The Forgotten Hero's Rise

A surge of raw energy pulsed through Ren's body, his vision sharpening as he charged toward the cloaked figure. His sword, now radiating with golden light, cut through the thick darkness that surrounded the battlefield. The summoner raised their hand, attempting to cast another spell, but Ren was already moving.

With a powerful leap, he closed the distance in an instant. His blade came down, meeting a barrier of black energy that cracked under the force of his strike. The summoner staggered back, their masked face tilting slightly as if in shock.

"You're different," the figure muttered, their voice laced with intrigue. "This energy… who are you really?"

Ren had no time for riddles. He pressed forward, striking again and again, each attack fueled by the strange new power coursing through him. Sparks of light and dark magic clashed with every impact, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Vaelin, recovering from the blast, observed from a short distance. His eyes narrowed as he took in Ren's transformation. This power… it's unlike anything I've seen before. Could it be…

The summoner suddenly leapt back, landing gracefully on a broken pillar. "Interesting," they mused. "Perhaps you will be worth watching after all."

Without warning, they thrust their hand toward the portal, and a pulse of dark energy shot out, destabilizing the structure. The swirling vortex above began to crack, releasing an ear-piercing wail as the creatures still emerging were abruptly sucked back inside.

The summoner turned their gaze toward Ren. "We will meet again, hero."

And then, in an instant, their body dissolved into shadows, vanishing completely.

Ren stood there, breathing heavily as the portal continued to collapse. The remaining monsters screeched in agony before disintegrating into nothingness. The sky, once shrouded in darkness, slowly returned to its natural blue hue.

A tense silence settled over the battlefield. The knights and soldiers, now regaining their composure, exchanged wary glances before erupting into cheers. The enemy had been repelled. The battle was over.

Ren lowered his sword, his hands still trembling from the unfamiliar energy running through him. He didn't understand what had just happened what he had just unlocked within himself.

Vaelin approached him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "That power of yours…" He paused, his expression unreadable. "It's not ordinary magic. It's something much older… and much more dangerous."

Ren swallowed, glancing down at his own hands. "I don't know what happened. It just… came to me."

Vaelin nodded. "Then it's time we find out exactly what you are."

Lyra arrived moments later, blood splattered across her armor but otherwise unharmed. "I missed all the fun, didn't I?" she smirked, looking around at the destroyed battlefield.

Ren let out a tired chuckle. "You could say that."

But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The summoner's words echoed in his mind "We will meet again, hero."

As the battlefield settled, Ren could feel the tension still lingering in the air. The soldiers, though victorious, were battered and exhausted. Some leaned on their weapons, while others tended to the wounded. The golden glow that had enveloped Ren's sword slowly faded, leaving behind a strange warmth in his hands.

Vaelin turned to him, his eyes sharp with curiosity. "Ren, that power you used… Do you remember anything about it?"

Ren shook his head. "No… It just happened. When I saw the summoner, something inside me snapped. My body moved on its own, and I could see the flow of magic."

Vaelin crossed his arms, his gaze heavy with thought. "Seeing the flow of magic isn't something just anyone can do. That's an ability only a handful of legendary mages have possessed. And yet, you wielded it as if it were instinct."

Ren let out a slow breath, his mind still racing from the fight. He didn't understand it either. All he knew was that something inside him had changed.

Before he could dwell on it further, Lyra approached, wiping blood from her cheek. "Alright, heroes, save the cryptic talk for later. We just stopped an invasion, and I don't know about you, but I'd like some answers. Who the hell was that masked figure?"

"A summoner," Vaelin answered, his voice firm. "But not just any summoner. That magic… it was ancient. Corrupt. If they were controlling that portal, then whoever they serve is far more powerful than we imagined."

Lyra's expression hardened. "Great. Just what we needed another mysterious enemy pulling the strings."

The weight of her words settled over them. The attack on the city hadn't been random. It had been a test. Someone, somewhere, was watching them. And if the summoner's words were to be believed, they had plans for Ren.

Ren tightened his grip on his sword. "Then we need to be ready. Next time, I want answers."

Vaelin nodded. "Agreed. But first, we need to report to the king. He'll want to know everything that happened here."

As the group turned toward the castle, the remnants of battle surrounded them crumbling walls, fallen soldiers, and the lingering stench of burnt magic.

This was just the beginning.

Deep within the shadows of an unknown land…

The cloaked summoner knelt before a massive throne, their head bowed low. Before them sat a figure draped in darkness, their piercing golden eyes glowing through the void.

"The portal was closed," the summoner reported. "But the one we seek… he has awakened."

The figure on the throne remained silent for a long moment. Then, in a voice like distant thunder, they spoke.

"Good."

The summoner looked up, uncertainty flickering behind their mask. "Shall I intervene?"

The figure leaned forward slightly, their presence suffocating. "No. Let him grow stronger. Let him struggle. Let him think he is shaping his own destiny."

A sinister smile curled across their lips.

"And when the time is right… we will take everything from him."

The summoner bowed again as the darkness around them deepened, swallowing the room in an endless void.

Back in the castle, Ren felt a sudden chill creep down his spine, as if unseen eyes were watching his every move.

He shook the feeling off and pressed forward.

Unbeknownst to him, the wheels of fate had already begun to turn.