Jin Long soared through the void, the shard of the map pulsing in his palm with a rhythm that resonated deep within his soul. The Genesis Core hummed along with it, its power surging like an unstoppable wave, but it was tempered with an unnerving stillness. There was no joy in the flight, no triumph in the speed. Only the weight of an unseen future pressing in on him.
The stars stretched like pinpricks of light against the endless black, but even in the vastness of the cosmos, Jin Long could feel the tendrils of the Hollow King's influence creeping toward him. Every shadow in the expanse seemed to shift, every distant star a reminder that time was no longer on his side.
The shard pulsed again, and Jin Long knew—he was close.
"Jin Long," a voice echoed in his mind, smooth and chilling. "You think you can run from your destiny? It is already written."
He clenched his teeth. Zhan Wuhen's voice, as cold as ever, reverberated in his skull. But Jin Long knew better than to listen. The journey ahead would be a silent war, one fought not with swords and spells, but with the very fabric of reality itself.
The shard in his hand began to shift, its surface warping as the map morphed into something new—a portal to a forgotten realm, one that existed beyond even the folds of the Void. A dark planet, its surface cracked and scarred by ancient wars, floated in the heart of an asteroid field.
The planet was called Zhan'kaar—a place where the Hollow King's influence had once been strongest, and where the Third Seal was hidden. Jin Long's eyes burned with determination as he hurtled toward it.
—
On the Surface of Zhan'kaar
The ground trembled as Jin Long descended, the atmosphere thick with the scent of sulfur and ancient decay. The once-pristine fields had been turned into barren deserts, the skies painted in hues of blood-red and pitch-black. Ruins, remnants of a civilization long since forgotten, stood as silent witnesses to a time of endless war.
Jin Long landed with a soft thud, the Genesis Core's energy shield forming around him, protecting him from the harsh environment. His wings folded as he stood and surveyed the desolate landscape.
"Is this where it all began?" he muttered to himself.
The map had led him here, but now, as he took his first steps onto the soil of Zhan'kaar, a deep unease settled in his chest. This world was not just a lost place. It was a battlefield, a memorial to the price of power.
A sound broke the silence.
The ground cracked, and from the depths, a massive figure emerged. Cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with the same violet fire Jin Long had seen in the Hollow King's minions. But this creature was different—it was not an enemy from the Void.
It was a Guardian.
Its massive, stone-carved body shifted, revealing a glowing sigil embedded in its chest. "You seek the Seal," the Guardian's voice boomed, deep and resonant, as though the planet itself spoke through it.
Jin Long's heart pounded. "I do. But I cannot allow the Hollow King to claim it. I will do whatever it takes to stop him."
The Guardian's eyes flared. "Then you must prove your worth. The Seal is not easily won. It demands a sacrifice—a price that only the worthy can pay."
Jin Long stepped forward. "I have already paid a price. I've seen what the Hollow King can do."
The Guardian raised its hand, the earth shuddering beneath Jin Long's feet. "Then be prepared. The trial has begun."
With a crash, the ground beneath Jin Long split open, and from the rift emerged a horde of Revenants—twisted creatures that seemed to be formed of pure despair. They lunged at him, their claws reaching for his throat.
But Jin Long was not unprepared.
The Genesis Core flared with light, and Jin Long moved with a speed and grace beyond that of any mortal. His sword cut through the Revenants with precision, each slash accompanied by an explosion of energy. But for every one he struck down, another rose from the earth, its eyes burning with hatred.
The Guardian's voice rang out once more. "Endure, Jin Long. The true test is not in slaying your enemies. It is in standing firm against the darkness that consumes you."
Jin Long's movements slowed for just a moment as the words hit him. His mind flashed to Yue Lan, to Veyr, to everyone he had left behind in Etherion. The weight of his responsibility pressed heavily on his chest, but he did not falter. The energy of the Genesis Core surged through him, and with it, his resolve hardened.
This was his battle.
He would not let the Hollow King win.
The Revenants faltered for a moment, as though sensing Jin Long's determination. He swung his blade one last time, and the ground erupted in a brilliant burst of light. The Revenants crumbled to ash.
The Guardian stood in silence, watching him. "You have passed the first trial. But the path ahead will be even more treacherous. The Hollow King will stop at nothing to reclaim the Seal."
Jin Long nodded, his grip on his sword tightening. "I know. But I will not stop.