Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain dragged the unconscious Hollow Seeker deeper into the forest, far enough from the road that they wouldn't be spotted.

He dropped her against the base of a thick oak, binding her wrists with a length of sturdy rope taken from her own pack.

Then, he waited.

The woman groaned, her eyelids fluttering before snapping open.

Her amber eyes locked onto Dain immediately, filled with sharp calculation instead of fear.

She didn't panic.

She didn't struggle.

She simply watched him.

A system notification appeared.

[Interrogation Opportunity: Captured Hollow Seeker]

• She will attempt deception. Be careful.

Dain smirked. "You're awake."

The woman tilted her head slightly.

"Took you long enough to notice."

Dain remained silent, watching her reactions.

She was calm. Too calm.

Whoever these Hollow Seekers were, they weren't ordinary mercenaries.

They had training. Discipline.

And that meant extracting information wouldn't be easy.

Dain crouched, resting Silverlight's blade across his knee.

"Who sent you?"

The woman didn't flinch.

Instead, she smiled slightly.

"You already know the answer."

Dain's eyes narrowed.

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking."

The woman exhaled through her nose, as if mildly amused.

"Alright. Then let me ask you something, Warden."

Dain's body tensed slightly.

"Do you even know what you've done?"

A system notification appeared.

[Interrogation Check: She is testing your knowledge.]

Dain remained expressionless.

But his mind raced.

"They called me 'Warden.' That means they know about the Mark of the Hollow Slayer."

"Which means… they knew about the Hollow King before I ever found him."

Dain leaned forward slightly.

"Why don't you tell me?"

The woman smirked.

"Clever. I see why they want you alive."

"But I'm afraid you'll have to figure it out on your own."

Dain didn't react to her deflection.

Instead, he studied her.

She was too comfortable, even in chains.

Which meant she thought she had an advantage.

Dain decided to take it away.

He turned Silverlight in his hand, letting the dim morning light reflect off the blade.

"You know this sword, don't you?"

The woman's expression remained still—but something in her eyes shifted.

Dain caught it immediately.

"You do," he murmured.

He lifted the blade slightly, tilting his head.

"And that means your faction has history with the Hollow King's curse."

A system notification appeared.

[Interrogation Success: She is hiding knowledge of Silverlight's origin.]

The woman's jaw tightened, just slightly.

Then—she exhaled.

"Fine. You're not a fool. That's good."

"But some truths are better left buried, Warden."

"The power you hold… it will not go unnoticed."

Dain frowned. "By who?"

The woman's lips curled into a smirk.

"You'll see soon enough."

Dain's patience was wearing thin.

She was speaking in half-truths, testing his knowledge instead of giving direct answers.

Which meant one thing.

She wasn't just a soldier.

She was a scout.

Her job wasn't just to capture him.

It was to gather information.

And suddenly—everything clicked.

Dain's eyes sharpened.

"You weren't tracking me."

The woman blinked, just once.

"You were leading me."

A system notification flashed.

[Major Interrogation Success: You have uncovered her true role.]

The woman's smirk faded.

Dain leaned closer, his voice dropping lower.

"Your job wasn't to catch me."

"It was to make sure I kept moving in the right direction."

The woman was silent now.

Dain pressed further.

"You're guiding me toward something, aren't you?"

Her jaw clenched.

Then, for the first time—a trace of hesitation entered her gaze.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.

Dain knew he had her.

The woman sighed heavily, tilting her head back against the tree.

"You're not wrong," she admitted.

"But that doesn't mean you'll like the answer."

She shifted slightly, reaching for something inside her sleeve.

Dain's blade was at her throat instantly.

The woman smirked.

"Relax. It's not a weapon."

Slowly, she pulled out a folded piece of parchment.

She dropped it at his feet.

Dain didn't take his eyes off her as he picked it up and unfolded it.

It was a map.

A detailed one, showing regions of the kingdom Dain had never traveled.

But what caught his attention—

Were the red markings.

Three distinct locations, circled with Hollow Seeker symbols.

And at the bottom of the map—a single phrase written in old script.

"The Hollow Gates are waking."

A system notification flashed.

[New Quest Unlocked: The Hollow Gates]

• Investigate the locations marked on the map.

• Discover what the Hollow Seekers are searching for.

Dain's fingers tightened around the parchment.

Whatever this was—it was bigger than just him.

And now—he had proof.

Dain folded the map, tucking it into his pack.

He turned back to the Hollow Seeker, who was watching him carefully.

"What's at these sites?" he asked.

The woman hesitated.

Then, she smiled.

"Go and see for yourself, Warden."

Dain's jaw clenched.

She wasn't going to say more.

And truthfully—he didn't need her to.

He already had what he needed.

A direction.

A target.

And most importantly—a reason to keep moving.

Dain stepped back, lifting Silverlight.

The woman tilted her head.

"Are you going to kill me?"

Dain was silent for a long moment.

Then—he sheathed his sword.

"No," he said simply.

"You're going to deliver a message."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Dain's eyes narrowed.

"Tell your leaders…"

"The Hollow King is dead."

"And I'm coming for whatever's next."

The woman's smirk returned.

"Now that… will be interesting."

She stood slowly, her eyes gleaming.

"Good luck, Warden."

And with that—she vanished into the trees.

Dain exhaled, turning back toward the road.

He had a map.

A destination.

And a mystery to solve.

A system notification flashed.

[Quest Updated: The Hollow Gates – First Location Marked.]

Dain adjusted the strap of his satchel.

Then—without looking back—

He started walking.

Toward his next battle.