The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the abandoned town. Kai Ren adjusted the strap of his worn backpack, his boots crunching against the cracked asphalt. The air was thick with the scent of rust and decay, a reminder of the world that had once thrived here. Now, it was just another ghost town, left to rot after the last Eclipse had torn through it.
Kai’s AR glasses flickered as he scanned the area, the display overlaying his vision with faint blue lines and text. "No life signs detected," it read. He wasn’t surprised. This place had been picked clean long ago, but he wasn’t here for the obvious treasures. He was here for the scraps—the things others had overlooked.
He crouched beside the remains of a car, its windows shattered and its frame rusted. Pulling a small multitool from his belt, he pried open the glove compartment. Inside, he found a handful of old coins, a cracked phone, and a faded photograph of a family. He pocketed the coins and left the rest. Sentimentality was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint sound of distant thunder. Kai paused, his hand instinctively going to the knife at his side. Thunder didn’t mean rain anymore. It meant Eclipse Beasts.
He glanced at the sky. The sun was still visible, but the air had a strange, oppressive quality to it, like the world was holding its breath. His AR glasses flashed a warning: "Eclipse Activity Detected: 60 Minutes Until Solar Eclipse."
Kai cursed under his breath. He’d hoped to have more time. The nearest shelter was a half-hour’s walk away, and that was if he moved fast. He couldn’t afford to be caught out in the open when the Eclipse hit.
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and started moving, his boots pounding against the cracked pavement. The town was eerily silent, the only sound the rustle of wind through broken windows and the occasional creak of metal. It was a stark contrast to the fortified cities, where the hum of energy shields and the chatter of crowds never ceased. Out here, there was only silence and the ever-present threat of the Beasts.
As he walked, Kai’s mind wandered. He thought about the last time he’d been in a city. It had been over a year ago, when he’d tried—and failed—to become a Gatekeeper. He’d stood in front of the Celestial Gate, his heart pounding with hope, only to be told he was Gateblind. The words still stung, even now. “You have no connection to the Celestial Realm. You’re useless.”
He shook his head, pushing the memory aside. There was no point dwelling on it. He’d made his peace with being a scavenger. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept him alive.
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The shelter came into view just as the sky began to darken. It was an old subway station, its entrance partially collapsed but still usable. Kai hurried down the steps, his AR glasses illuminating the way. The station was empty, the tracks long since abandoned. He found a corner and set down his backpack, pulling out a small lantern. Its soft glow filled the space, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
He sat down, leaning against the cold concrete, and pulled out a ration bar. It was dry and tasteless, but it would keep him going. As he ate, he checked his AR glasses again. "30 Minutes Until Solar Eclipse."
The tension in the air was palpable. Even underground, he could feel it—the oppressive weight of the Eclipse, the sense that something was coming. He’d been through enough Eclipses to know the signs. The Beasts would emerge soon, drawn to the energy of the event. He just had to wait it out.
Time passed slowly. The lantern’s glow was the only light in the station, and the silence was deafening. Kai’s mind wandered again, this time to the stories he’d heard about the Sovereigns. They were legends, said to be the only ones who could open the Eclipse Gate and harness the power of the Void Realm. Most people thought they were just myths, but Kai had always wondered. What if they were real? What if there was a way to fight back against the Beasts, to end the Eclipses for good?
A low rumble shook the station, snapping him out of his thoughts. He froze, his hand going to his knife. The sound came again, louder this time, followed by a deep, guttural growl. His AR glasses flashed a warning: "Eclipse Beast Detected."
Kai’s heart pounded as he stood, his eyes scanning the darkness. The growl came again, closer now. He could hear the scrape of claws against concrete, the sound echoing through the station. He backed away, his mind racing. He’d been careful. He’d checked the area. How had a Beast gotten this close?
The answer came a moment later, as the creature emerged from the shadows. It was a Solar Eclipse Beast, its body covered in glowing, molten cracks that pulsed with heat. Its eyes burned like embers, and its jaws dripped with something that sizzled as it hit the ground. Kai had seen Beasts before, but never this close. Never this alive.
The Beast lunged, and Kai barely had time to dive out of the way. He rolled to his feet, his knife in hand, but he knew it was useless. A knife couldn’t kill a Beast. He needed to run, but the station was a dead end. There was no way out.
The Beast lunged again, and this time, Kai wasn’t fast enough. Its claws caught him across the chest, sending him sprawling. Pain exploded through him, and he gasped, struggling to breathe. The Beast loomed over him, its jaws opening wide.
And then, something inside Kai snapped.
A surge of energy erupted from him, dark and chaotic, filling the station with an otherworldly light. The Beast recoiled, its molten cracks dimming as if the energy had drained it. Kai stared, his mind reeling. What was this? What was happening?
The energy coalesced around him, forming a swirling vortex of darkness. He felt a pull, like something was calling to him from beyond the void. And then, a voice—cold, mechanical, and utterly alien—spoke in his mind.
"Void Eclipse System Activated. Welcome, Sovereign."