Chapter 1: Legends Never Die

The sun still cast an orange hue behind the trees as Selena Howelt emerged from the forest, a wicker basket in her hand filled with medicinal roots and leaves. Her messy red hair was tousled by the gentle breeze.

"Selena! Come home, quickly!" a villager shouted, running down the path.

An old woman looked up at the sky in distress, her hands trembling. "The Dark Clouds will be here soon! You must go home now!"

Selena smiled softly, her hand reassuringly on the old woman's shoulder. "Don't worry, Grandma Elisa. I'll be fine."

"But, Miss! You know what that means! The Shadow monsters will appear! They devour human souls!" a middle-aged man cried out from a distance.

Selena simply nodded, the violet hue in her eyes showing her conviction. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to this village."

She turned and continued walking. The small village of Almara, located in the small country of Almotez, was her home. She knew the danger that lurked, but she wouldn't let fear control her.

Suddenly, a young boy ran up to her, breathless. "Miss Selena! Miss Selena! Five children from the village are missing! They ran into the forest to pick berries and haven't returned!"

Selena's face grew serious. "What? The Dark Clouds will be here any minute!" She looked up at the sky. A thick, black mass of clouds was gathering on the horizon, like a gaping wound in the heavens. She knew the danger was real.

Selena: "I'll go find them. Go home and hide."

"But—"

"No buts!" Selena cut him off sternly. She plunged back into the forest without hesitation.

Slowly, the first drops of rain fell. It was not water, but a chilling, pitch-black dust. It was the sign.

Suddenly, from the forest's darkness, a creature appeared. It was a Shadow. The terrifying, monstrous beings were formed from thick shadow with sharp claws and glowing red eyes. They floated in the air, letting out a screech that pierced the ears.

Selena drew her sword, a plain steel blade that looked unremarkable. Her sword didn't glow, but every swing sliced the shadows into wisps of smoke that vanished. However, the monsters kept appearing, endlessly. She fought on, cutting and parrying, until she finally saw a small cave.

Inside the cave, five children were hiding, terrified.

"Miss Selena!" they cried, their eyes filled with tears.

"Stay calm! I'll protect you!" Selena said, standing in front of them, her blade now radiating a bright blue light. She kept slashing at the monsters trying to break in.

But she began to feel her body weakening. "My mana... it's almost gone!" she muttered. The Shadow monsters kept coming. They surrounded the cave, forming a terrifying circle. Selena knew she couldn't defeat them all. With a gasp, she prepared to do the last thing she could. Sacrifice herself.

Selena: "Please, run when I open a path..."

Suddenly, the sky trembled. A thunderous roar echoed, and a brilliant light fell from the heavens, striking the area around them. A meteorite. Its impact created a shockwave that sent them all reeling.

Selena was caught off guard. A large Shadow appeared behind her, its shadowy blade ready to strike.

Selena: "No!"

Zing!

Suddenly, a small pebble shot through the air. There was no magic, no force. Just a small stone. But the pebble pierced the head of the Shadow monster, causing it to explode like a splash of black ink.

Selena was stunned, turning quickly to see who had done it. From behind a tree, a young man appeared. He was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of old cloth pants. His messy black hair covered part of his face.

Selena: "Who... who is he? And how...?"

When the young man appeared, Selena felt something strange. Her mana, which had been almost empty, was suddenly refilled. Her body felt re-energized.

Selena: "What is this?!"

Without wasting time, Selena swung her sword, a blue light bursting forth. "Sword Magic: Mach Slash!" She unleashed a barrage of countless high-speed slashes. The Shadow monsters around her were obliterated.

When it was all over, Selena turned to the young man. He had collapsed, his body trembling. He was unconscious.

Selena: "Are you... are you alright?"

She assumed the young man was a lost victim who had fought to survive. Remembering that he had helped them, Selena decided to bring him back to the village.

The Next Day, 4 a.m., Almara Village.

Selena woke up. She felt a strange emptiness. She rushed to the living room where she had laid the young man. But it was empty. Panicked, Selena ran outside, her eyes searching for the young man.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she found him. He was standing on a watchtower, staring at a large white moon that still hung in the dark sky. Bare-chested with only his old pants, his back looked sturdy.

Selena slowly approached. Suddenly, the young man turned. His eyes, which had been closed, were now open, glowing with a golden light.

Selena: "Golden... eyes?"

And what was even more shocking, on the back of his hand, a mysterious mark was glowing with a golden light, pulsating like the heartbeat of a star. Selena's heart pounded. She remembered the ancient book she had read. Those features... they were exactly like the person in the prophecy.

Meanwhile, outside the borders of Almara Village, a group of bandits was laughing.

Bandit 1: "Hahaha! They must be so scared by now."

Bandit 2: "Why didn't they just pay? Now they'll get what they deserve!"

Behind them, hungry Shadow monsters and goblins began to gather, their eyes glowing in the darkness. The bandits had intentionally lured them to attack Almara Village because the villagers could not pay their protection fees.

Bandit 3: "Come on! Let them come and destroy the village!"

A much larger wave of darkness now threatened to swallow the village, and this time, the perpetrators were not just monsters, but human ambition and greed.