The highest realm was alive with shimmering light — towering spires of crystal and marble piercing the endless azure sky, their surfaces reflecting a brilliance so pure it could blind the untrained eye. Celestial beings floated lazily among the clouds, their radiant wings brushing against golden pathways that connected realms unseen by mortal eyes. This was the domain of gods, angels, and ancient bloodlines — a realm where power and legacy intertwined like threads in a grand tapestry.
Yet beneath this ethereal beauty, a shadow lingered.
Within the Dark Flame estate, an ancient fortress carved from obsidian and adorned with runes pulsing with dark energy, a family's final hours were unfolding.
Lord Azrael Darkflame stood at the center of the great hall, his black cloak billowing as a storm raged outside. His eyes, a burning crimson, reflected centuries of accumulated power and sorrow. The flickering shadows cast by floating orbs danced on the walls, yet they could not mask the desperation that clouded the air.
System activated.
A translucent interface materialized before his vision, displaying a torrent of information:
Name: Azrael Darkflame
Age: 138 years
Bloodline: Dark Flame (Level 20) — Affinity Consumption (Active)
Class: Shadow Lord
Physique: Peak Human
Soul: Tempered Darkness
Energy: Full
Skills: Shadow Manipulation (Master), Bloodline Absorption (Advanced), Combat Mastery (Elite)
Proficiency: 98%
Growth: Maxed
Below the stats, a flashing alert:
WARNING: Celestial forces detected — hostile — estimate arrival 5 minutes.
Azrael's jaw tightened.
"Seraphina," his voice echoed through the hall, "the celestial hunters are near. We must act now."
From the inner chambers emerged Lady Seraphina Darkflame, her presence serene despite the chaos. Her silver-black hair cascaded past her waist, eyes the softest shade of red, filled with equal parts determination and fear.
She approached, carrying a small cradle with a swaddled infant, his faint red eyes flickering even in sleep.
"Our son," she whispered, "his power will mark him as a target."
Azrael nodded, stepping toward an ornate altar etched with ancestral symbols. The air thrummed with energy as he raised his hands, invoking a barrier of shadows to shield their home.
But the system pulsed again, sharper this time.
ALERT: Enemy breach imminent.
The massive estate trembled as the first wave of celestial warriors crashed through the outer wards, blades shimmering with divine light. Their leader, a towering figure clad in radiant armor, bore down upon the Dark Flame family's sanctuary.
Azrael's voice grew fierce. "Protect the children at all costs! We will fracture the bloodline if we must."
Seraphina stepped forward, revealing a second cradle — this one holding a delicate baby girl, her silver-streaked black hair catching the light, and violet eyes faintly glowing with celestial energy.
"The daughter will be hidden in the highest realm's sanctum," she said. "The boy... I will send to the lowest realm with Elara."
Azrael frowned. "The lowest realm is harsh. But safer. The locket will guard him."
The sound of clashing steel echoed as celestial hunters broke through the defenses. Shadows and light collided in a deadly dance.
With trembling hands, Azrael retrieved an obsidian locket etched with protective runes.
"Take this," he said to their trusted nursemaid Elara, who had just entered the hall.
"Keep him safe."
Elara nodded solemnly, wrapping the locket around the infant boy's neck.
The teleportation circle ignited beneath them — swirling with raw energy.
Azrael and Seraphina embraced their children one last time.
"Awaken, my son," Seraphina whispered. "The Shadow Reaper will rise again."
__________________________________________________________
POV: Nursemaid Elara
The world spun wildly as Elara clutched the infant tightly, the teleportation spell pulling her through realms unlike any she had ever traversed. The dark energy from the locket pulsed warmly against the child's chest, a fragile beacon of hope in a cruel world.
When the spell finally released them, Elara found herself in a desolate village nestled among jagged rocks and twisted trees — the lowest realm.
The child's system interface shimmered into view:
System Interface
Name: Kael Darkflame
Age: 0 years
Bloodline: Dark Flame (Level 1) — Affinity Consumption (Dormant)
Class: None (Potential: Shadow Reaper)
Physique: Frail
Soul: Pure
Energy: Low
Skills: None
Proficiency: 0%
Growth: 0 XP
Elara's heart clenched.
"This is only the beginning," she murmured. "Your path will be hard, but your legacy cannot be broken.
________________________________________________
POV: Lyra Darkflame (infant, in the highest realm)
Far away, hidden beneath celestial protection, Lyra stirred in her cradle, a faint glow surrounding her.
Her system interface was different — touched by light rather than shadow.
System Interface
Name: Lyra Darkflame
Age: 0 years
Bloodline: Dark Flame (Level 1) — Celestial Affinity (Dormant)
Class: Unknown (Potential: Lightborne Heir)
Physique: Fragile
Soul: Luminous
Energy: Low
Skills: None
Proficiency: 0%
Growth: 0 XP
A quiet voice whispered from the heavens.
"You will grow, little light, and one day, you will find him."
The clash of worlds had begun.
The Dark Flame bloodline had been shattered — but the story was far from over.
End of Chapter 1