A NAME FROM BEGINNING
The horned creature’s question hung over the battlefield.
“…Why are you still alive?”
The air felt heavier with every passing second.
Lucian slowly stepped closer to Aria, his sword raised but his eyes fixed on the towering being.
Rowan swallowed.
“I’m starting to miss the dragon.”
The horned creature didn’t react to the warriors.
Its glowing white eyes remained locked on Aria.
Waiting.
Aria stepped forward slowly.
The silver energy around her body flickered softly again.
“You know me.”
The creature tilted its head slightly.
“…I know what you carry.”
The Primordial spirit inside Aria stirred uneasily.
For the first time, its voice sounded cautious.
This one remembers the old world.
Aria’s eyes narrowed.
“The old world?”
Lucian glanced at her.
“You two are having a very concerning conversation.”
The horned creature spoke again.
“Before the wolves.”
“Before the Alphas.”
“Before your kind ruled these lands.”
Its deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
“We ruled.”
Rowan blinked.
“…We?”
Elias answered quietly.
“The Void Lords.”
Lucian looked at him sharply.
“You’ve heard of them?”
Elias nodded slowly.
“Ancient stories.”
“Creatures that existed before the werewolves.”
The horned being didn’t deny it.
Its white eyes gleamed.
“Yes.”
The Blood Emperor staggered backward slightly, still shocked.
“…Void… Lords?”
The creature ignored him again.
Instead, it studied Aria carefully.
“You carry the blood of the First Wolf.”
The silver glow around Aria pulsed.
“Yes.”
The horned being’s gaze sharpened.
“But the First Wolf destroyed our gates.”
Lucian frowned.
“…Destroyed them?”
Elias whispered,
“The Primordial wolves sealed the Void.”
The horned creature nodded slowly.
“Your ancestor closed the path between worlds.”
Its voice turned colder.
“And yet you stand here.”
Aria didn’t step back.
“Times change.”
The creature took one slow step closer.
The frost spreading beneath its feet widened.
The dragon growled behind them.
The Dark Alpha lowered its massive head protectively.
Even the monsters in the forest had gone completely silent.
Lucian’s voice dropped.
“Aria…”
The horned being stopped a few steps away from her.
Its glowing eyes burned brighter.
“You should not exist.”
The Primordial voice inside her rose again.
He speaks truth.
Aria felt her chest tighten.
“What do you mean?”
The creature’s voice became quieter.
More dangerous.
“The bloodline of the First Wolf was meant to end.”
Lucian’s eyes widened.
“…Excuse me?”
Rowan looked confused.
“Wait… what?”
The horned being slowly raised one clawed hand.
“The war between our worlds ended when the last Primordial wolf died.”
Aria’s silver eyes flickered.
“…The last?”
The creature nodded.
“Yes.”
Lucian looked at Aria.
“But you’re here.”
The horned being’s glowing eyes sharpened again.
“Which means…”
Its voice echoed like thunder across the battlefield.
“…something has gone terribly wrong.”
The Blood Emperor suddenly laughed weakly.
“This changes nothing.”
He lifted his hand again, trying to gather his fading power.
“I still opened the gate.”
The horned creature turned its head slowly toward him.
Just once.
Its glowing gaze turned colder.
“You opened a door.”
The Blood Emperor smirked.
“Yes.”
The Void Lord spoke again.
“But you do not control what walks through it.”
Behind him—
The dark mist inside the gate exploded outward.
Dozens more white-eyed creatures poured into the forest.
Lucian groaned.
“…Great.”
Rowan sighed loudly.
“More friends.”
But Aria wasn’t looking at them.
She was staring at the Void Lord.
Because something about his words had unsettled the Primordial spirit inside her.
Her voice came out quiet.
“You said the last Primordial wolf died.”
The Void Lord nodded.
“Yes.”
Aria’s silver eyes slowly darkened.
“Then how am I alive?”
The Void Lord stared at her.
Its glowing eyes narrowed slightly.
Then it said something that made everyone freeze.
“…Because you were never supposed to be born.”