"Dark Omens and Reunion: The Gathering Storm"

Author's Note:

"Before delving into this story, it is important to clarify that it is a work of fiction and fantasy. The elements and characters presented, such as the angels, are not intended to represent any specific religion or belief. Their inclusion in this tale is merely part of my imaginative and creative narrative.

I understand that interpretations and reactions may vary, and I respect the different perspectives of each reader. While I have no intention to offend or disrespect any community or religious belief, if anyone finds any cause for concern, I ask that they consider the context and fictional nature of the story.

My purpose is to provide imaginative and exciting entertainment, exploring a world of adventure and fascinating characters. I appreciate your understanding and invite you to enjoy this action-packed and fantastical story. So go ahead, immerse yourself in this extraordinary journey!"

In a dark dungeon, but with shining stones, the sounds of swords clashing could be heard. Aria was in a fight with two goblins.

They were two special goblin knights known for their swordfighting skills, which were based on the sword techniques commonly used in the Knight's Continent. Aria clashed her sword with one of the goblins, but the other attempted to attack her from behind. Unable to move at that moment, Aria conjured a small condensed mana ball.

The mana ball began to change shape, transforming into a spear that appeared on her back. Just as the goblin was about to deliver the decisive blow, it was impaled by the spear, and blood dripped from it. The other goblin, witnessing this, retreated in fear. He knew that the person he was facing was not weaker than him and could quickly end his life. Planning to escape, he jumped backward, but as his body retreated, he was ensnared by vines.

Aria, who had used a low-level nymph ability, took advantage of that moment to attack and pierced the goblin's chest with her small sword.

[Level up!]

"Ugh, it's been two weeks since I started hunting, and I still can't get used to so much blood, but well, I'm already at level 10."

"What class should I choose?"

Before further questioning her class choice, she decided to look at the small stone that had fallen from the goblin.

These stones were called life stones or mana stones.

They were called life stones because they were the energy source that provided life to monsters.

And they were also called mana stones because that's what they consisted of.

Aria picked up the shining stone from the ground and held it in the palm of her hand. She observed how the light reflected on its surface and marveled at its beauty.

"These life stones are truly incredible," Aria murmured to herself. "Not only are they a vital energy source for monsters, but they also have significant monetary value."

Aria remembered the conversations she had overheard among veteran hunters while resting at the guild headquarters. They talked about the trade of life stones and how they were used as currency in the hunters' market.

"A low-level life stone like this has an approximate value of ten dollars," Aria thought. "And considering that I can collect around twenty stones on each dungeon raid, that would be two hundred dollars per visit."

Excitement began to take hold of Aria. She imagined all the possibilities opening up before her. With that money, she could cover her daily expenses, buy equipment, and help her mother with the debt.

Aria exited the dungeon feeling relieved. With the money she would generate, she felt that she could help her mother. She wanted her mother to have more time to relax and breathe.

Aria arrived home and headed to the shower. She didn't like keeping the smell of goblins, especially for her mother to notice.

After showering, she sat on the sofa and turned on the television to relax for a while.

[In a secluded place

There sat a man on a throne that gleamed with a reddish hue. The man had gray skin, black hair, and green eyes. With a sickly complexion, he couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.

"Don't tell me we still can't leave this damn continent. Those disgusting angels only care about maintaining their benevolent image. They imprison and kill anything they deem evil while trying to appear as saints. What vile creatures they are! But once I leave this continent, I swear I will destroy those damn believers of theirs."

Before the being could take another breath, the door opened, and hastily, a humanoid figure with the same complexion and red eyes approached, bowing down in reverence. Noticing that his king was looking at him, the figure patiently waited.

"You may speak. What do you have that is so urgent as to interrupt my chambers?"

The boy spoke and said, "My king, the barrier that covers the continents and prevented us from leaving seems to be breaking. We estimate it won't take more than three days to disappear completely."

There were a few seconds of silence, and the figure giving the reverence couldn't help but look up. What he saw sent shivers down his spine: a smile that contorted the king's entire face had formed. It was a smile that represented not only excitement or happiness but also sadism. A smile that expressed not only the desire for freedom but also for revenge and bloodshed.

A few more seconds passed until the king returned to his normal expression, although a faint smile lingered on his lips, barely noticeable.

"Very well, thank you for informing me. Tell the soldiers to prepare themselves. There will be more than a massacre. Every available ground will be stained with the blood of those believers," the boy said, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and malice.

The boy nodded in acknowledgment and hurriedly left the chambers, his footsteps echoing through the corridor as he carried out his task. The weight of his words hung in the air, foreshadowing a dark and violent future.

The boy walked through a hallway and stopped, amazed by the spectacular nature that stretched before his eyes. He could see giant forests, trees of impressive proportions large enough to hold more than five houses within them. The branches spread in all directions, creating a lush canopy that filtered the sunlight and generated a magical atmosphere.

The sight of those towering trees captured his attention completely. They were wooden giants, with sturdy trunks and branches reaching towards the sky. Intertwined staircases encircled the trunks, inviting him to ascend to the heights where houses built with a special kind of wood stood. They seemed to be an integral part of the trees, as if they had grown in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature.

[At Aria's home

She enjoyed a moment of peace. She felt good about herself and knew that she was putting in effort and offering her full support to her mother, which brought her incredible happiness. She had never thought she would have the opportunity to help her mother; she had always felt useless, and the teasing and hurtful words she received at school didn't help. Now, she felt much better and more at peace with herself.

"There's nothing interesting to watch. These past few days have been exhausting, to be honest. I didn't have time to rest. Caught up in the excitement, I delved into the dungeons without giving my mind a chance to rest."

She felt mentally drained, and amidst the excitement of helping her mother, she had never considered the importance of rest until now. Aria's eyes began to relax, her eyelashes grew heavier, and before she knew it, she was already asleep.

"Where am I?" Aria wondered upon waking up. She found herself in a small room, looking in the direction where she could see a handsome man with white hair and golden eyes.

"Father?"

Confusion washed over her. She hadn't expected to come face to face with the person she hadn't seen in ten years. A lump formed in her throat, and a heavy feeling weighed on her heart. She missed him. She didn't know why he had left or where the debt came from, but she could only speculate. In that moment, she couldn't see him as a bad person. He had treated her and her mother well, and he seemed to love her mother more than she had ever seen in any romantic movie.

Elena, tired from work but with a burden lifted from her shoulders, opened the door and saw her daughter sleeping on the couch.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, my little one. I should advise you to rest next time," she said softly.

Elena approached and could see tears in her daughter's eyes. She didn't know why she was crying, but seeing her like that made her impulse to embrace her even stronger.

Author's note: there is no chapter tomorrow, I want to rest, maybe yes, but he hesitated. By the way:comment that I feel lonely :( hahahahaha