In the eastern part of Thallerion, the sun rose like a powerful ruler, slowly conquering the cold shadows of the night. A white, glass-like sphere shimmered in the sky—this was the "Crown-shield." From afar, it looked like a giant crown dropped by the gods. As the sun peeked over the horizon, the entire architecture of Thallerion glistened, like swords raised in the air in a tall salute. However, as the morning heat grew, people gathered in the spacious hall of Betelgeuse City—the very heart of the Thallerion kingdom.
The shouts and support of the people echoed as King Zerceux arrived, riding a flying Auriga pulled by four golden horses. Trumpets blared as he descended from the chariot, but in a flash, the Auriga vanished like stardust. He walked slowly to the center, deep in thought.
"To rise in this world, one must cling to the Celestial Gene. Without this gene, Thallerion will be nothing but a rat in the eyes of monsters. But these days, much has changed. Everyone is worried about the loss of their power. The ability that was meant to protect their families and their nation—now, they just rely on a shield."
The King saw a desperate man trying to show off; no matter how hard he squeezed his arm to draw out his power, only blue ash glimmered on his hand. The King could only sigh.
A live broadcast made of blue energy spread across every wall of Thallerion's buildings. King Zerceux took a slow step forward, stood tall, and scanned the faces of the crowd. He breathed in deeply, his weary finger pointing toward the heavens.
"Look up!" His voice was deep and slow, so much so that even the air seemed to listen. "Behold the glowing barrier they have dumped in our sky like a white shroud on a coffin. That is the National Threat Security Shield, sent by the Cepheus Sovereign under the Crown-System a hundred years ago. But until now, we continue to rely on them. Luxurious, isn't it? But I call it—the Parasitic Crown!"
The citizens shared in the King's resentment. "They are eating away at our nation! This isn't protection! It's a curse!" The King heard the clashing of weapons forged from celestial energy. The firing of low-tier guns left a tremor in the air.
"You are right! They talk only of 'peace.' They talk of 'ordinance.' But they don't realize we are being choked to death under their greedy system!" The King's fist tightened on the podium, emitting a wisp of smoke. His blue eyes blazed as he stared at the people.
"The celestial guardian of Thallerion has been lost for a long time, so they look at us as weaklings who need to depend on their protection." King Zerceux struck the podium, cracking it as he roared with passion. "Ha! We are not sheep that need a shepherd! Have they forgotten? That we know how to wield weapons?"
"They are underestimating us!" the people shouted. A mass awakening occurred in the midst of the speech, as they showed their support for the King. Their eyes shone like stars, and their energy took the form of weapons.
"The saddest part is that we feed every strand of that shield with 500 million astral-currency each year. We are forced to earn billions."
In the middle of the King's monumental speech, an ethereal blue screen powered by celestial energy from the Crown-System appeared. "What is this? Why now of all times?"
Streamlined System Interface
[ SYSTEM NOTICE: CEPHEUS SOVEREIGN HIGH-PRIORITY BOUNTY ]
Phenomenon: Biopunk Infestation & Feral Bio-Trafficking
Source: Unauthorized Underworld Laboratories
■ INTEL REPORT
The Crown-System has detected an exponential surge in illegal biopunk facilities along the frontier. These dark sectors are mass-producing illicit genetic catalysts.
■ MISSION PARAMETERS
Objective: Destroy all 7 illegal laboratories consecutively
Time Quota: 2 Months (60 Standard Days)
Target Species: Unknown / Rapidly Mutating Mutagens
Estimated Forces: ~1,000 Biopunk Entities per sector (Continuous release)
Lethality: UNQUANTIFIABLE (Extreme Threat)
Location: Eastern Thallerion Border (Marshy Terrain)
■ BOUNTY POOL
Reward: 25,000,000,000 Astral-Coins (AC)
Creditor: Cepheus Sovereign Ledger Account
[ SYSTEM QUESTION: DO YOU ACCEPT THIS TASK, AWAKENED OF THALLERION? ]
"Of course. 25 billion?" King Zerceux's eyes widened. "We can get this much money that easily from one mission? It's a good thing the Sovereign has finally come to their senses," he whispered to himself.
"Look closely at your personalized screens at what the Cepheus Sovereign has sent. They have given our nation an incredibly easy mission." The people fell silent, like children offered a candy they had never tasted before.
"Listen, awakened warriors, hunters, and healers. It has been ten years since the biopunks appeared, destroying nature and causing animals to die because their carcasses turn into poison. According to the Crown-System, because of the emergence of these biopunk-prototypes, they have monitored increased movement of shape-shifters. Therefore, the Cepheus Sovereign is calling for the destruction of every laboratory that appears."
"In accordance with the Task: you must destroy the seven laboratories. Once we complete the task, the nation's Thallerion Ledger will be guaranteed 25 billion astral-coins. This is a huge help for the development of our civilization."
"Dear King, what about those of us who are non-awakened? We also want to help in this mission," a man said, holding a low-tier sword. "We don't have enough money to buy celestial assets." The King looked at the faces of the people with compassion.
"Go to the Rigil District. Register as an auxiliary hunter," the King commanded. "Do not be reckless, wait for the command of the elites."
"Thank you, dear King." The King saw the rookies and the citizens slowly moving toward the Rigil district. Some men were trying to level up their rookie blades, but they only glowed faintly.
"No king would turn down a 25-billion offer from the Cepheus Sovereign. But because of the loss of our guardian entity, the number of people capable of becoming Awakened-Hunters is dwindling. I hope the rookies and the non-awakened won't be a burden in this mission."
The Cathedral
While the King was busy and many were interested in participating in the mission, a young woman entered the cathedral in Mintaka village. Her name was Xurien Wrez. The loud bell tolled; she saw the yellowing stains on the walls of the church and smelled old incense.
"Is the silence of the entity a sign of abandonment or a test of our resilience?" she whispered. As she stepped inside, she felt the cold aura of the pillars, which were adorned with angel statues. In front, a large black cross was attached to the wall—a symbol of the influence of the holy nation of Cypriox.
"I still have one hour before the final exam," she muttered, looking at her watch. "It's a good thing the King's speech ended early. I still have a chance to pray in the church. Wait? Why is no one here at the cathedral today? Could it be that they all went to the border for the mission? They were so easily deceived by the large amount of money; they just left their prayers behind."
In the spacious room, fluorescent lamps with floral relics hung, giving a soft light. Xurien saw tiny white dust motes glistening in the golden light of the tainted-glass; a ray of sun pierced the shadows of the cold room.
Before the altar, her knees slowly hit the floor. She raised her hands, fingers locked in prayer. She closed her eyes, and fresh tears—like dew drops—crawled down her cheeks and fell onto her chest. She felt the warmth of her aspirations.
"Hallelujah.... hallelujah...." she sang. Her soft lips trembled as she sang into the air.
The smoke of the incense appeared as fragrant as sweet wood, leaving a light feeling in her lonely soul. The great light of the candles served as a silent witness to her unceasing kneeling before the cross.
"As a student, I cannot help but be emotional about the pitiful situation of the patients in the healing camp. But there is nothing I can do," she whispered, memories flooding back—the sight of warriors bathed in their own blood, wailing, screaming, and begging for mercy before they took their last breath. "Is that what will happen to them?"
"Oh, compassionate Crux, I beg you, pour your glorious light upon the land of Thallerion. Guide the warriors of Thallerion, help them succeed in this mission. Grant strength and resilience to the non-awakened who are willing to sacrifice their lives just to earn $ORN. But please, cleanse the heart of the Sovereign. They are the reason Thallerion is bound in chains, affecting the citizens with tax deductions," she prayed. "Please, defy this Sovereign because they are making piggy banks out of what they call our 'safety'."
With every word, her knees trembled, and her weary palms were soaked with fresh tears. Her prayer was like music in the quiet altar. "Oh, holy Crux..." she pressed her hands together even tighter. "Hear my plea—for my people, for my nation, and for my race. Thallerion is slowly losing its ability to awaken power, yet no one defends us. Please, we need our Guardian entity. Amen."
A deafening silence followed her prayer. However, during her fervent prayer, the flames of the candles suddenly bowed. The incense smoke swirled in the air like a storm occurring inside the cathedral. In an instant, a circle of light floated, and lightning crawled across the walls.
The young woman felt a gentle, sacred warmth in the area, as if the noise of the energy was calling her name. She opened her eyes, and a blinding, star-like object appeared, accompanied by a rhythmic sound like an angry hornet. In the blink of an eye, it fell like a meteorite before her, and the shadow of a creature grew. A shirtless man.
"Who are you?" Xurien's eyes widened, her blood seemingly freezing. "Identify yourself, stranger." Her voice trembled and went hoarse, and her hair stood on end when the noise outside suddenly stopped. She glanced at her watch and, miraculously, it stopped moving. "What is happening? Why did my watch stop?" She was terrified. The smell of incense vanished, replaced by the man's fragrant aura; a scent of onyx and lotus as sweet as old wood. "That scent. It's like the traditional perfume of Thallerion. Is he a..."
The young woman's angelic face turned rose-colored, as if blooming in the sun. Pure sweat dripped down her face. She saw a muscular man emerge from the light. She saw the perfect form of a warrior's body, his abs rock-hard. But suddenly, clothing grew on him, wrapped in armor, like sand turning into steel. He stood like a king of glory.
"I can't believe it. Am I really witnessing a god?" The girl's voice strained with nerves, like a frightened rabbit.
With every step the man took, the room seemed to shrink as five crystal spheres—representing fire, water, electricity, earth, and light—bowed before him. They orbited him like loyal planets.
Next, the five spheres became a belt of bolts around his waist. The stranger's aura surged, accompanied by a wave of air that rippled through the room.
"This man is truly powerful!" Xurien gasped. Her nose bled as she was hit by the wave of his aura, which felt like breathing lightning. "My vision cannot go blurry."
Xurien forced herself to look at the man's muscular frame. She first noticed the silk that seemed to be woven from the galaxy. In every corner of the golden armor, diamond reliefs sparkled, while a cape hung behind him—not made of fabric, but of the aquamarine energy of the galaxy, adorned with gold and silver at the edges.
"Is he like a god of war?" Floating daggers of various blade shapes danced around him. His diadem shone like a newborn sun.
The pillars in the cathedral cracked, and even the dust in the air stopped, as if the atmosphere had frozen. The young woman had only one guess: "Wait, is he a Constellar-king?"
From her amazement at the transformation of the heavenly armor, she raised her gaze, following the movement of his face, and there, she witnessed glowing eyes as deep as the cosmos. However, her spirit was overwhelmed by his power. She quickly bowed in fear. Her cold hands trembled painfully, and for the first time, she prostrated herself on the floor. Her tears poured out before the man, like a slave begging for a final chance. "Forgive me, I did not mean to look at your face."