High-pitched voices echoed in his head. Aron was drenched in sweat, panicked, breathing heavily.
He finally woke up his breaths still rapid, his heart pounding. The world looked beautiful, yet different.
Aron found himself in a strange but mesmerizing place. He stood up, the soft wind brushing through his hair. Slowly, he calmed his breathing. His eyes wandered to the seashore, where gentle waves pulled back and forth. For a fleeting moment, he felt alive in this vast world.
But then
A strange voice.
"Wake up!"
Aron panicked. The world shifted. Now there was a cliff… and then it changed again, like fragments of memories flashing before him. Suddenly, he stood before the graves of his parents.
He gasped.
And woke up.
He was lying on a cold stone. The sunlight burned against his skin. Slowly, he stood up, piecing together what had just happened. He raised his hand, staring at it.
Why were those memories shown to me?
A sharp pain ran through his shoulder. Though it had been tended to, it was still injured still days away from fully healing.
He realized he needed to head toward Wingman City. With that thought, he began moving outside.
The world was silent.
As he stepped out, the bright sun hit his eyes, forcing him to shield them with his hand. But then he saw something strange. A child… no, an evil presence.
Suddenly, a sword slashed his hand. Blood poured, soaking the ground. Aron trembled in pain.
"Ahh!"
Before he could react, his legs were cut. He couldn't see who was attacking it was too fast. And then, in one swift motion, his neck was sliced.
The world went black.
Aron: "Ahhhh!"
He shouted loudly, jolting awake from his sleep.
Panicked breaths. Sweat dripping. Heavy breathing again and again.
Kron: "It's okay, kid. It was just a dream. A dream I gave you to wake you up."
Aron: "Where… where am I? And what kind of dream was that?"
Kron: "You've been sleeping since yesterday. I was starting to get worried."
Aron: "Really? What the hell is wrong with me…" he muttered, yawning.
Kron: "You're tired. You need rest. Suddenly, you got angry, and the blade reacted… so brightly."
But before Kron could finish his words, a strange voice whispered one only they could hear.
Danger.
A distant tremor. Something was coming toward them.
It was a sudden alarm.
Ray, lying in the grass outside, felt the same sharp presence. His instincts kicked in—he rushed toward Aron and Master Kron.
Kron: "Aron! Quickly, pack your things. We need to leave now!"
A low rumble followed. Tremors shook the ground. Outside, the spirit animals clashed with dark soldiers. They had come for one purpose
To find the successor.
And behind them… walked a man.
Lyoth.
His presence turned the air cold. The chilling scent of death and darkness rised slowly towards them.
Ray stormed into the cave, panting.
"Master! They've attacked! What do we do?"
Kron: "So it's true… The dark soldiers are here because earlier… Aron activated the sword. That flash of anger revealed its location."
Ray: "Master… they've brought their leader. Lyoth. He's outside. We need to get Aron out before it's too late. If he falls, our hope dies with the blade!"
Kron paused. His gaze hardened.
Kron: "Listen carefully, Ray. Stay with Aron. If something happens to me… take him to Wingman City. Be his spirit animal. Protect him at all costs, my son."
Ray's eyes widened, but Kron didn't wait for an answer.
He stepped outside the cave.
The dark soldiers charged one by one. But Kron was powerful. A true spirit animal. With a single word, bolts of lightning erupted, disintegrating soldiers instantly.
But then
A voice. Calm. Cold.
"Stop."
Lyoth.
His body burned with black fire as he slowly approached. Wherever he stepped, trees withered into ash. The air turned heavy with death.
Lyoth: "It's been a while, spirit animal. I heard you have something that belongs to me. I won't make this long. Hand it over, and I might spare you. Refuse… and beg for your death."
Kron: "Even if we give you the blade, we'll die anyway. But now… in this world, hope still exists. And we will never let you destroy it."
Inside the cave, Ray and Aron peered through a small hole, watching the confrontation in silence.
"Hope is such a fragile thing…", said Lyoth
Lyoth: "Then I guess it's time to erase your pathetic spirituality forever.", points his daggers towards Kron.
Lyoth charged, twin daggers in hand. His speed was inhuman. Kron dodged again and again, but every slash cut through trees as if they were paper.
Aron and Ray climbed out of the cave to see the battle unfold.
Kron sensed the danger rising and quickly used Bind, blinding his opponent with spiritual energy. Then he unleashed Light Ropes and summoned Spirit Fire a roaring blaze of pure soul energy.
The sky cracked with a deafening sound.
Smoke filled the air. Kron thought he had ended Lyoth.
But when the smoke cleared
Death.
Lyoth stood unharmed. In one blur of motion, he slashed through Kron and stabbed him, ending him.
Aron froze. Ray stared in shock.
Aron: "Damn you!"
He leapt from the cave, rage consuming him.
Ray: "Stop, Aron! Even our master couldn't defeat him. What can you do? You're our only hope now!"
Aron clenched his fists, shaking.
Ray: "If you fall here, everything ends. We must leave! I'll help you. But if you die now, the blade dies with you!"
From behind them
"Not so fast, kid."
A dark soldier.
Aron's rage ignited.
Aron: "Die!"
The blade reacted violently, unleashing a devastating force that obliterated the soldiers instantly, collapsing the entire cave.
The power was so immense that birds from miles away scattered into the sky.
Ray: "Quickly! Get on my back!"
Aron climbed onto Ray, who transformed into his true spirit form and sprinted at full speed, fleeing the destroyed cave—heading anywhere but here.