THE THING IN THE GATE
The battlefield fell silent.
Even the creatures crawling out of the gate stopped moving.
Something far larger was approaching from the darkness behind them.
The white-eyed creatures slowly stepped aside.
Like servants making way for their master.
Lucian felt a cold chill crawl down his spine.
“…That’s not normal.”
Rowan stared at the gate, ears flattening.
“Everything about tonight stopped being normal hours ago.”
The Blood Emperor’s smile slowly faded.
For the first time—
He looked uncertain.
“…What?”
Aria noticed immediately.
“You didn’t expect this.”
The gate pulsed again.
Dark mist rolled across the battlefield like a living fog.
The massive shadow inside the portal moved closer.
Every step it took caused the ground in their world to tremble.
Even the dragon backed up slightly.
Its wings twitched nervously.
Lucian’s eyes widened.
“…The dragon is scared.”
Rowan swallowed.
“That’s a terrible sign.”
The Dark Alpha growled deeply beside Aria.
Not in rage.
In warning.
The Blood Emperor raised his hand again, trying to assert control.
“I command you!”
His voice echoed toward the gate.
But nothing obeyed.
The shadow kept moving forward.
The white-eyed creatures slowly knelt.
All of them.
Lucian whispered,
“…That’s their leader.”
The Alpha King stepped beside Aria again.
Golden energy burned around him.
“Prepare yourselves.”
The dark mist suddenly exploded outward.
The massive figure finally stepped through the gate.
The creature stood taller than the dragon.
Its body looked almost human—but twisted and elongated.
Long black armor-like skin covered its frame.
Two enormous curved horns rose from its head.
And its glowing white eyes burned like twin moons in the darkness.
The temperature in the forest dropped instantly.
Frost began spreading across the ground.
Rowan’s jaw slowly dropped.
“…That thing is huge.”
Lucian didn’t look away from it.
His voice came out tight.
“That’s not just a creature.”
Elias whispered quietly,
“That’s a ruler.”
The horned being slowly scanned the battlefield.
Its glowing eyes moved across the warriors.
The dragon.
The Dark Alpha.
Then finally—
They stopped on Aria.
The creature tilted its head slightly.
Studying her.
Then it spoke.
Its voice was deep.
Cold.
Ancient.
“You…”
Aria felt the Primordial energy inside her stir violently again.
The silence inside her mind shattered.
Run.
Her eyes widened slightly.
That was the first time the Primordial spirit had ever told her to run.
The Blood Emperor stepped forward proudly.
“Great one.”
He bowed slightly.
“I opened the gate for you.”
The horned creature didn’t even look at him.
Its glowing gaze remained fixed on Aria.
Then it spoke again.
“…You awakened.”
Lucian frowned.
“…It knows her too?”
The creature slowly stepped forward.
The ground froze beneath its feet.
“You carry the blood of the First.”
Aria didn’t answer.
The horned creature stopped moving.
Its eyes burned brighter.
“…Then this world truly has changed.”
Lucian slowly raised his sword.
“Aria…”
Rowan shifted beside him nervously.
“I have a bad feeling about this one.”
The Blood Emperor’s patience snapped.
“Enough ignoring me!”
He raised both hands again.
Dark lightning gathered around him.
“I brought you here!”
The horned creature finally looked at him.
Just once.
Its expression didn’t change.
Then it lifted one finger.
A thin line of black energy shot through the air.
The Blood Emperor froze.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then his dark lightning vanished instantly.
The energy around him collapsed.
Lucian’s eyes widened.
“…What did it do?”
The Blood Emperor looked down at his hands in shock.
“My power…”
The horned creature spoke calmly.
“You are insignificant.”
Then it looked back at Aria.
And asked one terrifying question.
“…Why are you still alive?”