The sky over District 19 turned black.
Not with clouds.
With creatures.
They crawled across buildings, streetlights, and walls—monsters formed from twisted human emotions.
A spider made of screaming faces.
A giant skeletal wolf.
A floating woman with dozens of arms dragging through the air.
Kael stared in horror.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Virel glanced up calmly.
"There are approximately 137 curses in this district alone."
Kael swallowed.
"And they all want… me?"
"Correct."
The first monster dropped from a rooftop.
Then another.
Then ten more.
Kael backed away.
"I'm guessing you have a plan?"
Virel smiled faintly.
"Yes."
He stepped aside.
"You fight."
Kael blinked.
"I WHAT?!"
The first curse lunged.
Kael's chest suddenly tightened.
His heart stopped again.
Silence.
Then—
THUMP.
A black pulse erupted.
Five curses disintegrated instantly.
But the others kept coming.
Virel watched carefully.
"Interesting…"
Kael staggered.
"Why isn't it working on all of them?!"
"Because," Virel said calmly, "your heart isn't fully awakened."
A massive shadow dropped behind Kael.
The largest curse yet.
Twenty feet tall.
Eyes glowing like burning coals.
Virel's expression finally changed.
"Oh."
"That one's… not supposed to be here."
The monster leaned down.
And whispered in a voice like grinding metal:
"We found you… King."
Kael froze.
"…King?"