had sealed him, to understand why it had happened and what lay behind that decision. But with every passing moment, he realized that his power and his transformations were unsettling him. He was no longer human, and his path now might lead to the destruction of everything.

Elian — a prisoner who had become something else — and his return marked the beginning of a new era. Sometimes, It seems that Elian is not from this world.

Elian walked through the forest, leaving fallen bodies in his wake. He didn't look back. They no longer posed a threat. His mind was calm, but something had shifted within him. There was no regret. No doubt.


A few minutes later, he came to a small river. A light mist hovered over the water, creating an illusion of peace. Elian bent down to wash his face, but when he looked into the reflection, his eyes narrowed.


The eyes that once held life were now empty. The gaze was cold, indifferent. The face that used to express determination had now become a mask of absolute calm, bordering on madness.


"What am I becoming?" flashed through his mind, but the answer no longer mattered.


Suddenly, a rustling sound came from behind him. Elian slowly straightened, not turning around.


From the shadows of the trees emerged other participants of the trial. There were five of them, and fear was evident in their eyes. They had heard about what had happened. They had seen the remains of Jason's squad.


— "We don't want to fight," one of them said slowly. "But you... you're too dangerous."


Elian turned to face them, a barely noticeable smile tugging at his lips.


— "Dangerous?" he repeated. "It's you who are afraid, isn't it?"


They gripped their weapons tighter but didn't move.


— "If you want to live... surrender," another one said, trying to sound confident.


Elian took a step forward, and they immediately tensed.


— "Surrender?" His voice lowered, becoming even more unsettling. "Why would I do that?"


Elian slowly raised his hand, and a familiar flame ignited in his eyes.


The air around him thickened. Dark energy swirled, and in


Chapter 18 - Hunter or Monster?