The Seal Bleeds
The city of Halmyr was already burning when Kael Thorn and Renn Varn finally faced one another.
Not because of an accident.
Because Renn had ordered it.
Flames crawled up the stone towers like living things, smoke darkening the sky until the sun became a dull red coin behind ash. People fled through the streets in panicked streams while mid-rank beasts prowled the outskirts, snarling, waiting for a signal that only one man could give.
Renn stood at the center of the ruined plaza, sword resting on his shoulder, cloak untouched by soot. Around him lay the corpses of three massive beasts—creatures he had summoned only moments before, only to slaughter them for the spectacle.
The crowd saw a hero.
Kael saw a butcher.
"Renn!" Kael's voice cut through the chaos.
The Grey Hunt stood at his back—Nyx with blades drawn, Borin planted solidly like a living bulwark, Elyra pale but unbroken, staff glowing faintly as it drew on whatever memories she had left to give.
Renn turned slowly, smile widening when he saw them.
"So," he said lightly. "The seal comes to judge me."
Nyx hissed, "You're done."
Renn's eyes flicked to her. "You wound me."
Kael stepped forward. "You're controlling the beasts. Sending them to cities. Killing them to build your legend."
Renn didn't deny it. "Yes."
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
Cressa stood behind Renn, eyes hollow with horror. Halvek was beside her, jaw clenched, shame etched into every line of his face.
"They deserve to know," Cressa whispered.
Renn's smile faltered for the first time. "Not now."
Cressa stepped forward. "You made me kill people, Renn."
The crowd's murmurs rose.
Renn's eyes darkened. "Get back."
"No," she said, voice breaking. "You're not a hunter anymore. You're a tyrant."
Renn's sword moved.
Halvek shoved her aside just in time.
The blade carved through Halvek's shoulder, blood spraying across the plaza.
"HALVEK!" Cressa screamed.
Nyx moved.
Kael moved.
The battle exploded.
The First True Clash
Nyx crossed the distance to Renn in a blur of motion, blades flashing toward his throat. Renn blocked with his sword, dark energy flaring as metal screamed against metal.
"You were always fast," Renn said. "But I am beyond fast now."
He backhanded her with unnatural force, sending her skidding across the stone.
Borin roared and charged, hammer coming down in a crushing arc. Renn dodged effortlessly, then drove his blade into Borin's side.
Borin barely flinched. He grabbed the sword with one hand, blood pouring between his fingers.
"You're not taking him again," Borin growled.
Elyra raised her staff, voice trembling as she spoke words that cost her dearly. The air thickened around Renn, slowing him just enough.
Kael loosed.
The arrow tore through Renn's cloak and buried itself in his shoulder.
Renn staggered back with a hiss.
Blood dripped down his arm.
For the first time since he'd touched the breach, Renn looked… human.
The crowd saw it.
A hero who bleeds.
A god who can fall.
Nyx was back on her feet, eyes blazing. "You're not untouchable."
Renn's smile turned feral. "Good."
He raised his sword.
The beasts surrounding the city howled in unison.
They charged.
The Seal Revealed
Kael stepped forward.
The Mark blazed so brightly it burned through his clothes, a glowing sigil visible on his skin for all to see.
People gasped.
The beasts faltered.
Renn's eyes widened.
"So that's what you are," he whispered. "Not a hunter. A lock."
Kael's voice carried across the plaza.
"I am the Seal."
The ground trembled.
Images flooded the air—projected by the Mark itself: ancient hunters standing in a circle, blood and light sealing something beneath the Beast Continent. Oaths carved into the world. A promise to hold the darkness back.
"And he," Kael continued, pointing at Renn, "is breaking it."
The truth washed over the crowd.
Screams turned to anger.
"You lied!"
"You brought them here!"
"Monster!"
Renn snarled. "They need me!"
Kael shook his head. "They need the seal to hold."
Renn lunged, blade aimed straight for Kael's heart.
Nyx intercepted, taking the strike across her arm. Blood sprayed.
"I won't let you," she hissed.
Kael loosed again.
The arrow pierced Renn's thigh, dropping him to one knee.
Renn screamed, rage and pain ripping free.
Cressa ran to Halvek's side, sobbing as she tried to stop the bleeding.
"Renn, stop!" she cried.
Renn looked at her, bloodied and shaking.
For a heartbeat, something like regret flickered.
Then it vanished.
"Never," he whispered.
He slammed his sword into the ground.
A breach tore open beneath him.
Darkness swallowed his legs as beasts surged from the rift.
Kael felt the Mark burn like a star going supernova.
"No!" he shouted.
He fired one final arrow.
It struck Renn's chest.
The force hurled Renn backward into the closing breach, blood spraying across the plaza as the rift collapsed behind him.
Silence fell.
Renn was gone.
Aftermath
The beasts without Renn's control scattered, confused.
Hunters rallied.
The city began to stabilize.
People stared at Kael with a mixture of awe and fear.
Nyx slumped beside him, bleeding but alive. "So… you're a door."
Kael nodded faintly. "And he's the key that wants to break it."
Borin laughed weakly. "Figures."
Elyra wiped tears from her eyes. "The world knows now."
Kael looked at the blood-soaked plaza, at the truth laid bare.
"Yes," he said. "And that changes everything."
Far away, deep beyond the Seal, Renn Varn opened his eyes and smiled through blood.
"Next time," he whispered, "I won't fall."