ARC I — "ASHES OF THE FAITHFUL"
The rain had stopped.
The world felt too quiet — like the forest itself was listening.
Adrian moved carefully through the trees, his cloak torn and soaked in mud. His hands trembled as he held the book — the very thing that had destroyed his life.
He whispered to himself, "They know it's me now."
And they did.
The Divine Order had traced the book's energy signature — every object of alien origin emitted faint wavelengths of their godlight. When Adrian opened the book back in the ruins, the nearest tower detected the pulse.
That's how they found him.
That's how his family died.
He stared down at the book, its surface faintly humming with that same cursed energy.
"You led them to me."
He wanted to throw it away, bury it, destroy it — but his hands wouldn't let go.
In the city above, the priests of the Divine Order stood around a glowing projection — a holographic map with trails of light tracing Adrian's movements through the region.
One of the commanders spoke, his voice mechanical.
"The heretic's resonance has been confirmed. Target identified: Adrian Matter. Subject exposure level — critical. Termination authorized."
The high priest raised a clawed hand.
"Do not kill him yet. The boy has seen our truth. Bring him back alive… the gods wish to know what else he's seen."
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Adrian stumbled through mist and roots, his breath sharp. Every sound made him flinch. The hum of the alien book wouldn't stop.
It's like it's alive, he thought.
He collapsed against a tree, exhausted. "I can't… keep running…"
He opened the book again. Strange symbols shifted across the pages, forming words in his own language. His eyes widened.
"They are not the first."
"What…?" he whispered.
The next line bled onto the page, as if written by invisible ink:
"Others came before them. And something older still sleeps beneath their light."
A shiver crawled down his spine. "What are you talking about?"
The wind suddenly died. The air grew heavy.
Then he heard it — a voice, deep and distant, echoing through his mind.
"You seek power, don't you, child?"
Adrian froze. "Who said that?"
"You called for vengeance… and the earth answered."
The trees bent slightly, their branches trembling though there was no wind. The shadows began to twist, forming a shape — a humanoid outline, dark and burning with faint red eyes.
Adrian stepped back, heart pounding. "What are you?"
"Something older than your gods," the voice said. "Older than theirs, too."
The figure stepped closer, its body made of smoke and blood.
"When they came to your world, they buried me. They sealed me beneath their temples, afraid of what I am. But you… you opened the wound again."
Adrian's throat tightened. "You mean the ruins…?"
"That place was once my prison. Your 'book' is part of the key that binds me."
The demon tilted its head. "You read it. You set me free, even if you didn't know."
Adrian's eyes widened. "You're saying… I unleashed you?"
"You woke me. And now I offer you what the gods fear most — freedom."
The ground trembled softly. In the distance, beams of blue light streaked through the sky — alien ships scanning the forest. Adrian could hear their engines humming closer.
"They found me again," he whispered.
The demon's eyes glowed brighter. "They will not stop. You have seen their truth, and they cannot allow you to live."
Adrian's voice broke. "They killed my family. Burned everything I had. And I can't even fight them!"
"You can," said the demon. "If you give me what I desire."
Adrian's chest tightened. "What… what do you want?"
"Your soul."
The word echoed through him like thunder.
Adrian's breath quickened. "My… soul?"
"Your soul is the price for my strength. A fragment of eternity for the chance to strike back at your gods."
Adrian looked down at his trembling hands — scarred, bloodied, powerless. Then he remembered his mother's final words:
'If you survive… maybe one day, you'll end this.'
He looked up at the demon. "And if I give you my soul… what happens to me?"
"You will still walk this world. But the more you use my power, the less of you remains. In time, you'll forget why you fought at all."
Adrian clenched his fists. "Then I'll hold onto my hatred. That'll keep me alive."
The demon smiled faintly — a shadow twisting like smoke.
"Hatred is the purest memory. It never fades."
The alien ships roared closer, trees cracking under their light.
Adrian shouted, "If I do this — if I make this deal — I'll kill them all. Every one of those so-called gods."
"Then say it," whispered the demon. "Speak the pact, and your vengeance will begin."
Adrian's voice trembled, but he said it anyway.
"I offer my soul… for their destruction."
The forest exploded with darkness.
The ground split open, a black flame swirling around him, merging into his veins. His screams echoed through the trees, his body convulsing as symbols burned into his skin — the same symbols from the book.
From the sky, the alien ships fired beams of light toward the forest — but the light bent around him, dissolving before it reached his body.
He stood, eyes burning red, cloak torn, aura flickering with shadow.
The demon's voice echoed one last time.
"Rise, Adrian Matter. From this moment on, you are no longer their prey."
"You are their end."
As the night fell, the forest burned with alien fire.
And among the ashes, a new power walked — neither human nor god, but something in between.
From the depths of the earth, a whisper followed him:
"The first rebellion was born in light. The last will rise in shadow."