Chapter 1 – The Awakening of Fear
The world was a chaotic balance of monsters, spirits, devils, and humans, all confined to their own realms. Among them, the human realm, Veldor, stood as the last bastion of mortal life, ruled by a single figure—the Void Monarch. A title passed down through generations, given to the strongest who could protect humanity from the creatures beyond.
But one monarch changed everything. He didn’t just rule; he conquered. He waged war against the demon realms, slaughtering their kings and setting humanity free. He was called a legend. An immortal.
Until his closest disciple drove a blade through his heart.
With his death, the demons and monsters returned, and Veldor fell into an age of desperation once more.
---
The purple sky stretched endlessly over the dense forests of Veldor, where a small village lay nestled between the trees. Birds chirped, the wind whispered through the branches, and the scent of fresh soil lingered in the air.
A 12-year-old boy sat up abruptly from his bed, thick black hair disheveled, sweat dripping down his face. His brown eyes darted around the dimly lit room. Another dream… or was it a nightmare?
Loki let out a sigh, rubbing his face. "What a weird dream…"
Shaking off the unease, he grabbed a cup of water from the wooden table and took a long sip. His mother’s voice called from outside.
“Loki! Don’t forget to come back early today!”
"I will! Just make sure dinner is good, Mom!" Loki grinned as he strapped his worn-out hunting sword to his belt.
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Outside, two familiar figures waited.
Hilda, a sharp-eyed girl with short blonde hair, was tightening the straps of her leather armor. Beside her, Bo, a broad-shouldered boy with messy brown hair, grinned, adjusting the arrows in his quiver.
“Finally awake, lazy ass?” Bo smirked.
“Shut up,” Loki muttered.
Hilda rolled her eyes. “Let’s go before the sun sets.”
The trio wandered through the woods, heading towards their usual hunting spot. The tall trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying gently. The place was peaceful, the same as it always was.
Bo crouched behind a bush, nocking an arrow. A deer stood a few feet ahead, grazing quietly.
"Gotcha," Bo whispered.
He pulled back the bowstring, eyes locked on the target. With a sharp twang, the arrow shot forward, piercing the deer’s flank. The animal let out a pained cry before collapsing.
"Perfect shot!" Bo grinned.
But Hilda didn’t look happy. Her expression darkened as she scanned their surroundings.
“…Something’s off,” she muttered.
Loki frowned. "What? It''s just a deer—"
CRACK.
A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the trees. The ground trembled. Something heavy was moving.
Then—a monstrous bear lunged out of the shadows.
It was unlike anything they had ever seen—twice the size of a normal bear, fur black as night, glowing red eyes burning with hunger.
It roared, shaking the air.
“SHIT!” Bo yelled, barely lifting his bow in time. The bear swiped its massive claws, aiming straight for Hilda.
She was frozen. Paralyzed with fear.
Bo threw himself in front of her, the bear''s claws slashing against his arm. He screamed, his bow dropping to the ground.
“Loki! CUT IT DOWN!” Bo shouted.
But Loki—he couldn’t move.
His whole body stiffened. His fingers trembled. His breathing became erratic.
What… is this feeling?
His heart pounded against his chest. Fear. Real, unshakable, paralyzing fear.
The bear roared again, towering over Bo. He was going to die.
Move. MOVE.
Loki tried, but his legs refused to listen.
Bo gritted his teeth, struggling to lift his arm. The bear’s massive jaw opened wide, ready to tear him apart—
FWIP!
An arrow pierced the bear’s skull.
It let out a final growl before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
A shadow emerged from the trees. A man in dark hunting gear, bow still raised.
“Hey, kids,” the man said, lowering his weapon. “Go play somewhere else.”
The three of them stood frozen—not from the man’s presence, but from what had just happened.
Loki hadn’t moved. He hadn’t fought.
He had done nothing.
---
That night, as the village fires burned, Loki sat in silence, staring at his hands.
He wasn’t the same anymore.
The fear still lingered in his chest. The memory of the bear, its glaring red eyes, its breath reeking of blood, its sheer overwhelming presence.
Hilda and Bo sat beside him, but none of them spoke.
Loki clenched his fists. He had always dreamed of becoming strong. Of being a warrior, a hunter.
But today, he had realized one thing.
He was weak. Terrifyingly weak.