Chapter 1: The Cursed Man
Night had fallen over Moonvale Island, a lonely place where legends whispered through the wind and shadows seemed alive. The waves crashed against black cliffs, and the forest rustled like it was breathing.
In the heart of that forest stood Ben, a man carrying a curse that chained him between life and death. His eyes glowed faintly in the dark, silver like the edge of his sword. The air around him felt heavy, thick with something unseen — a power that came from both heaven and hell.
Ben wasn't human anymore. Not completely. He had been reborn to hunt the very monsters that once hunted him — twisted spirits known as shades. They were born from human greed, hate, and sorrow, feeding on the darkness inside people's hearts.
A sudden cry shattered the silence.
From the mist, a young woman stumbled into view — terrified, her dress torn, her hair wet with rain. Her name was Mia Brightstone, daughter of the powerful Brightstone Company. She had come to Moonvale Island for a break from her family's endless business world… but she had stepped right into a nightmare.
Dark shapes followed her — shadows that hissed and twisted into creatures. Before she could scream again, Ben moved. His sword flashed like lightning, cutting through the air. One by one, the shades vanished in a burst of black smoke.
When it was over, the forest fell silent again.
Ben walked toward her slowly, his boots sinking into the mud.
"Don't move," he said, his voice calm but deep. "It's over now."
Mia looked up at him, still trembling.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
Ben paused for a moment. "Someone who shouldn't exist."
Lightning flickered across the sky, lighting his face for an instant — a man haunted by too many memories, too many sins.
And though Mia didn't understand it yet, she and this mysterious stranger were tied together by a destiny far older than either of them could imagine.