As Monsters rushing in,The sword's golden flames reflected in Alex's eyes as the demon lunged. Its claws—each longer than Alex's arm—screeched against the relic's blade. The impact rattled his bones, but the sword's power surged through him, steadying his grip. Behind him, his father roared, cleaving through a serpentine monster with his axe.
"Focus, Alex!" his mother shouted, her hands weaving a 2nd Circle ice spell. Frost crawled up the demon's legs, pinning it momentarily. "Aim for its core!"
Alex hesitated. The demon's chest pulsed with a grotesque fusion of the Five Heroes' faces, their mouths twisted in silent screams. Are they still alive in there? The black scar on his palm throbbed, whispering: "Mercy is weakness."
The sun mark flared in response. No. I'm not like you, Alex thought, driving the sword into the demon's chest. Golden fire erupted, dissolving the abomination into ash. The Heroes' faces dissipated with relieved sighs.
But victory came at a cost.
A fissure split the earth where the demon fell, oozing black mist. The scar on Alex's hand darkened, veins of shadow spreading to his elbow. Nearby, the holy palace's wards flickered and died.
"The seal…" The head priest staggered toward the fissure, horror-struck. "You've bought us minutes, boy—not years. Every demon you slay weakens the Devil's prison further."
Before Alex could respond, the hooded figure materialized beside him, their voice a venomous purr. "You'll need this to survive what's coming." They pressed a cracked crystal into his hand—a relic of the Fifth Hero, the Seer. "The Sanctum lies three days north. But beware the Wandering Temple. It hungers for those marked by both God and Devil."
A guttural roar cut through the chaos. Across the city, the river itself twisted into a colossal hydra, its nine heads spewing acid. The remaining priests fled, but Alex tightened his grip on the sword.
"We can't fight that thing!" his father barked, dragging him backward. "We need to retreat!"
Alex shook his head, the Seer's crystal burning in his palm. Visions flooded his mind: the hydra's core glowing beneath the central head, the sword piercing it, the scar on his hand erupting with black flames.
I can end this. But what if I lose control?
His mother gripped his shoulders. "You're stronger than the Heroes," she said fiercely. "Not because of that sword—because you fear the power. Now run. We'll hold the hydra."
"No! I won't leave you—"
"The Sanctum can teach you to balance the marks," she interrupted, tears in her eyes. "Go. Before the Devil's voice drowns out your own."
Reluctantly, Alex fled, the hydra's roar shaking the sky. As he reached the city gates, he glanced back. His parents stood back-to-back, ice and steel holding back the tide. His father's axe flashed once, twice—then vanished beneath a tidal wave of fangs.
The scar on Alex's hand pulsed, smug. "You could've saved them,"it hissed. "If only you'd embraced me."
Alex ran faster.
The northern wilds swallowed Alex whole. Ancient pines groaned under the weight of their own shadows, and the air tasted of iron and decay. He ran until his lungs burned, the Seer's crystal clenched so tightly in his fist that its edges drew blood—a stark counterpoint to the numb ache spreading from his corrupted hand.
By dawn, the hydra's roars had faded, replaced by the whispers of the forest. And the scar. Always the scar.
"They died for your hesitation," it sneered, tendrils of shadow now snaking past his elbow. "The Sanctum will chain you. Let me devour its light instead."
Alex ran until his legs gave out. The forest thinned, replaced by jagged mountains that clawed at the sky. The scar on his hand had spread to his shoulder, its whispers louder now. "You'll die in these peaks," it sneered. "Let me take control. I'll keep you alive."
"No," Alex muttered, gripping the Seer's crystal tighter. It pulsed weakly, guiding him north.
By midday, he found the path—a narrow trail littered with bones and broken weapons. At its end stood a stone archway, carved with symbols of the Five Heroes. Beyond it, the mountains split into a treacherous pass. This was the way to the Sanctum. But between Alex and the archway lurked a pack of wolf-like demons, their fur black as ash, eyes glowing red.
"Fight them,"the scar urged. "Use my flames."
Alex drew his sword. The golden fire flickered weakly. "I don't need your help," he hissed.
The demons attacked. Alex swung the sword, its flames slicing through the first beast. But the others dodged, circling him. One lunged, teeth sinking into his arm. Pain flared, and the scar laughed. Shadows erupted from Alex's hand, devouring the demon in seconds. The other beasts fled.
"See?" the scar purred."Together, we're unstoppable."
Alex stared at his arm. The scar's tendrils now reached his neck. He stumbled forward, through the archway.
---
The mountain pass was a maze of cliffs and bottomless drops. Wind screamed like ghosts, and the air grew colder with every step. At dusk, Alex found a cave to rest. He tried to light a fire, but the scar's shadows snuffed the flames.
"You'll freeze," it said. "Let me warm you."*
Alex refused. He huddled in the dark, shivering, until a voice startled him.
"You're not like the others."
A boy stood at the cave entrance, no older than Alex, wearing tattered Sanctum robes. His eyes were milky white. *Blind.
"Who are you?" Alex demanded, sword raised.
"A failed student," the boy said calmly. "The Sanctum exiled me. But I can guide you—if you share your food."
"Kill him," the scar hissed. "He's lying."
Alex hesitated, then tossed the boy a piece of dried meat. "Why help me?"
"Because you're marked by both light and darkness," the boy said, chewing. "The Sanctum fears that. They'll test you. If you fail, they'll lock you in the Vault of Chains."
"What's the test?"
The boy's white eyes narrowed. "They'll make you choose: cut off your scarred arm… or fight a demon without using the scar's power."
Alex's chest tightened. "I can't do either."
"Then you'll die," the boy said bluntly. "But there's a third path. The Sanctum's secret library holds a ritual to separate the scar from your soul. Dangerous, but possible."
---
At dawn, they reached the Sanctum—a fortress carved into the mountain, its walls lined with armored priests. Sanctum is a Town where 5 heroes trained to fight devil after sealing the devil,sanctum opend a holy academy to defeat devil in future.
Before Alex could speak, the gates creaked open. A towering priestess stepped out, her face hidden by a golden mask.
"Alex of the Black Scar," she boomed. "Surrender your weapons and the crystal. You will be judged."
"Fight them!" the scar roared.
Alex handed over his sword and crystal. The priestess led him to a courtyard where a chained demon snarled—a hulting beast with molten fangs.
"Your test," the priestess said. "Defeat this demon using only your will. If the scar's shadows touch you, you fail."
The demon broke free.
Alex dodged its claws, heart racing. The scar's shadows writhed under his skin, begging to be unleashed. "Let me out! You'll die!"
The demon pinned him. Hot drool sizzled on Alex's face. He gritted his teeth, fighting the scar's pull.
Then he remembered his mother's words: "You're stronger because you fear the power."
With a scream, Alex drove his knee into the demon's gut. It recoiled, and he grabbed a fallen chain, wrapping it around the beast's throat. No flames. No shadows. Just stubborn, desperate strength.
The demon collapsed.
The priestess stared. "Impossible."
"Pathetic," the scar spat. "You'll regret this."