Yun Hao couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to him as he walked through the empty streets. The weight of Xin's words echoed in his mind, and he could feel the sinister pull that seemed to be dragging him further into the unknown. Every step felt heavier than the last, as though the very ground beneath him was shifting.
Ruin remained by his side, silent but ever-present, like a shadow that refused to let him go. Yun Hao had grown used to the presence of the dark figure, though tonight, it felt different. More oppressive.
The wind howled through the alleyways, a chill in the air that didn't belong to the usual evening breeze. The night felt alive with danger, as if something were waiting just around the corner.
What am I walking into?
The question gnawed at him, but he didn't have the answers.
"You're thinking too hard," Ruin finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly. He was walking beside Yun Hao, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his black jacket. "Let go of the fear for a moment. We're in this together."
Yun Hao glanced at him, seeing the flicker of uncertainty in Ruin's eyes. It was the first time he'd seen the figure show any signs of vulnerability.
"Together?" Yun Hao echoed, feeling the weight of the word settle in his chest. "Then why does it feel like I'm alone in this?"
Ruin's lips twisted in something that might've been a smile, though it was difficult to tell. "You're not alone," he repeated, though his words didn't sound entirely convincing.
They walked in silence for a few moments, the sound of their footsteps the only thing breaking the quiet. But it wasn't long before Yun Hao's thoughts returned to Xin. The way he'd spoken to him, the cryptic warnings, the sense that he knew something Yun Hao didn't.
What is he trying to tell me?
They reached the street corner, where the dim light of a streetlamp flickered in the night. Yun Hao hesitated for a moment, staring down the empty road that led to his apartment.
"I have to go home," Yun Hao said, his voice soft. "I can't think straight out here."
Ruin nodded without a word, stepping aside to allow Yun Hao to pass. But just as Yun Hao was about to walk away, he heard it. A faint whisper in the air, too soft to catch with the human ear but undeniable nonetheless.
"Yun Hao…"
His heart skipped a beat.
He spun around, but the alley behind him was empty, the only sound the faint rustle of the wind.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ruin raised an eyebrow. "Hear what?"
"That voice," Yun Hao replied urgently. "Someone called my name…"
Ruin's expression darkened. "It's him."
Yun Hao felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine. "Xin?"
"No," Ruin's voice was low and dangerous. "Someone much older. Much more dangerous."
Before Yun Hao could respond, the darkness around them shifted. The shadows stretched unnaturally, swirling in the air like smoke. A figure emerged from the blackness, its form taking shape in the dim light of the streetlamp.
Yun Hao froze.
The figure stepped forward, and Yun Hao's heart stopped.
It was a man, but not just any man. He was tall and imposing, his eyes glowing with an eerie light that sent chills through Yun Hao's body. His presence was suffocating, as if the very air around him had thickened with power.
"I see you've found your way here, Yun Hao," the man's voice was deep, smooth, and laced with authority. "And so, it begins."
Yun Hao instinctively stepped back, but Ruin's hand shot out, gripping his arm with a strength that surprised him. "Don't," Ruin warned quietly, his eyes locked on the newcomer. "He's not someone you can face alone."
"Who are you?" Yun Hao demanded, his voice shaky but resolute. "What do you want with me?"
The man smiled, though it wasn't a kind smile. It was sharp, predatory, and Yun Hao could feel the weight of centuries behind it.
"I am the one who's been watching you," the man replied. "The one who's been waiting for you to remember. My name is Kael."
Yun Hao felt his heart race, his pulse quickening as a sense of déjà vu hit him like a wave. Kael? The name was familiar, but from where?
Kael took a step forward, his presence overwhelming, his eyes never leaving Yun Hao. "I've waited so long for this moment," he murmured, his voice carrying an unsettling calm. "You've grown stronger than I expected, but you still don't understand the full extent of your power."
Yun Hao's throat went dry. Power? He had no idea what Kael was talking about, but the man's words sent a jolt of recognition through him.
"I don't… I don't know what you're talking about," Yun Hao said, his voice trembling.
Kael chuckled darkly. "Of course, you don't. You're not meant to remember yet. But soon, very soon, the past will come crashing down upon you."
Yun Hao's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle starting to shift into place. The sigil, Ruin's warnings, Xin's cryptic words… it was all leading up to something.
But what?
"Why don't you come with me?" Kael's voice was smooth like velvet, but the command was unmistakable. "I'll show you everything. You can't escape this fate. It's already written."
Before Yun Hao could respond, a force stronger than anything he had ever felt pulled at him. His vision blurred, and the ground beneath him seemed to warp. It felt as though the very world was collapsing around him.
"Yun Hao, don't go with him," Ruin's voice was frantic now, pulling him back.
But Kael's power was too much. Yun Hao's body trembled, his knees giving way as the world spun faster.
"Ruin…" Yun Hao whispered, his voice weak. "I can't…"
The last thing he saw before everything went black was Kael's smug smile, and then…
Silence.