It's been five years since the Creek Wars, which saw humanity gain domination over the beast-kin in Vala. The war had been brutal, causing millions of deaths on both sides. During this conflict, a unique unit known as the Wardens was formed—humans with the extraordinary ability to tame and summon magical beasts. They were instrumental in securing humanity's victory. However, after the war ended, the Wardens were disbanded, deemed unnecessary in a time of peace.
Now, these individuals have blended into society, suppressing their powers. Despite the war's end, tensions between humans and beast-kin remain. Fear and hatred linger, creating a fragile coexistence. Discrimination is rampant, with some establishments serving only humans or exclusively aiding beast-kin. This divide fuels resentment, leading to secret movements within both communities to reignite the conflict.
EAST OF VALA (DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS)
Unknown to humanity, a dark ritual was underway. Beast-kin who harbored resentment toward humans had gathered in the high mountains of Khudon to summon a dark force of unimaginable power. They chanted sacred spells in low, resonant tones:
"Come forth, O dark being of eternal strife,
Make our enemies suffer and grant us their life."
The group surrounded a large, glowing hexagram that turned blood-red before erupting into flames. From the fiery vortex emerged a beast demon, its hollow eyes reflecting the endless void of the night sky.
Its aura radiated pure chaos, instilling paralyzing fear in all living creatures nearby. Birds fell lifeless from the sky, unable to withstand the oppressive presence. The air itself seemed to warp under the weight of its power.
The demon stood still for a moment, its gaze fixed on the heavens. Then, with a massive breath, it released a thunderous roar that reverberated across Vala. Without warning, it turned on its summoners, tearing through them with merciless ferocity. One by one, the beast-kin fell, their bodies broken and devoured.
With the summoners eradicated, the demon set its sights on the nearest city. Its grotesque mouth twisted into a devilish grin as it charged down the mountainside, gathering speed and momentum with each stride.
Elaria – The City of Hope
Elaria, home to thousands of humans, had been a symbol of resilience during the Creek Wars. The city, renowned for its mages and adventurers, was also the residence of Arthur Wilson, a former Warden. After the war, Arthur joined the Adventurers' Guild and formed a party. Since the use of Warden powers was strictly forbidden, he took on the role of a knight, relying on his honed skills from the war to make a living.
Arthur's party had built a reputation for hunting monsters, with each member excelling in their craft. Edith, a Class B mage, specialized in mid-tier and high mid-tier spells. Farrow, an exceptional assassin, possessed the unique skill Mirage and Cloak, which made him nearly undetectable. Then there was Enma, a beast-kin archer with a fox-like appearance. Known as "One Shot," she never missed her mark, thanks to her skill and the unique ability Bullseye.
Despite her talents, Enma often faced discrimination from humans who hired the party. Arthur, fiercely protective of his team, refused jobs from anyone who disrespected her. Over time, the party gained favor with both humans and beast-kin alike, even earning the trust of the royal family, who became regular clients.
The Evergreen Forest
Today, the party was tasked with investigating strange occurrences in the Evergreen Forest—a realm of stunning beauty and deadly monsters. Home to mischievous dryads and formidable creatures, the forest played a vital role in maintaining balance across Vala.
Recently, scouts had reported finding powerful monsters torn apart, their bodies strewn across the forest. Concerned, the King himself requested Arthur's team to uncover the truth behind these events.
From the moment they entered the forest, the party sensed something was amiss. The dryads, who usually delighted in teasing humans, remained eerily hidden. The predators that typically roamed the woods now cowered in fear, reduced to prey.
"What's going on here?" Arthur muttered as the group ventured deeper into the forest.
"Look," Enma said, pointing at deep claw marks carved into a nearby tree.
"Have you seen anything like this?" Edith asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Farrow approached the tree, his keen eyes studying the markings. A seasoned tracker from the war, he had seen his fair share of strange things, but this was different.
"No," he replied grimly. "These marks aren't from any creature in this forest. In fact, they don't belong to anything I've encountered before." He glanced at Arthur. "Stay on your guard."
"Edith," Arthur instructed, "cast an echolocation spell using the mana residue from the claw marks. We need to know what we're up against. Once you do, fall back with Enma and support us from the rear. Farrow and I will engage it head-on."
Edith hesitated, clearly uneasy with the plan, but she trusted Arthur's leadership. She began to weave her spell, sending out a wave of mana that replicated the signature of the claw marks.
As the spell spread through the forest, the group braced themselves for whatever horror awaited in the shadows.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shattered the eerie silence. The trees seemed to tremble, and Arthur felt his strength drain away. "Malice," he thought grimly—a unique skill that inflicted debilitating fear upon its targets.
He barely had time to react before a massive white beast burst out from the bushes, claws slashing through the air. Instinctively, Arthur raised his sword to block, but the force sent him flying through several trees.
"Arthur!" Edith screamed as he disappeared into the forest.
Farrow sidestepped the beast, his dagger aimed for its side, but the creature leapt away, deflecting the blade with its heavy, armored tail. "What is this thing?" he thought, getting his first clear view of the beast. His thoughts were cut short as the creature vanished into thin air.
"Cloak?" Farrow muttered, alarmed. He leapt into the trees, scanning the forest for any sign of the monster. "Where is it?" His mind raced as he searched frantically.
Meanwhile, Edith and Enma stood frozen, still reeling from how effortlessly Arthur had been overpowered. A low growl snapped Enma back to reality. She turned to see the monster reappear from thin air, its massive frame casting a shadow over them. Its hollow, star-like eyes locked onto them, and its breath burned like smoldering coals.
The two women froze—not from weakness but from a hypnotic effect emanating from the beast's gaze.
Just as the creature lunged to strike, a sword came hurtling through the forest, piercing its neck and pinning it to the ground.
Arthur emerged from the shadows, his armor shattered, his left arm hanging limp. "Are you two all right?" he asked, his voice strained.
The women nodded, too shaken to speak. Edith quickly moved to heal Arthur, her hands glowing with mana.
The party gathered around the fallen beast. "Now that it's dead, it looks like an evolved dire wolf," Farrow muttered, crouching to inspect the body.
"Be careful," Edith warned. "It might still be alive."
Farrow nodded but kept his focus on the creature.
Arthur, standing nearby, locked eyes with the beast's hollow gaze.
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through his head, and he collapsed, clutching his skull. He screamed, his vision fading to black as the world around him disappeared.