Far from Earth.
Beyond the stars.
There existed a mysterious world — Kaelthorn.
A world where colossal dragons soared through the skies.
Where men built empires with magic and steel.
And where only one rule mattered —
Power is truth.
And truth is destiny.
In this vast world of Kaelthorn there were nine continents.
Each continent held its own mighty empires.
Some were famed for their arcane magic.
Some for their unbreakable blades.
And some for their ancient warrior bloodlines.
But that night…
something was about to change in Kaelthorn.
High atop the tallest spires of a colossal imperial palace, guards stood watch.
Below them stretched the sprawling capital city.
Massive stone walls ringed the palace, and torches blazed along their battlements, desperately trying to pierce the darkness.
Yet the wind…
was unnaturally still.
So still that even the flames in the braziers on the towers refused to flicker.
One guard suddenly glanced upward.
"Does the sky feel… wrong to you tonight?" he asked in a hushed voice.
The second guard gave a grim nod.
"Yeah. It's like the air itself has changed."
Both men looked up together.
And then —
One by one, the glittering stars began to dim.
Their eyes widened.
What in the nine hells…?
Moments later the moon itself began to change color.
First a faint red.
Then deeper.
Then the color of fresh blood.
The entire sky turned crimson,
as if someone had sliced open the horizon from end to end and let the heavens bleed.
Soldiers along the walls exchanged panicked glances.
No one understood what this omen meant.
But the phenomenon wasn't limited to this empire alone.
Across Kaelthorn, in hidden sanctums and forgotten places, ancient and powerful beings rose as one.
On the peak of an ice-clad mountain, inside an ancient temple,
an old sage with a long white beard stared at the blood-red sky.
A fierce light burned in his eyes.
Ancient Sage (in a low whisper):
"The sign…
At last, the sign has appeared."
Behind him stood a figure cloaked entirely in black.
The man spoke softly,
"So the prophecy is about to come true."
The old sage drew a deep breath.
Ancient Sage:
"Tonight, a child will be born into this world…
the boy bearing the Blood Mark."
The black-cloaked figure smiled faintly.
Mysterious Man:
"And when he is born…
the balance of all Kaelthorn will shatter."
A heavy silence fell.
Then the man added, even quieter:
Mysterious Man:
"Because his power…
will either save this world…
or destroy it completely."
At the same moment —
Inside a grand royal chamber of the imperial palace,
a newborn infant drew his first breath.
Fragrant incense burned.
Golden lamps hung on the walls.
Yet their flames trembled strangely,
as if an invisible force had entered the room.
In the center lay a beautiful woman —
the Empress of the empire.
She held the tiny baby in her arms.
But there was no joy on her face.
Only deep worry…
as if she already knew something terrible was coming.
Beside her stood a tall, powerful man in gleaming battle armor,
a sword at his hip.
His eyes were fixed on the blood-red sky outside the window.
He was King Eldric.
His face was etched with grave concern.
He gripped his sword hilt so tightly his knuckles were white,
ready for war at any second.
Then —
BOOM!
A terrifying explosion shook the palace.
The walls trembled.
Window panes rattled.
Distant shouts of soldiers echoed:
Soldiers:
"We're under attack!"
"Activate palace defenses!"
"All warriors — to arms!"
Seconds later the chamber door burst open.
A breathless soldier rushed in —
General Draven, the commander of the imperial army.
General Draven (panting):
"My King…
The shadows have breached the palace!"
For a moment, silence gripped the room.
But King Eldric showed no fear.
He slowly raised his sword.
King Eldric (voice like steel):
"Give the order to every soldier —
The war has begun."
General Draven bowed instantly.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
And he rushed out.
Outside, the battle had already erupted.
Yet no one knew who was truly behind the assault.
And in the darkest corners of Kaelthorn,
a single name was being whispered like a curse.
A name that made empires tremble.
A name whose shadow caused even the bravest warriors to shudder.
Crimson Emperor Kaelneth.
And tonight…
his eyes were fixed on one newborn child —
a child whose destiny would change the entire world.
Chaos now ruled the palace courtyard.
What had been a place of grandeur moments ago was now a battlefield.
The clash of steel rang out everywhere.
CLANG!
SWISH!
THUD!
Torchlight flickered wildly on the stone walls.
Horses screamed.
Soldiers shouted.
The air stank of blood and smoke.
Archers on the walls loosed volley after volley.
WHOOSH!
Arrows tore through the darkness.
But those they struck…
rarely fell.
Figures wrapped in black robes moved as if pain meant nothing to them.
Their bodies were cloaked in smoke and shadow.
Their eyes glowed blood-red.
Their blades looked as if they had been forged from pure darkness.
In the center of the courtyard stood King Eldric.
Dead enemies lay piled around him.
His breathing was heavy,
his armored chest rising and falling.
Yet his eyes held no fatigue —
only unbreakable resolve.
Suddenly a black figure leaped from the air,
sword aimed straight at the king's throat.
SWISH!
King Eldric's eyes flashed.
His hand moved like lightning.
CLANG!
Sparks exploded.
The enemy struck again,
but the king stepped forward and swung.
A blinding white light burst from his blade.
SWISH!
One strike —
and the attacker's body split in two.
Yet there was no triumph on the king's face.
Because more shadows kept pouring over the walls…
as if darkness itself had no end.
Wounded soldiers ran to the king, faces pale with terror.
Soldier (gasping):
"My King… we can't hold them back!"
King Eldric answered without turning:
"Fear nothing.
As long as I draw breath,
this palace will not fall."
His voice carried such power that courage returned to some men.
But then —
CRASH!
The massive palace gate exploded.
A cloud of dust billowed out.
From within the dust, several black figures emerged slowly.
Every footstep made the ground tremble.
The army behind them stood deathly silent.
Only the faint sound of their breathing remained.
The entire courtyard seemed to choke with an invisible dread.
Meanwhile, inside the palace,
an old man rushed to a secret chamber —
the one King Eldric had ordered him to reach.
His hands shook as he placed them on the stone door.
Old Servant (voice trembling):
"Archmage Vaelor…
The palace is under attack!"
For a moment there was no reply.
Then a deep wave of energy surged from within.
Inside the chamber,
Archmage Vaelor sat in deep meditation.
His breathing was so slow it seemed time itself had stopped.
The moment he heard the warning,
his eyes opened slowly.
A profound light glowed within them —
as if he had known this moment would come.
Archmage Vaelor (softly):
"So… they have finally arrived."
He placed his palm on the floor.
Instantly the entire palace's energy flowed into his mind.
He felt the battle,
the blood,
the death,
and the darkness.
Then he closed his eyes and whispered:
"Kaelneth…
You have finally made your move."
The next instant his body blurred…
and he vanished.
At the same moment,
inside the royal chamber,
King Eldric and Queen Lirael stood together.
The queen clutched their newborn tightly.
The baby's tiny breaths were calm —
as if the war outside didn't exist.
Suddenly the air rippled.
Archmage Vaelor appeared.
King Eldric's eyes lit with hope.
King Eldric:
"Master… the situation is dire.
We must save this child."
Vaelor's gaze fell on the infant.
His breath caught.
Archmage Vaelor (barely audible):
"So… this is the one."
Silence swallowed the room.
Then —
BOOM!
The chamber wall cracked.
The stone floor split open.
Every lamp flame trembled violently.
From the dust and smoke,
a colossal figure of pure darkness rose.
Its body was made of shadow and smoke.
Its eyes burned like living coals.
The air grew thick and heavy.
King Eldric's breathing slowed.
Queen Lirael's heart hammered.
Archmage Vaelor remained calm.
And then the dark figure fully materialized.
It slowly raised its gaze and spoke in a voice like rumbling thunder:
Dark Figure:
"You are still alive…
Vaelor."
The air grew even heavier.
In that chamber,
Archmage Vaelor now faced the most terrifying name in all of Kaelthorn.
Crimson Emperor Kaelneth.
The atmosphere inside the chamber had become suffocating.
The lamp flames on the walls stretched and shrank wildly.
The stone floor vibrated.
In the center stood the towering figure of darkness.
Black energy swirled around him.
His eyes blazed with rage, arrogance, and terrifying confidence.
He was Crimson Emperor Kaelneth.
His mere presence cracked the chamber walls.
Queen Lirael clutched her baby even tighter.
Kaelneth smiled cruelly and spoke in a voice that shook the room:
Kaelneth:
"Vaelor…
It has been many years since we last met."
Archmage Vaelor stood motionless, eyes steady, voice calm:
Archmage Vaelor:
"I knew the news of this prophecy would eventually reach you."
Kaelneth gave a cold laugh.
Kaelneth:
"You were always clever.
So you should already understand…
what fate this child carries."
He slowly raised his hand.
Black energy coiled around his fingers.
Kaelneth:
"Hand the child to me…
and perhaps I will spare this empire from total annihilation."
Silence.
Then King Eldric stepped forward.
Golden light glowed along his sword.
King Eldric:
"As long as I live,
no one touches this child."
Kaelneth's eyes narrowed.
He looked the king up and down and smirked.
Kaelneth:
"Brave…
but also foolish."
The next instant he thrust his palm forward.
A wave of black energy erupted.
BOOM!
King Eldric charged.
His sword slashed, releasing a golden wave.
CLASH!
The two powers collided.
Stone shattered.
Lamps blew out one by one.
Only golden light and black energy remained.
King Eldric pressed forward, breathing harder,
but every step was firm.
He raised his sword for a final strike.
Golden energy surged —
But Kaelneth simply lifted a finger…
and stopped the entire wave mid-air.
King Eldric's eyes widened in shock.
Kaelneth smiled.
Kaelneth:
"Your power isn't bad.
But before me…
you are nothing."
He twisted his finger.
Black energy slammed forward.
CRASH!
King Eldric was hurled backward into the wall.
For a second he couldn't breathe.
Yet he rose again.
Queen Lirael's eyes filled with tears.
But there was no fear on her face —
only a mother's unbreakable will.
She kissed the baby's forehead and whispered:
Queen Lirael:
"My child…
you must live."
She gently passed the infant to Archmage Vaelor.
Vaelor took him with solemn care.
King Eldric and Queen Lirael stepped forward together.
Their eyes met —
filled with love, pain, and farewell.
Queen Lirael smiled softly:
"If we do not burn today…
our future will burn instead."
King Eldric nodded.
King Eldric:
"Royal blood does not —"
Queen Lirael finished:
"— survive on blood alone.
It survives on resolve."
In the next heartbeat they unleashed everything they had.
Golden light erupted around them like twin suns.
The chamber shook violently.
Kaelneth's eyes finally grew serious.
Kaelneth:
"So… you intend to offer your lives?"
But the royal couple would not stop.
Golden energy exploded outward.
Queen Lirael looked at Vaelor one last time.
Queen Lirael:
"Save him… Master."
Vaelor's eyes moistened for the first time.
He bowed his head.
And then —
KABOOM!
A cataclysmic explosion of golden light collided with darkness.
Palace towers collapsed.
Stone pillars crumbled.
The shadow army screamed.
When the light finally faded…
the king and queen were gone.
Only broken stone and drifting smoke remained.
Archmage Vaelor stood still for a moment,
paying silent respect to two fallen legends.
Then he clutched the infant tightly…
and vanished from the burning palace.
The palace was now engulfed in flames.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Vaelor raced toward the forest.
But suddenly —
thunder roared overhead.
Black clouds gathered.
They formed into a colossal dark figure.
It was Crimson Emperor Kaelneth once again.
He descended and spoke coldly:
Kaelneth:
"Vaelor…
Running is pointless.
Give me the child."
Vaelor's breathing was heavy,
yet fire burned in his eyes.
He held the baby closer.
Archmage Vaelor:
"Today, even if I must sacrifice these old bones…
I will not hand this child to you."
They stared at each other.
And in that exact moment —
the infant in Vaelor's arms suddenly stirred.
His tiny eyes opened for a single second…
and a crimson light flashed within them.
Then everything went still again.
But for that brief instant…
it felt as if the entire world had felt that light.
And on that blood-red night,
in the world of Kaelthorn,
a boy was born —
whose destiny was to challenge the darkness,
topple empires,
and rewrite history itself.