The forbidden forest was eerily silent, with only the whispering night wind rustling through the branches and leaves. Ancient trees loomed tall, their roots coiling across the ground like giant serpents, erasing every footprint. Darkness enveloped every corner, separating the outside world from the secrets hidden deep within.
Among those shadows stood a man with sharp eyes and a sturdy frame—Zayne. A figure rarely seen, even by those who claimed to know him. Tonight, he walked without hesitation, his steps light and cautious as he pierced through the darkness toward a perilous destination.
"Four queens... Four crowns that have maintained the balance of this world," he murmured softly, exhaling a cold breath. "I must bring them to that cursed cave. Only then will the System reveal its true power."
A gentle voice suddenly broke the silence. "Are you sure you can do this, Zayne?"
Zayne turned to see a silver-haired girl standing behind a tree. Her blue eyes gazed at him with both worry and hope. She was the shadow that always followed him—a reminder and a motivator.
"I have to," Zayne answered firmly. "There's no other choice. This isn't just about me or them. It's about a world that's about to change, and I will be the one to change it."
The girl nodded before vanishing into the shadows.
Zayne continued his steps, navigating the slippery path toward the demon kingdom's fortress—the first queen on his list. He knew this abduction wouldn't be easy. The Demon Queen was guarded by merciless soldiers and intricate magical traps. But the System within him granted new strength—abilities he had never possessed before.
In the distance, the flames of the demon fortress glowed red, signaling tight security. Zayne crept closer, feeling the adrenaline rush and an odd sensation in his chest as the System whispered softly, guiding his movements.
"Don't falter," the voice inside him warned. "You're not just kidnapping—you're binding your own fate."
Zayne smirked faintly. "I'm ready."
As he reached the fortress walls, a black shadow darted with inhuman speed, slipping past the guards like an unseen night breeze. In the suffocating silence, Zayne knew—tonight was the beginning of something monumental.
"The Demon Queen will be mine," he whispered. "And this is only the start."