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.

After the storm of memories had quieted in his mind, Elian felt a strange pull to return to reality. He knew his body hadn't fully recovered, but the drive and desire to move forward outweighed the pain. He stood up, and despite the lingering ache, he began to train. Each movement was heavy, but with every repetition, his body regained strength. This wasn't just physical recovery—it was a return to who he had been, and a search for what remained after all he had lost.


When the training was over, Elian sat down on a stone slab. Sweat streamed down his face, but he could feel his strength slowly returning. He was ready to move forward again. A thought stirred in his mind, bringing no peace:


He understood that vanishing from sight wouldn't ease the tension. The mask he wore to hide his face was only a part of his new life. Consumed by shadow, he was certain no soul would find him easily.


"I must eliminate her... she knows my face." — The thought of Mira, her knowledge and connection to him, lingered in his mind.


Reaching into his cloak, Elian pulled out a small tracker. It was thin, nearly invisible, but powerful in its function. The artifact could trace Mira's location—track her every step. It was his first move in a larger plan. A precaution before he stepped too far into the dark.


Then he stood, his brow furrowed, and scanned the place that had served as his refuge. In the corner stood old clothes, coated in dust but still wearable. Elian changed into them quickly, forcing himself to forget the life he once wore with pride.


— "Well then," he whispered quietly, striding confidently toward the door. "It's time."


Elian stepped into the void, consumed by thoughts and plans. The objective was clear: eliminate those who knew too much, before they became a threat.


The world had always been cruel, and now Elian knew—he had to be crueler still.


Chapter 32 - The Path of Shadow