Prologue

The night was cloaked in a full moon's glow, casting silver light across the forest as a cool wind carried the earthy scent of trees and grass. Shadows stretched and shifted as footsteps thundered, broken by flashes of colliding powers beneath the pale moonlight.

A man, clad in black that melted seamlessly into the night, was on the run. Blood and cuts marred his body, and exhaustion weighed on his every step as he fled from a relentless pursuit—a legion of men and women, cloaked in similar black, their eyes locked on him like predators.

With a swift flick of his left hand, a rope of shadow surged from his feet, allowing him to swing from tree to tree, desperately evading his hunters. He knew his energy was waning, and his last trump card could only buy him so much time. In his right arm, he clutched something precious—a newborn baby, less than a day old.

With a deep, ragged breath, he muttered, "Cage of Darkness." His mana surged, and dark shadows rose from beneath him, growing into an ominous barrier that stretched wide, encircling his pursuers.

Just as the shadows closed, one of the hunters thrust his hand forward, shouting, "Lightning Arrow!" A blinding shaft of lightning tore through the air, striking the man's back with deadly precision. The bolt pierced him, leaving a gaping wound, but its path was careful, not even disturbing a hair on the infant's head.

Blood filled his mouth as he coughed, his vision blurring. This will buy me some time, he thought, steeling himself. He retrieved a dark blue stone from his ring—a small, ornate square etched with intricate symbols. Channeling the last of his mana into it, the stone began to emit a pale, white glow.

With a sharp crack, fire flickered to life before him, forming a rift that opened the air itself. Beyond it lay a grand mansion with architecture unknown to him, surrounded by a garden where roses of every color bloomed in quiet splendor. With fading strength, he staggered through the portal, clutching the child tightly.

As the portal sealed behind him, the shadows trapping his pursuers dissolved, leaving them stranded in despair—the man and the baby had vanished, slipping just beyond their reach.