The Holy Empire – Throne of Judgment
The grand cathedral of the Holy Empire stood as an unshakable monument of divine law. Stained-glass windows bathed the marble floors in hues of crimson and gold, depicting ancient battles where the righteous triumphed over darkness. A towering throne of white stone and silver overlooked the chamber, its occupant a figure draped in regal robes woven with threads of holy enchantments.
High Inquisitor Calistus.
His aged face was lined with the weight of centuries, his golden eyes void of warmth as he observed the kneeling inquisitor before him. The scent of burning incense filled the air, but it did little to mask the tension thickening in the room.
"You failed."
The words were spoken softly, but they carried the weight of an executioner's blade.
The kneeling inquisitor kept his head lowered, his bloodstained armor a silent testament to his battle with Alexis. "The boy is more than a hybrid. He is evolving."
Calistus steepled his fingers. "Then our previous assumptions were correct."
The inquisitor swallowed hard. "His abilities are awakening at an unnatural rate. If left unchecked, he could become—"
"A calamity," Calistus finished, his gaze sharpening.
The chamber remained silent, save for the flickering of candle flames. Other inquisitors lined the walls, their expressions unreadable.
Calistus stood, descending from his throne with slow, deliberate steps. "Grand Inquisitor Sylas will deal with him personally. However, I do not intend to let this… abomination roam free any longer."
He turned to a hooded figure standing in the shadows. "Release Ezekiel."
A murmur rippled through the chamber.
The kneeling inquisitor's eyes widened in shock. "My lord, if we release him, we risk—"
Calistus raised a hand, silencing him. "This is no longer a simple hunt. It is a purge."
The hooded figure bowed and disappeared into the darkness.
Calistus exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the golden cross hanging from his neck. "The age of monsters is over. Let the hunting dogs tear him apart."
---
The Forest – Unforgiving Path
The air was thick with the scent of blood and damp earth. Alexis pressed a hand to his ribs, where the inquisitor's blade had left a shallow cut. It had already stopped bleeding, but the dull ache remained—a reminder that he wasn't untouchable. Not yet.
The scarred man followed behind, silent as ever. He hadn't spoken much since their battle with the inquisitor.
> Remaining Distance: 10 miles
The system's update was a cold reminder that he wasn't moving fast enough.
His fingers clenched into fists. Elara is waiting.
A flicker of pain lanced through his skull. A memory—fragmented, incomplete—surfaced without warning.
—Flames. Screams. His mother's face, shadowed by firelight. A promise made in blood—
Alexis exhaled sharply, shaking the image away.
> Memory fragment restored: 3%
He gritted his teeth. Every battle, every surge of power, was unlocking pieces of a past that had been buried. But the more he remembered, the more a cold dread settled in his bones.
What did she give up for me?
The scarred man finally spoke. "That inquisitor… he wasn't the last, was he?"
Alexis smirked bitterly. "No. And the next one will be worse."
The scarred man let out a dry chuckle. "Figures." He adjusted the grip on his sword. "You should keep moving. I'll cover your tracks."
Alexis frowned. "You're not coming?"
The man hesitated. "You don't need me slowing you down."
Alexis studied him for a moment. He had fought beside him without hesitation, risked his life against overwhelming odds. There was something in his eyes—a weight, an unspoken history.
"You have a reason to run too, don't you?" Alexis asked quietly.
The man exhaled. "Maybe. But your battle isn't mine."
Alexis nodded. He understood.
Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving the man to his own fate.
---
The Awakening
The deeper Alexis went, the more the world seemed to shift around him. The trees twisted into unnatural shapes, the air itself thickening with an unseen force.
> Warning: Anomaly detected.
His body tensed.
Something was wrong.
The ground trembled. A pressure, suffocating and oppressive, filled the space around him. His breath hitched. It felt like something was watching him.
Then, the voice came.
Low. Ancient. Crawling into his mind like a whisper from the abyss.
"You are late."
A figure emerged from the darkness.
Alexis's heart slammed against his ribs.
It was him.
The one who had given him power. The one who had watched over him since the moment his mother fell.
The demon.
Tall and clad in robes darker than midnight, his face obscured by a featureless mask. The air around him warped, as if the very world rejected his presence.
Alexis's throat went dry. "…Why now?"
The demon's mask tilted. "Your chains are breaking."
Alexis felt it too. The power inside him, once locked away, was stirring. His body felt lighter, stronger—yet at the same time, something deep within him screamed danger.
The demon stepped closer, the ground beneath him blackening with each step. "Your enemies come for you. But you already knew that."
Alexis clenched his fists. "I don't need your help."
The demon chuckled. "No. But you will."
Then, without warning—
He reached out.
Alexis's body seized. A tidal wave of energy slammed into him, flooding every inch of his being. His breath caught, his vision turning red as his muscles burned with a fire unlike anything he had ever felt.
> Bloodline Awakening: 12%... 18%... 24%...
Pain.
Power.
Something inside him howled.
Then—
Darkness.
---
Elsewhere – The Hound is Unleashed
Deep within the Holy Empire's dungeons, chains rattled.
A figure knelt in the shadows, his body wrapped in countless restraints of silver and blessed iron.
The doors creaked open.
The hooded figure stepped forward. "It is time."
The man raised his head, revealing eyes that burned like molten gold.
A cruel smile curled his lips.
"Finally."
Ezekiel had been waiting.
***************
'A.N, I would love if you can help my work with your power stone's. I'm still a newbie writer so I have a lot to learn. if you have any complaints or see any errors please drop a comment which helps a lot, also drop of a review of what you think so far i will really your thoughts. thank you all.'