Chapter 2 – The Sacrifice of Midnight
The blood-red night had not yet fully ended.
Far from the royal palace, deep within the dense forest, the darkness was thick and chilling.
Towering trees blocked the sky, allowing only faint crimson moonlight to filter through to the ground.
In that shadowy forest stood a solitary figure.
Archmage Vaelor.
His long beard swayed gently in the breeze. His face remained calm, but his breathing was labored.
In his arms, he held the newborn infant tightly.
The child was unnaturally quiet.
No crying.
No fussing.
Only the soft rise and fall of tiny breaths against Vaelor's chest.
Vaelor's aged arms trembled slightly.
The reason was clear —
He had forcibly interrupted his deep meditation.
For a cultivator of his level, that came at a devastating cost.
But he had told neither the king nor the queen.
His gaze swept the dark woods.
Then he spoke softly,
"You're late, Kaelneth."
His voice was quiet,
yet filled with unyielding resolve.
A heavy silence fell over the forest.
Then —
The darkness stirred.
Shadows between the trees gathered, coalescing into one massive form.
No distinct face.
Only two blazing red embers glowing like eyes.
Black energy rippled around it,
as if the night itself had come alive.
A cold, cruel voice echoed through the trees.
Vaelor.
Do you truly believe you can hide your weakness from me?
The voice came from every direction,
as though the forest spoke as one.
Kaelneth's ember-eyes flared brighter.
You interrupted your cultivation by force.
Your energy is unstable.
Your body already frail.
He slowly extended a hand.
Black energy coiled around his fingers.
Yet you fled all the way here.
His gaze locked on the child in Vaelor's arms.
His voice grew colder.
So that's him.
The child of prophecy.
Silence reigned again.
Then Kaelneth said,
Give me the child.
The boy with the Blood Mark is the final piece of my plan.
The red glow in his eyes intensified.
Hand him over…
and perhaps I will let you live.
Vaelor remained silent for a moment.
Then —
He began to laugh softly.
The laugh was weary,
but fearless.
He pressed the child closer to his chest.
Then, in a calm voice,
Kaelneth.
You've known me for many years.
The old fire ignited in his eyes once more.
I have never bowed.
He took a step forward.
His gaze met Kaelneth's directly.
If you want this child…
come and take him from me.
A profound hush fell over the forest.
Then —
A dangerous gleam sparked in Kaelneth's eyes.
A faint smile curled his lips.
Very well.
He murmured softly.
You have chosen death.
The next instant —
He raised his hand.
And in that moment —
The forest's darkness came alive.
Massive waves of black energy surged toward Vaelor.
The battle had begun.
As Kaelneth raised his hand —
The forest's shadows erupted into life.
Vast waves of black energy crashed toward Vaelor.
They were no ordinary force.
They carried a savage hunger, as if eager to devour everything in their path.
The air grew heavy.
Tree branches thrashed wildly.
But —
Archmage Vaelor stood unmoving.
He cradled the child securely in his left arm.
Slowly, he raised his right hand.
The ancient solemnity returned to his eyes.
His voice rang out —
Ancient Shadow-Piercing Stance!
A ring of ashen light expanded from his palm.
The light was no ordinary glow.
Ancient energy swirled within it.
The next moment —
Black waves collided with ashen energy.
BOOM!
A terrifying tremor shook the entire forest.
Tree roots quaked.
Leaves flew into the air.
But —
Vaelor immediately stepped back.
He shifted his stance with precision born of countless battles.
Kaelneth laughed lightly.
His voice echoed through the darkness.
A good effort, Vaelor.
But your cultivation is incomplete.
You are no longer what you once were.
Vaelor gave no reply.
Only a faint, cold smile.
A smile full of calculation.
The next instant —
He twirled his left finger through the air.
A complex energy circle formed.
Blood Summoning Circle.
Suddenly —
Hundreds of shimmering energy particles appeared in the air.
Small,
yet razor-sharp.
Vaelor extended his hand gently.
The particles shot toward Kaelneth.
They did not strike the darkness directly.
They targeted the weakest points —
where the shadows were thinnest.
In moments —
Cracks appeared in the black energy swirling around Kaelneth.
But —
Kaelneth advanced.
His form expanded.
In the next breath —
Countless black arms erupted from the darkness.
Each arm wielded a different weapon.
Swords.
Spears.
Streams of pure shadow.
You remain cunning, Vaelor.
But this will not save you.
Suddenly —
All the arms attacked at once.
Blades of darkness slashed from every direction.
But in that instant —
Vaelor's body blurred.
He activated his next technique.
Dual Shadow Reflection.
Abruptly —
Two figures of Vaelor appeared.
One real.
One illusory.
They attacked from separate directions.
The real Vaelor charged straight ahead,
eyes locked on Kaelneth's glowing red core —
the heart of his power.
The shadow Vaelor slashed at the black arms.
Explosions of energy rocked the forest with every clash.
But —
This battle was not easy for Vaelor.
With each impact, his breathing grew heavier.
A deep black gash appeared on his shoulder.
Not a simple wound —
it severed life force itself.
His right leg began to numb.
Yet —
No fear showed on his face.
Only exhaustion…
and unbreakable will.
Moments later —
Kaelneth appeared directly before him.
His eyes blazed.
Enough, Vaelor.
You have lost.
Silence fell over the forest.
Vaelor slowly closed his eyes.
He knew —
He could not win this fight.
Not with his interrupted cultivation.
But —
He had prepared for this.
An ancient symbol flared on his forehead.
Half sun.
Half moon.
Vaelor whispered,
Half-Distant Realm.
His voice trembled,
yet resolute.
Activate.
The next instant —
A massive sphere of ashen energy enveloped them.
Suddenly —
Time slowed.
Kaelneth's black arms froze mid-strike.
Leaves hung motionless in the air.
Forest sounds faded to nothing.
But —
This technique carried a terrible price.
Vaelor's life force drained rapidly.
His chest tightened in agony.
Breaths came in ragged gasps.
Still —
He held the child tightly.
Kaelneth roared, straining against the sphere.
This is not enough!
His bellow echoed through the trees.
But —
Tears glistened in Vaelor's eyes for the first time.
He whispered softly,
You should have stopped me.
But now…
His voice grew faint.
You are too late.
And in the next breath —
His energy flared wildly.
He unleashed his final technique.
The forest air quaked.
The next moment —
Everything would change.
The ashen energy sphere still held time in suspension.
Leaves floated frozen.
Kaelneth's black arms strained against the barrier.
But —
The sphere's surface began to crack.
Kaelneth's roar thundered —
Vaelor!
Do you think this can stop me?
His black energy surged, tearing at the realm.
But —
Vaelor no longer looked at him.
His entire consciousness focused on one task.
The final technique.
His breaths were labored.
Each one felt like his chest was shattering from within.
Yet —
He pressed the child closer to his heart.
For a moment, he gazed at the small face.
The baby remained calm.
As if unaware of the horror around him.
Tears fell from Vaelor's eyes.
He whispered,
I could not save the king and queen.
His voice cracked.
But…
I will save you.
His fingers traced patterns in the air.
A complex energy mandala formed.
This was the forbidden technique —
one the royal bloodline sealed away.
Because —
It could only be used once in a lifetime.
And its price was —
One's very life force.
Kaelneth sensed it immediately.
His eyes flared.
No!
You cannot use that technique!
But —
It was too late.
Vaelor closed his eyes.
The half-sun, half-moon symbol on his forehead blazed.
His voice rang out —
Quiet.
But resolute.
Forbidden Translocation Blast!
The next instant —
The ashen sphere contracted violently.
All energy gathered around Vaelor.
Kaelneth attacked with full force, shattering the realm.
But —
Vaelor smiled.
You should have stopped me.
But now…
It is far too late.
And in that moment —
KABOOM!
A cataclysmic explosion of energy erupted.
Ashen light flooded the forest.
Trees uprooted.
Earth split open.
Waves of power rippled outward.
Kaelneth's furious scream echoed through the woods.
When the energy finally subsided —
No one remained.
No Vaelor.
No child.
Only shattered trees…
and drifting black smoke.
Kaelneth's eyes burned with rage.
He scanned the forest with his consciousness.
But found nothing.
His voice trembled with fury —
Vaelor!
You will not escape me!
His red eyes glowed in the darkness.
But —
The child was now beyond his reach.
At that same moment —
In a distant corner of the world,
inside an ancient, hidden cave —
The air rippled.
The next instant —
Archmage Vaelor appeared.
But —
As soon as he materialized —
His legs buckled.
He dropped to his knees.
His breathing came in gasps.
His entire body shook.
One arm was nearly numb.
Pain still burned in his chest.
Yet —
The child in his arms was completely safe.
Vaelor gently placed him on the ground.
Dim light filled the cave.
In that light —
The crimson mark on the baby's chest glowed faintly.
Vaelor stared at it.
Tears streamed down his face.
From exhaustion.
From pain.
From regret.
He whispered,
I could not save the king and queen.
But…
He lifted the child again.
As long as this child lives…
the flame of the royal bloodline lives on.
Resolve returned to his eyes.
He touched the baby's forehead lightly.
One day…
You will avenge them all.
You will end those who brought this darkness.
He held the child close.
Then softly said,
I will teach you.
I will make you the strongest warrior this world has ever seen.
So powerful…
that no obstacle can stand in your way.
At that moment —
The baby made a soft sound for the first time.
As if smiling.
Vaelor's eyes filled again.
He smiled faintly.
Sleep now,
my child.
The world still sleeps.
He gazed into the cave's darkness.
But when it awakens…
His voice faded.
We will be ready.
Silence returned to the cave.
Yet far away —
In the night's darkness —
Two red embers glowed once more.
Kaelneth still searched.
And on that blood-red night —
In the world of Kaelthorn,
a story had begun —
One that would change the course of an entire world's history.