The alarms blared throughout the Hunters' Domain.
Red lights flickered across the walls as the once-controlled environment shifted into chaos.
Adrian ran beside Kai, his heartbeat loud in his ears. Every step felt heavier—not from exhaustion, but from the growing pressure inside him.
The mark on his wrist pulsed rapidly.
They're close.
"I can feel them," Adrian said, his voice tight.
Kai didn't slow down.
"I know."
Riven ran ahead, weapon already in hand.
"Try not to die on your first real mission," he called over his shoulder.
Adrian frowned.
"Very encouraging."
They burst through the final corridor—
And into the outer courtyard.
---
The Battlefield
The barrier surrounding the Hunters' Domain shimmered violently.
Cracks of dark energy spread across its surface like fractures in glass.
And beyond it—
They stood.
Three Harbingers.
Tall. Still. Watching.
Their crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
"…That's more than I expected."
Kai stepped forward.
"Stay behind me."
But Adrian didn't move.
"Not this time."
Kai glanced back at him.
Adrian's expression was steady.
Determined.
Kai hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Fine. But don't lose control."
Adrian gave a small, tense smile.
"I'll try."
The barrier shattered.
A loud, echoing crack split the air as it broke apart into fragments of light.
And instantly—
The Harbingers moved.
One vanished.
The second surged forward.
The third raised its hand, summoning a wave of darkness that swept across the courtyard.
"Spread out!" Riven shouted.
Hunters moved quickly, dodging the attack.
Kai reacted instantly, his shadows rising to block the incoming wave.
"Adrian—now!"
Adrian stepped forward.
His heart pounded.
His hand trembled.
But he raised it anyway.
"Come on…" he whispered.
The shadows answered.
They surged from the ground, wrapping around his arm.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
He pushed forward—
And released them.
Dark energy shot across the courtyard, colliding with the Harbinger's attack.
The impact exploded outward.
Adrian staggered but stayed on his feet.
"I did it!"
Kai didn't look away from the enemy.
"Don't celebrate yet!"
Too late.
The first Harbinger reappeared—
Right behind Adrian.
"Adrian!" Kai shouted.
Adrian turned—
But the creature was already there.
Its clawed hand reached for him—
Then stopped.
Frozen mid-air.
Adrian blinked.
"What…?"
Shadows had wrapped around the Harbinger's arm.
Not Kai's.
His.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"I… stopped it?"
The Harbinger tilted its head.
"…You resist…"
Adrian clenched his fist.
The shadows tightened.
"You're not touching me."
For a moment—
It worked.
Then—
The Harbinger smiled.
And broke free.
The force sent Adrian flying backward.
He hit the ground hard.
"Ah—!"
"Adrian!" Kai rushed forward.
But the second Harbinger blocked him.
Kai's shadows clashed against it, forcing him into battle.
Riven and the other hunters engaged the third.
The courtyard erupted into chaos.
Adrian pushed himself up slowly.
His body ached.
His vision blurred.
The mark on his wrist pulsed violently.
"…Get up…"
The voice again.
Inside his head.
"…Use it…"
Adrian clenched his teeth.
"No…"
The Harbinger stepped toward him again.
Slow.
Confident.
"…You cannot win without us…"
Adrian's breath shook.
The shadows around him stirred.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
Kai's voice echoed from across the battlefield.
"Adrian! Stay focused!"
Adrian looked up.
Kai was fighting two at once.
Struggling.
He needs help.
The voice returned.
"…Then take the power…"
Adrian's hand trembled.
The mark burned.
"I… can't…"
"…You can."
The shadows surged violently around him.
Adrian's eyes flickered.
Darkness crept into them.
His breathing slowed.
"…Fine."
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
And suddenly—
Everything changed.
The shadows exploded outward.
But this time—
They weren't wild.
They were precise.
Controlled.
Deadly.
Adrian stood slowly.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Different from before.
Colder.
Stronger.
The Harbinger paused.
"…Yes…"
Adrian raised his hand.
The shadows obeyed instantly.
They shot forward—
Faster than before—
Piercing through the Harbinger's defense.
The creature staggered.
For the first time—
It looked surprised.
Kai noticed immediately.
"…Adrian?"
Adrian didn't respond.
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He appeared in front of the Harbinger in an instant.
His shadow-formed blade cut through it.
The creature let out a distorted cry—
And dissolved into darkness.
Silence fell.
One Harbinger… gone.
Riven stared.
"…Well, that's new."
But Kai didn't look relieved.
He looked worried.
"Adrian…"
Adrian stood still.
The shadows around him slowly settled.
Then—
He swayed.
And collapsed.
Kai caught him before he hit the ground.
"Adrian!"
Adrian's eyes fluttered weakly.
"I… stopped it…"
Kai's grip tightened.
"…At what cost?"
The mark on Adrian's wrist glowed faintly.
Darker than before.
Riven approached slowly.
The battlefield wasn't over.
The remaining Harbingers still stood.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…You just proved something," Riven said quietly.
Kai didn't look up.
"What?"
Riven's voice was serious.
"Not only can he fight them…"
A pause.
"He can kill them."
Kai's expression darkened.
"…I know."
Riven crossed his arms.
"And that makes him even more dangerous."
Kai looked down at Adrian.
Unconscious.
Breathing weakly.
"…He's not a weapon."
Riven didn't argue.
But he didn't agree either.
Behind them—
The remaining Harbingers slowly retreated into the shadows.
Not defeated.
Not afraid.
But watching.
Learning.
Waiting.
And as the battlefield grew quiet—
One thing became clear.
Adrian had taken a step forward.
But also—
A step closer to something he might not come back from.