Aron quickly ran towards the cave, injured and in pain.
Breathing heavily, gasping for air, he stumbled forward.
The rain fell hard, and with each step, his bare feet pounded the ground. He didn't know the extent of his injuries, not as a 12-year-old child.
But he was safe under the shadow of the trees, until something strange emerged. Aron saw a dark shape in the sky, and slowly, it descended. It was like a black dragon, its shadow looming large.
From behind him, Bart grabbed Aron and pulled him close, hiding both of them behind a tree. One hand covered Aron's mouth, the other pressed against his head.
The dragon landed with a heavy thud. It growled like death itself. "Where are you?" it rumbled, its voice deep and terrifying.
Bart was as frightened as Aron, but he knew they had to stay still. He peeked from behind the tree, staring at the beast. It was as black as night, even though it was dawn. Its growl echoed through the air, chilling them both to the bone.
But then, a strange signal pulsed in the dragon's mind. It paused, then flew up into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.
Bart finally let out a breath, but Aron was still shaking with fear. "They are dark enemies," Bart whispered, his voice serious. "Beware of them. They want something from you… something you possess."
Bart turned to Aron. "Listen, the enemies are coming. I need you to run to that cave, hide there. I'll lead them away. That's all I can do." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
Aron shook his head, panic rising in his chest. "No, you don't have to die! I can't lose anyone else. Let's go to the cave together!"
Bart's face hardened. "Aron, stop being a child. You need to grow up. If they find the blade, the entire world will burn. Darkness will consume the lands, the seas, everything."
He paused, his expression softening, then embraced Aron. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "You must go. Find the place beyond the horizon, a place no one has found in over 2,000 years. It's called the Horizon. Far from this kingdom lies a land capable of housing millions. Start a new life there, protect your people."
Bart placed a hand on Aron's shoulder one last time. "I was never meant to save the world, kid… but maybe you are. Don't waste it."
Bart stood, turning toward the Kingdom of Norm. Aron watched as Bart ran towards danger, and then…In that split second before the beast struck, Bart looked back—his eyes full of pride, not fear. And then… he was gone.
In the blink of an eye, Bart's body was torn in half by the beast. His torso vanished midair, leaving only his legs and stomach to fall to the ground.
Aron's heart shattered. He screamed in agony, falling to his knees. The one person who had cared for him, who had protected him like a father, was gone.
"Damn you!" Aron yelled, his voice trembling with rage. His fists clenched, and a surge of power exploded from him like a raging storm.
The black dragon landed once more, its massive body casting a shadow over the land. "Finally, I've found the boy," it growled. "I never thought this fool would become the next warrior."
The dragon was the Black Reaper, its eyes glowing a bright, unnatural blue. Its body radiated dark shadows that could burn anything they touched.
The Reaper spoke, his voice like thunder. "Kill him. End this now."
Aron stood tall, his anger fueling him. He hid behind a tree, determined. "I'll kill you!" he shouted.
The ground trembled as the blade, the one Bart had spoken of, rose from the earth. It hummed with a strange power, as if it, too, was hungry for revenge.
The Reaper charged, its claws ready to strike. Just then, a flash of lightning lit the sky so brightly that people from distant kingdoms could see it. The Reaper hesitated, fear flashing in its eyes. Just before the Reaper could strike, the blade pulsed with a blinding light—and in an instant, Aron was gone.
"You let the boy slip away again," a voice hissed in the distance. "How pathetic."
The Reaper's rage grew, and with a roar, it struck the ground with fire, sending trees splintering into the sky. It was hunting Aron now, its murderous stench thick in the air.
Meanwhile, Aron woke up on a beach, half-drenched by the waves. He struggled to his feet, disoriented. Then, through the mist, he saw something gleaming in the sand. A blade—old, rusty, and covered with strange symbols.
He reached for it, the metal cold against his skin. It radiated a black mist, and though the blade was ancient and weathered, it felt… powerful.As Aron wrapped his fingers around the hilt, a pulse surged through his body—cold, ancient, and full of sorrow. The blade whispered to him, not in words, but in feeling… like it had been waiting for him for centuries.
Aron knew Bart was gone. He placed the sword on his back, securing it with a rope, and began walking towards the trees in search of shelter.
Despite the hellish rainstorm, Aron managed to build a small shelter for himself. He lay there, his thoughts racing. Bart had told him to find the Horizon, to search for the place no one had discovered in over two millennia.
Aron's eyes filled with tears. "I'll avenge everyone," he whispered through clenched teeth. "I'll make them pay for what they did to you, Bart. I promise."
And as he closed his eyes, the storm raged on outside. But in his heart, a new fire was igniting—one that would carry him across lands, through seas, and into the unknown.
"I'll burn kingdoms if I have to," Aron whispered, gripping the blade tightly. "But I swear on your soul, Bart… I'll make them bleed.""Even if it is the last thing "