Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 23 - : The Echoes of Power

Sai's breath steadied as he clenched his fists, the new power coursing through his veins. The ruins of Evernight felt eerily silent now, the weight of the Forgotten Sovereign's words lingering in the cold air.

"They will come for you."

His newly acquired title—Heir of the Forgotten Sovereign—felt heavier than any weapon he had ever wielded. Sai checked his interface, and the new ability, Abyssal Insight, pulsed faintly in his vision.

[Abyssal Insight Activated.]

The ruins around him shimmered, reality peeling away like layers of dust revealing something hidden underneath. For the first time, Sai saw traces of the past—faint, ghostly figures moving through the ruins, echoes of warriors who once fought here.

He saw them battling creatures that should not exist—shadowy beings with shifting forms, their bodies twisting unnaturally as if rejecting the laws of reality.

One of the spectral figures turned, as if sensing his presence.

"The Heir has awakened."

Sai's heart pounded. The vision collapsed, and he was suddenly back in the present, standing alone in the crumbling ruins.

He exhaled sharply, shaking off the disorientation.

"What the hell did I just see?"

Before he could process it further, his system flared again.

[Emergency Alert: Unknown Entities Approaching.]

Sai snapped to attention, gripping his daggers. His instincts screamed danger.

A distant rumble echoed through the ruins.

Then—movement.

From the far end of the ancient courtyard, figures emerged from the darkness. Clad in deep black armor with red sigils glowing across their chests, their faces obscured by helmets bearing an insignia Sai had seen before.

The Hidden Order.

And they weren't alone.

Two massive creatures, their forms warped and shifting like the monsters from Sai's vision, slithered forward beside them. Their bodies pulsed with unnatural energy, eyes glowing void-black with streaks of crimson.

A voice rang out, cold and merciless.

"Hunter Sai. You have violated the balance. Surrender now."

The speaker stepped forward—a tall man, his armor more ornate than the others, his helmet missing to reveal pale, angular features and piercing silver eyes. Unlike the rest, his presence exuded something more than human.

Sai's fingers tightened around his weapons. His instincts screamed at him to run, but a deeper, stronger part of him—the part that had just awakened—refused to yield.

"I'm done running."

Sai took a step forward.

"And if I don't surrender?"

The man's lips curled slightly. "Then we correct your mistake—by erasing you."

With a wave of his hand, the two abominations lunged forward.

Sai vanished.

At least, that's how it looked.

In reality, he activated Phantom Step, dodging in a blur of movement as the creatures' twisted limbs slammed into the stone where he had stood. Dust and debris exploded outward.

Sai reappeared behind them, daggers gleaming with energy. He twisted mid-air, slashing through the nearest creature's back, his blade infused with Spectral Cut.

A horrific screech tore through the ruins as the abomination convulsed violently, its form flickering like a glitch in reality.

[Warning: Entity is resisting reality anchoring.]

Sai cursed under his breath.

"So even killing them isn't normal?"

The second abomination lashed out, its limbs elongating unnaturally, forming tendrils of pure darkness. Sai barely managed to dodge as the shadows slashed through solid stone like paper.

He needed a new strategy.

And then—it clicked.

His new power, Abyssal Insight.

Sai focused, activating it again.

This time, instead of merely seeing the past, he saw weaknesses—shimmering cracks in the creatures' forms, fractures in their existence.

Sai moved.

He dashed toward the wounded abomination, his daggers humming with energy. He plunged both blades into the largest crack, twisting them.

The result was instant.

The creature let out an inhuman shriek as its body imploded, collapsing into a swirl of distorted energy before disintegrating into nothing.

The second abomination froze, as if processing what had just happened.

Sai wasted no time. He dove forward, exploiting the same weakness, his blade finding the cracks in reality itself.

A single slash.

The creature collapsed, breaking apart like shattered glass, leaving only an eerie silence behind.

Sai exhaled, his heart pounding.

He turned back to the leader of the Hidden Order.

The man regarded him with mild interest, unfazed by the destruction of his creatures.

"You're adapting quickly."

Sai wiped the blood off his blade. "Guess I don't have a choice."

The man sighed, almost disappointed.

"I had hoped you would be wise enough to submit. But it seems you've embraced the Sovereign's curse completely."

Sai tensed. "Curse?"

The man stepped forward, his presence suffocating.

"The power you've taken is not meant for mortals. It will consume you. Just as it consumed the Sovereign himself."

Sai's fingers twitched.

"Then why try so hard to stop me?"

The man smiled coldly. "Because we are the ones tasked with preventing the past from repeating itself."

His hand rose, fingers curling into a claw-like shape.

"Consider this your last chance, Hunter Sai. Surrender, or be erased."

Sai's system flared with warnings.

[Unknown Energy Signature Detected. Anomaly Identified: Archon-Class Executor.]

The ground beneath them shattered as a massive surge of energy exploded outward.

Sai barely had time to brace before the man vanished—and then reappeared right in front of him, hand aimed directly at Sai's chest.

Too fast.

Sai barely managed to raise his dagger before an invisible force slammed into him, sending him flying backward, crashing into the ruined stone walls.

Pain shot through his body, but he rolled to his feet, gritting his teeth.

The man hadn't moved.

Sai's mind raced. What the hell was that?

The man studied him. "Impressive. Most would be dead already."

Sai's grip on his daggers tightened. His system's alerts were going crazy, but one message stood out.

[Abyssal Adaptation Triggered.]

His body shifted. His vision sharpened, movements feeling more fluid. His Abyssal Insight reacted to the man's power—showing him the truth behind his attacks.

"It's not speed. It's—"

"Force manipulation."

Sai dodged as another invisible shockwave shattered the ground where he had been standing.

This guy wasn't just fast—he was controlling the space around him, using pressure waves to attack without moving.

Sai adjusted his stance. He needed to think differently.

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His eyes locked onto the flow of energy around the man, tracing the disturbances before each attack.

The next time the air shimmered, Sai moved before the strike landed, narrowly avoiding the invisible force.

The man's eyes flickered with surprise.

"Ah. You really are learning quickly."

Sai smirked. "Sorry, but I'm not dying today."

His daggers pulsed with energy as he prepared to counterattack.

The leader of the Hidden Order exhaled, shaking his head.

"I suppose negotiations are over."

His armor cracked, releasing a wave of crimson energy.

"Then let's end this properly."

The ruins trembled as the full force of his power was unleashed.

Sai braced himself.

This was only the beginning.

To Be Continued...