After the brutal fight against the Dark Jin, Raka's body still felt broken. But he had no time to rest. With faltering steps, he continued his journey towards the Hell Root Valley, a place mentioned in the ancient scroll as the gateway to the source of Darkness. As he entered the valley, the temperature dropped drastically. Black mist hung in the air, and the ground below was filled with giant roots that twisted like living snakes. Some of them seemed to move, as if they were aware of Raka's presence. He stepped carefully, observing his surroundings. The cliff walls of the valley were covered in ancient carvings that seemed to tell a long-forgotten story.
"This isn't just an ordinary valley…" he muttered.
ANCIENT PAINTINGS AND FORGOTTEN HISTORY:
He touched one of the carvings on the wall. As soon as his fingers touched the stone, a strange image flashed through his mind. A man in a white robe stood before a giant black gate, holding a glowing sword. Around him, hundreds of shadowy soldiers knelt in fear. The man appeared to be a guard, someone tasked with sealing away something terrible beyond the gate. But next to the carving, there was another image, a far more grim one.
The black gate was open. Terrible creatures poured out of it, spreading destruction across the land. The white-robed guard was now on his knees, blood pouring from his body, and before him stood a giant figure with glowing red eyes.
"So, this is the beginning of the destruction of the Shadowless Lands…"
Raka's eyes narrowed. He remembered the old story his father had told him, about a last guardian who failed to hold back the Darkness.
"Then, is the gate still there?" He continued his journey deeper into the valley, following the clues of the ancient scroll.
THE BLACK GATE AND THE DEVIL'S WHISPER:
After hours of walking through the winding forest of roots, Raka finally found it. In the middle of the valley, hidden behind ancient ruins, stood a giant black gate. The gate was made of carved black metal, decorated with small skulls that looked like parts of real human bodies. Faint black energy flowed across its surface, pulsing like a living heart. As he approached, strange voices began to ring in his head.
"Come… we are waiting for you… open this gate… let us out…" Raka groaned, feeling a stabbing pain in his head. He took a step back, calming his mind.
"This is not just a door… it's a trap." He surveyed his surroundings. In front of the gate, there was a stone tablet that was mostly buried under roots. He brushed off the dust and began to read the ancient writing on its surface.
"This gate seals an entity that must not be named. If it is opened, the world will fall into eternal darkness. The blood of the Last Guardian is the key to destroying it." Raka's eyes widened.
"The blood of the Last Guardian?!" Does this mean that only the descendants of the guardian can destroy this gate? But who is the descendant?
And more importantly… if this gate were destroyed, would the Darkness truly vanish, or would it unleash something even more terrifying? He knew he had to think carefully. But before he could make a decision, the ground around him began to shake.
"GRRRRRRRRHHH!!!"
From within the shadows, something began to rise.
A giant figure, much larger than the previous Dark Jin, appeared in front of the gate. Its skin was as black as obsidian, and from its red eyes, radiated unimaginable hatred. Raka gripped his sword tightly.
"So, you are the guardian of this gate, huh?"
The creature simply stared at him, then slammed both of its hands on the ground, creating a shockwave that sent Raka flying into the air!
BOOM!!!
The shockwave shattered the ground, sending Raka flying. His body spun around a few times before he stabbed his sword into the ground to stop the momentum.
"Damn, this thing is way bigger than the one before!"
The Gatekeeper, a black giant with obsidian skin, moved at an absurd speed for his size. He swung his fist at Raka.
BOOMMM!!!
The ground shook violently, creating a large crater. But Raka had already disappeared. In the air, he darted like a shadow, utilizing his speed and agility. Once above the giant's head, he plunged his sword into the creature's nape!
SRAAATTT!!!
Black blood gushed from the wound he had made. But… something strange happened. The blood did not fall to the ground, but flowed back into the giant's body, healing the wound in seconds! Raka's eyes widened.
"Instant regeneration?! Damn, this won't be easy!"
The giant roared, then clapped both of his hands on his body. From his body, dozens of shadow hands came out and attacked in all directions!
"Demon hands?!..."
SHREETTT!
One of the hands managed to claw Raka's arm, tearing his flesh!
Fresh red blood dripped onto the ground. But strangely, as soon as the blood touched the ground, the black gate behind the giant vibrated, as if responding to Raka's presence.
"What the hell is this…?"
But he couldn't think about that now. The attacks kept coming! He twisted his body, dodging the hands with a quick maneuver. With lightning reflexes, he grabbed the orichalcum dagger from his belt and threw it straight at the giant's eye!
JLEB!
"GRUAAAAAAGGHHH!!!"
The giant roared in pain, clutching his face. This was Raka's chance! With one thrust, he leapt into the creature's chest, plunging his sword as deep as he could. But this time, he didn't pull it out. Instead, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and activated a destruction spell!
"DESTROY!"
BLARRRRR!!!
White light enveloped his sword before it exploded from within the giant's body! The explosion was so powerful that it destroyed half of the creature's body, sending black smoke into the air.
The giant's body collapsed. But before it was completely destroyed, it stared at Raka with its eyes still glowing red.
"Your blood… is the key… The gate… must not open…"
Then its body turned to dust. Raka stood amidst the ruins, gasping for breath.
"My blood… is the key?"
He stared at his blood-stained hands, then turned to the still-shaking gate. Did this mean he was a descendant of the Last Guardian? And if so… did that mean he was the only one who could open or destroy this gate? The questions swirled around his head. But one thing was for sure, he had to find out more. Without wasting any time, he began to explore the ruins around the gate.
FORGOTTEN SECRETS:
Behind the ruins, he found something surprising, an ancient altar. The altar was carved with strange symbols and a stone bowl in the center, filled with fresh blood.
"This is... whose blood?"
He touched the red liquid, and a vision struck him!
A man in a white robe stood before this altar, stabbing his dagger into his own hand, letting his blood drip into the bowl. The black gate behind him began to tremble... and then opened slightly.
But before the gate could fully open, the man was killed by someone who looked like him—a twin, or perhaps a brother. Blood flooded the ground, and the gate closed again.
The vision faded, leaving Raka in confusion. "Two people… two bloodlines? Does this mean I have… a sibling?"
If his blood is the key, does that mean there is someone else in this world who shares his blood? And if so… where is he now? The adventure deepens. Raka must find the answer, before the Darkness finds him first.
--- To be continued...