Prince Khronos strolled through the mortal realm, his predatory gaze sweeping over the urban landscape, seeking to expand his dark kingdom by claiming human territories or ensnaring stray souls. As he turned a corner, he spotted a lifeless body in a deserted alleyway. Curiosity, a rare indulgence, piqued. He approached the corpse, sensing an unusual surge of world energy flowing into it.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he examined the human form more closely. However, his excitement swiftly waned upon realizing the body's utter frailty.
"This specimen wouldn't even qualify for my lowest tier of undead servants," Prince Khronos muttered, disappointment lacing his voice. Yet, he quickly shrugged off the letdown, choosing to focus on the unexpected positives.
"Remarkable... The energy this body's soul essence is absorbing is substantially reinforcing his soul," he observed, a dark smile playing on his lips. "He would make a formidable addition to my undead legion."
Just as Prince Khronos prepared to drain the last vestiges of life from the body, a thunderous voice boomed from the shadows.
"Eruptio Radiantia!"
A blindingly powerful light energy burst forth, shooting toward the prince like a celestial arrow. Prince Khronos recoiled, his face twisted in frustration.
"Damn!" he cursed. "It seems my luck has abandoned me today."
Prince Khronos's eyes snapped toward the threat behind him, his mastery over shadows granting him acute senses. The incoming spell's distinct resonance revealed its holy energy signature – a hallmark of the Guardians of Faith. Eruptio Radiantia. He recognized the spell, its potency, and its caster. Experience warned him that engaging these specific Guardians would only attract unwanted attention.
"Guardians," he growled, abandoning his dark ritual. No novice, Prince Khronos knew that facing the Guardians head-on would be folly, not when he was without his army of undead. He released his human specimen, relinquishing his claim for the time being.
With a swift motion, Prince Khronos dissolved into the shadows, his dark energy permitting teleportation over short distances. The night swallowed him whole.
As he vanished, Elijah's light spell struck the ground mere moments later, unleashing a brilliant explosion. The blast illuminated the dark alleyway, casting an otherworldly glow on the lifeless body and Elijah's imposing figure.
The air shimmered with heat, and the sound of the explosion echoed through the alleyway like a thunderclap. The ground trembled beneath Elijah's feet as he stood tall, his eyes burning with an unyielding sense of duty. His majestic white robes, adorned with the Vatican's emblem, seemed to radiate an aura of protection. Golden threads embroidered into the fabric told the story of his order's centuries-long crusade against darkness.
As a Guardian of Faith, Elijah embodied the essence of his oath: to shield the innocent and vanquish evil. The blast scorched the air, leaving behind a smoldering crater. The acrid smell of burned asphalt and ozone hung heavy, a testament to Elijah's formidable power. The alleyway, once a haven for shadows, was now bathed in the warm glow of righteousness.
"These demons just keep getting stronger..." Elijah muttered, his eyes narrowing in a mix of admiration and concern. Prince Khronos's effortless dodge of his strongest spell had left him impressed, despite himself. That attack should have, at the very least, singed the demon's scales. Yet, Prince Khronos had vanished unscathed, leaving Elijah wondering what other tricks the demon had up his sleeve. A lingering sense of unease settled in, unaware that he had just faced one of the underworld's most formidable foes.
Elijah's gaze drifted to the lifeless body on the ground, shaking off thoughts of the demon. As he approached, he noticed an unusual phenomenon – the body's soul essence voraciously absorbed surrounding world energy, facilitated by a metallic cross pendant around the boy's neck.
The pendant pulsed with a soft, blue light, amplifying Qi's flow into the broken form. Curiosity piqued, Elijah bent down to investigate. The sight before him was brutal: a young boy, beaten to death, yet his soul clung to life with fierce determination. Overwhelming injuries couldn't extinguish the spark within. The boy's soul forcibly drew in world energy through the pendant, sustaining life.
Elijah's gaze locked onto the pendant, astonished. Its intricate design resonated with ancient Guardians of Faith lore. The cross's central gemstone, an azure sapphire, shone brightly, channeling Qi into the boy.
"This pendant...it's impossible," Elijah thought. "The symbol of our Order, imbued with the power to amplify Qi. How did it end up with this child?" The pendant's presence seemed too coincidental, too deliberate. Elijah's conviction grew: this boy was destined for something remarkable.
Elijah gently lifted the pendant, and the blue light intensified, illuminating the alley. Elijah sensed the pendant's power coursing through him, reaffirming his resolve.
"Kid, you must be destined for something great," Elijah whispered. "I will safeguard your path, no matter the cost."
Elijah's expression turned grim as he scanned the young boy's fragile form, ravaged by horrific marks. Each new injury fueled his anger and grief.
"This was no random assault," Elijah thought, his voice low and solemn. "The blood's still warm; the battle occurred mere moments ago." He surveyed the area, expecting to see more bodies. But there were none.
"A planned attack, targeting this young boy specifically," Elijah concluded, his eyes locked onto the battered uniform. The Nova Terra competition's aftermath took on a sinister tone. Elijah's grip on the uniform tightened.
"A rival school's doing, aiming to eliminate the victor," he realized, his eyes closing in dismay. As a Guardian of Faith, Elijah's focus lay elsewhere, but this incident's gravity struck him profoundly. The potential consequences of this event becoming public worried him.
His thoughts drifted to the demon. "That demon sought to claim this boy's remaining life force," Elijah growled, recalling ancient lore. Demons roamed the earth, feasting on the living or converting them to their ranks. Elijah's anger blazed.
"Demons are strengthening their ranks, aided by humans blinded to darkness!" Frustration simmered, his mind racing with the dire situation's weight.
With steady fingers, Elijah checked the boy's neck for a pulse. After tense silence, he detected a faint beat – life's subtle whisper, fragile and fleeting. Thanks to the metal cross, life persisted. The Guardian seized this opportunity.
"Micaria!" Elijah invoked, placing his hands gently yet firmly on the boy's chest. A faint, shimmering glow erupted from his palms, enveloping the body in warm, ethereal light. Radiance permeated every fiber, purifying the boy's essence and expelling death's darkness. Elijah channeled holy energy into the boy, whose life force responded hungrily, drawing sustenance.
As holy energy coursed through his veins, vital functions stirred. The heart trembled, then beat weakly; lungs inflated with shallow breath. An intensifying glow replaced mortality's pallor with a soft golden luminescence, signaling life's profound return.
As a Guardian of Faith, Elijah possessed the blessing spell of Micaria, an attribute bestowed upon all Guardians on their ordination day. This sacred gift allowed them to restore life force to those on the brink of death, provided some life remained. With Micaria, Guardians could purify essence, expel death's darkness, and rekindle vital functions. Though not primarily healers, their ability significantly reduced casualties in battle, enabling allies to retreat, replenish strength, and rejoin the fight.
Elijah's body shuddered, his frame shrinking as vast reserves of holy energy fueled the spell. His essence as Guardian of Faith remained unwavering, glory radiating like a beacon.
While restoring the kid's life force, Elijah noticed the metal cross hanging around the boy's neck ceased drawing world energy. Instead, it emitted a weak, blinking white glow, as if needing energy. Elijah prioritized saving the boy, placing his curiosity aside.
His weary gaze lingered on the boy, fears of his energy expenditure potentially being in vain clouding his eyes. Doubts crept in, just then the boy's eyelids fluttered open, and their gazes met.
In that instant, Elijah's apprehensions dissolved, replaced by joy and relief. Despite his frail, exhausted body, his face radiated a warm, gentle smile, revealing his deep emotional investment in the boy's recovery.
"What's your name, young one?" Elijah asked, his voice filled with gentle concern, seeking to confirm his memories were intact.
"Damian Keslore," the boy whispered, his weak voice barely audible.
Damian's head ached, but his newly awakened senses detected another presence—dark, malevolent. The Guardian felt it too.
Prince Khronos reappeared behind Elijah, his dark form materializing silently in the narrow alleyway. The Guardian's instincts flared, sensing the sudden, chilling presence.