In the dawn of creation, when lands and waters were still shaping their contours, God decided that the balance between good and evil should be absolute, intertwined in every corner of the world. Thus, He gave the beings of good a unique gift: the soul—a source of spiritual connection, a link between beings. The soul allowed emotions and bonds to form, and through it, living creatures were able to understand and care for one another.
To evil, He offered something equally powerful but destructive: the void—a force that consumes and absorbs, a black hole that destroys everything it touches. The void would be the counterforce, an essential element for the universe's flow, maintaining the constant cycle of birth and death, of creation and destruction.
However, this harmony did not last long. God had not foreseen the insatiable thirst of the void. The creatures of darkness soon discovered that by consuming beings of pure soul, they gained unimaginable power, growing with each victim, multiplying in strength and number. The balance began to crumble. Frustrated to see humanity on the brink of extinction, God made a decisive choice: He selected certain humans, granting them the "Divine Breath," a blessing that gave them superhuman strength, unwavering minds, and bodies beyond mortal limits.
These individuals became the Sentinels, warriors anointed with the very essence of the divine. The first Sentinels, called Divine Sentinels, carried with them not only uncommon strength but also a destiny—to defend humanity and maintain balance. Over time, however, more Sentinels were needed, and each of them, as they underwent trials and combats, ascended through distinct levels, like a staircase of heroic deeds that brought them closer to perfection.
These initial levels became known as:
Novice Sentinel – The first step for aspiring warriors. Here, Sentinels begin to learn to manipulate their abilities and control their strength, developing the foundation of their physical and mental endurance.Guardian Sentinel – Sentinels trained to protect borders, especially villages and small settlements. They possess great physical aptitude and agility, capable of performing quick and precise movements essential for responding to minor attacks.Squire Sentinel – Village defenders who, after facing darkness directly, awaken specific combat abilities. They can resist fear, possess strategic skills in battles, and have above-average strength.Steel Sentinel – Masters of hand-to-hand combat, known for their almost impenetrable physical resilience. They train their bodies to withstand powerful blows and, in some cases, can harden their skin, resisting blade attacks without suffering major injuries.Shadow Sentinel – Sentinels with a deeper connection to the mystical. They develop abilities that allow them to manipulate elements in a limited way, such as small gusts of wind or heating their hands to harm the enemy—abilities resembling a rudimentary form of magic.Epic Sentinel – Warriors who master not only physical strength but also control of the elements. They can manipulate fire or water on a small scale, and their strength is such that an Epic Sentinel can be equivalent to a small combat unit.Infernal Sentinel – These Sentinels possess abilities that distort reality for their enemies. Their strength is immense, capable of splitting medium-sized rocks, and their agility is surprising, allowing rapid advances in combat. They begin to develop a deeper understanding of spells and enchantments.Primordial Sentinel – UnknownArcane Sentinel – UnknownCelestial Sentinel – Unknown
As these Sentinels faced the darkness, their power and abilities grew, and upon reaching a new level, they were said to be "half a step away from ascending to the next rank."
The strength of the Sentinels was what initiated the "Existential Battle," a brutal war waged on the border between the territory of men and the dead lands of the underworld. The armies of Sentinels marched like a beacon of hope, defending humanity with everything they had. The battle lasted two days and two nights without rest. The sky seemed to bleed as the battlefield was covered with bodies, and the very ground trembled under the steps of the creatures of darkness.
In the end, however, the darkness proved immeasurable. Each fallen Sentinel reinforced the enemy army, for the creatures devoured the souls of the dead, absorbing their strength. With each death, the void grew, the creatures evolved, transforming into larger, more horrendous, and even more powerful versions. The army of men began to fall, their ranks diminishing each moment. It was then that the most powerful Sentinels decided to retreat, recognizing that victory was not within reach that day.
Over time, these Sentinels began to have children, and the Divine Breath slowly started to spread through the human lineage, giving rise to new warriors and reestablishing, little by little, the balance between light and darkness. However, many say that if a war like that were waged again, humanity would not survive even a single day.
As Irina read these words, Dinis felt the weight of history. He had never known that his power could have such distant and mysterious origins. He himself felt different but did not believe it was something so special. Now, hearing about the divine blessing and the ancient Sentinels made him question his own journey and what awaited him.
Irina noticed the conflict in his eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder. "These stories may seem ancient, but the lineage of a Sentinel never disappears. In times of need, the Divine Breath awakens again."
Dinis nodded, more thoughtful than ever. He knew he would need to seek his own truth—and perhaps, at some point on this journey, find the true meaning of what it is to be a Sentinel.