Flames lit up the night as Veran stood before his former allies, his body still marked by rebirth. The power of the Hydra pulsed through his veins, but with it came suspicion.
"You are no longer one of us!" a knight shouted, drawing his sword. "You have returned from the dead, but at what cost?"
Veran clenched his fists. "I am still the same Veran. I fought for this land, I shed my blood for you!"
"Then prove it," said an old commander, his face marked by battle. "If you want to be accepted… then you must give something in return."
The words weighed on Veran like a millstone. It was not enough to have survived. He had to sacrifice himself.
At that moment, the sky split open. Winged demons descended upon the city, sent by the Puppet Master of War. There were too many of them, and the slaughter was imminent.
Veran turned to his former comrades. "If I died for you, would you accept me again?"
The commander looked him in the eyes. "Yes."
Veran nodded. Then he unleashed the full power of the Hydra.
Lightning and wind exploded around him. He charged at the demons, striking them down one by one with inhuman ferocity. But the more he fought, the more the power consumed him.
The Hydra's venom burned in his veins. His skin flaked. His eyes turned gold, inhuman.
Finally, only one of the demons remained. The Lord of the Abyss, a monster of flame and shadow.
"You have gone too far, mortal," the demon hissed. "Your body is no longer yours."
Veran knew he was right. He was done.
With a final war cry, he charged at the demon. Their energies exploded, destroying half the city in a flash of light.
When the dust settled… Veran was gone. Only a fragment of his armor remained.
His former allies knelt. The commander took the fragment and held it up to the sky.
"Veran of the Storm," he said solemnly. "Today you have proven your worth."
They had accepted it. But too late.
Raigor – The First Test: The Giant and the Lost Spirit
As Veran sacrificed his life, Raigor walked through the forbidden lands, heading for his first test.
"To find the Divine Physician," the hooded man had told him, "you must first save a lost spirit. But the guardian will not let you pass."
When Raigor reached the Valley of Shadows, he saw it.
A thirty-meter tall stone giant stood in the center of the valley, chained to an altar. At its feet, a small, glowing spirit struggled to free itself, trapped by dark runes.
The giant spoke in a deep voice. "This spirit is my doom. I cannot let it go. If you want it… you will have to fight me."
Raigor drew his sword. "Then we will fight."
The giant moved, shaking the earth. The battle for the lost spirit began.
The Puppet Master of War – The Enemy That Waits
From his dark fortress, the Puppet Master of War laughed.
"Veran is dead… or so they think."
His gaze shifted to an ancient scroll.
"But the power of the Hydra is not so easily extinguished. And Raigor… is walking straight towards his destiny."
In the shadows, an empty suit of armor came to life. A soulless warrior, the next opponent of the two heroes.
"Prepare yourselves," whispered the Puppet Master. "The real battle is about to begin."