2025-10-21 22:04:59Marco stood frozen in horror as the vision faded.
His dark self stood beside him, its expression unreadable.
Welcome to the Darkest Night, Marco Valenti.
Your deepest fear.
The room was silent, except for the sound of Marco's ragged breathing.
He stared at the scene before him – his hands covered in Sophia's blood, her lifeless body at his feet.
No... Marco whispered, his voice trembling.
This isn't true...
His dark self spoke, its voice cold and detached.
It is true, Marco. This is your destiny.
The power of the Shadowborn courses through your veins.
You will have to destroy Sophia, and everyone you love, to save the whole world .
Marco shook his head, tears streaming down his face.
I won't do it... I won't hurt her, I won't hurt my family ....
His dark self laughed, the sound echoing through the chamber.
You already have.
In this moment, you have destroyed her, you have destroyed them all .
The darkness has consumed you.
Suddenly, the room began to fade away.
Marco felt himself being pulled back through the door, back into the bright sunlight.
Marco materialized back at the mountain, gasping for breath.
The Ancient One waited for him, concern etched on his face.
Marco, how did it go?
Were you able to face it?
Marco stumbled forward, still reeling from the vision.
I... I don't know , I don't know if it worked.
Suddenly, a searing pain burned through his flesh.
Marco looked down to see a scar etched into his skin – the Scar of Strength.
The Ancient One rushed to his side, congratulating him.
You did well, Marco Valenti.
You have faced your deepest fear , Six trials remain.
Marco's mind reeled.
He had been gone for what felt like hours, but...
How long was I gone? he asked.
The Ancient One's expression turned grave.
A week, Marco Valenti.
You have been gone for a week.
A week! Marco yelled, stunned.
What about Sophia?
What about the others?
The Ancient One placed a hand on his shoulder.
Go and rest, Marco.
You will tell me all about your journey when you are ready.
Marco nodded slowly, still trying to process everything.
He made his way to his quarters, his mind racing with thoughts of Sophia and the others.
What had happened while he was gone?
Were they safe?
He lay down on his bed, the Scar of Strength throbbing on his skin.
Marco closed his eyes, trying to rest, but his mind refused to quiet.
Marco woke up feeling refreshed and anxious for news about his friends and family.
He sought out the Ancient One, who reassured him that everyone was safe.
Now, Marco Valenti, we must discuss the artifacts.
We have secured the Tear of the Moon Goddess from her tomb.
Two remain: the Heart of the Sun god and the Trident of the Sea god.
Rumors suggest a collector named Lyrien possesses the remaining two artifacts .
You must find him and retrieve the artifact, as it plays a crucial role in stopping Ruby.
But where is Lyrien? Marco asked, confused.
I thought the artifacts were hidden in Mexico and Japan.
The Ancient One smiled enigmatically.
Lyrien resides in Tenebrous – a mystical town hidden from mortal maps.
Sorcery and black magic reign supreme there.
Seek out Mystic, a young woman with unparalleled knowledge.
She will aid your quest.
The Ancient One opened a shimmering doorway.
Go, Marco Valenti.
Marco navigated Tenebrous' narrow streets, asking townspeople about Mystic.
Most cowered in fear, refusing to speak.
One small girl, however, pointed him towards a secluded hideout.
Inside, Marco found Mystic – but she was not who he expected.
Mystic was Kila, the girl who had told him the story of Scar and Ruby back in his village.
Kila? Marco exclaimed.
You're Mystic?
Kila nodded, a hint of surprise on her face.
Marco Valenti, I never thought our paths would cross again.
Marco explained his quest for the remaining two artifacts : the Heart of the Sun god and the Tridentof the Sea god .
Kila's expression turned grave.
Lyrien is powerful and seriously dangerous.
His master is even more ruthless.
Lyrien will not give up the artifact easily.
Kila paused, studying Marco's face.
But I can help you , I know Lyrien's hideout.
We can sneak in tonight, under the cover of darkness.
Marco nodded, determination rising within him.
Let's do it.
I need that artifact to stop Ruby.
Kila smiled faintly.
Ruby... yes, She must be stopped.
My sister was one of her victims.
Marco's eyes widened in shock.
Your sister? What happened?
Kila's eyes clouded over, her voice barely above a whisper.
My sister was a healer.
Ruby sought her out, pretending to be ill.
When my sister discovered Ruby's true nature... Ruby killed her.
Marco's heart heavy with sorrow, he placed a hand on Kila's shoulder.
I'm sorry, Kila.
Ruby will pay for what she's done.
Kila nodded, composing herself.
Lyrien is holding an auction tonight.
He'll be selling the Heart of the Sun god and the Trident of the Sea god to the highest bidder.
We can attend, pose as bidders, and steal the artifact.
Marco's eyes narrowed.
An auction? That's perfect. Let's do it.
Marco and Kila arrived at the auction house – an opulent mansion hidden behind a secret door in Tenebrous.
Marco glanced around, noticing various magical wards and guards.
Where did you get the tickets? Marco asked Kila quietly.
Don't worry about it, Kila replied with a sly smile.
She led him to a balcony overlooking the auction floor, pointing out various individuals.
Our competition awaits, Kila said.
Let me introduce you to the bidders.
Bidder one : Lady Aurelia
Kila gestured to a statuesque woman with long silver hair and piercing emerald eyes.
Lady Aurelia, a vampire noble from the Night Court.
She seeks the Heart of the Sun God to enhance her bloodline's power.
Her bid will be high, but she's not our greatest concern.
Bidder two : Lord Arcturus
Kila pointed to a muscular man with short black hair and a thick beard, clad in plate armor.
Lord Arcturus, a warrior-mage from the Dragonfire Kingdom.
He desires the two artifacts to amplify his magic and conquer neighboring lands.
His magical prowess is impressive, but he lacks subtlety.
Bidder three : Mistress Lyraea
Kila indicated a mysterious woman shrouded in shadows, her face hidden behind a veil.
Mistress Lyraea, a powerful sorceress from the Shadowhand Clan.
She seeks the trident to resurrect her ancient magic and reclaim her clan's former glory.
Her abilities are unpredictable and dangerous.
Bidder four : Baron Valtor
Kila pointed to a lean figure with slicked-back blond hair and a charming smile.
Baron Valtor, a charismatic demonologist from the Underworld Empire.
He wants the Heart to summon powerful demons and overthrow his rivals.
His demonic pacts make him a wild card.
Bidder five : Archon Xandros
Kila gestured to a towering figure with chiseled features and piercing blue eyes, clad in golden armor.
Archon Xandros, a fallen angel seeking redemption. He believes the Trident will restore his divine powers and allow him to reclaim his place in Heaven.
His strength is formidable, but his motives are unclear.
Marco's eyes widened as he scanned the crowd.
How are we going to win against these competitors?
You mentioned the top five, but there are over thirty people here, and we have no money.
Kila looked at him, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.
We're not here to bid, Marco.
We're here to rob the place.
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The Fourth Fragment’s Trail
The void pulsed with a sinister rhythm, every beat echoing like a drum of inevitability. Marco felt the fragments against his chest, their combined light now blazing, guiding him to the next step—but the path was not just ahead; it was within.As he stepped forward, the shadows thickened, condensing into shapes that were both familiar and terrifying. Malakai’s voice, silky and venomous, flowed through the void.“Ah… Marco Valenti,” he said, voice low and mocking. “You’ve come so far… and yet, do you truly believe you can claim what is mine? That you can reach her before I consume what remains?”Marco’s grip on the fragments tightened. “She’s not yours! She’s not gone!”A wave of darkness surged at him, crushing his chest with its weight. Shapes formed—walls of memories, warped and twisted. He saw Sophia again, her face pale and frightened, reaching for him. But Malakai’s shadow coiled around her, gripping, dragging, twisting the scene into a nightmare.Marco staggered, almost fa
A glimpse of the Fourth Fragment
The void had grown colder.Not just the absence of warmth, but the absence of hope, light, and certainty. Every step Marco took carried a weight heavier than stone, as if the void itself measured the cost of his mission and found it wanting.The third fragment hummed against his chest, its white light fading slightly but still pulsing in time with his heartbeat. Its glow illuminated the path ahead, jagged and treacherous, a bridge of fractured stone stretching over an abyss of endless black.He forced one foot forward, then another.A whisper slithered across the void, soft but unmistakable. “Marco Valenti…”His pulse spiked. The voice was everywhere at once, soft, menacing and familiar.Malakai.The shadow coiled around him, twisting the light of the fragments into serpents of dark energy that hissed and lunged for his mind.“Did you really think it would be that easy?” the voice said. “Did you really think that collecting fragments would bring her back without cost?”Marco’s ja
the Third Fragment
The void shifted around Marco, the bleak darkness folding inward, stretching, reshaping into something new.After Malakai’s retreat, silence settled—an unnerving quiet that felt less like peace and more like the world holding its breath.Marco exhaled shakily, one hand pressed to his chest where the second fragment still glowed faintly beneath his ribs. The warmth it gave him was a modest comfort, a reminder that he had won a small victory. But fragments were not resurrected and the path ahead was growing darker.He moved forward.The ground beneath him changed from shadow to hardened, glassy stone. Veins of pale blue light slid through the surface, pulsing slowly like the heartbeat of something ancient. The air thinned, cold and sharp. The third realm of the Shadowfold was waking, aware of him, sensing the foreign light he carried.He forced his steps to stay steady.“You can do this,” Marco whispered to himself. “For Sophia.”The thought steadied him more than the fragment’s ligh
hope in hidden places
The glow of the second fragment still burned faintly in Marco’s chest, a white-hot pulse that both steadied and shattered him.The Shadowfold had retreated for now, curling into distant corners like a wounded beast, but he knew it would not stay down for long.And he was not alone.A ripple in the darkness shifted his attention. The void itself trembled, the black mist convulsing as if inhaling sharply.Then he felt it.A presence cold and familiar, dragging against the edges of his consciousness, probing, testing.Malakai.Marco’s stomach dropped, and his hands tightened around the fragment.“Not now,” he whispered. “I don’t have time for this, I don't have time for your mind games and tricks.”But the Shadowfold was his conduit, and in this place, there was no escape.A shape emerged from the darkness, Tall, Lean, draped in shadows that seemed to writhe like serpents. Malakai’s eyes—sharp, merciless, and impossibly dark—pierced Marco like twin blades.“You’re persistent,” Malakai
the second fragment
The Shadowfold shifted around Marco as he pressed forward.The darkness was no longer passive, It pulsed, like a living heart with uneven beats, echoing against the walls of his mind.Every step carried weight—the memory of Sophia, her laughter, her hope, a fragile thread guiding him deeper into the void.And yet, he could feel the presence of the second fragment before he even saw it.It was closer.He could sense it, a tug at the edge of his consciousness , a whisper of warmth hidden beneath the cold, relentless shadow.But as he reached for it, the Shadowfold reacted.The darkness thickened, Shapes emerged.This time, not illusions or masks—but memories.The floor beneath him became cobblestone streets, familiar yet fractured.Houses loomed with missing walls.Children played—but their faces melted into ash as he watched.And there, standing on a burned-out doorstep…Sophia.She smiled at him, small and warm, reaching for his hand.“Marco, please don't come , why are you here?” she
The Shadowfold
Darkness filled the air , Not absence of light—no.This was darkness that touched back, that breathed, that noticed , that felt.Marco felt it immediately: the pull.Like invisible threads hooking into his nerves, tugging gently, testing him.The Shadowfold did not welcome intruders.It studied them.Marco took a step forward.The ground… was not ground, maybe something of imagination, It flexed like soft leather, sinking slightly beneath his weight.He forced his voice steady.“Sophia… I’m here.”No echo replied.Sound behaved strangely here—swallowed by the void.He kept walking.At first Marco simply felt cold, Then he began to feel… forgetting.It started small , little by little he lost himself.He tried to recall the scent of the Mountain air—sharp with ice and old stone.But it slipped away.He tried to remember the color of Aria’s eyes — Gone, he couldn’t remember. He tried to see Sophia’s face — and for a heartbeat, he couldn’t , why couldn't he remember.Panic flared.No—no
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