Phantom Hunter: The Shadows of Fate

Prologue:

The skies above **Lumiscar** burned crimson.

Vaerion Zha’vorel stood alone on the frozen peak\, his once-golden wings **tattered**\, his body aching from wounds not inflicted by monsters—but by the very humans he once swore to protect.

Below him\, an army gathered. Knights and hunters\, weapons drawn\, **fear** gleaming in their eyes. Not hatred. Not vengeance. **Fear.**

He had **saved them**\, fought beside them\, crushed the demons who threatened their kingdoms. Yet here he was\, cornered\, **cursed** for his power—too strong\, too dangerous. A legend that had turned into a **threat**.

Vaerion smiled bitterly.

"I fought for you," he murmured. "And you seal me in return?"

The priests chanted. Arcane sigils flared across the battlefield\, encasing him in glowing chains. The spell tightened. **They would bury him here\, erase his name from history.**

But before the magic took hold, Vaerion whispered a final vow:

*"You will fear me even in death. And one day\, my power… will return."*

His roar **shattered the heavens**—then\, silence.

The last noble demon was gone.

Chapter 1: The Powerless Hunter

The distant roar of a beast echoed through the forest, rattling the wooden walls of Raiven’s hut. He didn’t flinch. He had spent years listening to the sounds of monsters prowling in the dark, their presence a constant reminder of the world beyond his isolated existence.

Raiven adjusted his grip on the crude iron dagger in his hand—his only defense against the creatures that lurked in the night. It was laughable. Hunters wielded enchanted blades, forged with magic and steel. Some conjured storms with a flick of their fingers, others split the ground beneath their enemies with a mere thought. But him? He was nothing. No powers, no bloodline of warriors—just a boy scraping by in the forest, ignored by the kingdoms that thrived on strength.

And yet, his ambition burned brighter than any flame.

His gaze drifted to the worn-out parchment resting atop his wooden table—the hunting guild’s rankings. Names of powerful warriors filled the list, each accompanied by tales of legendary battles against rampaging monsters and demons. Crimson Fang, Silver Oath, Eclipsed Talon—their hunters commanded fear and respect.

Raiven wasn’t foolish enough to dream of becoming the strongest. He had no illusions of grandeur. But to earn enough **to survive**\, to escape the solitude that wrapped around him like chains—that was enough.

A faint knock startled him.

He turned to see the frail figure of his grandfather, Alden Eryndor, standing at the entrance, eyes glimmering with something he had never seen before—concern.

"You're thinking about joining a guild again, aren't you?" Alden murmured, stepping forward and placing a hand on Raiven’s shoulder.

Raiven hesitated before answering. "I need to, Grandfather. If I stay here any longer, I'll rot away in this forest."

Alden sighed, sinking into the creaky wooden chair by the fire. His fingers traced the rim of his mug before his eyes flickered with distant memories.

"You remind me of someone\," he said quietly. "Someone who once believed in a dream\, much like yours. A demon—not a monster\, not a beast—**but a man** gifted with incredible power… and a heart that sought to protect\, not destroy."

Raiven frowned, puzzled. "A demon? Good-hearted?"

Alden nodded. "He fought for humans once. But no matter how many victories he earned\, no matter how many times he saved kingdoms from devastation—he was feared. Feared for his power. **Betrayed for his kindness.**"

Raiven’s hands curled into fists. The world was cruel. It **always had been**.

Alden leaned in\, voice dropping to a whisper. "They sealed him away\, deep within the **Mountain of Heaven**\, where no mortal or monster could reach him. And yet... if one were to **find him**\, perhaps his power could be reclaimed."

The words struck Raiven like lightning.

Power.

The one thing he lacked—the one thing that dictated survival in this world.

He **needed** it.

And if freeing this demon could grant him strength… then the forest was no longer his home.

His true journey **began now**.

Too be Continued...

                            Phantom Hunter: The Shadows of Fate