Kage no Densetsu: The Shadowborn's Quest

The battlefield was eerily silent.

Smoke still lingered in the air, and the once-vibrant landscape of the Nature Kingdom had turned into a gray wasteland. The once-lush forests were now nothing more than charred remnants, and the scent of burned earth filled the air.

At the center of the devastation lay Oranos, his body lifeless. But the moment he fell, something strange began to happen.

From within his chest, the Nature Stone began to glow.

A powerful green aura erupted, swirling in chaotic patterns before shooting up into the sky. The stone hovered above the battlefield, but its energy was unstable, flickering like a dying flame.

Kaelen, barely able to stand, gritted his teeth. He limped forward, ignoring the pain, and stretched his hand toward the stone. His breath was ragged, his vision blurry.

"Just a little more..."

With his last ounce of strength, Kaelen pressed his palm against the stone, pouring the very last bit of his energy into it.

The reaction was immediate.

The Nature Stone pulsed—once, twice—then released a burst of pure, golden-green energy.

In an instant, the land began to heal.

The barren trees regrew, their leaves sprouting back in vibrant greens. The charred ground cracked, revealing fresh soil beneath. Rivers that had dried up began to flow once more. The wind carried the scent of renewal.

Nature had been restored.

Kaelen collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. His entire body felt numb, but as he looked around and saw life return to the kingdom, he smiled.

"...We did it."

The Only Two Awake

Kaelen glanced around. The others—Ren, Sakayanagi, and Shigan—were all unconscious. Drained of all their power.

The only one standing was the mysterious warrior.

The man adjusted his samurai hat, staring at the newly revived landscape. His electric-blue cloak fluttered in the soft breeze.

Kaelen wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked up at him. "You're still standing, huh?"

The man gave a small smirk. "I've been through worse."

Kaelen let out a dry chuckle. "Right... anyway, we need to get out of here before something else happens."

The man nodded. "You got a ship?"

Kaelen pointed towards the wrecked remains of their small ship in the distance. It had taken damage during the fight and the crash, but it could still fly.

The man sighed. "Alright, I'll drive."

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "You sure you can even fly this thing?"

The man chuckled. "Please. Compared to what I usually fly, this is nothing."

Kaelen didn't argue. He bent down, lifting Ren onto his back, while the stranger picked up Sakayanagi and Shigan. Together, they made their way back to the ship.

A Sky Far Beyond The Kingdoms

As they settled into the ship, the mysterious man powered up the controls. The engines hummed to life, and soon, they were airborne.

Kaelen sat down, exhausted. He glanced at the man. "So... who are you?"

The man smirked. "Name's Raidon."

Kaelen leaned his head back. "Alright, Raidon... where exactly are you from?"

Raidon leaned against the ship's controls. "I'm from the Thunder Skies."

Kaelen's eyes widened. "Thunder Skies? I thought that was a myth."

Raidon shook his head. "Far from it. It's real. Just… not many can leave or enter."

Kaelen frowned. "Why?"

Raidon's expression darkened slightly. "The barrier."

Kaelen tilted his head. "Barrier?"

Raidon nodded. "The Thunder Skies exist beyond the reach of this world. It's not part of any kingdom—it floats high above the Tellus (Earth). To reach it, you need to move at the speed of a thunderbolt. Otherwise, the barrier surrounding it will reject you instantly."

Kaelen processed the information. "So... people don't just come and go?"

Raidon smirked. "Nope. The only ones who can break the barrier are those fast enough to move at that speed. That's why you'll rarely see anyone from my land down here."

Kaelen crossed his arms. "Then why are you here?"

Raidon's smirk faded slightly. He glanced out the window, his eyes sharp, almost calculating.

"Let's just say I have been wathing you guys."

Kaelen sighed, leaning back. He was too tired to pry.

As the ship soared through the sky, the land of the Nature Kingdom faded into the distance.

They had won—but barely.

Now, their journey continued.

To Be Continued...