Chapter 2: A Gate Without Warning

The city of Astria bustled with its usual energy, but the peace shattered in an instant. A low rumble rose from beneath the ground, growing louder with each heartbeat. Merchants shouted in panic, their carts toppling, and townsfolk scrambled for safety. Kael Ardyn’s amber eyes widened as he turned to the source.

Above the marketplace, the sky tore open in jagged cracks, revealing a swirling, dark portal. The air around it crackled with energy, pulling at Kael’s hair and clothes. From the portal poured creatures unlike any he had seen before—slimy, grotesque, and vicious, their claws tearing through the stalls.

“Monsters…” Kael whispered, gripping his sword tightly. Fear nipped at his chest, but he pushed it aside. Today, he would not run.

A merchant screamed as a clawed beast lunged at him, scattering produce in every direction. Kael ducked, rolling to the side, and swung his sword. The blade connected with a sharp thwack, and the creature hissed before retreating momentarily.

Other hunters arrived, drawing swords and hurling spells, but many fell immediately. Kael’s heart pounded. Every second was a fight for survival.

“Stay back!” a voice shouted. Kael turned to see an older hunter blocking a massive, tentacle-like monster from reaching a group of civilians. The man grunted, dodging a strike, but another creature lunged from behind.

Instinctively, Kael dashed forward, raising his sword. He slashed, striking one of the creatures. It screeched in pain, staggering back. He hadn’t realized it, but he was protecting a group of fleeing villagers. His heart raced—not just from fear, but from purpose.

“Kael! Watch out!” someone called, but the warning came too late. A beast leapt toward him, jaws wide. He barely rolled out of the way, feeling its teeth graze the edge of his cloak. Pain shot through him, but he forced himself to stand.

“This is it,” Kael thought. “I have to survive. I have to fight.”

Drawing a deep breath, he surged forward, striking one monster after another, each swing more precise than the last. For the first time, Kael felt the rhythm of combat, a strange connection with the creatures before him. It was terrifying—and exhilarating.

Amid the chaos, Kael noticed a faint glow forming on his left hand. His eyes widened as the mark pulsed, syncing with the monsters’ movements. He didn’t understand it yet, but he felt an odd surge of energy.

The battle raged until reinforcements from the guild arrived. With combined effort, the monsters were driven back into the portal, which snapped shut with a deafening roar. Silence settled over the marketplace, broken only by the groans of the injured.

Kael’s legs trembled as he looked around at the devastation. He had survived. He had fought. And somewhere deep inside, a spark of confidence ignited.

“Next time,” he whispered to himself, gripping his sword, “I’ll be stronger. I won’t be weak. Not anymore.”