Awakening Of The Forgotten World

The Blackstone Cliffs were quiet.

Too quiet.

Dain stood over the ruined Hollow Gate, his breath still heavy from battle. The ashen remains of the Hollow Revenant had faded into the wind, its presence sealed once more.

But the damage was done.

The Hollow Seekers **had tried to reinforce the gate—**and failed.

The other gates wouldn't hold forever.

A system notification flashed.

[Quest Updated: The Hollow Gates – 1/3 Sealed]

• Remaining Gates: 2

• Threat Level: Rising

Dain clenched his fist.

"This isn't over."

He turned to the surviving Hollow Seeker, the last of his group still standing.

The man looked at Dain, his face pale.

"You don't understand what's happening."

Dain tilted his head.

"Then explain it to me."

The Hollow Seeker exhaled, wiping blood from his mouth.

"The gates were never meant to last forever. They were built as temporary prisons—designed to keep something inside until the world was ready to face it."

"But the seals have weakened beyond repair. Even if we reinforce them, they'll still fail."

Dain's stomach twisted.

"So you're telling me…"

"The Hollow Gates are breaking no matter what we do?"

The Hollow Seeker nodded grimly.

"Yes. And when the final one shatters—"

"The true Hollow Age will return."

A system notification appeared.

[World Event Progression: The Hollow Gates – 33%]

• The world is beginning to take notice of the Hollow's return.

Dain exhaled sharply.

"Then I need to get to the next gate before it's too late."

The hooded stranger, who had fought alongside Dain, stepped forward.

"The next Hollow Gate lies to the east—beyond the Vale of Mourning."

Dain turned to him.

"Vale of Mourning?"

The man nodded.

"A place where the dead do not rest. A battlefield from an ancient war, now cursed by the remnants of that conflict."

Dain gritted his teeth.

"And let me guess—"

"The second gate is buried beneath it?"

The stranger gave a slight nod.

"You are learning quickly, Warden."

A system notification flashed.

[New Objective: Reach the Second Hollow Gate]

• Location: Vale of Mourning

• Time Limit: 7 Days Before the Seal Breaks

Dain adjusted Silverlight on his back.

"Then we leave now."

Dain and the hooded stranger moved quickly, making their way down from the Blackstone Cliffs.

The Hollow Seeker did not follow.

Instead, he watched them go, his expression haunted.

As Dain and his ally disappeared into the wilderness, the Seeker activated a small, enchanted sigil on his wrist.

A glowing symbol appeared, flickering in the air.

A deep voice answered.

"Report."

The Seeker swallowed.

"The Warden… he stopped the first gate from breaking."

A pause.

Then, the voice spoke again.

"Then the prophecy is unfolding as expected. Let him believe he is in control."

"Soon, he will understand his true purpose."

The Hollow Seeker closed the sigil, vanishing into the shadows.

Dain and the hooded man traveled through the rolling hills, moving toward the eastern borderlands.

The Vale of Mourning was still days away.

But already, the air felt different.

A system notification flashed.

[World Status Update: The Hollow's Awakening Spreads]

• Cursed activity has increased across the land.

• More factions are becoming aware of the Hollow's return.

Dain's jaw tightened.

"I thought this was just about the dungeons. But the whole world is starting to change."

The hooded man studied him for a moment.

"The Hollow Age was not just a time of monsters, Warden. It was a time of war. The kingdoms do not yet realize what is coming. But soon, they will."

Dain exhaled.

"Then we don't have much time."

He looked ahead, toward the distant dark horizon.

"Let's move."

And together—they continued toward the second gate.