Meanwhile…
Kharous Raine wandered through the forest in silence, his presence alone enough to suffocate the life around him. The once-lively woodland had grown unnaturally still, as if the creatures within it could sense the danger that walked among them.
One by one, animals fell.
A deer froze mid-step before a chain pierced through its body. A wolf lunged in desperation, only to be crushed instantly. Birds attempting to flee were dragged from the sky.
Kharous devoured their souls without hesitation.
Each life he took fed the Phantom Curse within him. Each soul made him stronger. The chains that coiled around his body seemed to pulse with that stolen energy, tightening, growing heavier with power.
The more he consumed, the closer he came to restoring his true strength.
A random villager, traveling alone through the forest, suddenly caught sight of him.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Fear took over instantly.
The villager turned and ran without thinking, his heart pounding violently as he sprinted through the trees. Branches tore at his clothes, and his breath grew uneven, but he didn't stop. He didn't dare look back.
After what felt like an eternity, the forest behind him fell silent.
Kharous was nowhere to be seen.
The villager slowed down, gasping for air, relief washing over him.
"I made it…" he whispered.
Then—
A chain shot forward from the darkness.
It moved so casually, so effortlessly, that the villager didn't even have time to react. It wrapped around his entire body, binding him tightly, the metal links digging into his flesh.
Before he could scream—
Kharous pulled.
The chain tightened violently.
In a single motion, the villager's body was split in half.
Silence returned to the forest.
Kharous stood in the distance, emotionless, as the soul of the villager was drawn into the Chain Curse.
He continued walking.
Soon, he came across a group of Ember Golems.
Massive creatures of molten rock, their bodies glowing with heat, were gathered together, fighting among themselves over something unknown. The ground beneath them cracked and burned with every movement.
Kharous did not hesitate.
He stepped forward and struck one of the Ember Golems instantly, interrupting their conflict.
The other four immediately turned toward him, their glowing eyes burning with rage.
Without warning, they attacked.
Massive fists of lava came crashing toward him, each strike powerful enough to shatter stone. The forest around them trembled as heat and force collided.
But Kharous moved calmly.
His chains lashed outward, intercepting the attacks with precision. Each swing of the chains tore through the air, colliding with the Ember Golems and forcing them back. The ground shattered beneath the impact, and trees were ripped from their roots as the battle escalated.
Despite their strength, the Ember Golems stood no chance.
One by one, Kharous destroyed them.
The chains pierced through their molten bodies, crushing and tearing them apart. Within moments, all five Ember Golems were reduced to lifeless remains scattered across the burning ground.
Their energy was absorbed.
Kharous moved on without pause.
He wandered deeper into the Forest of Fawl, where the air grew heavier and darker. The deeper he went, the more he could feel something unnatural ahead.
Then he saw it.
A weakened witch stood in a clearing, her figure frail but her presence still dangerous. Around her were seven Dark Lords—powerful entities radiating dark energy.
She was giving them orders.
"Kill anything in your path. Gather souls," she commanded.
Kharous stepped forward.
His sudden appearance was silent, yet overwhelming.
Surprisingly, the witch did not react.
"I am here to devour your souls!" Kharous declared, his voice filled with dominance.
The witch immediately ordered the Dark Lords to attack.
They rushed toward him all at once.
At first, even Kharous struggled.
The Dark Lords were far stronger than anything he had encountered so far. Their attacks came in waves, coordinated and relentless. Dark energy clashed with the chains as the battle tore through the clearing.
But Kharous endured.
With each passing moment, he adapted.
His chains moved faster, striking harder, tearing through their defenses. One by one, the Dark Lords fell, their power unable to withstand the Phantom Curse.
Eventually, all seven were defeated.
The clearing fell silent once more.
Kharous turned toward the witch.
"Come with me," he said.
She refused.
"I'll kill you, and your Dark Lords are mine!" Kharous threatened.
The witch quickly changed her tone.
"Don't kill me. I will give you five of my Dark Lords. I am their creator—I can make more for you," she said convincingly.
Kharous paused.
Then he replied, "Fair enough. You will serve me."
After that, he accepted her offer.
He took five Dark Lords for himself and walked away, leaving the witch behind.
Minutes passed.
The forest grew quiet again.
Soon, Kharous encountered three elves traveling together.
Without hesitation, he ambushed them.
The attack was swift and merciless.
The elves were killed instantly, their souls devoured before they could even understand what had happened.
Kharous stood still for a moment, sensing something nearby.
He was close to an elven camp.
He turned slightly toward the Dark Lords following him.
"Stay there," he ordered.
They obeyed without question.
Kharous then walked forward alone, deeper into the forest.
There was something ahead.
Something powerful.
He could feel it clearly now—
An immense concentration of souls, gathered in one place.
And without hesitation, he moved toward it.