Beyond Worlds, Beneath the Star God

The smoke of scorched grass clung to the air as the final howl of the beast faded into silence.

Kun lowered his arm, fingers trembling faintly from the heat of his last fire burst. Around him, the charred remains of corrupted creatures steamed on the dirt path, their twisted horns cracked, green ichor sizzling in the morning sun.

Lyra dropped her staff with a heavy sigh and flopped onto a nearby rock. "Third pack this week," she muttered. "These things are getting bolder."

Elandor stood at the edge of the tree line, eyes closed as he murmured a spell to purify the remaining taint. "It's not boldness. It's desperation," he said. "They're being pushed... or summoned."

Just beyond the edge of the scorched field, a small village—barely more than ten cottages—stood half in ruin. Blood stained the doorways. The few remaining villagers huddled together, eyes wide with fear and exhaustion.

Kun moved among the wreckage, checking for survivors—and that's when he saw it.

A body. No, not a corpse—a man.

Slumped against a broken wall, breathing shallowly, his right leg bleeding, but his grip still tight on the hilt of a long, gleaming sword.

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🗡️The Stranger

Kun knelt beside him. "He's alive!"

The man stirred, his eyes fluttering open. They were sharp, steel gray, and focused immediately on Kun.

"Did... they send you?" the man rasped.

"We're not from here," Kun said gently. "You're safe now."

The man looked around, noting the fallen beasts. "You killed them?"

Lyra stepped over, wiping blood off her gloves. "You're welcome."

The stranger tried to rise, gritting his teeth, but Kun gently pushed him back down. "Rest. We'll help you."

Elandor approached and examined the wound. "Deep, but clean. I can heal this."

The stranger finally nodded, his grip on the sword loosening. "Name's Rein," he said. "I'm a swordsmith by trade... and a hunter by necessity."

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🔥Secrets Revealed

Later, inside the half-burned town hall, Rein drank from a wooden mug as Elandor finished wrapping his leg.

"They came last night," he said. "Twice as many as usual. Not just hounds—there was something else leading them. Cloaked. Eyes like ash."

Kun's heart tightened. "Not a beast?"

"No. A man. Or something that used to be one."

Lyra leaned forward. "Did he say anything?"

Rein nodded slowly. "'The Nine remember. The Nine rise.'"

Silence fell.

Elandor's brow furrowed deeply. "The Nine..."

Rein continued, voice lower now. "There's an order—a circle of elites within the Nethershade Covenant. Nine of them. Each controls a domain: blood, mind, shadow, flame, plague... others I don't know."

"They operate across the continent, hidden in ruins, buried sanctuaries, even within cities under false names. Each one leads a faction. Each one... is deadly."

Kun swallowed. "And we'll have to fight all of them?"

"No," Rein said, standing slowly with help from his sword. "We'll have to defeat all of them. One by one. Or this world ends."

He looked at Kun, eyes narrowing.

"You… you're the one they want. The starborn. Aren't you?"

Kun didn't answer, but he didn't deny it either.

Rein gave a tired smirk. "Then I suppose I'm traveling with you."