Lucian Blackthorne stood at the heart of the Blackthorne Citadel, the ancestral seat of his restored clan. The once-ruined fortress now gleamed with dark elegance, its towering obsidian walls pulsing with enchantments. After years of struggle, the Blackthorne Clan had risen once more, stronger and more formidable than ever.
By his side stood Selene Ravencroft Blackthorne, his wife and partner in both battle and power. Selene was a newly awakened National Hunter, her talent already rivaling the greatest warriors of the age. As the daughter of the esteemed Ravencroft aristocracy, her union with Lucian not only solidified political alliances but also reinforced the sheer dominance of House Blackthorne.
Together, with the strength of allied guilds, Lucian had transformed his clan into a sovereign force, capable of standing against the Hunter Association and its treacherous schemes.
At twenty-five, Lucian had already carved his name into history. But his greatest legacy was yet to come—his four children, destined to surpass even his own legend.
Aurelius Blackthorne, the eldest, stood before his father, his golden eyes burning with the same fierce ambition that had once driven Lucian himself. Though only eight years old, his rapid growth and sheer presence made him appear closer to fifteen—a testament to the boundless power flowing through his veins.
Cassius Blackthorne, the second son, was a prodigy of mana manipulation, sharp-minded and tactical.
Lyra Blackthorne, the only daughter, held a mysterious connection to ancient magic, her abilities still unfolding with each passing day.
And then there was Valen Blackthorne, the youngest. A boy whose silence concealed an immeasurable depth of power waiting to be awakened.
Selene approached Lucian, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her violet eyes filled with both pride and concern. "Patriarch, I believe Aurelius is ready for his first dungeon raid. He has reached the level of an S-Rank hunter."
Lucian studied his son carefully. The weight of his lineage rested upon the boy's shoulders, but Aurelius showed no signs of fear. If anything, he seemed eager.
Aurelius knelt, his fist over his heart. "Father, I wish to prove myself."
Lucian remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke, his voice like tempered steel. "Power means nothing without wisdom, Aurelius. Your strength is undeniable, but have you honed your instincts? Are you prepared to face the unknown?"
The boy did not hesitate. "I will not fail."
Lucian allowed a small, approving smirk. "Then go. Lead your first raid. But return victorious—or do not return at all."
Aurelius bowed his head. "Yes, Father."
The Whisper of the Abyss
As the Blackthorne Clan cemented its dominance, a new fear began to grip the world. Whispers spoke of a calamity so great that history itself had sought to erase its existence. A force beyond mortal comprehension—one that even the strongest hunters dared not acknowledge.
That night, as Lucian stood atop the citadel, gazing over his newly reforged empire, a voice slithered through the void.
"So, someone on this wretched earth dares to stand against me? How amusing."
Lucian's grip on his sword tightened. The shadows around him thickened, writhing unnaturally.
A figure stepped from the abyss itself, draped in an aura of unfathomable dread. A being whose mere existence sent a shiver through the fabric of reality.
The God of Darkness.
Lucian's eyes glowed, his expression unyielding. "Who are you? Return to the where you have come from"
The entity let out a slow, chilling laugh. "So, there exists a mortal bold enough to defy me? How quaint."
Lucian's smirk returned, but this time it was filled with something else—anticipation.
"Hmm, Mortal. Then let's see if a immortal can bleed."