The Journey Begins
The fierce winds howled as Ren and Ryo made their way across the plains of the Great Fire Kingdom. Dark clouds gathered above, and volcanoes surrounded them on every side. Every step they took left an imprint on the scorched ground, as if marking the path of their grand journey.
Ren spread his wings and soared into the sky, with Ryo struggling to follow behind.
Panting, Ryo called out:
"Seriously… I didn't think traveling to a new kingdom would be this exhausting!"
Ren smirked as he gazed upward.
"Ryo… prepare yourself. What awaits us in Starovos is far greater than anything we've faced."
Though worried, Ryo's eyes couldn't leave the new sword in his hands. It glowed with a blue, electric radiance—almost as if it was breathing life itself.
Four days later, the two finally reached their destination.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them surged with sparks of lightning, and before them appeared an ancient gate carved from steel-like stone. Glowing blue veins of light pulsed across its surface.
Ren's voice was calm.
"This is the Gate of Starovos… Beyond it lies the Great Empire."
Ryo shivered, goosebumps crawling along his skin.
"Do you see those veins? That's not just light… That's the heartbeat of the empire itself."
Together, they stepped through the gate. A strange pressure closed in on them, as though the air itself was alive. Time seemed to slow down. The flow of existence within the empire was different.
When they emerged, they stood upon the peak of a massive mountain overlooking a majestic city—the capital of the empire. Towers of glowing blue crystal stretched toward the heavens, while waterfalls of lightning cascaded from floating islands above. Thunder dragons soared across the skies, their roars shaking the air.
Ren's eyes gleamed as he stood at the cliff's edge.
"Incredible… This empire surpasses everything we've seen!"
Ryo could barely speak.
"Impossible… The ruler of this place must be stronger than even Infernos. If we meet him… I'll be nothing more than dust beneath his feet."
Ren smiled faintly, still in awe.
"A kingdom unlike any other… Truly magnificent."
The two descended toward the capital.
As they walked through the glowing streets, lightning crackled along the towers, humming like a living force. Mythical beasts and humans alike filled the wide avenues, their lives intertwined with the flashes of thunder above.
Then—Ryo froze. A whisper brushed against his ear:
"Who are you? What business do you have here? Do you possess the right to enter this empire?"
Ryo turned to Ren.
"Did you hear that?"
Ren frowned, equally confused.
Before they could react, a group of thunder dragons swooped down to attack.
The battle was fierce—the dragons wielded pure lightning as their element.
But then, a new figure appeared. The First Lightning Guardian—a half-human, half-electric being. His eyes glowed with stormlight, and a blade of living electricity extended from his arm.
At the sight of him, the dragons scattered.
The guardian's voice thundered across the sky:
"Who are you? Why have you come to the heart of Starovos?"
Ren felt the battle intent radiating from him. With a confident smirk, he reached for his black sword.
"We came… seeking the truth!"
The guardian's stance hardened.
"Those who trespass into Starovos without permission… will pay with their lives!"
Fear flickered across Ryo's face, but he refused to back down. His sword pulsed, radiating both darkness and lightning.
Ren shouted:
"Advance!"
With a crash, their combined strike sent shockwaves across the land. Lightning erupted, forcing the guardian to retreat, his voice trembling.
"Such power… These two are no ordinary humans!"
At that moment, a young woman appeared.
"What an honor… to meet the heroes themselves!"
Ryo blinked in shock.
"Who are you?"
The girl bowed gracefully.
"My name is Shona. The emperor has sent me to welcome you."
At her words, the guardian finally understood. These two were not mere intruders. He withdrew and vanished into the distance.
Shona opened the gates and led Ren and Ryo into the capital.
What they saw left them breathless. The city pulsed with life—thunder coursing through the very air, aiding the people in their daily lives. Mythical beasts, lightning steeds, and even phoenixes made of pure electricity roamed the streets.
Ryo whispered in awe:
"It feels like everything here is alive… even the air carries power!"
Shona smiled.
"Welcome to Starovos—the Great Empire of Thunder."
She guided them to an inn.
"You will stay here for a while. Soon… the Emperor himself will grant you an audience."
As the days passed, Ren and Ryo discovered the capital's secrets—creatures of immeasurable strength, towers filled with ancient lightning, and a colossal structure known as The Eternal Tower.
Inside the tower, every floor demanded a greater battle, each victory granting unimaginable rewards.
Eventually, they were brought before the Grand Guardian. Each step toward him made sparks dance across the ground, until the entire city watched them through a massive screen in the sky.
Ryo's heart pounded, but he steadied himself. He could feel the overwhelming aura of the guardian.
"This… won't be easy…" he whispered.
To be continued…