Midnight.
Erik's room was quiet.Too quiet.
Even the gentle hum of protective runes that usually coated his walls was… gone.
He sat upright in bed, heart pounding.
"Erik."the soul whispered."Get up."
He obeyed instantly.
A moment later—the window exploded inward.
Glass shards, laced with red energy, shot toward him like bullets. He barely rolled aside as his mattress was shredded.
From the smoke, a figure cloaked in shadow stepped through the open frame.
Not Order.Not human.
Its eyes glowed white. Its limbs shimmered with astral scars. And it carried no weapon — its body was the blade.
⚔️ Erik's First Real Fight
The creature lunged forward, faster than any training partner.
Erik ducked, grabbing the fallen staff beside his bed — a practice weapon.
Wood vs void.
He deflected the first blow barely, sparks flying from where the shadow's hand struck his staff.
Another swing — Erik blocked. The shock rippled up his arm.
A third attack came, slicing the air. It grazed his shoulder — burning cold. Not bleeding… but cracking, like his skin turned to frost-glass.
"You're not strong enough,"the soul whispered."Not like this. Let me show you."
Erik backed into the center of his room.The shadow moved again, ready to finish it.
But then—his heartbeat changed.
A second rhythm pulsed inside him.Deeper. Ancient.As if drums were beating in his soul.
"Close your eyes,"the soul said."And remember what I once was."
Erik did.
And the world fell away.
🌌 The Soul's Memory (Flashback Vision)
He stood on a battlefield of stars.Mountains floated in the sky. Rivers of fire split the heavens.
And at the center stood himself — but older, taller, godlike.
Armor made of light. A spear that pulsed with time itself. Behind him — thousands of fallen angels and devils, bound by broken chains.
He turned to Erik.
"I failed once," the echo said."But in you — we get one more chance."
The image shattered.
Erik opened his eyes.
The room returned.
The shadow was in front of him — but now, Erik moved.
Fast. Fluid. Instinctual.
He dodged the attack and slammed his palm into the creature's chest.
A burst of gold and violet light erupted from his hand — pure soul energy.
The creature screamed — a high-pitched distortion — and was blown backward, crashing through the far wall.
Guards were already running toward the room, alarms ringing across the Spire.
But Erik stood in the wreckage, hands trembling with new power.
🔒 Azure Tower on Lockdown
Within moments, a dozen armored guards surrounded Erik's floor. Magical barriers shimmered across halls.
Seris arrived seconds later, panting, cloak half-burnt.
"Where is it?!"
Erik pointed to the wall — now scorched black and broken.
Seris cursed in an ancient tongue.
Velkhar came next, his aura crushing.
He stared at Erik — saw the glowing residue on his hands.
"You awakened soul-force," he muttered. "In battle."
Erik nodded. "I didn't have a choice."
"Good," Velkhar said. "Now you're worth keeping alive."
🧠 The Interrogation
Later that night, Erik was seated inside a glowing circle — magical truth field.
Seris and Velkhar stood opposite him.
Seris began, "That creature was not summoned from this realm. It bypassed every barrier. Every ward. That shouldn't be possible."
"Unless it was called," Velkhar said darkly.
Erik frowned. "By who?"
"Someone inside," Seris said. "We found fragments of the surveillance shard in your room."
Velkhar nodded. "Whoever it is… they're close. And they want you dead. Or worse — bound."
Erik leaned forward.
"Then stop looking at me like a threat."
Velkhar's jaw twitched — but he nodded once.
"You're right," he said. "You're a target now."
Seris added softly, "You'll need training. Proper. Dangerous. And faster than the Order normally allows."
🔥 New Ability: Soulflare Mark
That night, alone in a recovery chamber, Erik studied his hands.
Golden marks shimmered faintly across his palms — not tattoos, but etched in soul-light.
When he focused, he felt it:
A pressure in his chest. A flame without heat.Soul energy.
"That's your true core,"the voice said."The first gate is open now."
Erik whispered, "How many gates are there?"
"Seven,"it answered."And when the seventh opens… I disappear."
He blinked. "What?"
"We're one,"it continued,"but temporary. This world cannot hold both of us at full power. One will remain. The other will fade."
Erik sat in silence.
He didn't know what to feel.
🩸 Meanwhile… in the Shadows
The attacker — now broken, limping — crawled through a mirror in the far end of the continent.
On the other side waited a man in dark robes and silver chains. His face was hidden, his voice distorted.
"Failed?"
The creature nodded.
"He awakened early."
The robed man smiled.
"Good."
He pulled out a scroll. Upon it — Erik's face, circled in red.
"Phase Two begins now."