The cold seemed to seep straight into my bones, and a crushing sense of dread washed over me. My hands shook uncontrollably.

  I’d sensed Analth’s power before—both hers and whatever she’d been fighting that first day.

  But this… this was different.

  Analth had never directed this kind of killing intent at me or my monsters.

  But the figure emerging from the tower stared at me like it was barely restraining itself from turning me to ash where I stood.

  Even Mona—undead and usually unshakable—froze in place as the monster stepped forward, regarding each of us like we were insects beneath its notice.

  It stood nearly seven feet tall, draped in a black robe that hid everything except its face—its skull.

  In one hand, it held a book that wept black mist. In the other, a staff topped with a skull-shaped ruby that pulsed faintly.

  Its eye sockets burned with two motes of icy blue energy, and the ground beneath each step rotted and decayed.

  Analth’s power felt like something she had been born into—natural, effortless, the kind that inspired awe and reverence… or fear to those foolish enough to oppose her.

  But this creature… this felt different. His power felt earned, carved out through centuries of clawing his way upward. The kind of strength that said a single thought could erase anything beneath him.”

  “I was just beginning to catch my breath when he locked eyes with me. And even though he had no flesh, no expression—

  I could feel his gaze narrow.

  “A Herald… here after all thisss time,”

  His voice echoed, hissing as if the words themselves cost him effort he could barely be bothered to spend.

  He vanished—only to reappear right in front of me.

  It wasn’t teleportation; the sudden updraft made it clear.

  That was just his speed.

  He tucked the black book into his robe and lifted a single bony hand, gripping my chin with chilling precision, almost… examining me.

  “Yesss…”

  Amusement crept into his tone as he tilted my head side to side. I couldn’t resist—my body was still locked in that primal, suffocating fear.

  “Yesss… a Herald. Five hundred yearsss since I lassst saw one, but I would recognize thessse markingsss anywhere.”

  To my left, Elyndra finally broke free of her fear and started to move, but a twitch of my hand stopped her—this was not a monster we could fight.

  “You… you’re right,” I whispered, afraid even to speak too loudly, my body fighting me every step of the way. “I’m… I’m a Herald.”

  The skull split into a grin, and he released my chin.

  “Yesss… I can sssense it on you, I can sssee it on you. On your minionsss.”

  He looked at Elyndra, Mona, Andre, and Halvard before turning back to me. The grin grew wider—if that was even possible.

  “A Herald after ssso long entersss my realm,”

  He sounded amused—excited even. His eyes remained locked on me, and I took the moment to do what I had done long ago with Analth.

  [Gerwulf, Shadow Lord of Antarian — Level ?]

  [Average Stats: ?]

  [Average Skill Level:?]

  [Number of Skills: ?]

  Even now, stronger than when I’d first met Analth, this was another monster whose level and stats I couldn’t see.

  But he had a title—something Analth told me only Legendary-rank monsters could obtain.

  His smile remained, but something in his eyes flickered—he knew exactly what I had just seen.

  Still, I readied my sword.

  A cackling laughter filled the air, the kind you’d expect from a villain in an action movie.

  “Herald… you mean to fight me? You are more foolisssh than I thought”

  His tone wasn’t mocking—more amused—but it still angered me. Sure, he probably outmatched us completely… but he could at least pretend we stood a chance.

  He floated into the air, his robe billowing around him, and the black book slipped free from its hiding place to hover before him. Its pages flipped in a non-existent wind, whispering as though alive.

  “Herald… I will make you an offer, for you have amusssed me.”

  I blinked up at him, unsure where he was going with this.

  He paused then, studying me with a stillness that made the air feel heavier.

  Not mockery. Not pity.

  Almost… curiosity.

  “It hasss been ssso long sssince I encountered a Herald with fire left in them,” he continued. “Mossst kneel. Othersss die screaming. But you… you sssstand.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  His attention swept briefly over my monsters—Elyndra bracing her spear, Mona unflinching, Halvard trembling but refusing to back down, and Andre looking as if he accepted death should it call to him.

  “If you and your minionsss lassst one minute againssst me… I will let you live. More than that—”

  He spread his skeletal arms wide.

  “I will become your ally. A Herald with potential is a rarity… and I prefer to nurture rarity, not erase it.”

  One minute.

  We just had to last one minute against a monster that was potentially on par with Analth.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  The first warning sign was the way the sky suddenly darkened above us.

  Then came the crack of thunder—followed by several bolts of lightning that tore the stone around my group apart.

  Elyndra cried out as a chunk of broken walkway slammed into her back, knocking her forward.

  Halvard roared when a bolt struck near him, the impact blasting him off his feet.

  Only Andre and Mona managed to push through unscathed.

  Even I winced as sharp shards of stone pierced my side and thigh, warm blood splashing across the ground beneath me.

  I looked up, expecting—even hoping—he’d need a moment, some kind of cooldown after casting such a powerful spell.

  But no.

  Ice-blue glyphs were already forming in the air around him once more.

  “Elyndra, down!” I shouted. The coreborn ducked just in time as dozens of icy shards slammed into the ground where she’d been standing seconds before.

  What in the hell was this? This thing was stronger than all my monsters combined, casting spell after spell without pause.

  I had thought we were getting stronger—especially after the fight with Josef—but this Gerwulf reminded me just how far we still had to go.

  “Good… keep ssshowing me your ssstrength, Herald.”

  His voice was taunting, cold, threaded with evil laughter. I wasn’t sure—even if we somehow survived this—that I could trust something like him as an ally.

  Andre leapt up, rapier lashing out, but the skeletal mage simply drifted aside, too fast for any of us to follow. Andre landed, and I rushed in, blade raised high.

  I swung—he dodged. I swung again—this time he slapped my blade aside like it was nothing.

  He reached out, hand glowing violet, and every instinct in my body screamed not to let him touch me. I leapt back, boots skidding across shattered cobblestone before I managed to plant my feet again.

  Halvard finished his spell, a blast of shadow-flame washing over the undead monster—but Gerwulf only laughed.

  Mona lurched forward, swinging first one blade, then the other, but like with me, Gerwulf simply swatted or sidestepped every strike.

  Elyndra—finally recovered—drew her bow and fired shot after shot, but a single lazy wave of Gerwulf’s hand summoned some kind of barrier, knocking the arrows from the sky.

  I charged once more, swinging wildly, Andre and Mona converging with me.

  The undead wizard just laughed.

  He clapped his hands together—and a deafening thunderclap erupted between them, blasting the three of us off our feet.

  I hit the ground hard, a cry tearing from my throat as I rolled across the stone.

  I forced myself upright, legs trembling, my whole body feeling weak.

  Before I could charge again, his eyes flashed—and my world was swallowed in darkness.

  Terror flooded me, even though whatever passive I had as a Herald fought desperately against it.

  I heard the clatter of my blade hitting the ground as I groped blindly around.

  “Herald!”

  “Lord Herald!”

  My monsters were calling out to me, but a pair of cries from Elyndra and Andre told me the fight was still raging.

  [Warning! Status Effect: Blinded has been applied.]

  [Developing countermeasures… Developing… Success!]

  [Skill Gained: Curse Resistance (Minor — Level 1)]

  [Blind Removed!]

  I gasped as my vision snapped back into place, momentarily disoriented.

  The skeleton frowned—a first—but his grin returned just as quickly.

  I roared and rushed him again, snatching my blade off the ground as I ran.

  Slash—dodge—jab—slash again—then I threw a surprise hook with my free hand.

  There was a solid crack, and for a heartbeat I felt triumphant…

  Until I realized the crack was my own bones giving out.

  “Fuck!” I cursed as pain lanced up my hand and into my arm. I stumbled back, barely hearing Gerwulf’s laughter.

  My passive regeneration kicked in immediately, bones snapping back into place with a sound that made my stomach twist.

  Elyndra fired more arrows—two struck Gerwulf this time—but he barely reacted.

  Andre and Mona darted in with their own attacks: Andre’s rapier slipped clean through his defenses, punching a neat hole through his robe… but doing little else.

  Mona’s attacks seemed even less effective, her blades almost phasing through him, as if he weren’t entirely present in this plane.

  Another flash from Gerwulf, and this time his body was encased in ice—like armor—protecting him from another blast of shadow-flames from Halvard.

  I heard the bones in my hand snap back into place, making me wince. I picked up my blade and rushed forward once more, engaging the caster in a swirl of metal and punches.

  Each swing sent biting cold shooting through my arm, but I grit my teeth and pressed on.

  Andre’s blade glowed brightly, and he let out an almost draconic roar. His rapier became wreathed in electricity and flames, and when he struck Gerwulf, there was a brief explosion as the two forces collided with the lich’s ice shield.

  We all leapt back, breathing heavily, thinking we might have finally done some real damage.

  The cackling—and the rattling of bones—told me otherwise.

  “Good… good… you almossst hurt me.”

  I groaned, but had no time to think.

  His hand rose, and a small mote of purple-black energy formed in his palm. Just looking at it made my skin crawl.

  “Brace yourselves!” I shouted—too late.

  I was ripped off my feet. The mote streaked through the air and landed among us. In an instant, gravity itself seemed to collapse inward, dragging my allies and me into a tangled heap of limbs, blades, and armor.

  Elyndra’s spear jabbed my ribs, Andre’s arm was crushed under Halvard’s weight, and Mona’s boot collided with my face.

  The mote vanished a moment later, and the sudden return to normal gravity made my stomach twist.

  I struggled to rise, limbs trembling.

  Andre cradled his arm, his blade clattering to the ground.

  Halvard looked like he might collapse at any moment.

  Mona and Elyndra weren’t much better.

  But we readied ourselves to fight again.

  Gerwulf raised a hand—then lowered it as a rattling laugh escaped him.

  “Well done, Herald… you have sssurvived… and even ssstruck me.”

  My knees almost buckled at his words. Relief hit like a wave.

  My hand throbbed, my clothes clung to me with sweat, and my entire body trembled from the effort.

  My monsters looked just as bad: Andre had blood trailing down one leg; Elyndra would definitely have a new scar across her cheek. Halvard leaned fully on his staff. Mona stood motionless, like a statue that had simply… stopped.

  “Longest minute of my life,” I muttered, earning another dry, rasping laugh.

  “You have garnered my interessst, Herald. Be proud.

  Now leave my domain… I will come to you when I am ready.”

  With those words, Gerwulf turned and drifted back into the tower. The massive door slammed shut behind him.

  I fell backward onto the ground, staring up at the sky as I caught my breath.

  [Quest Complete!]

  [Quest: Explore the Ruins]

  [Type: Side Quest]

  [Objective:] Your monsters have discovered an ancient ruin deep in the eastern forest. Spend some time exploring them yourself, or send your minions to do it for you. Who knows what treasure you might find.

  [Goal:] Explore the ancient ruins (100%)

  [Rewards:] 1 Uncommon Weapon Box | +500 Soul Essence | Gerwulf, Shadow Lord of Antarian, gained as an “ally”.

  My monsters were battered and wounded, but alive—alive to fight another day, to breathe another moment, to laugh.

  I did just that.

  I laughed.

  Above, the clouds churned, and the faint smell of rain rolled in on the wind.

  A lone bird called somewhere in the distance.

  All was well.

  [Current Day: 9]

  [Soul Essence: 2326]

  [Kingdom Core: Level 3]

  [Domain Size: 5 Sectors]

  [Active Quest: — None —]