The Devourer's Dominion

The courtyard was dead silent.

Aetheron and his team stood frozen, staring at the Sovereign's Hunter.

He was massive—easily over seven feet tall, clad in silver armor etched with strange markings. His spear rested on his shoulder, glinting under the moonlight.

His gaze locked onto Aetheron.

"You."

Aetheron felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Something about this guy was wrong.

His presence was too heavy, too absolute—like the weight of a mountain pressing down on them.

Kyren whispered, "This isn't just some soldier."

Juno tightened her grip on her spear. "We need to move. Now."

But the Hunter took a slow step forward.

"No one leaves."

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Then—

He moved.

The First Strike

Aetheron barely saw it.

One second, the Hunter was standing there—

The next—

He was in front of him.

The spear thrust forward.

Aetheron dodged by instinct.

The tip grazed his cheek—

And shattered the stone wall behind him.

Aetheron's eyes widened.

Kyren cursed. "Fast—!"

The Hunter spun.

His spear slashed in an arc—

Juno blocked with her own weapon, but the impact sent her flying across the courtyard.

She crashed into a pillar, coughing blood.

Rael lunged in, daggers flashing.

The Hunter didn't even turn.

He simply shifted his grip—

And slammed the butt of his spear into Rael's stomach.

Rael gasped.

The force lifted him off his feet, sent him skidding across the ground.

Aetheron gritted his teeth.

This guy was on another level.

Aetheron's Power Awakens

Aetheron's mark burned.

He could feel it, surging beneath his skin—

Raw. Hungry.

A voice whispered in his mind.

Use it.

Aetheron clenched his fists.

No.

Not yet.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

Then he charged.

His fists crackled with golden energy.

The Hunter turned to meet him—

And Aetheron swung.

A direct hit.

The air shook.

The Hunter skidded back—but he didn't fall.

Instead—

He smiled.

"Interesting."

Aetheron's chest tightened.

That attack should've sent anyone flying.

The Hunter barely moved.

Then—

He countered.

Desperate Defense

Aetheron barely had time to react.

The spear came down like a guillotine.

BOOM.

The ground split beneath the impact.

Aetheron dodged, rolling to the side—

But the Hunter was already following up.

A knee to the gut.

Aetheron's vision blurred.

The next thing he knew—

He was on the ground.

The Hunter loomed over him, spear raised.

Kyren shouted. "Aetheron!"

Juno was trying to stand, her spear trembling in her hands.

Rael was coughing blood, barely able to move.

Aria was still recovering.

They couldn't help him.

It was just him and the Hunter.

And Aetheron couldn't move.

The Hunter sighed. "Disappointing."

The spear came down.

Aetheron Breaks Free

At that moment—

The mark reacted.

The whisper in his mind became a roar.

Power surged through his body—

Hot. Wild.

His eyes glowed.

And before he knew it—

He moved.

Faster than he ever had before.

The spear missed.

Aetheron was suddenly behind the Hunter.

The Hunter's eyes widened.

Aetheron didn't hesitate.

He raised his fist—

And punched with everything he had.

BOOM.

The impact sent a shockwave through the entire courtyard.

The Hunter was sent flying.

He crashed through three stone pillars before finally stopping.

Dust filled the air.

Aetheron exhaled, his body burning.

He looked at his hands.

They were shaking.

The mark was still pulsing, power flowing through him.

But he felt… off.

Like something wasn't his anymore.

Juno limped toward him. "What… was that?"

Aetheron didn't answer.

Because across the courtyard—

The Hunter was getting up.

And he was laughing.

A Warning

The Hunter dusted himself off.

"Aetheron, huh?"

His silver armor was cracked.

His spear had a dent.

And yet—

He looked pleased.

Aetheron's stomach twisted.

The Hunter pointed at his mark.

"You've barely begun to understand it."

His voice was calm. Almost amused.

"You can run tonight."

Aetheron's fists clenched. "You think we're just leaving—"

The Hunter's eyes glowed.

Aetheron froze.

The pressure returned—worse than before.

It was like a massive hand pressing down on his soul.

"You're not ready."

The Hunter turned.

"You will be soon."

Then—

He vanished.

The Aftermath

The silence was deafening.

No one spoke for a long moment.

Then—

Rael groaned. "I officially hate that guy."

Juno sighed. "We got lucky."

Kyren helped Aria to her feet. "We need to move before more of them show up."

Aetheron didn't move.

His chest was still burning.

That power—

It wasn't his.

Not fully.

And yet…

It was changing him.

He exhaled sharply.

Then nodded.

"Let's go."

They disappeared into the night—

Unaware that their battle had only just begun.