ELYSION—05:00 PM
The mist constricted into a lethal cube. Its walls pulsed with violet electricity, lightning crackling across the ceiling like a raging dragon trapped in a cage.
One Tartarus creature threw a pebble, testing the madness within.
ZZZRAAKK—!
Lightning spontaneously struck the stone—leaving behind sulfur-smelling ash before it even touched the ground.
Inside the mystical prison, the three demon generals formed a triangular formation. Their hellfire eyes blazed in terrifying synchronization.
Zephiron shot forward first—his feet leaving trails of fire in the mist. His twin blades spun, creating a crosshatch of black light, slicing the space into eight segments at once.
"Feel this pain. ASSASSIN!"
Every creature must taste the suffering they deserve... "AND YOU WILL NOT STOP US!"
Ken took a deep breath, and the mist responded—
his body floated vertically like a leaf blown by the wind—
Ssst... Ssst...
The hellish blades passed mere inches from his robes.
As they closed in—
Ken's palm pushed against the air.
WHOOSH!
A wave of thick mist slammed into Zephiron—
hurling him against the lightning wall enclosing them.
SSSZZ!
The smell of charred flesh filled the entire area.
CHAIN ATTACK. IRON TRAP—
Nekron, who had been waiting, swung his greatsword.
Breath-Stealer struck low—
a cursed slash aimed precisely at the gap beneath the ribs—
targeting Ken's unarmored weak point.
Ken drew the dagger at his waist—
KLING!
The small metal blade held back Nekron's giant black sword.
The vibration shot straight into the bones of Ken's arm—
too powerful...
"Die, you bastard! Vanish along with the humans you defend!"
Belial seized his greatest moment yet.
His iron claws clamped down—
KRRRCH!
—gripping Ken's hood and head.
"FRESH CATCH!"
But...
The mist in his grasp scattered.
The real Ken emerged behind the demon—
his slender sword whispering toward the spinal cord,
ready to do the unthinkable.
Nekron pivoted before Ken's blade could connect.
Breath-Stealer sliced through the air—
SWOOOSH!
—cleaving the mist into two layers.
KLAAAAAANG—!
The intense clash of blades created a ring of fire—
pinning Ken in place—
his knees trembling under the mounting weight of hell's force.
Zephiron rose, black blood dripping from the burns on his back.
He charged like an abyss unleashed—
his twin-blade swing aimed straight at Ken's back.
"NOW... DIE!"
Ken mustered his remaining strength.
His foot stomped the earth—
CRUNCH!
The ground cracked—
with a brutal downward thrust,
Breath-Stealer was driven knee-deep into the soil.
Pivoting 180 degrees,
Ken's slender sword swept upward—
a perfect parry—
Zephiron's twin blades were sent flying toward the misty ceiling.
Zephiron's snarl choked into a gasp of pure, unadulterated shock. His hellfire eyes widened as his twin blades were violently parried, the impact reverberating up his arms like a seismic insult.
"DAMN YOU, YOU BASTARD—!?"
His voice wasn't just anger—it was sheer, disbelieving fury. How could a mortal—a shadow—deflect a strike meant to sever his very soul? The arrogance, the audacity of it echoed through the mist-choked cube, a testament to Ken's terrifying skill.
From the peak of Sunspire Tower, King Gaius watched the battle beyond the gates, his breath caught in his throat. Every move Ken made to dodge, every strike that barely missed his friend's body, felt like blades slowly tearing his own soul apart.
"Danteus," he whispered, his voice rough with anxiety burning deep in his throat. "He needs us down there!"
Danteus didn't answer right away. His eyes stayed locked on the battlefield, where Ken had just spun away from Nekron's deadly Breath-Stealer in a move that seemed almost impossible. "Hold on, Gaius," he said, his voice calm but full of authority. "Let Ken do what he does best. He asked for this himself."
In Danteus's mind, Ken's voice echoed again—from the night before the battle, when the assassin came to him in the gardens, wounded but determined:
"Don't send a single soldier until i give the signal..." Ken had stood there, his shape blending into the shadows, his voice steady but fierce. Let them focus on me. Let them think I'm alone. This time... I'll make sure no one gets hurt because of my mistakes again."
Gaius let out a heavy sigh, his fingers gripping his sword hilt so tight they trembled. Worry poured from his eyes—eyes that were usually so sure, so strong. Staring at Ken now, he was pulled back through time—hundreds of years back…
Back then—when they were too young to understand how cruel the world could be, but old enough to form a bond that would never break.
Little Gaius's eyes were wide, shining with that special light only children have when they see magic for the first time. Ken, brimming with the confidence only kids truly own, held Gaius's hand tightly as he led him through a secret tunnel under the Elysian woods. They'd just been swimming in the river, water still dripping from their soaked hair, and now a new adventure was beginning—one only the brave dared to step into.
"Right here," Ken whispered, his voice buzzing with excitement as he pushed aside bushes hiding a stone door carved with ancient runes that glowed with soft magic. "The secret path to the portal of Viman'pura. Dad says only those with pure heart can cross."
The moment they stepped through the gateway, the world around them shifted. Little Gaius was mesmerized by the hidden city behind a giant waterfall that sparkled like countless pearls falling from the sky. Stone buildings didn't just rise high—they floated gracefully in the air, connected by crystal bridges reflecting rainbow light. Though at first Gaius would flinch at the thunder roaring across Viman'Pura's skies—a sound both powerful and calming, like a lullaby from the universe itself—he soon saw it as part of this place's beauty. All around, assassins moved like unseen wind between shadows, while kids their age practiced deadly moves with wooden knives, faces serious but full of fire.
Ken's parents, Meira and Kael, welcomed them with the warmth of morning sunlight. Meira, with a smile soft enough to melt the coldest heart, gently ruffled Gaius's hair.
"So you're Ken's friend?" she asked, her green eyes glowing like emeralds in the light.
Gaius just nodded shyly, lost for words in front of Meira's grace and the grandeur around him.
"He's the prince of Elysion, Mom!" Ken announced proudly, as if introducing his greatest treasure.
Kael laughed, his voice echoing like friendly thunder, then easily lifted Gaius onto his shoulders.
"Here, you're not a prince. Here, you're family. And family doesn't need crowns or thrones to protect each other."
Their bond with Liora's family grew naturally. Liora's great-grandmother, Elyra, often met them at the edge of the forest with an explorer's basket full of food.
"The two heroes have arrived!" she'd greet them, arms wide open. "Come, into your big sister's embrace. There's warm blueberry pie and stories waiting under the stars!"
...They often slept on the porch of Elyra's cottage, gazing up at the stars as she told tales of ancient constellations and fates written in starlight. Little Gaius never grew tired of hearing about the Guardian Constellation—a cluster of stars said to protect Elysion from the darkness.
"Hmm... Look there, my little explorers," Elyra said one night, her voice as soft as the wind brushing through leaves in the dark. Her gentle hand pointed toward a formation of stars that took the shape of a great warrior holding a shield made of pure light. "That is the Constellation of Eternal Guardian. Legend says they were the first keepers who descended from heavens when the greatest shadow threatened every realm. Every star constellation is the soul of a hero who sacrificed themselves for something greater."
Moonlight fell across Elyra's face, making her look like a goddess stepped out of an ancient tale. Her silver hair shimmered like a river of starlight, and her crystal-clear eyes held the wisdom of millennia. Ken, who usually fell asleep during star stories, listened intently this time, his eyes wide and fixed on the sky.
"Will the stars come alone, Sister?" he asked, his small voice brimming with curiosity.
Elyra smiled—a smile that held the secrets of the universe. "Sometimes... The stars come in forms we don't expect. They may emerge from the darkest places, the deepest shadows, or even from among us—ordinary people with the heart of a hero."
"Then... One day I'll become one of them!" Ken declared, full of fire, his little fists punching the air with burning resolve. His eyes shine like two newborn stars. "I'll be the greatest stars! I'll protect the whole universe!"
Elyra looked at him with deep affection, but also with a touch of sadness only those who've witnessed too many turns of time can understand. "That, you cannot, my dear..." she whispered softly, her hand gently smoothing Ken's messy hair.
"Why not?" Ken protested, his voice tinged with frustration and disappointment. His beautiful fantasy collapsed like a sandcastle washed away by waves.
"Because..." Elyra drew both boys closer. "Their purpose is different from ours. They weremade to guard the balance of the cosmos—something far greater than all of us. But we, my little heroes... have a duty just as noble, to protect this earth, to care every precious life, and to guard all that we love from darkness."
She gently booped Ken's nose—a gesture she'd repeated for generations. "But that doesn't mean you'll never meet them. Perhaps a time will come when Ken the assassin and Prince Gaius will stand beside the star guardians, see their idols in person, and fight alongside them in the greatest battle of all."
Though they didn't fully understand her words, their pure hearts felt the truth in them. Like seeds planted in fertile soil, those words would grow within their souls, guiding them toward the destiny written in the stars.
"Even if we can't be like them... at least we have sister Elyra and her warm hugs!" Little Gaius suddenly leaped into Elyra's lap, hugging her tightly as if afraid the warmth would fade. Ken, also craving that hug, instantly grew jealous and tried to squeeze in from the other side.
"Gaius... Move over..." Ken whined, but Gaius stayed put, hugging even tighter, a mischievous glint in his eyes aimed at his friend.
Elyra laughed, her voice like the chime of silver bells in the quiet night. With gentle but firm strength, she pulled Ken into her embrace, pressing the two boys together in her warm hold. "There's no need to fight, my dears... My arms are wide enough for both of you, just as sky holds room for every star."
Slowly, their irritation melted away like frost touched by the morning sun. The warmth of Elyra's embrace was more than physical—it was something deeper, like the first light touching the world after a long night, like music that heals unseen wounds. Under a sky shimmering with stars, wrapped in an embrace that felt like home, they understood something beyond words, that in a world full of brutal battles and lurking darkness, it's moments like these that make everything worth fighting for. Warm hugs, honest laughter, and love without conditions.
And somewhere among the stars, the Constellation of the Eternal Guardian smiled down upon them, knowing new seeds of guardians had begun to grow on Earth—not in the sky, but in the hearts of two little boys who would one day change the fate of the world.
The weeks that followed became the most beautiful adventure of Gaius's life. Ken taught him how to move in silence—how to step without rustling leaves, how to breathe without disturbing the night's stillness. He also learned to read the language of shadows—the art of understanding messages hidden in the dance of light and darkness, and most importantly—how to see the unseen, recognizing hidden intentions, sensing danger before it emerged, and uncovering truth behind illusion.
One night, under a full moon hanging like a silver lantern in the sky, Ken's father took them to the Garden of Shadows—a place where flowers bloomed in moonlight and trees whispered ancient secrets.
"Listen, children," Kael said, his voice low with wisdom. "This world is full of hidden things... But remember, not everything hidden is dangerous. Sometimes, what's hidden protects. Like Viman'pura, concealed from the world's eyes... Like feelings you keep buried in your hearts. Like you—two little heroes who will one day become a guardian of light."
Gaius didn't fully understand Kael's words then, but like seeds planted in fertile soil, those words etched themselves into his soul, waiting for the right moment to sprout and grow.
And when they reached their teenage years, Ken and Gaius swore an oath beneath Viman'Pura's waterfall, amidst the roar that had become an eternal melody—a sound uniting heaven and earth, reminding them of a power greater than themselves.
"I swear to always protect!" Ken shouted, hands raised toward the sky as if reaching for the witnessing stars.
"I swear to never abandon!" Gaius echoed, eyes blazing with determination.
"I swear to be brothers though blood may differ!" they declared together, their voices merging with the waterfall's thunder, creating a symphony of loyalty that would echo through the ages.
The moment snapped back to the watchtower. Gaius felt the vibration of their oath in his chest, as powerful as the unending roar of Viman'Pura's falls. Liora, noticing the tension in his face, approached and wordlessly pulled him into a tight embrace.
"He remember his oath, Uncle," Liora whispered, her voice soft yet firm like dew soothing parched earth. "He always remember. And he knows you remember too..."
Gaius returned the embrace, his hands—usually so steady holding a sword—now trembling as they held Liora's shoulders. Tears he'd held back for so long finally fell, soaking into his simple royal robes, each drop carrying the weight of longing for simpler times.
"He always... always tries to protect everyone alone."
Liora's embrace reminded everyone of the bonds that united them—not just as allies, but as family. Blood might not flow the same in their veins, but their souls were tied tighter than any blood bond—woven through childhood laughter, strengthened by vows beneath waterfalls, and tempered by the storms of war.
And in Liora's arms, behind his steadfast face as a king, Gaius whispered in his heart with burning conviction, remembering when they were just children who knew no fear:
"Come on buddy... You can do it! You taught me how to see the unseen. Now look—we're behind you!"
Meanwhile outside, Ken continued dancing between sword strokes and bursts of fire, a musician playing his violin amidst the fury of three demon generals who wouldn't hesitate to kill him—every move a note in a symphony of resistance, every dodge a melody mocking death. He stood firm in his promise to protect them all, just like the oath they swore beneath Viman'Pura's waterfall, when the world was still simple, when they were too young to understand how the world worked, but old enough to understand the meaning of true loyalty.
And somewhere between shadow and light, the oath of two friends lived on, reminding them that even in the darkest hours, bonds forged in love and loyalty would always be the light guiding them home.
Belial screamed in agony
as his wounded hand clawed into the mist for the umpteenth time.
SSST! KRCH!
His flesh tore—
purple electricity tortured his nerves—
yet he kept pulling. The mist parted just enough—
opening a line of sight to strike.
Nekron emerged like a ghost—
HIS MASSIVE FIST SMASHED INTO KEN'S STOMACH
THOOMP—!
The sound of cracking ribs echoed.
Ken's body bent double—
the mark of a hellish fist glowing on his abdomen—his sword clattering to the ground.
Zephiron and Belial lunged from both sides.
Demonic fingers reaching for Ken's head.
But…
Ken's slender sword lifted into the air untouched,
spinning. Slashing—
two demon hands severed at the wrist. Zephiron roared in pain as his hands fell to the earth.
Black blood gushed from his arms like broken pipes.
Yet… Nekron's momentum wasn't spent.
His flaming foot slammed into Ken's head.
KRAAAAAAK—!
Ken shot backward like an arrow without a bow.
Beneath the hood—a faint smile bloomed amidst the blood trickling from his lips, etched across his pale face.
"Ahh... The howl of wind between thunder's rhythm..."
His breath was bloody, but his whisper was clear as prayer.
"How I've missed it... My loving parents. My sister with his warm hug. My annoying brother. And my home...Viman'pura."
Wind swept through his hair as though answering.
"I hope... I can return..."
KRAAAAAANG—!!
Ken's body slammed against Elysion's gate with devastating force.
The sacred metal dented—cracked like glass—
and in the center of the wreckage, a human-shaped silhouette was imprinted…
A mark of victory born from sacrifice.
An assassin who gave everything for the innocent.