Four hours ago.
The city of Kresa, once a thriving metropolis, now lay in ruins. Skyscrapers, once symbols of human achievement, now stood as hollow reminders of past glory, their jagged skeletons jutting out into the dark, purple-tinged sky. The Seven Star Knights, beings of immense power, had brought this chaos to the world.
A beam of red energy struck the chest of the slender blue knight, Erlixius, while he remained in his ethereal state. It disrupted the chain of events that had entrapped the boy, Ulah, allowing him a momentary reprieve. Axar, the red-robed mage, now held Erlixius's undivided attention, a feat few had ever achieved. A sinister presence, an otherworldly entity, inhabited the knight's armor. There was no human within, just a malevolent force, a being that lived for its own purpose.
"I've been here before, Erlixius," Axar spoke, his voice trembling but determined.
"Axar," the knight responded in the same hollow voice as the entity within. The words resonated with a ghostly echo, distorted by the layers of steel and dark energy that encased him.
Axar held his left arm aloft, while his right arm struggled to regain its strength. Crimson lightning flickered in his left palm, crackling with the intensity of a gathering storm. He lifted his hand, aiming it directly at Erlixius. The knight approached slowly, his intent clear. A close-range attack was Axar's best chance to overpower him.
Just as Axar's hand touched the knight's armored form, it passed through Erlixius as if he were nothing but an illusion. Axar's eyes widened, and he took a step back. He realized that the knight had never been there. It was merely a mirage, a trap set by Erlixius to disorient his foe.
Axar's understanding of the Seven Star Knights' abilities was incomplete. They were an enigmatic and unstoppable force. The mage scanned his surroundings, his eyes darting in every direction, searching for the elusive knight. Erlixius had faded from his immediate vicinity, a predator lurking in the shadows.
He had barely begun to process the situation when a new contender entered the fray. This knight was different, not the towering figure of Erlixius but a sleeker, more agile warrior. She stood at approximately seven feet tall, her armor emphasizing her graceful, almost seductive curves. Her body, sculpted with divine precision, captivated all who laid eyes upon her.
Axar dashed towards the boy, Ulah, who lay unconscious, his staff discarded on the ground. But before he could reach his fallen comrade, an unseen force gripped him. In an instant, he was propelled backward with unparalleled speed, soaring past buildings that shattered like fragile glass. He traversed a path of destruction, the shockwaves of his flight resounding through the city.
The relentless force showed no sign of mercy, an annoyance etched upon Axar's face as he hurtled uncontrollably. Building after building loomed before him, threatening to become the instruments of his demise. He teetered on the brink of despair, knowing that he must seize this moment to survive.
His determination crystalized into action. Axar extended his left hand, clenching it into a tight fist, his palm radiating red lightning, a tempest in miniature. The air ignited around him as he braced for impact, calculating his last-ditch gambit.
In a climactic moment, he collided with the stone wall that bordered the city's outskirts. His body transformed into a blazing comet, an inferno of molten energy that bore down upon the unyielding barrier. His robe, once crimson, morphed into ash-black, disintegrating under the intense heat, revealing his form beneath, a matchstick ablaze.
The impact shattered the wall, sending shards of stone in all directions. A crater formed from the sheer force of the collision. Time seemed to stand still as dust and debris filled the air. The red mage had placed everything on this final gambit, a calculated risk for his survival.
Back in the city's heart, Erlixius surveyed the scene. "I took care of him since you were struggling," declared another voice, the words delivered by a youthful yet oddly confident speaker. It was Liu, a member of the Seven Star Knights whom the group regarded with disdain. Past conflicts and bitter rivalries had left them divided, hostility simmering beneath the surface.
Erlixius regarded Liu with a displeased scowl, a hint of anger hidden behind the armor that masked his face. "You should have acted more swiftly, finishing him quickly. I'll never comprehend the creature concealed within your mask. No one wishes to witness such a monstrosity."
Liu, his platinum-blonde hair cascading with a casual twirl, removed his helmet, revealing his piercing blue eyes, their gaze penetrating like a window to the soul. A touch of femininity clung to his movements, causing observers to question his true nature. The Seven Star Knights were not a united brotherhood; they were a group of individuals bound by duty rather than camaraderie.
"You're such a bore to work with, Erlixius," Liu taunted, an arrogant smirk adorning his face. He made a show of waving his hair, the embodiment of ostentation. "I'm going back up. You can deal with them on your own."
The group's animosity for Liu was no secret. It was not just his inflated ego that incited their displeasure but his penchant for solemnity during their missions. He had experienced much and had grown weary of it all. There was nothing that could quench his thirst for excitement anymore.
Erlixius vehemently objected, "Don't interfere. They're mine."
An exasperated sigh escaped Liu as he descended gracefully to the ground, evoking a sense of a superhero greeting adoring fans. His eyes bore a deep, penetrating blue, as if he could see into the depths of one's soul. His androgynous appearance concealed a history of overwhelming power, and a reputation for domination from his time as a mage student to his ascension into the Seven Star Knights. While the others had taken time to reach their positions, he had done so with alacrity, a fact that did not elude his comrades. Yet, his arrogance and lack of humility left them cold, sapping the energy from the group whenever he entered the scene.
"You should have been quicker, and he would be no more," Liu criticized, his voice dripping with curiosity and thinly veiled contempt for the situation.
Saphir, a knight who differed from the rest in both appearance and temperament, interjected. "He's unconscious. Perhaps he can lead us to more relics, the twelve others."
Liu's eyes burned with discontent. He was eager to eliminate the threat rather than indulge in her quest for knowledge. "Let's kill him now. What's the delay?"
"We need answers," Saphir insisted, "He's not from this world, but how he obtained this relic is a mystery."
Their conversation ceased abruptly, as their focus shifted to the unconscious boy on the ground, and an overarching question lingered, "Who was this enigmatic traveler, and what power did he possess?"
However,
a sudden, unexpected event shattered their pondering. The boy's staff, a mysterious and powerful artifact that had been the center of attention, vanished without a trace, leaving the Knights baffled.
Saphir, her silver hair cascading in ringlets and her eyes of the same bright silver hue, appeared puzzled as she searched for the staff. Her features appeared youthful, despite her true age being far greater than her appearance suggested. Her once pale complexion stood in stark contrast to her lips, drained of color. It was her duty to keep the boy alive, as he held the potential to lead them to an unprecedented treasure.
Liu's blue eyes remained fixed on the boy and his elusive staff, his curiosity undiminished. "Could it be a decoy?" he speculated, drawing them into his intrigue. However, their discourse was disrupted by an unexpected force.
An intense wave of heat approached, leaving no time for their reactions. A bright ball of pure energy collided with Saphir, propelling her several feet backward. Smoke enveloped the cracked asphalt, the shockwave obliterating anything in its path.
Saphir quickly regained her footing and ascended with a renewed sense of urgency. She collected her helmet from the ground and dashed toward the smoky aftermath, determined to ensure the boy's safety.
A sudden attack from above targeted Saphir. In a desperate bid to protect herself and the unconscious boy, she summoned a vivid purple shield that encased them both. The impending impact was unavoidable, and the shield's energy shattered into a million fragments, dissipating into nothingness.
Battered and bruised, she clung to the boy, understanding the dire importance of keeping him alive. He possessed the potential to unlock a treasure that had lured the Seven Star Knights for ages.
But before she could act, an unseen assailant struck her from behind, unleashing a brilliant bolt of green lightning that disrupted her teleportation. She fell backward, wracked with pain, her determination unwavering. She had to protect the boy, even at the cost of her own safety.
Saphir, lying on her side, moved cautiously away from the boy to avoid another attack. She understood that a second blow to her back would be crippling. With both hands on the uneven ground, she pushed herself upright, her body protesting every movement. The harsh, jagged edges of her armor had provided some protection, but the pain was relentless.
An adversary awaited her, lurking in the shadows. A green mage emerged with outstretched hands, poised to strike once more. Saphir couldn't risk another attack to her back; one more assault would be her undoing.
Summoning every ounce of strength, she summoned a shimmering energy shield, its integrity compromised from the previous attack. It barely covered her, but it was her only defense against the impending threat.
The green mage approached, his movements unpredictable, a blur of speed and aggression. He closed the gap in an instant, his clenched fists charged with red lightning. The shield held, its energy depleting rapidly, but it was a feeble defense against his overwhelming power.
Saphir knew her time was running out. Her eyes, hidden behind her helmet, betrayed the fear and frustration she felt. She had always been considered the weakest among the Seven Star Knights, and in moments like this, she felt every ounce of her vulnerability.
Desperation etched into her face, Saphir took a few backward steps, struggling to maintain her precarious defense. She needed an opportunity, a chance to strike back and turn the tide of the battle. The magus's relentless advance left her little room to maneuver, her shield teetering on the brink of collapse.
As the green mage lunged forward, a bright ball of pure energy materialized in his hands, its luminous sparks transitioning from red to hot pink before erupting into blinding white brilliance. He leaped into the air, poised to deliver a devastating ground slam upon Saphir, who stood frozen before the oncoming onslaught.
The situation seemed hopeless. She had always felt like the weakest link among the Seven Star Knights, and this moment crystallized her insecurities. She was filled with regret, haunted by questions about her true identity and her purpose in the group. She begged for salvation, a miracle that might save her from her impending doom.
A surge of overwhelming energy coursed through her body, a desperate plea for survival. Saphir lifted her hand, palm outstretched, in a futile attempt to block the incoming devastation. She watched as the searing energy drew closer, her thoughts racing. Her inner turmoil begged for redemption and a chance to prove herself. "I'm not the villain. Please, believe me."
The astral shield did not shatter under the assault but instead vanished in a cascade of ethereal light as the ball of energy bore down upon Saphir. She was left with no time to process the impending impact, no hope for escape.
In the face of certain death, an unexpected voice broke the silence, commanding only one word: "Deflect."