The rain slowly began to weaken.
Thunder faded into the distance, leaving only the quiet dripping of water from rooftops and broken pipes.
But Kael Draven remained frozen in the alley.
His eyes were still fixed on the rooftop where the mysterious figures had stood moments ago.
They were gone now.
Vanished into the darkness like ghosts.
Yet the feeling they left behind still lingered.
Danger.
Real danger.
Kael slowly exhaled.
"What… was that?"
No answer came.
Only the distant sounds of the sleeping city.
Blackridge was known for its crime, violence, and corruption.
But even in this brutal city, there were layers of power.
The Iron Fang Guild had seemed terrifying to Kael before tonight.
But those figures…
They felt completely different.
Stronger.
Colder.
More controlled.
And the way they had killed the guild leader so effortlessly—
It was as if his life meant nothing.
Kael looked down at the body on the ground.
The arrow had pierced straight through the man's chest.
Clean.
Precise.
Professional.
A quiet chill crept through Kael's spine.
"Black Council…"
The name echoed inside his mind.
Who were they?
Why were they buying artifacts?
And more importantly…
Why were they watching him?
Kael clenched his fists.
The shadows around him responded instantly, shifting slightly along the alley walls.
The power still felt strange.
Unfamiliar.
But at the same time…
It felt natural.
Like something that had always been part of him.
Kael slowly knelt beside the dead man.
He searched the guild leader's body quickly.
Years of surviving on the streets had taught him one important rule.
Never leave empty-handed.
Inside the man's coat, Kael found a small leather pouch.
He opened it.
Coins.
Not many.
But enough to buy food for several days.
"Good."
He slipped the pouch into his pocket.
Then he grabbed the fallen dagger from the ground.
The blade was simple but sharp.
Better than having nothing.
Kael tucked it into his belt.
Finally, he looked at the ring still clutched in his hand.
The strange black ring.
The artifact that had changed everything.
Under the faint light of the cloudy sky, the symbols carved into its surface looked even stranger.
Ancient.
Almost alive.
Kael hesitated.
Then slowly slid the ring onto his finger.
The moment it touched his skin—
A wave of cold energy spread through his arm.
Not painful.
But powerful.
The shadows in the alley reacted immediately.
They stretched longer.
Darker.
Stronger.
Kael could feel it clearly now.
The ring wasn't just an artifact.
It was connected to the power inside him.
As if it belonged to him.
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed at the entrance of the alley.
Kael's head snapped up.
Someone was approaching.
Instinctively, the shadows around him shifted, hiding his body in deeper darkness.
A moment later, two figures stepped into the alley.
City guards.
Their armor clinked softly as they walked.
One of them carried a lantern.
The light revealed the dead body on the ground.
The guard frowned.
"Another one?"
The second guard sighed.
"Blackridge never changes."
They walked closer.
The lantern's light moved across the alley walls.
Kael pressed himself deeper into the shadows.
His heart pounded.
If they found him here…
He would have a lot of explaining to do.
And nothing about tonight was easy to explain.
The first guard knelt beside the corpse.
He examined the arrow.
"Hmm."
"What?"
"This isn't normal."
The second guard leaned closer.
"What do you mean?"
The first guard pointed at the arrowhead.
"Look at the design."
The second guard squinted.
Then his expression changed.
"Oh…"
"Yeah."
The first guard stood slowly.
"This is bad."
"Very bad."
Kael listened carefully from the darkness.
"What is it?" the second guard asked.
The first guard lowered his voice.
"Black Council."
The words made Kael's chest tighten.
Even the guards sounded nervous.
"They're operating in the city again?"
The first guard nodded grimly.
"If they are, things are about to get messy."
The second guard looked around the alley.
"Think the killer is still nearby?"
Kael held his breath.
The lantern light moved closer to the wall where he hid.
The shadows around him shifted instinctively, wrapping around his body like a cloak.
The guard stepped closer.
Just a few steps away now.
The lantern light almost reached Kael's face.
Then—
A loud crash echoed from the street outside.
Both guards turned immediately.
"What was that?"
"Probably drunk idiots fighting again."
The two guards walked out of the alley to investigate.
Their footsteps faded quickly.
Kael stayed still for several seconds.
Only when he was sure they were gone did he finally relax.
"That was close…"
He stepped out of the shadows.
The rain had almost stopped now.
Clouds slowly moved across the night sky.
For the first time in hours, Kael looked up.
The city stretched around him.
Tall buildings.
Dark streets.
Flickering lanterns.
And somewhere within that city…
Powerful people were watching.
People who knew about the artifact.
People who knew about the shadows.
Kael slowly closed his hand.
The darkness gathered around his fingers again.
He had spent his entire life running.
Hiding.
Surviving.
But tonight had changed everything.
Now…
The world would come for him.
And he had only two choices.
Run forever.
Or become strong enough that no one could hunt him again.
Kael turned toward the deeper streets of Blackridge.
His eyes hardened.
"If they want a hunt…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"They picked the wrong prey."
The gang members scrambled away in panic.
None of them wanted to stay near the strange power that had nearly crushed them.
Within seconds, the alley was empty except for two people.
Kael.
And the mysterious woman on the rooftop.
Rain dripped slowly from the roof tiles as she crouched there, watching him like a curious predator.
Kael spoke first.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled faintly.
Instead of answering, she jumped.
Her body landed silently in the alley.
No splash.
No sound.
Kael immediately felt the difference.
She wasn't like the street thugs.
Her movements were controlled.
Precise.
Dangerous.
Up close, Kael could see more details.
She wore dark leather armor designed for stealth.
A short blade rested at her hip.
And her sharp silver eyes studied him carefully.
"You shouldn't have survived tonight," she said calmly.
Kael frowned.
"What does that mean?"
She folded her arms.
"The artifact you stole was supposed to be delivered to the Black Council."
Kael's chest tightened.
"So you work for them?"
The woman chuckled softly.
"Hardly."
She looked at his ring.
"But they will come for you."
Kael already knew that.
But hearing someone else say it made the danger feel even more real.
"What do they want with it?"
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"Power."
She stepped closer.
"Ancient power."
Her gaze returned to the shadows swirling around Kael's feet.
"And apparently… they got more than they expected."
Kael clenched his fist.
The shadows reacted immediately.
"Why are you here?"
The woman studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled again.
"Curiosity."
Before Kael could respond—
A loud horn echoed somewhere in the distance.
City guards.
The woman glanced toward the street.
"Looks like our time is up."
She stepped backward.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"You're leaving?"
"For now."
She turned and began climbing the wall effortlessly.
Just before disappearing over the rooftop edge, she paused.
"Oh… one more thing."
Kael looked up.
Her silver eyes gleamed.
"If you want to survive in this city…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Learn to use your shadows faster."
Then she vanished into the night.