Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain stood at the edge of the ruins, staring down into the gaping chasm that had opened beneath the Vale of Mourning.

The Second Hollow Gate lay below, partially buried in the remnants of war.

The seal was breaking.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: The Second Hollow Gate Seal is Crumbling]

• Seal Integrity: 15%

• Time Remaining: 2 Days

Dain clenched his fists.

"I don't have much time."

The hooded man beside him studied the ruins carefully.

"This gate was buried after the war. The guardians here were meant to protect it, but their curse kept them trapped instead."

"Now the gate is breaking without them."

Dain exhaled slowly.

"Then let's get down there before it fully collapses."

With that, he descended into the ruins.

The chasm was deep, winding through layers of ancient rubble and collapsed stone walls.

Dain moved carefully, navigating the unstable ground.

The air grew colder as they went deeper, an unnatural chill settling into his bones.

A system notification appeared.

[Hollow Influence Detected]

• The seal is failing. Corrupt forces are stirring.

Dain gritted his teeth.

"Something's already leaking through."

The hooded man moved beside him, whispering an incantation.

A faint golden glow surrounded them, pushing back against the darkness.

"The deeper we go, the stronger the Hollow's presence will become."

"Be ready for anything."

Dain nodded.

Then—the first enemy appeared.

A low growl echoed through the ruins.

From the shadows, figures began to emerge.

Not wraiths.

Not undead soldiers.

Something else.

A system notification flashed.

[Enemies Identified: Hollowborn Stalkers (Lv.18)]

• Twisted remnants of those who failed to escape the Hollow's grasp.

• Status: Extremely aggressive.

Dain raised Silverlight.

The first Hollowborn charged.

It moved like a beast, its body long and twisted, its skin a mixture of shadow and bone.

Its eyes glowed with cold fire as it leapt toward Dain.

Dain reacted instantly.

He sidestepped, Silverlight flashing in the dim light.

The blade connected, carving through the creature's chest.

A system notification appeared.

[Direct Hit! 110 Damage Dealt]

The Hollowborn shrieked, staggering back.

But it didn't fall.

Instead, it lunged again, faster this time.

Dain's eyes narrowed.

"They don't feel pain."

"They just keep coming."

The other Hollowborn attacked, moving in sync.

Dain ducked a claw swipe, countering with a rising slash.

The hooded man raised his staff, sending a blast of holy energy through the chamber.

One of the Hollowborn was caught in the light, its body burning away instantly.

A system notification flashed.

[Enemy Purified: Hollowborn Stalker]

• +400 Experience Gained

Dain gritted his teeth.

"Holy energy works. Silverlight works. But they're fast."

He moved again, dodging another attack.

Then—he activated his skill.

A system notification flashed.

[Skill Activated: Cleaving Strike (Lv.2)]

• Sweeps through multiple enemies with holy energy.

Dain's blade cut through the air, striking two Hollowborn at once.

[Multi-Hit! 130 Damage Dealt to Each]

The creatures shrieked, their bodies burning from the inside.

And finally—they fell.

A final system notification appeared.

[Enemies Defeated: Hollowborn Stalkers]

• +800 Experience Gained

Dain exhaled, lowering Silverlight.

The ruins were silent again.

But the seal continued to weaken.

And they were running out of time.

Dain and the hooded man continued deeper, moving toward the source of the corruption.

The Second Hollow Gate loomed ahead, partially buried under layers of rock.

But something was different this time.

Dain felt it immediately.

A presence.

Not just Hollowborn.

Something stronger. Older.

A system notification flashed.

[WARNING: Hollow Entity Detected Beyond the Gate]

• Threat Level: UNKNOWN

Dain's chest tightened.

"This isn't just a Hollowborn infestation."

"Something is already breaking through."

The hooded man narrowed his eyes.

"We don't have much time."

"The seal is almost gone."

Dain stepped forward.

"Then let's end this before it escapes."

And with that—they approached the gate.

Dain and the hooded man stood before the Second Hollow Gate.

The ancient stone shuddered, pulsing with unstable energy, the last remnants of its seal flickering in and out of existence.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: Second Hollow Gate Seal Integrity – 5%]

• Time Remaining: Less than 30 minutes.

Dain clenched his fists.

"This gate won't hold much longer."

The hooded man stepped forward, examining the swirling runes on the surface.

"Whatever is behind this gate… it's already pushing through."

"If we don't act now, we'll be fighting it at full strength."

Dain nodded.

"Then let's end this before it begins."

He raised Silverlight—

And with one final breath—he pushed open the gate.

The moment the stone doors creaked apart, a wave of freezing air blasted outward, sending dust and shattered runes flying.

Dain stepped inside.

The chamber beyond was massive, carved from black stone, its ceiling disappearing into shadow.

The walls were lined with twisted statues, figures of long-forgotten warriors—each with their faces scratched away.

But the worst part was the thing in the center.

A monstrous shape, chained to the floor, its body wrapped in burning sigils.

Even bound, it radiated pure malice.

A system notification appeared.

[Entity Identified: The Hollow Tyrant (Lv.22)]

• Health: ???

• Threat Level: LETHAL

• Status: Partially Sealed

Dain's breath caught.

"Level 22?"

"This thing is stronger than the Revenant."

The Hollow Tyrant lifted its head, its sunken eyes burning with voidlight.

Then—it spoke.

"You are too late, Warden."

"I am already free."

And with that—the chains shattered.

The Hollow Tyrant rose, its massive form towering over Dain, its skeletal armor cracking as it stretched for the first time in centuries.

Dain barely had time to react before the first attack came.

The Hollow Tyrant lunged, moving faster than anything that large should.

Dain rolled aside just as a massive clawed hand crashed down, shattering the ground where he had stood.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: Direct Hits Inflict Hollow Corruption]

• Prolonged exposure will weaken resistance to the curse.

Dain gritted his teeth.

"I can't get hit."

The hooded man moved beside him, summoning a shield of golden light.

"We must keep it from fully manifesting! Strike now!"

Dain nodded—

And charged.

Dain closed the distance, Silverlight glowing with holy energy.

The Hollow Tyrant turned, its burning gaze locking onto him.

"You carry the blade of my executioner."

"It will not save you."

The Tyrant swung its arm, a shockwave of cursed energy rushing toward Dain.

Dain braced himself, jumping forward—

And slammed Silverlight into the Tyrant's exposed chest.

A system notification flashed.

[Direct Hit! 150 Damage Dealt]

The Hollow Tyrant let out a guttural snarl, its form flickering like a dying flame.

But it did not fall.

Instead—it grew stronger.

A new system warning appeared.

[Final Phase Initiated: The Hollow Tyrant Awakens]

• Its stats increase by 40%.

• It will no longer hold back.

The entire chamber trembled.

The Hollow Tyrant let out a bone-chilling roar, its body pulsing with corrupted energy.

Then—it moved.

Too fast.

Too strong.

Dain barely had time to react before the Tyrant's clawed hand crashed into his side.

Pain exploded through his body.

[Health: 180 → 90]

Dain gasped, rolling across the stone.

"Damn it, I can't take another hit like that."

The hooded man raised his staff, summoning a barrier of golden runes.

"Warden! Use the Mark!"

Dain's mind sharpened.

"The Mark?"

Then—he remembered.

The Mark of the Hollow Slayer burned on his forearm.

A system notification flashed.

[New Ability Activated: Hollow Banishment (Lv.1)]

• Temporarily amplifies Silverlight's power against Hollow Entities.

Dain exhaled sharply.

"This is my chance."

He rose to his feet, Silverlight glowing brighter than ever.

The Hollow Tyrant turned, sensing the shift.

"What is this?"

Dain tightened his grip.

"Your end."

And then—he struck.

Dain rushed forward, dodging the Tyrant's wild swings.

The Mark of the Hollow Slayer burned, sending waves of golden light through Silverlight's blade.

The Hollow Tyrant snarled, its form beginning to crack.

"No! I will not be caged again!"

Dain lunged.

Silverlight drove deep into the Tyrant's core, holy energy erupting outward like an explosion.

The Hollow Tyrant let out a final, haunting scream—

And then—it shattered.

The chamber fell silent.

The remnants of the Hollow Tyrant faded, its essence sealed once more.

A system notification appeared.

[Quest Completed: The Second Hollow Gate]

• The Hollow Tyrant has been banished.

• The gate remains sealed… for now.

Dain staggered back, breathing heavily.

"It's over."

The hooded man watched the fading light of the repaired seal.

"For now."

Dain turned, glancing at the ancient stone around them.

"Two gates down."

"One more to go."

But deep in his gut—he knew.

The final gate would be worse.

Much worse.

And he had to reach it before it was too late.