Rhys opened his eyes. It looked like he was floating in space. There were galaxies, different colors of stars, and nebulas.
There was a human shape made up of golden lights. It was sitting cross-legged, and it had ten wings behind its back. It was three kilometers tall, and behind it was a huge silver gate. It looked like the giant gate on earth.
A golden light flew from the gate and moved toward Rhys. The light completely covered him, then it turned into armor with ten wings.
Rhys stared at the giant as he started scattering into lights.
"Who are you?" asked Rhys in his mind.
The giant seemed to smile when Rhys disappeared.
Within the apartment room, Ana and the others were staring at the lights that appeared.
Rhys returned. His eyes turned teary as he smiled at his family.
"It's been many years," said Rhys in his mind.
"Uncle!" Lola ran and hugged the leg of Rhys."Did you become an exonn?"
Rhys picked up Lola and held her in his arm. He gently rubbed her head as white armor and two wings appeared on his body. "I know what you want."
He floated and slowly flew around the room, causing the kid to become full of laughter.
Ana and Gil also looked happy. Their eyes turned teary.
Rhys landed on the floor. His armor turned into light, and moved back to his body. His wings disappeared, then he gave the child to his sister. "Prepare what we need. We will transfer to the exonn's park tonight. I will just test my power in the periphery of the city and return immediately."
Ana nodded her head and wiped her tears. "Be careful."
"Be careful, brother," said Gil.
Rhys nodded his head, then he moved to the rooftop. He stared at the gate as the sun was setting in the west. "Is that giant controlling the gate? Only one day passed, but I stayed in the trial for 133 years."
"I have many questions in my mind, but I will definitely find the answers as I get stronger," thought Rhys, then he flew up. He kept moving in the air until he reached the clouds.
Somewhere in the city, an exonn named Louis was sitting on the edge of a tall building as he drank a can of beer. "Hmm? Who is that?"
Then he chuckled. "It's probably a newbie. We all have the same feeling. We want to see how it feels and looks like while staying up there."
The strong winds in the sky did not bother Rhys as he stared with fascination.
There were six cities that surrounded the central city, Mageaf. There was a long river, wide ecological parks, food crops and lakes. The cities were connected with long roads and rails.
The cities around the world had the same design. It was done because of the threats of demons and magic beasts. There were not enough exonns in the world.
Rhys looked to the northeast. There was a silhouette of a huge tree that was as high as one hundred meters. He sighed and thought, "Light energy is a blessing and a curse."
He flew outside the city. A light spear was formed on his hand. He suddenly moved from the air and stabbed the ground. He swung his spear, then an energy blade flew.
He stood on the ground as golden balls was forming in the air. He closed his eyes as the balls were randomly flying around him. He was remembering the decades of practicing the spear in every life that he had in the illusion. His grip on the light spear became stronger. He suddenly opened his eyes, then swiftly swung the spear around him. The flying balls were cut and scattered into golden lights.
Rhys held the light spear with both hands, then tried different forms of attacks. The familiar feeling that he had while using the spear in the illusion was coming back. He suddenly jumped forward as he gathered more light energy to the spear.
Boom! He stabbed the ground, then many light spears rose. He looked at the damage done by his magic. "I still don't have enough energy to use the light of judgment."
Exonns and Demons were not using mana like traditional magicians to use magic. Light energy was used by exonns, while dark energy was used by demons. The energy also strengthened their bodies. Lightstone was like a mana stone for exonns, and stones used by demons were called bloodstones. All exons were capable of light magic.
Exonns that were capable of magic on other elements had different colors of armor, and those who were only capable of light magic had white armor. Light magic did have powerful damage on demons, but it was useless if it could not touch their bodies. Its destructive effect against the shield and the demon's magic was not as powerful as other elements. Exonns who were only capable of light magic were weak, so they were called cannon fodders.
Rhys looked at his armor and thought,"I do have white armor, but if demons think that I am a cannon fodder, then they will pay a very painful price."
He floated, then flew to the city.
Meanwhile, in the underground sewer of Mugwer, a Tier 2 demon named Sankraz had an annoyed look on his face. He was one of the demons ordered by Tenel. "Where is Ludolf?!"
The Tier 1 demons named Frank and Gregor looked at each other.
"I think he went somewhere in the city. He mentioned that he wants to do something fun,or else he will lose his mind," said Frank.
"He already lost his mind! Damn it!" said Sankraz, then something flashed in his mind. He touched his chin and thought,"It will not affect the plan if he causes chaos. It actually fits the plan. Molo was dumb to do it on his own. Ludolf and these two only know some of the information. They won't betray us because it will break their oath on their demon core and kill them, but that won't happen if I ordered them to do it to mislead the exonns.
The exonns think that they are smarter than us, and they thought that many arrogant demons will sometimes unintentionally blurt out information. Hmm, it's a good plan, but whoever does it will definitely be killed. Who among these two will I send? Hmm, I should make them play Janken."
"Let's go," said Sankraz.
"What about Ludolf?"
"We'll find him if he can get out of the city."
***
Rhys was sitting on top of a building near the sea and watched the last rays from the sunset.
He closed his eyes and looked at his sea of consciousness. The whole space was colored white, and his soul was floating. There was a white armor with ten wings on the soul's body. Two wings were completely formed, but the other eight wings were faint. Every time an exonn or demon reached a stage, two wings would be added to their back, and they would gain more capability. The wings changed their constitution. Magic circuits were formed throughout their bodies.
Rhys opened his eyes. He stood up and gripped his fists hard. He thought,"Although I gained something powerful, my life will also be in huge danger. If demons knew that I received a ten-winged treasure, then I would also be hunted like Valeria. She only have a treasure with eight wings, but the demon's tried to kill her many times. The strongest demon might personally move and hunt me.
The demons are schemers. Allies could become enemies. I've already seen it in the illusion. I have no powerful family like Valeria to protect me. My family will also be implicated. Once I use summoning magic, then the ten wings will be revealed. I need to find a way to hide it."
In the city, a middle-aged man named Javier had a smile on his face as he held a paper bag that contained bread. "Mia will definitely like it."
He was going home after work. He looked at the dark sky and the fluorescents that were starting to light because evening was arriving. "I'm late."
He walked faster and went inside an alley for a short cut. He ran into the dark alley, but he was startled by a sudden chuckle.
A demon named Ludolf came out of the dark shadow. "Don't shout, or else you will surely die before help arrives. Hahahaha! I enjoy looking at that face of terror."
Javier's eyes turned teary. His daughter was what appeared in his mind when his life was in danger. "P-Please, don't kill me. You can take my legs. You can do whatever you want, b-but please don't kill me."
He was an orphan. His daughter was just seven years old and he was her only family. Javier was kneeling, crying, and pleading. Tears were gushing from his eyes, but the demon was only laughing.
Ludolf's fingers turned into sharp roots.
Javier's mouth was trembling as tears kept falling from his eyes. His memory of his daughter kept flashing in his mind.
A light spear suddenly flew, but it was blocked by the demon's shield.
Boom! Rhys moved from the air and stabbed his spear. Ludolf blocked it, but he was pushed back.
Rhys stood in front of Javier. "Go."
Tears gushed from Javier's eyes.
"Thank you," said Javier as he quickly stood up and ran away.
Ludolf chuckled when he saw the white armor on Rhys. "A cannon fodder dare interrupt me?"
His arm seemed to turn into twisted roots. A wooden trident formed on his hand, then he covered it with dark energy. "Other exonns should be on their way here, but you are dumb enough to not run away. Be smarter in the next life!"
Both Ludolf and Rhys dashed toward each other.
Ludolf stabbed with his trident.
Rhys turned around to his side as his spear scattered into lights. Another spear was formed on his left hand, and he threw it at the demon's head.
SPEAR BOOST
Boom! The light spear moved like a rocket and rammed the demon's head against a wall.