The night grew darker over the kingdom of Atheria.
The eclipse was almost at its peak.
In the palace courtyard, the guards looked confused when they saw a figure walking toward the gate.
Long silver hair moved gently in the night wind.
Her white dress glowed softly beneath the remaining moonlight.
It was Lunaria.
The guards immediately knelt.
"Your Highness… are you leaving the palace tonight?"
One of them spoke with hesitation.
"It is too dangerous."
Lunaria paused for a moment.
Her eyes were closed as usual, yet her expression remained calm.
"The danger has already arrived," she said softly.
"If I do not leave now… the future of the world will become something far worse."
The guards exchanged glances.
They knew Lunaria was not someone who would speak without reason.
A black horse was brought before her.
Lunaria mounted it gracefully.
The night wind blew stronger.
The palace gates slowly opened.
Before she left, one of the guards asked carefully.
"Your Majesty… where are you going?"
Lunaria looked up at the sky.
In the distance, the eclipse was nearly complete.
"I am going to meet someone."
"The one destined to stand in the middle of the world's destruction."
Then she lowered her gaze slightly.
"Arken."
With a single pull of the reins, her horse began to gallop out of the palace gates.
The guards could only watch as her figure disappeared into the night.
Far from the palace…
In the middle of a forest destroyed by battle.
The ground was filled with marks of explosions.
Trees had fallen.
Amid the destruction stood Arken.
His breathing was slightly heavy.
Several wounds could be seen on his body.
In front of him stood the general of the Void Sovereign's army.
The creature laughed loudly.
"So this is the power of the Shadow King?"
"Interesting… but you are starting to weaken."
Arken lifted his head slightly.
The shadows on the ground were still moving around him.
But their movement was slower than before.
The Void creature raised its sword.
Void energy began gathering around it.
"This battle will end soon."
The night wind stopped.
The eclipse in the sky was nearly complete.
But far from there…
Someone was moving swiftly toward the battlefield.
And with every step, the distance between two souls long separated by fate grew smaller.