Screams were already echoing through the palace courtyard when they dragged Chris Oakwood in by the wrists. “Let go, please, I can walk,” he whispered.“Shut up, bone-empty,” the guard snapped, shoving him forward.Chris stumbled across the stone tiles, nearly collapsing. The morning sun hit him like a slap, bright, accusing, exposing him to hundreds of eyes waiting for the spectacle.He didn’t understand. He had been summoned to receive an award. To be thanked. To be honored for saving the governor’s dying daughter the night before.But instead… there was a stage. And chains. And rows of nobles whispering like a nest of snakes. Chris’s heartbeat thudded painfully. “Why… why is this happening?”A guard laughed. “You’ll find out soon enough.”Jenna Valeforge stood at the center of the platform, beautiful, poised, wearing a crimson dress that looked like she chose it specifically to bury him. His wife. His only family.“Jenna?” His voice cracked. “What’s going on?”She didn’t answer him

The blade should have cut through him. Chris felt the rush of air, cold and final, as the hunter’s bone-forged weapon sliced downward, but something stopped it.A shockwave burst from Chris’s palms, invisible yet heavy enough to slam every metal tray, bucket, and corpse table against the walls with a thunderous crash.Bodies slid. Instruments clattered. Lights flickered. The entire corpse-wash shook. Chris stood frozen, arms raised, breath trembling like a trapped bird.The hunter stumbled back half a step, not far, but far enough to show surprise. “You” the hunter growled. “Your seal is breaking.”Chris stared at his own hands, horrified. “I didn’t do anything!” he cried. “I don’t know what’s happening!”The bone-armored hunter pointed his blade again. “You are awakening.”Ben groaned from somewhere behind a toppled table. “What… what the hell was that?”Chris didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His chest felt too tight, his lungs too small. The hunter charged. Chris staggered backward. “Wai

Rain chased them through the back streets of Ardenfall. Marco kept a tight grip on Chris’s arm as they ran, weaving through alleys, jumping puddles, cutting through abandoned construction yards.Chris stumbled every few steps, still shaking from the pulse that had erupted out of him. “Marco, slow down, please” Chris gasped.“Can’t,” Marco snapped. “The hunter’s regrouping. If he gets your new marrow signature, he’ll track you like a bloodhound.”“My what?!”“Later. Move!”They turned another corner, and Chris froze. A patrol of three district enforcers stepped onto the street, shields up, nightsticks crackling with low-level shock energy.“Stop right there!” the lead enforcer barked. “We heard an explosion, identify yourselves!”Marco muttered, “Oh, for, NOT now.”Chris whispered frantically, “Marco, what do we”“Let me do the talking.”“You? Talking?”“Better than you glowing!”The enforcer stepped closer. “State your names.”Marco threw an arm around Chris’s shoulders. “Evening, off

The catacombs shook as the echo of the purge squad’s defeat faded. Dust drifted from the ceiling. Bones embedded in the stone walls vibrated with a low, ominous hum, like they were warning Chris to run faster.Marco helped Chris stand. “Can you walk?”“I—I think so,” Chris whispered, legs trembling. “My body feels like it’s made of jelly.”“Good,” Marco said. “That means you’re alive.”“That’s your medical diagnosis?” Chris croaked.“Hey, I’m not a healer,” Marco said. “I just pretend to know things.”Lira stepped in front of them, expression grim. “Move. We don’t have time.”Chris staggered after her. “Are more soldiers coming?”Lira didn’t slow her pace. “Not soldiers. Worse.”“Worse than purge squads?!”Marco muttered, “Depends on your definition of ‘worse.’”“Marco!”“Look, some things down here don’t need armor to kill you.”Chris paled. “Marco, please tell me you’re joking.”“You ever known me to joke at the right time?”“…No.”“Then yes, I’m serious.”Chris groaned. “I want a r

Chris didn’t fall. He plummeted. The fissure swallowed him in darkness, air ripping past his ears. He screamed until his voice cracked, arms flailing, nothing to grab, nothing but blackness spinning around him like the throat of a beast. “MARCOOOO !”Marco’s voice echoed somewhere above him. “STOP SCREAMING, KID, YOU’RE MAKING ME PANIC!”“I’M ALREADY PANICKING !”“PANIC QUIETER!”“That’s not how panic works!”Lira’s voice cut through the darkness, calm as stone: “Brace yourselves.”“FOR WHAT?!” Chris shrieked.The ground slammed into them. Except, it wasn’t ground. It was water. Cold, black water swallowed Chris whole, flipping him end over end. He broke the surface screaming, thrashing wildly.“HELP—HELP—I can’t—I can’t swim in the dark !”“Calm down!” Marco surfaced beside him. “You’re fine!”“NO, I AM NOT”Something yanked him under. Chris choked on water, kicking violently as something wrapped around his ankle. Panic exploded through him.He fought upward, breaking the surface wit