It was the first thing Sam noticed when he opened his eyes.
Not the peaceful silence of morning, but the hollow, suffocating quiet that follows destruction. The air was thick with ash, drifting slowly like gray snow over what remained of Ashen Village.
Sam lay on the ground, his ears ringing. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain as he forced himself to sit up. The world spun around him.
For a moment… he didn't remember.
Then it came back.
The attack.
The blue fire.
The shadow.
Sam's breathing grew sharp and uneven as his eyes scanned the ruins around him. Houses that once stood proudly were now nothing but shattered wood and burning debris. The familiar paths of the village were buried beneath rubble.
Mom…? he called weakly.
No answer.
Dad…?
Only the crackling of distant flames replied.
A wave of dread crashed over him.
No… no, no, no…
Sam staggered to his feet, ignoring the pain in his legs. He ran through the ruins, pushing aside broken beams and fallen stones.
Someone answer me!
But the village that once held hundreds of voices had become a graveyard of smoke.
Then
Sam!
The voice cut through the silence like lightning.
He turned sharply.
Through the drifting ash, a figure emerged, limping slightly but still standing tall.
Jana.
Her once-bright hair was now stained with soot, and a thin line of blood ran down her forehead. Yet the fire in her eyes hadn't faded.
Relief flooded Sam's chest.
You're alive, he breathed.
Jana reached him and grabbed his shoulders, her expression tense.
Sam, listen to me. We don't have time.
What happened? he asked, his voice shaking. Where did they go? Who were they?!
Jana looked away for a moment, her jaw tightening.
They weren't ordinary enemies, she said quietly. They're called Void Hunters.
The name felt heavy in the air.
They travel from place to place, she continued, searching for people with rare powers.
Sam's stomach dropped.
…People like me.
Jana nodded.
That shadow you saw… he's their leader. One of the most dangerous beings in the world.
Sam clenched his fists.
The memory of that voice cold and ancient echoed in his mind.
The one who could become my greatest challenge.
Before he could speak again, the ground trembled.
Both of them froze.
From the center of the ruined village, a pulse of dark energy rippled through the air.
Jana's eyes widened.
No… he's still here.
A slow, heavy sound followed.
Step.
Then another.
Step.
From the thick smoke, a tall silhouette emerged.
The shadow.
Even without seeing his face, the pressure of his presence crushed the air around them. Darkness curled around his body like living smoke.
Sam felt his heartbeat thunder in his chest.
The figure stopped a few meters away.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then the shadow tilted his head slightly.
Impressive, he said calmly. You survived.
Sam forced himself not to step back.
You destroyed my village, he said, anger shaking his voice.
Yes.
The answer came without hesitation. Without regret.
They were… insignificant.
The words ignited something inside Sam.
Energy surged through his veins again hotter, stronger than before.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Jana glanced at him quickly.
Sam… control it!
But it was too late.
A violent wave of invisible force burst outward from him, scattering ash and debris across the ruins.
The shadow's cloak fluttered slightly.
Then
He laughed.
A deep, satisfied laugh.
Excellent.
In a single motion, the shadow raised his hand.
Darkness gathered around his palm, forming a sphere of crushing energy.
Show me, he said.
How strong you can truly become.
Sam felt the power inside him roar like a storm ready to break.
Behind him, Jana whispered urgently:
Sam… if you fight him now…
Her voice trembled.
…you will die.
The dark sphere in the shadow's hand grew larger.
The air itself began to crack.
Sam took a step forward anyway.
Fear gripped his heart.
But something stronger pushed him on.
For the first time in his life
Sam chose to fight.
And the moment he released his power…
The sky itself split with light.
To be continued…