Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain moved swiftly through the dense forest, guided by the ancient map he had taken from the Hollow Seeker.

The red markings circled three locations, each tied to something called the Hollow Gates.

The first one lay several days' travel north, at the edge of the Blackstone Cliffs.

Dain didn't know what awaited him there.

But he knew one thing.

The Hollow Seekers wanted him to find it.

And that meant he had to get there first.

A system notification appeared.

[New Quest Progress: The Hollow Gates – 0%]

• Objective: Reach the first marked location before the Hollow Seekers.

• Reward: ???

Dain's eyes narrowed.

"I'm already in a race."

He adjusted his satchel strap, checked Silverlight at his side—

And picked up his pace.

Dain traveled without stopping, pushing himself to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall.

By dusk, he had reached a small clearing by a quiet stream.

It was a good spot to rest—hidden, yet close to the main road.

Dain set up a small campfire, keeping the flames low.

The forest around him was eerily quiet.

Too quiet.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: Unknown Entities Nearby]

• Threat Level: Unknown

• Distance: 100 meters

Dain's fingers tightened around Silverlight.

"They found me already?"

He rose to his feet, scanning the darkness.

Then—a branch snapped.

Dain turned sharply, blade half-drawn.

And then—

Something stepped into the firelight.

A man in a dark cloak emerged from the trees.

He moved slowly, deliberately, his hood pulled low over his face.

Dain didn't lower his guard.

"Another Hollow Seeker?"

But then—the man spoke.

"You carry the mark."

His voice was calm, ancient.

"The Hollow King's sigil. You are the Warden."

Dain stilled.

This man wasn't a Hollow Seeker.

He was something else.

A system notification appeared.

[Faction Encounter: The Keepers of the Hollow Age]

• Status: Unknown Alliance

Dain's mind raced.

"Another faction? How many people know about this curse?"

He kept his voice calm.

"Who are you?"

The hooded man smiled faintly.

"One who remembers."

"And one who has been waiting for you."

The man stepped closer, reaching into his cloak.

Dain tensed—but the stranger only withdrew a small metal emblem.

It bore the same symbol as the Hollow King's sigil.

The same mark now burned into Dain's arm.

"You are not the first to awaken the Hollow's power," the man said.

"But you may be the last."

Dain's stomach tightened.

"What does that mean?"

The stranger let out a slow breath.

"The Hollow Gates are not just ruins, Warden."

"They are prisons."

Dain's breath caught.

"Prisons?"

A system notification flashed.

[Quest Updated: The Hollow Gates]

• The gates were built to seal away something ancient.

• If they break, the Hollow Age will begin anew.

Dain's grip on Silverlight tightened.

"If they're prisons…"

"Then what's inside?"

The man's expression darkened.

"Things that should never walk this world again."

The stranger knelt by the campfire, his fingers tracing symbols into the dirt.

"Long ago, before your kingdom even had a name, the world was nearly lost to the Hollow Age."

"Monsters roamed freely. Cursed kings ruled over dying lands. The dead did not sleep."

"It was chaos. Until the Hollow Gates were sealed."

Dain listened intently, his pulse quickening.

"Now… someone is trying to break those seals."

The stranger lifted his gaze, his amber eyes sharp.

"And you are standing in the middle of it."

Dain's mind raced.

"The Hollow Seekers aren't searching for treasure."

"They're trying to open the gates."

"And I'm the only one who can stop them."

A system notification flashed.

[Quest Updated: Prevent the Breaking of the First Hollow Gate]

• Objective: Stop the Hollow Seekers from unleashing the prison.

• Time Limit: 3 Days.

Dain's heart pounded.

"Three days… before something escapes."

He met the stranger's gaze.

"Where is it?"

The man stood, brushing dust from his cloak.

"I will take you there."

Dain and the stranger moved quickly, leaving the small campfire behind as they made their way north.

The land shifted as they traveled—

The air growing colder.

The earth turning darker.

It was as if the land itself knew what lay ahead.

A system notification flashed.

[Approaching Location: The First Hollow Gate – Blackstone Cliffs]

Dain's eyes narrowed.

"I need to be ready."

A new quest prompt appeared.

[Prepare for Battle]

• Stock up on supplies before reaching the gate.

• Upgrade your weapons if possible.

Dain turned to the stranger.

"If we only have three days… we'll need to move fast."

The man nodded.

"Then we must be ready for war."

The Hollow Seekers were already moving ahead.

And if Dain didn't stop them in time—

They would unleash something far worse than the Hollow King.