Awakening Of The Forgotten World

The chamber still trembled from the battle's aftershocks, faint embers of golden light flickering where the Hollow Tyrant had stood.

Dain exhaled, steadying his breathing.

His body ached from the battle, Silverlight's holy energy still pulsing faintly in his grip.

A system notification flashed.

[Quest Completed: The Second Hollow Gate]

• The Hollow Tyrant has been banished.

• The seal remains intact… but weakened.

Dain wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"That was close."

The hooded man, still catching his breath, lowered his staff.

"Two gates sealed, Warden."

"But the last one… will not be so easy."

Dain's chest tightened.

A system prompt appeared.

[New Objective: Reach the Third Hollow Gate Before the Seal Breaks]

• Time Remaining: 10 Days

• Final Location: The Hollow Rift

Dain frowned. "The Hollow Rift?"

The hooded man's expression darkened.

"The place where the Hollow first entered this world."

Dain clenched his fist.

"Then we leave now."

And with that—the final journey began.

Dain and the hooded man traveled eastward, leaving behind the Vale of Mourning.

But as they moved through the land—they saw it.

The world was changing.

A system notification flashed.

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

• Cursed storms have begun forming in the north.

• Monsters are growing stronger across the land.

• More factions are taking notice.

Dain's stomach tightened.

"The Hollow's influence is spreading faster than before."

"Even though we sealed two gates, the corruption is still growing."

The hooded man nodded gravely.

"Because the final gate is not just a prison."

"It is a doorway."

"And if we don't reach it in time… it will open from the inside."

Dain gritted his teeth.

"Then we can't waste another second."

Their path took them through uncharted lands, places long abandoned by civilization.

The Hollow Rift lay far beyond the known kingdoms, deep within the Ashen Wastes—a land scarred by the Hollow Age.

Dain and the hooded man moved with urgency, stopping only when necessary.

But as they traveled—they encountered something new.

A system notification appeared.

[Warning: Unknown Faction Detected]

• Distance: 2 km ahead.

• Status: Unclear Intentions.

Dain halted.

"Another faction?"

The hooded man narrowed his eyes.

"We should proceed carefully."

Dain nodded.

And together—they moved forward.

As they crested a rocky hill, Dain saw them.

A group of armored riders, banners emblazoned with a silver crest, camped beside a ruined fortress.

A system prompt flashed.

[Faction Encounter: The Knights of the Silver Dawn]

• Status: Order of warriors dedicated to resisting the Hollow.

• Believed to have vanished centuries ago.

Dain frowned. "They're still alive?"

The hooded man exhaled.

"If they have returned… it means they know the Hollow is awakening again."

Dain studied the camp.

"Then let's see what they know."

And with that—they approached the knights.

The moment Dain and the hooded man entered the camp, the knights turned toward them.

Their leader—a woman clad in ancient silver armor—stepped forward.

Her eyes were sharp, filled with recognition.

"You bear the mark of the Hollow Slayer."

Dain met her gaze.

"I do."

She studied him for a long moment.

Then—she spoke.

"You are walking toward your own death, Warden."

"The Hollow Rift is already waking."

Dain's chest tightened.

"How long do we have?"

The knight's expression darkened.

"Five days. Maybe less."

A system notification flashed.

[Final Quest Updated: Stop the Awakening of the Hollow Rift]

• Time Remaining: 5 Days.

Dain clenched his fists.

"Then we don't have time to waste."

The knight nodded.

"Then we will fight with you."

Dain's eyes widened slightly.

"You're coming with us?"

The knight's gaze burned with determination.

"We swore an oath to stop the Hollow at any cost."

"And if this is the final battle… we will see it through."

Dain exhaled sharply.

"Then let's move."

And with that—the final march began.

The knights of the Silver Dawn rode ahead, their armor gleaming faintly in the dim morning light.

Dain walked alongside the hooded man, keeping pace with the marching warriors as they moved through the ashen wastelands.

The Hollow Rift lay only days away, and the air was thick with tension.

A system notification flashed.

[Final Quest Progress: Stop the Awakening of the Hollow Rift]

• Time Remaining: 4 Days, 12 Hours.

• The Hollow's influence is increasing.

Dain clenched his fists.

"We're cutting it too close."

The knight commander rode beside him, her silver cloak billowing.

"You carry the mark of the Warden, yet you fight like a lone warrior."

"If we are to stand against the Hollow, we must fight as one."

Dain met her gaze.

"And what exactly are we fighting?"

The knight's expression darkened.

"The Hollow Rift is not just a seal. It is a wound in the world. It does not contain a mere creature—it holds back an entire force."

"The Hollow Lord waits beyond the gate."

A system notification appeared.

[Warning: The Hollow Lord is stirring.]

• Its influence grows with each passing hour.

Dain exhaled slowly.

"So this is it. The final battle."

The knight nodded.

"And we will not leave it unfinished."

As they marched deeper into the wastelands, the land around them began to change.

The sky darkened, thick storm clouds forming overhead.

A cold wind howled through the ruins, carrying whispers that did not belong in this world.

Dain's Dungeon Sense flared.

A system notification flashed.

[Hostile Entities Approaching]

• Distance: 300 meters.

• Threat Level: High.

The knight commander drew her sword.

"Prepare for battle!"

Dain raised Silverlight, scanning the horizon.

And then—he saw them.

From the shadows of the wasteland, creatures began to emerge.

Not just Hollowborn Stalkers.

Not just corrupted remnants.

Something worse.

A system notification flashed.

[Enemies Identified: Hollowborn Reapers (Lv.19)]

• Cursed knights who fell in the last war.

• Now bound to the Hollow's will.

Their armor was cracked and twisted, their weapons rusted yet still deadly.

But their eyes burned with Hollow fire.

And behind them—a much larger figure emerged.

A system notification appeared.

[Mini-Boss Identified: Hollowborn Champion (Lv.21)]

• Once a hero of the Silver Dawn. Now a puppet of the Hollow.

Dain's stomach twisted.

"They're trying to stop us before we reach the gate."

The knight commander tightened her grip on her blade.

"Then we cut through them."

She raised her sword high.

"For the Dawn! For the Light! Charge!"

And the battle began.

The Silver Dawn knights charged forward, their lances gleaming as they collided with the Hollowborn.

Dain moved fast, engaging the first Reaper.

Its blade struck first, faster than expected.

Dain barely blocked in time, Silverlight clashing against corrupted steel.

A system notification flashed.

[Direct Hit Blocked: Stamina Drain -5]

Dain gritted his teeth.

"They're strong, but they can be broken."

He twisted his blade, knocking the Reaper's sword aside—then countered with a precise strike.

[Critical Hit! 120 Damage Dealt]

The Reaper let out a hollow scream, its form flickering.

Then—it collapsed into dust.

Dain turned, scanning the battlefield.

The knights were holding their ground—but the Hollowborn Champion was cutting through them.

A system notification appeared.

[Hollowborn Champion's Power is Growing]

• The longer it fights, the stronger it becomes.

Dain set his jaw.

"I have to end this now."

He charged toward the Champion.

The massive knight turned, its burning gaze locking onto Dain.

"You… carry the blade of the past."

"But the past is dead."

The Champion swung its massive greatsword, a wave of corrupted energy rushing toward Dain.

A system notification flashed.

[Warning: Hollow Wave Incoming]

Dain dodged right, the energy slamming into the ground, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

The Champion moved fast, closing the distance—

But Dain was ready.

A system notification flashed.

[Skill Activated: Adaptive Reflexes (Lv.2)]

• Predicts enemy attack patterns.

Dain read the attack before it happened.

The Champion **raised its sword—**but Dain was already moving.

He sidestepped, dodging the strike by inches.

Then—he countered.

Silverlight pierced through the Champion's armor, sending holy energy surging through its cursed form.

A system notification flashed.

[Critical Hit! 140 Damage Dealt]

The Champion roared, staggering.

But it did not fall.

Instead—it grew more desperate.

The Champion let out a guttural snarl, its body cracking apart.

"I will not fall again!"

It lunged at Dain, swinging with all its strength.

Dain stood his ground.

A system notification flashed.

[Skill Activated: Hollow Banishment (Lv.2)]

• Silverlight glows with the power to end cursed souls.

Dain raised the blade high—

And drove it straight through the Champion's core.

The Hollowborn let out a final, haunting scream.

Then—it crumbled to dust.

A final system notification appeared.

[Mini-Boss Defeated: Hollowborn Champion]

• +2,000 Experience Gained

Dain exhaled sharply.

The battle was over.

For now.

The Silver Dawn knights regrouped, their armor dented but spirits unbroken.

The knight commander turned to Dain, her eyes filled with grim determination.

"The Hollow is throwing everything it has to slow us down."

"That means we are getting close."

Dain nodded, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Then we keep moving."

A system notification flashed.

[Final Quest Progress: 90% Complete]

• The Hollow Rift is near.

• The final battle is approaching.

Dain adjusted Silverlight on his back.

"No more delays."

"Let's end this."

And with that—they marched toward the Final Hollow Gate.