Veran – The Secret of the Nyx Clan and the Awakening of the Gargio
The ruins were shrouded in silence. The secret crypt of the Nyx Clan held more than Veran could imagine.
After finding his mother's sleeping body and reading the enigmatic message, a dark energy moved around him.
The torches along the walls went out.
The ground shook.
And out of nowhere, a deep, guttural voice resonated in the air:
"Blood of the Nyx Clan… why have you returned?"
Veran turned, muscles tense, ready for battle.
From the shadows of the crypt, a colossal creature emerged.
The Gargio.
A being over ten feet tall, with a body of black stone and muscles woven of living darkness. Its dragon wings were torn and its mouth, full of sharp fangs, glowed with a venomous glow.
But what struck him most were its eyes.
Eyes that were not those of any monster. They were the eyes of someone who was once human.
Veran felt a chill run down his spine. Who was this creature?
"I am the Guardian of the Nyx," the Gargio roared, striding forward with heavy steps. "I am the keeper of the forbidden knowledge of our blood. If you wish to take what is kept here, you will have to prove yourself worthy."
Veran gritted his teeth. He had no time for games.
"I am not here to steal," he replied, his hand reaching for the hilt of his blade. "I am the last heir of this clan. I am here to claim what is rightfully mine."
The Gargio let out a deep growl. "The last heir?"
He stepped forward, lowering his head toward him.
"Then prove it."
A bolt of poisonous energy exploded from the being, and in an instant the battle began.
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The Duel – The Trial of Nyx Blood
The Gargio moved with incredible speed, despite his gargantuan size.
His blade-like claws struck Veran, who dodged at the last second, feeling the cut air graze his skin.
"You cannot win by force," the creature warned. "This is a test of cunning and poison, not pure brutality."
Veran understood immediately. He had to fight like a true Nyx Clan member.
He leapt back, pulling out one of the ancient vials found in the crypt.
Inside, a dark purple liquid bubbled. A paralyzing poison.
The Gargio lunged again, claws ready to slash.
Veran waited until the last moment… and then sprayed the poison onto the creature.
The Gargio roared in rage, its body slowing. Its limbs stiffened.
Veran wasted no time. He leapt onto the guardian's back and with a blade marked with toxic runes, carved an ancient symbol into the monster's chest.
"Now tell me who you really are!"
The Gargio stopped, its body shaking… and then, with a final blast of dark energy, it collapsed to the ground.
His stone skin began to crumble, revealing…
A man.
Or rather… his mother's brother.
Veran gasped. It was his uncle.
"You… weren't supposed to come back," the Gargio whispered, his voice faint.
Veran crouched down beside him. "Tell me the truth. Who destroyed our clan?"
Slowly, the creature's eyes shifted toward the crystal coffin.
"The Nyx Clan's killer… didn't come from outside."
"It was… one of us."