The sun was barely beginning to rise, casting a faint orange hue over the burning wreckage of the village. The air was thick with smoke, and the once-peaceful streets of Leon's home now resembled a warzone. The stench of charred wood and blood was all around him, but Leon hardly noticed. His mind was racing, his body still thrumming with the energy that had awakened inside him after defeating the creatures.
He had no time to rest. The villagers needed him.
His hand still glowed faintly with the power of the Light Relic System. The magic coursing through him felt different now—stronger, more familiar. He could feel it, pulsing beneath his skin, ready to respond to his will. But with it came a sense of responsibility. He wasn't just a boy anymore; he was a protector, a warrior. And if the System was right, his journey had only just begun.
"Task complete: 2 creatures defeated. Total Light Relics: 20. Progress: 20/100."
The voice spoke again in his mind, calm and indifferent, as though it were just another task to be checked off. But Leon could feel the weight of the message. He had to gather 100 Light Relics before he could unlock the next phase of his abilities. The thought of facing more creatures, more battles, filled him with a strange mix of dread and excitement.
But as he stood in the village square, his gaze falling on the burning buildings and the bodies of those who had not been fortunate enough to escape, there was only one thing on his mind: he had to stop this. He couldn't let the village be lost. He couldn't let this be the end of his people.
Leon turned to the remaining villagers, who had gathered in small groups, huddled together for safety. They looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear, unsure of what had just happened or who he had become. But Leon didn't care about that right now. He needed answers.
He stepped toward a group of the elders who were speaking in hushed tones near what remained of the village hall. They looked up at him as he approached, their eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and confusion.
"You… you saved us," one of the elders, an older man with a graying beard, said. His voice was shaky, but there was respect in his eyes. "But what is this power? What happened to you?"
Leon paused for a moment. The question had been coming, and he had no answer. He still didn't understand it himself. All he knew was that the moment he touched that box, everything had changed. And now, here he was—standing in front of people who saw him as a hero, but who didn't know what he truly was.
"I don't know," Leon said honestly, his voice low. "But I have to keep going. The village isn't safe yet. More creatures are coming, and I have to stop them."
The elder's eyes darkened. "This is no ordinary attack," he said slowly. "The beasts that came here are part of a larger force. There's a dark power at work, something ancient and dangerous. We've been hearing rumors for months now. There are forces stirring in the world… forces that seek to take control of everything."
Leon's stomach churned. He didn't like the sound of that. "What do you mean? What's coming?"
"We don't know much," the elder replied. "But there's an old prophecy. It speaks of the 'Light Relic,' a powerful force that can change the fate of the world. And it's been said that one day, a child born with no magic will awaken the Relic and rise to become the greatest warrior of them all. But with that power comes great danger. There are others who want it—dark forces who will stop at nothing to claim it for themselves."
Leon felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had been chosen for something much bigger than he could have ever imagined. The Light Relic System was more than just a gift—it was a beacon that attracted danger. And those who sought the power of the Relic would stop at nothing to take it from him.
"How do you know this?" Leon asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
The elder sighed. "We've studied ancient texts, old scrolls that speak of these dark times. The Relic is said to be both a blessing and a curse. If the wrong hands control it, the world will fall into darkness."
Leon's mind raced. This was more than just about saving his village. This was about a force beyond anything he had ever imagined. And he, a boy with no magic, was now the key to stopping it.
"You said there were rumors," Leon pressed. "What kind of rumors?"
The elder looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was listening. He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper. "There are whispers of a group, a secret order that has been searching for the Light Relic for centuries. They call themselves the 'Shadowborn.' They believe that whoever holds the Relic will rule the world. And they will do anything to get it."
Leon felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The Shadowborn. The name sounded as ominous as the elder made it sound. If this group was real, then they were more dangerous than anything he had faced. They would stop at nothing to take the Relic, and if he didn't act quickly, they would destroy everything in their path to claim it.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled again. Leon's heart skipped a beat as a loud roar echoed through the village. His eyes darted toward the horizon, where dark shapes were beginning to appear on the horizon—more creatures, more monsters. And they were coming fast.
The elder placed a trembling hand on his shoulder. "You must leave. They're here."
But Leon shook his head, his jaw clenched. "I won't leave. Not now. Not when the village is still in danger."
The elder looked at him with a mix of fear and admiration. "Then you must prepare yourself. There's much more at stake than just this village."
Leon turned and looked toward the oncoming horde. His fingers tingled with the power of the Light Relic, ready to fight. He had no choice but to face whatever was coming. He would fight for his village, for his people, and for the fate of the world.
He wasn't just some boy anymore. He was the Relic's chosen. And no one—not even the Shadowborn—was going to take it from him.