he cool morning air clung to the forest as Alric and I walked in silence, the sound of our footsteps dampened by the soft, dew-covered earth. It had been days since we’d left the village behind, and even though the physical distance grew, my thoughts remained tethered to the conversation we’d had.

The idea of the Commander-Class demon loomed large in my mind. Knowing that the thing that had killed my family wasn’t just some mindless beast but a force of immense power, capable of space manipulation and destruction, was a chilling thought. But what weighed on me more was Alric’s certainty that I wasn’t ready. Not yet.

“Five years,” Alric had said. “It’ll take you at least five years to gain the experience, knowledge, and strength you need to even begin tracking that demon. And that’s if you survive.”

Five years felt like an eternity. But after our talk, I knew I had no other choice. Rushing into a fight I couldn’t win wouldn’t bring my family back—it would just get me killed. And that’s if I was lucky.

But that didn’t mean the waiting was easy.

The forest stretched endlessly in all directions, the trees dense and towering, their thick branches blocking out most of the early morning light. The path we walked was narrow and overgrown, but Alric moved with the ease of someone who had walked it many times before. I, on the other hand, was more focused on the Aetheric Flow, letting it guide me as I tried to feel for disturbances or changes that could signal danger.

“Niv,” Alric’s voice broke through the quiet. He stopped, turning to face me. “Before we go any further, there’s something we need to discuss.”

I nodded, already feeling the weight of his words before he spoke them.

“The mission I’m giving you isn’t just a test of your strength,” he said, his tone low but firm. “It’s a way to prepare you for what’s ahead. Over the next five years, you’ll be hunting demons—starting with the lesser ones, the ones that don’t leave obvious marks but still pose a threat. Each one will teach you something new. Each fight will push you to your limits. And with each victory, you’ll come closer to being ready.”

I crossed my arms, my expression hard. “I understand that. But you’re holding something back.”

Alric raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. “What makes you think that?”

“Because I know you by now,” I replied, my tone sharp. “You don’t send someone on a five-year mission without there being more to it.”

He regarded me in silence for a moment before sighing and nodding. “You’re right. There is more.” He motioned for me to follow, and we continued walking down the narrow path. “These demons you’ll be hunting aren’t just random creatures. They’re part of something bigger.”

I frowned. “Bigger? What do you mean?”

“Demons, especially the higher-tier ones, don’t act alone. They’re often part of a larger web of chaos and destruction, and that’s particularly true for the Abyssal Tyrant.”

The name sent a chill down my spine, though I tried not to show it. “Abyssal Tyrant?”

Alric nodded. “It’s a powerful demon, one that’s been lurking in the shadows for years. Most don’t even know it exists, but those who do understand that it’s a creature of immense power. The lesser demons you’ll be hunting… they’re part of its influence.”

I narrowed my eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that this Abyssal Tyrant is pulling the strings?”

“Exactly,” Alric said, his voice grim. “The Commander-Class demon that killed your family is likely connected to it in some way. But we can’t be sure. What I do know is that if you want to face that demon one day, you need to understand the hierarchy, how these demons are organized, and what drives them.”

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We continued walking, my mind reeling with this new information. A part of me had always known that the demon that killed my family was something special, something powerful. But to think it might be connected to an even larger force—a demon that commanded others—was more than I had expected.

“How do I track them?” I asked, my voice steady despite the growing tension in my chest.

“You’ll need to learn how to read the Aetheric Flow on a deeper level,” Alric explained. “Demons leave traces, disturbances that ripple through the Flow, but the higher the rank, the more subtle those disturbances become. The weaker demons are easier to track because they’re sloppy—they don’t know how to hide their presence. But the ones you’re after... they’ll make you work for it.”

I nodded slowly, absorbing his words. “So, I start with the lesser demons. Learn how they move, how they fight. And eventually…”

“Eventually, you’ll be ready,” Alric finished. “But it won’t be easy. The first demon on your list is a Shade-Walker. It’s been terrorizing a small village on the edge of the forest. They’ve already lost several people, and they’re desperate for help.”

“A Shade-Walker?” I repeated, feeling a flicker of recognition. “I’ve heard of those. Shadow magic, right?”

Alric nodded. “It moves between the shadows, striking quickly and retreating before anyone can react. It’s fast, but it’s not invincible. You’ll need to rely on your instincts and your Analyze skill to predict where it will strike. This will be your first real test.”

I unsheathed my sword, letting the blade glint in the faint light filtering through the trees. “I’ve trained for this. I’m ready.”

Alric watched me closely, his gaze sharp. “Confidence is good, but don’t let it blind you. Demons are unpredictable. Don’t forget that.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. I was ready. Or at least, I hoped I was.

We arrived at the village just before sunset, the sky painted with streaks of red and orange. The village was small, tucked away in a clearing at the edge of the forest, and the fear was palpable as we approached. The villagers watched us with wary eyes, their faces drawn with exhaustion and terror. They had been living in fear for weeks now, afraid to leave their homes after dark, knowing that the Shade-Walker could strike at any moment.

Alric spoke to the village elder, a weathered man with a stooped back and trembling hands. The man told us about the attacks—how the demon had appeared without warning, how it had taken their children, their loved ones. I listened in silence, my jaw clenched, my mind already turning over strategies and plans.

“It comes at night,” the elder said, his voice shaking. “Always from the shadows. We never see it coming until it’s too late.”

I glanced at Alric, who gave me a small nod. This was my test. My mission.

“You’ll stay here,” Alric said, his tone firm but supportive. “I’ll be nearby, but this is your fight. Remember what you’ve learned.”

I nodded, gripping my sword tighter. The Aetheric Flow was already humming around me, the disturbance faint but growing stronger as the sun dipped below the horizon.

The demon was coming.