Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain and the hooded stranger moved swiftly through the dense wilderness, the cool night air filled with the faint rustling of leaves.

Every step took them closer to the Blackstone Cliffs—and closer to the first Hollow Gate.

But time was against them.

A system notification appeared.

[Time Remaining Until the First Hollow Gate Breaks: 2 Days, 18 Hours]

Dain's jaw tightened.

The Hollow Seekers were ahead of them, already moving to break the seal.

And if he didn't stop them in time…

Something terrible would escape.

He quickened his pace, Silverlight bouncing lightly at his side.

"How far until we reach the cliffs?"

The stranger, still cloaked in shadows, barely turned his head.

"A day's journey, if we don't stop. Half that if we take the old hunter's pass."

Dain nodded.

"Then we take the pass."

The stranger hesitated.

"It's dangerous."

Dain smirked slightly.

"So is letting the Hollow Seekers get there first."

The stranger let out a soft chuckle.

"Fair enough."

And together—they picked up their pace.

Hours passed in silence as they moved through the shadowed wilderness.

Eventually, they reached the hunter's pass, an old, abandoned trail leading up toward the cliffs.

The air was different here.

The trees were twisted, their bark blackened and cracked.

The ground was uneven, filled with forgotten ruins and shattered stone.

Dain felt his Dungeon Sense hum faintly.

This place was tainted.

Not fully cursed—but close.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: Feral Wraiths Detected]

• Proximity: 500 meters

• Threat Level: Moderate

Dain frowned.

"Wraiths?"

The hooded man noted his reaction.

"The pass has been abandoned for years. The spirits of old hunters still linger."

Dain exhaled slowly.

This shortcut was about to get complicated.

They pressed forward, their footsteps careful as they maneuvered through the narrow path.

The Blackstone Cliffs loomed ahead—massive rock formations jutting toward the sky, their surfaces slick with mist and time.

Then—

A sudden chill swept through the air.

Dain stopped immediately.

His Dungeon Sense flared.

And then—

A horrid screech echoed through the trees.

A system notification flashed.

[Hostile Entities Approaching: Feral Wraiths (Lv.14)]

• Health: 200/200

• Status: Aggressive, Undead

Dain gritted his teeth.

From the shadows of the trees, they emerged.

The Feral Wraiths were twisted echoes of hunters long gone.

Their forms were skeletal, their skin stretched thin over broken armor.

Their eyes glowed with hollow hunger, their clawed hands twitching with unnatural movement.

Dain raised Silverlight.

He didn't hesitate.

The first wraith lunged, its form shifting unnaturally fast.

Dain stepped aside, Silverlight flashing in the moonlight.

The blade cleaved through the wraith's ribcage—

And for a moment—nothing happened.

Then—

The wraith let out an unearthly shriek, its body erupting into black mist.

A system notification appeared.

[Critical Hit! 150 Damage Dealt]

[Enemy Defeated: Feral Wraith]

But there were more.

The hooded man moved beside Dain, his hands weaving ancient symbols.

"Stay sharp."

Dain didn't respond—he was already moving.

The next wraith clawed at Dain's side.

He twisted, dodging just in time, then countered with a precise downward strike.

[Direct Hit! 90 Damage Dealt]

The wraith staggered, but it didn't fall.

Instead—it whispered.

Soft, broken words, crawling into Dain's mind like echoes from another time.

A system notification appeared.

[Mental Resistance Check: Passed]

• You have resisted the wraith's influence.

Dain exhaled sharply.

"They're trying to get into my head."

The hooded man raised a hand, summoning a burst of golden light.

The nearest wraiths shrieked, retreating from the holy energy.

"Strike now!" the man shouted.

Dain didn't need to be told twice.

He moved.

Silverlight flashed again—

And the wraiths fell.

Within minutes, the battle was over.

The last of the Feral Wraiths dissolved, their cursed presence banished.

Dain wiped sweat from his brow, breathing heavily.

A system notification appeared.

[Enemies Defeated: 5 Feral Wraiths]

+700 Experience Gained

Dain exhaled. "That was close."

The hooded man studied him for a moment.

"You fight well. But the real battle is still ahead."

Dain nodded, his gaze shifting toward the cliffs.

The first Hollow Gate was near.

And time was running out.

By sunrise, they stood at the edge of the Blackstone Cliffs, gazing down at the ruined structure below.

A massive stone door, embedded into the cliffside, loomed like a forgotten relic of war.

Strange runes lined the entrance, glowing faintly with a dark aura.

Dain's Dungeon Sense burned.

A system notification appeared.

[Location Discovered: The First Hollow Gate]

• Status: Seal Weakening

• Threat Level: Critical

Dain's chest tightened.

"We're too late."

The seal was already breaking.

And standing before the gate—

A group of cloaked figures, chanting in unison.

A system alert flashed.

[Warning: Hollow Seekers Detected]

• They are attempting to break the gate.

• Stop them before the seal collapses.

Dain drew Silverlight.

The hooded man beside him whispered.

"We stop them now. Or everything falls."

Dain nodded.

Then—he charged.