The wind howled across the burning village, carrying with it the smell of smoke and fear.
Seventeen-year-old **Aren Kazuto** stumbled forward, his breathing heavy as flames raged on both sides of the broken path.
Just minutes ago, this place had been peaceful…
Now it looked like the gates of hell had opened.
A sharp pain suddenly pierced Aren's chest.
At first it was small, like a heartbeat out of rhythm—
but in seconds, the pain exploded, spreading through his whole body as if something inside him was trying to tear its way out.
"H-hngh… what's happening to me…?"
Aren groaned, collapsing to his knees.
And then—
The air in front of him *ripped open*.
From the tear, a shifting, flickering shadow slowly emerged… twisting, changing shape, absorbing every bit of light around it.
Aren's eyes widened.
It was a **black sword**, alive with swirling darkness.
A deep, ancient voice echoed from within it—
**"At last… after hundreds of years, I awaken."**
Aren froze.
"Wh-who… who are you…?"
The dark blade floated in front of him, its edges razor-sharp, its center glowing with faint red runes.
**"I am the Shadow Blade,"**
the voice said, growing even colder.
**"And you… you are my chosen master."**
Before Aren could speak, a violent surge of energy burst from the sword.
Darkness spiraled around him—
the ground cracked beneath him—
and the air grew heavy as if the world was holding its breath.
The power rushed into him.
At first it felt like fire.
Then like ice.
Then… like *raw power* flooding every nerve in his body.
Aren gasped as his vision turned crimson.
Black flames curled around him, dancing with the wind.
He rose to his feet—
no longer trembling, no longer terrified.
In the distance, the monsters that attacked his village froze.
Their glowing eyes widened in fear.
They could feel it.
The boy they were hunting…
**was no longer prey.**
Aren slowly reached out and gripped the Shadow Blade.
The sword pulsed with dark light, and the voice whispered—
**"Let the world tremble once more."**
That night…
Aren Kazuto was reborn—not as a survivor,
but as the beginning of a **legend**.