📜: The opening of the largest Rift from Hell ever, and hope amidst despair.
June 17, 2005, Shinjuku, Japan.
"The day Hell opened its gates. The day the skies of Shinjuku turned red. A terrifying, unforgettable sight—like Hell descended upon Earth."
On June 17, 2005, a massive crack appeared in the middle of Shinjuku, swallowing buildings and roads, even tearing apart the boundary between the human world and the demon world Underworld.
This event later became known as "The Colossal Rift"—the largest Rift ever recorded in human history.
The Rift yawned wide. From its depths, waves of demons emerged, destroying everything in their path. In less than an hour, Shinjuku became a city of fire, destruction, and death. Thousands of lives were lost. The sky was covered in fire and blood.
The government was overwhelmed, the city's defenses collapsed, and their mages couldn't do much. Shinjuku was slowly consumed by the demon waves. Japan was gripped by fear—they could only wait for the demons to come. This was no longer a normal threat. The Colossal Rift was a global threat. The whole world turned its eyes to Shinjuku.
But the world did not stay silent. Every country sent their strongest mages to help.
The whole world united—for the survival of humankind.
The counterattack managed to turn the tide, pushing back the demons.
A glimmer of hope appeared. But…
After some time, as all the demons seemed to have come out of the Rift, the mages let out a breath of relief. But—
The ground suddenly shook.
From the deepest depth of the crack, something even the demons dared not approach… moved.
"THUMP—!"
A tremor shook the earth. A giant hand slowly emerged from the Rift, reaching the edge of the cliff.
The earth quaked with every hand that gripped the ledge. Bit by bit, the creature revealed its body.
The ground shook as the creature set foot on solid ground.
Something never seen before. A terrifying magical aura.
Its presence alone made the entire mage army tremble. Their eyes widened, faces filled with immense fear.
The creature stood towering, taller than the surrounding buildings. Two black horns protruded from its temples. Its red eyes pierced through the dense mist. Its skin was like cracked magma rock, glowing with fire in its crevices. Every movement made the ground tremble.
Its four gigantic arms loomed like they were carved from heated stone, glowing with fiery cracks. Its two upper arms stretched wide, palms facing the sky—as if cursing the heavens or seeking strength from Hell.
The lower two arms floated stably in front of its chest, fingers forming gestures like chanting an ancient incantation.
[SFX :"GHRRRAAAUUUUHHHHH—!!!"]
The ground shook.
The sky flashed red and purple.
Shockwaves swept the city, shattering glass across thousands of buildings.
Legendary Creature: Ancient Demon—the demon who once nearly destroyed human civilization.
The creature gathered energy between its two horns. Then…
[SFX : SWUMBB…]
One attack wiped out an entire battalion. Buildings exploded, the ground split, the air filled with bursts of light. With just one blow, it annihilated an elite battalion of Arcadium mages and even world-class magicians.
The world began to lose hope.
There was no one left to stop the creature.
There was no hope left.
But in the midst of despair…
A white-haired silhouette stood on a rooftop, clothes tattered. Half of his face hidden by his hair, eyes fixed on the Ancient Demon.
Caelis Zephyrael.
A 17-year-old teenager. A young mage from Japan.
Known as the user of Zephyr Magic, the magic of manipulating pure mana, and the bearer of the gifted eye, Astra.
The Ancient Demon and Caelis stared at each other. The Ancient Demon began the first attack, gathering magical energy between its horns. Then—
[SFX : SWUBBMP…]
The attack obliterated everything. Nothing was left but destruction.
And just when the Ancient Demon thought it was over, suddenly…
Caelis was already above, ready to strike.
The sky filled with thousands of bluish-green light blades aimed at the Ancient Demon—"Zephyr Magic: Blade Storm." Caelis's attack.
The Ancient Demon defended with an energy shield, absorbing part of the attack and reflecting it.
Caelis swiftly dodged them all…
[SFX 🔊: SRANKKK]
Then the Zephyr sword once embedded in the ground transformed into binding chains—"Zephyr Magic: Binding Blades."
The Ancient Demon struggled violently, then began to gather magical energy.
Caelis, already above the creature, eyes calm, magic surging into his hand.
Silence… only the sound of magic compressing could be heard.
[SFX 🔊: "ZSHHHH"]
Caelis released a powerful burst of magic energy, destroying the ground and buildings around them. A blue glow illuminated all of Shinjuku. The demon slowly disintegrated and exploded.
The demon's skull flew, crashing into rubble, creating a massive shockwave.
Then slowly, the purple energy connecting the Underworld and the upper world began to dim, and the Rift gradually closed.
–The Colossal Rift– completely sealed.
Since that day, CaelisZephyrael was declared the strongest mage in the world. Not only by Japan but by all of Arcadium.
Some called him:
"Hope in the chaos of the world."
"The Child Loved by Mana."
"Bearer of the Sky Sword."
But in Arcadium's official history, he was recorded as one thing:
📚 The battlefield image freezes — camera slowly zooms out — showing Lucien's small hand holding an old black book with a faded Arcadium emblem.
LUCIEN V.O
(faint voice, reading the book's final line in awe):
"The Hero of the World."
---
"10 YEARS AFTER THAT INCIDENT"
[EXT. NAGAMI VILLAGE – UNDER AN OLD TREE – JULY 21, 2015 – SUNSET]
The sky painted with golden orange. Leaves gently rustled in the summer breeze. The last birds flew across the sky. The camera slowly zooms on Lucien's small hand closing the worn black book with the faded Arcadium emblem.
NOAH
(with wide-eyed admiration under the sunset light)
"Wow… he was amazing…"
LUCIEN
(small smile. His gaze distant, as if looking toward the future)
"Yeah. I'll be like him someday… saving and protecting everyone."
NOAH
(nods quickly with excitement, leaning slightly toward Lucien, eyes turning to the children playing by the church)
"Then I will too! When my magic awakens, I'll be even stronger than Caelis!"
Suddenly, quick footsteps were heard through the grass. The camera pans through the trees. Haru approached them, curious.
HARU
(wiping sweat, face curious)
"Hey, what are you two reading, Noah, Luci? Sounds interesting."
NOAH
(quickly hiding the book behind his back, a little panicked but smiling mischievously)
"Oh, it's nothing…"
HARU
(squints suspiciously, then turns to Lucien)
"Come on… Luci, read it to me, please."
LUCIEN
(small smile, then turns toward the church glowing red-gold from the sunset through its stained glass)
"Ah..., I want to, but it's getting late, Haru. Sister must be waiting for us."
Noah and Lucien giggle as Haru pouts. The camera slowly pulls back, showing the three of them running toward the church. Sunset light warmly glows on their hair.
Sister waves at them from the church. Little Sena beside her lifts a basket of bread.
The camera pans down to the now-empty bench. The old book remains, opened. A gentle breeze flips one page, revealing an illustration of Caelis standing over the ruins of Shinjuku.
Fade out with soft church bells ringing from a distance…
[END OF CHAPTER 1]