The hunters remained frozen in the thick forest, bodies locked in place by an invisible force.
They tried to comprehend how a single voice could render them completely motionless. Their hearts hammered in their chests. Sweat beaded on their skin despite the cool shade of the towering trees.
Suddenly, a shimmer of red light emitted from the distance.
Then a bright flash of red cut through the darkness like a blade of fire. The hunters instinctively closed their eyes, the intensity too overwhelming to bear.
The light faded.
Silence returned.
Then, a streak of red passed through the group in the blink of an eye.
The pressure ceased instantly. The hunters collapsed to their knees or against trees, gasping for air, sweat pouring down their faces from the sheer terror of whatever had just swept past them.
One of the younger hunters, voice trembling, stammered, "We… we should go back. Whatever was in front of us… It's not worth our lives."
The leader, Garrick, nodded shakily, trying to sheath his sword. His hand fumbled at his hip.
"Where… where are my clothes?" he muttered, looking down in confusion.
His gear was gone. His armor, belt, boots — everything. He stood completely naked, exposed to the cool forest air.
One of the others looked down and yelped. "My clothes! What happened to my clothes?!"
Another hunter frantically searched the ground. "Captain… I don't have anything either!"
Garrick stared around in shock, trying to understand. "I don't know… they were just—"
Through the dark forest, footsteps echoed.
Someone was pulling and tightening belts, adjusting armor plates with casual familiarity. Red crimson hair swirled around the figure, as golden eyes looked down, checking the fit.
Indura walked through the forest, now dressed in the stolen gear — practical traveler's clothes that fit reasonably well after a few adjustments.
He stopped for a moment, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Finally got the belt to lock."
He stretched his arms and back, joints cracking loudly as he twisted. A wide, energetic grin spread across his face.
"That was a really long nap," he said aloud, voice carrying through the trees. "I don't want to do that again."
He turned to look around the dense forest — tall, thick trees that blocked out most of the light, creating a deep twilight. The air felt heavy, alive with mana that pressed against his skin like a constant, warm current.
Is this Chaos? he thought. I don't see any red skies yet, but the rush of mana is different from Varta. Stronger. Wilder.
He stopped, narrowing his golden eyes. The darkness around him felt strange — almost alive, shifting subtly as if watching him.
It doesn't matter, he decided. It only takes one breath to clear a path.
Indura opened his mouth, energy beginning to crackle around his jaws as he prepared a blast breath.
Suddenly, a panicking voice cut through the darkness.
"Wait! Wait, please!"
The voice was desperate, repeating over and over.
The darkness through the entire forest receded in an instant, as if someone had pulled back a heavy curtain. Daylight — or what passed for daylight in this world — flooded in.
Indura ceased the attack, the energy fading from his mouth. How did the darkness disappear?
A figure landed lightly before him — a young man with long dark hair that covered his eyes, pale skin, and old, worn dark clothes. He raised both hands in a placating gesture, breathing hard.
"Please… don't do that," the young man begged. A single fire breath can cut through my darkness.
Indura looked down at him, golden eyes narrowing. Strange. This person...His presence isn't that of a normal human.
"Who are you?" Indura asked, voice calm but carrying an underlying weight.
The young man bowed his head deeply. "My name is Shadow. I have been waiting for the great dragon to wake from its slumber. Welcome to Chaos."
Indura narrowed his eyes further. Great dragon?! And he knew I was sleeping. Interesting.
"Shadow?!" Indura asked. "Who names someone Shadow?"
Shadow nodded. "Well..."
"Why do you think I'm from another world?"
Shadow kept his head bowed. "I watched you fall through a gate from the sky. I happened to be nearby and noticed a dragon falling through it."
Indura tried to recall the moment. He remembered flying through the gate, but not falling on the other side. He smiled faintly.
"Why were you waiting for me to wake up?" he asked.
Shadow finally looked up, his dark hair still partially covering his eyes. "Because the dragon is one of the calamities of Chaos. By shielding your slumber in the darkness, I was protecting your honor."
Indura raised an eyebrow, touching his chin. "What do you mean by 'calamities'?"
Shadow looked stunned for a moment, then explained carefully. "The calamities are the rulers of three regions in Chaos. They hold great power — enough to unleash devastation on the weak if they wish."
Indura smiled, almost lazily. "I only just woke up. I don't know anything about any calamities. And honestly… I don't really care about them for now. Only myself."
Shadow looked surprised. This is strange. A walking calamity, and yet it doesn't seem to care.He doesn't even mind me looking into his eyes. No hostility… or maybe he hasn't realized his purpose yet. If it were any dragon, they would have killed me. Now I'm more eager to get closer to this one.
Shadow smiled faintly. "If you weren't here to rule, and you don't care much about it… Then what do you want?"
Indura looked ahead into the forest, his expression relaxed. "I'm hungry."
Shadow walked forward, a spark of excitement in his chest. This could be an opportunity of a lifetime — to be near a dragon, a literal calamity. Maybe…showing my trust would reap me benefits.
"I know a place where a dragon could fill its belly," Shadow said.
Indura's grin widened as he licked his lips. "Don't disappoint me."
A while later, Shadow and Indura walked side by side through a vast valley littered with the bones and skeletons of countless monsters.
The ground was a graveyard of colossal ribs, shattered skulls, and sun-bleached spines half-buried in crimson dust. The red skies of Chaos burned overhead, casting long shadows that made the valley feel like the maw of some ancient beast. The air hummed with residual mana, thick and metallic.
Indura walked with his hands clasped behind his back, stolen traveler's clothes fitting him comfortably now. His crimson hair caught the red light, golden eyes scanning the desolation with mild curiosity.
"Tell me everything," he said, voice casual but carrying that quiet weight. "The calamities. The dragons like me. All of it."
Shadow glanced at him, dark hair swaying as he kept pace. He had slowly relaxed in Indura's presence, the initial awe giving way to something closer to cautious familiarity.
"There are three dragons like you, great dragon," Shadow began. "Each one rules a different region of Chaos. They are not mere beasts — they are calamities. Living forces of nature. The Storm Dragon in the north commands the Storm Peaks. The Obsidian Wyrm in the west rules the Abyss Fracture. And the Ember Queen in the east holds the Eternal Mire. Together, they are considered the kings of this world. Their influence stretches across every territory. No guild, no empire, no hunter company dares move against them without paying tribute."
Indura raised an eyebrow. "Kings, huh? What kind of power are we talking about?"
Shadow smiled faintly, sensing Indura's growing interest. "They can reshape landscapes with a single breath. Their domains are living extensions of themselves — storms that obey the Storm Dragon, fractures in reality that answer the Obsidian Wyrm, endless swamps that bloom or wither at the Ember Queen's whim. Hunters pay them in cores, artifacts, or even entire cities if demanded. They are not just strong. They are the law."
Indura processed this slowly, golden eyes narrowing slightly. "So they sit on thrones and make the world bend? Interesting. But why three? What keeps them from fighting each other?"
Shadow chuckled softly. "They have an unspoken pact. Chaos is too vast for one to rule alone. They divide the land, trade influence, and only clash when one steps too far. It keeps the balance… or so they claim."
Indura nodded, absorbing the information. He asked Shadow to repeat a few details about the Ember Queen's swamp domain, then asked about the species that lived under their rule.
Shadow continued, warming to the conversation. "Chaos is filled with all kinds. Stone giants roam the northern crags — living mountains that can crush armies underfoot. Armored titans guard the western fractures, their bodies forged from ancient metal and mana. The swamps of the east are home to beast swarms — endless hordes of scaled horrors that answer only to the Ember Queen. Then there are the sky nomads, floating cities of dark elves who trade in forbidden knowledge, the iron-blooded orcs who worship strength above all, and the void-born — creatures that slip between realities. Every species carves out its place, but all eventually pay respect to one of the three calamities."
Indura listened, occasionally asking Shadow to slow down or repeat a name. Stone giants… armored titans… he thought. This world is bigger than Varta. Much bigger. He didn't feel overwhelmed — only intrigued, like a traveler discovering a new map.
As they walked, Shadow gradually fell into a more comfortable rhythm, even smiling once or twice when Indura made a dry comment about how "kings who need tributes sound lazy."
Eventually, they reached the edge of a wide clearing where the valley opened up.
From the mists ahead, massive figures emerged — armored titans, easily thirty feet tall, their bodies encased in thick, rune-etched metal that hummed with power. Their eyes glowed faintly red beneath heavy helmets.
Shadow's voice dropped to a whisper. "These are just roaming ones in this region. It usually takes a full raid squad of elite hunters just to bring one down. Their armour is incredibly rare — it can be forged into weapons that never dull and armour that laughs at most spells. Very expensive on the black market."
Indura looked at them with mild disinterest, arms still clasped behind his back. "I'm not feeling particularly excited about them."
Shadow insisted, a hint of excitement in his tone. "I understand...but they could help with your hunger. Their cores and flesh are packed with dense mana. One titan could feed even a dragon for days."
Indura considered it for a moment, unfamiliar with this kind of prey. "Fine. But I'm doing this my way."
He took a single step forward and transformed.
Red energy exploded outward. His body surged upward, scales hardening, horns lengthening, wings unfurling with a thunderous snap. The evolved Titanic form was even more imposing than before — leaner yet denser, spikes sharper, golden eyes glowing with absolute presence. The 5000-foot crimson dragon now towered over the valley like a living mountain of red death.
The armored titans froze. Their glowing eyes widened in primal fear. They knew exactly what he was — a calamity in the flesh.
They turned to run.
Indura moved with effortless speed. One massive claw swept down, scooping up two titans like toys. He brought them to his jaws and bit down.
The crunch echoed across the valley.
He chewed slowly, savoring the taste. Not bad, he thought. Dense. Mana-rich. Actually delicious.
Down below, Shadow stood frozen, staring up at the colossal form. Fear and excitement warred in his chest. This… this is a true dragon. A calamity walking. A proud, almost reverent smile crept onto his face. He was standing near something the world feared and worshipped.
Indura spent the next several minutes methodically hunting the titans. He moved with lazy grace, claws snatching, jaws crunching, the valley shaking with every step. Bones and armour fragments rained down around Shadow, who watched in stunned awe.
Finally, Indura finished. He shrank back down into humanoid form, the red energy fading as he landed lightly on the ground.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a satisfied sigh.
"I'm full," he said simply, golden eyes bright with contentment.
Shadow stared at him, still processing the sheer scale of what he had just witnessed.
Indura stretched again, cracking his neck. "Not a bad first meal in Chaos."
A short while later, Indura and Shadow continued walking through the bone-strewn valley.
Indura glanced at the red-tinted horizon, then turned to his new companion. "What region are we in right now?"
Shadow kept pace beside him, his worn dark clothes fluttering slightly in the mana-heavy wind. "We are in the southern region of Chaos. It is considered the frontier — wild, untamed, and full of opportunities for those strong enough to seize them."
Indura's golden eyes narrowed with mild curiosity. "Does any dragon's influence reach here? One of those calamities you mentioned?"
Shadow shook his head. "Not really. The South is mostly looked down upon by the greater powers. It is ruled by three members of the High Order — beings similar in status to the dragons, but with far less raw power. They maintain order here, collect tributes, and keep the worst of the chaos in check, but they are nowhere near the level of the true calamities."
Indura processed this slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Interesting. A whole region treated like the outskirts. Varta felt so small and simple compared to this.
Shadow continued, sensing Indura's growing engagement. "There is a notable city here in the south called Crimson Reach. It is one of the main hubs for hunters. People from all species come there to subjugate monsters, sell materials, and chase wealth. The streets are always busy with guilds, merchants, and lone operators looking for the next big contract."
Indura walked in silence for a moment, internal thoughts turning over the information. Crimson Reach… hunters chasing monsters for coin. This world moves fast. Varta seemed almost boring in comparison — quiet villages, small empire, the same old stories. Here, everything feels alive and hungry...as it should be.
Shadow looked at him sideways. "Would you like to go there? To the city?"
Indura considered it briefly, then nodded. "Yes. I want to see what this world offers in terms of civilization. Tell me more when we get there."
Shadow's expression brightened with quiet excitement. "As you wish." He paused, then added carefully, "Do you want to fly there? In your true form, it would be quick… but it might cause panic and horror among the people."
Indura scoffed lightly, a carefree grin spreading across his face. "I'm already familiar with moving secretly without being noticed. I don't need to go there in my colossal form. That would just draw unnecessary attention."
Shadow smiled, clearly relieved. "It is all well this way."
Without another word, Shadow's body began to change.
Darkness rippled across his form like liquid shadow. His entire appearance melted and reformed, expanding rapidly. In moments, he had transformed into a large, muscular dark horse — bigger than any ordinary steed, with a shifting dark aura rolling off its coat like smoke. Its eyes glowed a steady grey, full of intelligence and quiet power.
Indura stopped walking, staring at the transformation with genuine surprise. "How did you do that? That was impressive."
Shadow's new equine form snorted softly, voice still recognizable though deeper and resonant. "I can turn into the shadow of any living being. Because I am shadow itself."
Indura was quiet for a moment, processing the ability. Then he laughed — a genuine, light sound that echoed across the valley. "Such an ability… that's actually quite useful. I like it."
Shadow dipped his head in modest acknowledgment. "Climb on. In this form, I can reach Crimson Reach in less than an hour."
Indura leaped onto Shadow's back with effortless grace, settling comfortably. "Well, now this is rather interesting. Advance."
Shadow looked ahead, grey eyes focused. His hooves dug into the ground, muscles coiling with tremendous power. In the next instant, he launched forward at terrifying speed.
The world blurred around them.
They blitzed through the valley of corpses, crimson dust kicking up in their wake. The dark horse form cut through the air like a living shadow, carrying Indura swiftly toward the distant lights of civilization under the burning red skies of Chaos.