"Yeah, I let Elder Lord install overnight, so it should be ready by the time we get home," said Troy, his voice brimming with excitement as the four boys descended the steps from their school entrance.
Leading the group was Troy, a dark-skinned Hispanic boy with a confident stride and curly hair that bounced with his steps. Behind him was Zang, a Caucasian boy with a mop of messy blonde hair and an easygoing demeanor. Third in line was Ace, a dark-skinned Korean boy with sharp eyes and an inquisitive expression. Bringing up the rear was Kelly, a taller Korean boy with striking white hair and mesmerizing green and purple eyes that seemed almost otherworldly.
The boys strolled down the sidewalk, their chatter flowing freely as they laughed and joked. Their pace quickened, driven by an unspoken eagerness for the gaming marathon that awaited them at home.
"Hey, where's Sheldon? I didn't see him at school today," Zang asked, his tone curious.
Ace shrugged lightly before responding. "Yeah, he couldn't make it. I think he's babysitting. His mom had to pull an all-nighter at work."
Troy, unable to contain his excitement, broke into a half-sprint, his enthusiasm contagious. "C'mon, let's hurry up! The sooner we get home, the sooner we can log on. We'll ask Sheldon about it when we're all online!"
The others exchanged amused glances before following Troy's lead, their collective energy building as they raced toward the promise of adventure.
The soft, golden light of the sun streamed in through the open window, casting gentle shadows on the walls. Inside, Ace was in his usual element: sitting at his gaming PC, completely immersed in his virtual world. His headset snugly fit around his head, and the soft hum of his computer was the only sound filling the room, except for the voices of his friends crackling through his headset.
To his left, the window was wide open, letting in the cool summer breeze. The sunlight bathed everything in a soft, comforting glow. Ace didn't even notice the breeze. He was too focused on the game, laughing at jokes with his friends, the excitement of the game keeping him fully occupied.
But then, something strange happened.
From the corner of his eye, Ace saw a flicker of movement outside the window. He turned, thinking it was a bird or something else passing by. But when his eyes fell on the sky, his heart skipped a beat.
There, splitting the sky in two, was a giant, jagged red crack. It was glowing ominously, casting a sickly red hue over everything below. For a moment, Ace just stared at it, disbelief freezing him in place.
"Guys, look outside! What the hell is that in the sky?" a voice from his headset shouted, pulling Ace out of his stupor.
His heart raced. His fingers were still on the keyboard, but his mind was elsewhere. He turned back to the window, his gaze fixed on the terrifying crack above. It seemed to pulse, as if it were alive. Ace's breath caught in his throat.
What the… he thought, his mind struggling to make sense of what he was seeing.
The next moment, a violent shockwave of force tore through the room. The windows shattered, and the walls of his room crumbled. The red crack in the sky pulsed again, sending a powerful wave of energy that slammed into Ace's body, throwing him across the room.
"Mom!" he screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos. His body collided with the far wall, and everything went black.
When Ace came to, the world around him was a disaster. His once-comfortable bedroom was now a field of rubble. Furniture lay scattered across the floor, shattered glass from the broken window reflecting the dim light that filtered in from above. His body ached, and his clothes were ripped and torn, stained with dirt and dust. He lay on the ground, trying to gather his bearings, his head spinning.
He pushed himself up with a groan, blinking through the haze of pain. The destruction outside his bedroom was far worse than he'd imagined. The hallway was a mess, the walls cracked, and debris was scattered everywhere. But what stood out the most was the strange, red light that now filled the space. The same ominous glow that came from the crack in the sky. It spilled through the hole in the ceiling, casting everything in an eerie, unnatural hue.
Ace stumbled to his feet, his legs shaky as he took in his surroundings. What just happened…? he thought, his mind still processing the chaos.
His first thought was for his family. His mother, where was she? He turned quickly, his heart pounding in his chest. Without a second thought, he rushed down the hallway, the urgency in his steps undeniable. He had to make sure they were okay.
The hallway was dark and ominous, the red light from above flickering like a distant fire. Ace could hear the groaning of the house as it settled, the walls trembling under the weight of whatever strange force had struck. At the end of the hall, he saw the doorway to his mother's room, still intact, but barely. The ceiling above had cracked, and debris littered the floor.
Ace's heart raced as he reached his mom's room, pushing open the door. Inside, he found her his mother, tall and strong, her muscular frame barely bending under the weight of the debris. She was crouched down, protectively shielding his younger sister, Mina, who was still asleep, unaware of the danger.
"Mom!" Ace cried, rushing toward her.
His mother looked up, startled. Her face was pale, her usual calm expression replaced with concern. Her clothes were torn, and her body was covered in dust and dirt. "What's happening…?" she muttered, disoriented.
Ace's heart clenched at the sight. He could see how badly shaken she was, and yet, she still held Mina in her arms, trying to protect her.
"Mina, wake up!" his mother urged gently, shaking the little girl. "Mina! Honey, please wake up!"
Mina stirred, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She looked up at her mother, her face smeared with dirt, her small body still curled in the protective embrace. "Mommy, what's happening?" she mumbled, still groggy from sleep.
Ace stepped forward, feeling a surge of protectiveness. "Mom, we need to get out of here. I don't know what's going on, but we're not safe here."
He turned quickly to look out the window. The red sky outside seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy. Whatever was happening, it was far from over.
Ace didn't waste another second. He turned on his heel and bolted from the room, his mind racing. He had to get his family out of there. The streets outside were chaotic. Destruction everywhere. Houses reduced to rubble, cars overturned, and the once peaceful neighborhood now unrecognizable. The air smelled of smoke and burning wood.
The red light from the crack in the sky painted everything in a sickly glow, as if the world itself had been swallowed by a strange, otherworldly force.
Ace's feet pounded the cracked pavement as he ran, his heart beating fast in his chest. He didn't know what had happened or why, but one thing was clear: The world as he knew it was gone.
I need to find the guys, Ace thought, his breath coming in heavy gasps as he ran down the street. We all live in the same neighborhood. If they're okay, I need to get to them. We need to stick together.
Ace's thoughts were interrupted by a chilling sight in the distance: a hulking, monstrous figure looming over the wreckage. He froze, his heart skipping a beat as the creature came into focus. It was massive and grotesquely muscular, its fur matted and filthy, and its glowing white eyes radiating an otherworldly menace.
The creature locked eyes with him, its wide, predatory grin sending a wave of fear crawling up Ace's spine. He wanted to move, to run, but his body refused to obey.
With a guttural roar, the creature charged. Ace's instincts took over, and he leapt out of the way just as the beast's claws slashed through the air, narrowly missing him but leaving a shallow scar on his cheek.
It was fast. Far faster than anything Ace had ever encountered. Before he could gather his thoughts, the beast lunged again, its massive fist swinging with terrifying force. Ace braced himself, raising his arms to block, but the creature was cunning. In a blur of motion, it maneuvered behind him, delivering a crushing blow to his side. The force was like a freight train, sending Ace hurtling through the air, his body twisting and tumbling like a ragdoll.
Before he could hit the ground, the beast leapt after him, soaring through the air with frightening agility. Its arms reeled back, clasped together, delivering a devastating sledgehammer strike. Ace slammed into the ground with a bone-shaking impact. Pain shot through every fiber of his body as his vision dimmed. In the depths of his mind, a shadowy figure appeared: a humanoid form with jagged horns, a tail, and glowing red eyes. Ace gasped for breath, his consciousness slipping as his eyes rolled back.
The beast loomed over him, its grin twisted with cruel delight. Ace's vision blurred as he tried to rise, but his battered body wouldn't respond.
Then, a strange presence emerged. In the distance, another figure approached. This one was smaller, with flowing crimson hair tied into a ponytail and a grey industrial mask covering his face. He moved with an aura of undeniable power, each step deliberate and controlled, like a predator closing in on its prey.
Without a word, the mysterious figure blurred into motion, disappearing and reappearing in front of the beast in an instant. His hand reached out with eerie calm, lightly wrapping around the creature's throat. The beast flinched, recoiling in panic, its predatory confidence shattered as if a mouse had just realized it was in a lion's jaws.
The man's crimson ponytail swayed as he moved. With a single, precise punch, he struck the beast's face with such force that a shockwave rippled through its massive body. The creature froze momentarily, stunned by the sheer power. Before it could recover, the man opened his hand and uttered two words: "Fracture: Red."
A massive red blast erupted from his palm, slamming into the creature and sending it tumbling backward. The beast skidded across the ground, struggling to regain its footing. When it finally looked down, panic overtook its face as it realized its arms were now mangled and useless.
The man advanced slowly, his every step radiating menace. The beast, now on its knees, hung its head in defeat, its broken body trembling as it faced a being far beyond its comprehension.
The figure's voice was calm, almost conversational. "So, the Gods' Seal has already been weakened, huh? It's only been 200 years…"
With a flick of his wrist, the man twisted the creature's neck with impossible speed and precision. The beast—a hobgoblin or something far worse—collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The mysterious figure turned toward Ace, his eyes glowing faintly like embers in the darkness. His expression was unreadable as he bent down, effortlessly lifting Ace and slinging him over his shoulder. Without another word, he walked away, his presence leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.
Another one down, the man thought quietly to himself.
Ace's senses gradually returned, dragging him back from the darkness. Faint murmurs reached his ears a low hum of disjointed voices, interspersed with occasional thuds, like something shifting. Slowly, groggily, Ace blinked, his eyelids heavy as his surroundings began to take shape.
The light in the room was soft yet unfamiliar, and a faint, sterile smell of antiseptic lingered in the air. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and he became aware of a bandage wrapped tightly around it, pressing against his forehead.
With a groan, Ace shifted and sat up carefully. A wave of dizziness hit him, and he clutched the edge of the bed to steady himself. The frame creaked beneath him as his gaze swept the room. Familiar faces came into view, but something about the situation felt… wrong.
"Guys, Ace is awake!"
The shout came from Sheldon, a dark-skinned Japanese boy with short, spiky hair. His wide eyes reflected both relief and concern as he stepped closer.
The rest of the boys quickly crowded around, their voices overlapping in a chaotic flood of words.
"Ace, are you okay?"
"What happened? What's going on?"
"Man, we were so worried!"
Ace barely had time to process their questions. His head spun, and the room seemed to tilt slightly. He felt a firm hand on his shoulder, and when he looked up, Kelly—the taller white-haired boy with striking green and purple eyes—was staring at him intently.
"Ace! Say something!" Kelly urged, his voice tight with worry.
Ace opened his mouth, but before he could utter a single word, a booming voice cut through the noise like a knife.
"OKAY."
The word rang out with authority, instantly silencing the room. All heads turned toward the doorway, where a figure leaned casually against the frame.
The man who stepped into view was striking. His fiery red hair, damp and glistening, contrasted sharply against the muted tones of the room. His upper face was obscured by a bandage, but his commanding presence was unmistakable. Water dripped from his freshly showered body, and a towel was slung over his shoulder as he dried his hair. His pajama pants swayed slightly as he walked into the room with an air of calm confidence.
"Listen up," the man began, his voice even but charged with authority. "You've all got questions, I'm sure. Especially since, well, I kind of kidnapped you—and your families—from your homes."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Troy, ever the blunt one, scowled. "Speaking of that, where are our families?"
Lancelot's expression darkened, though he remained unflustered. "They're safe," he said firmly. "I've taken them to a secure place called 'The Hub.' It's a pocket dimension outside this realm, so no one can reach them."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances, still processing his words.
Lancelot raised a hand sharply, silencing any follow-up questions. "No interruptions, alright? I'll explain everything in one go."
He took a deep breath before continuing, his tone more serious now. "My name is Lancelot. I'm what's known as an Ancient Magus—not that any of you would know what that means. But here's the thing: I didn't bring you here just to keep you safe. I brought you here because you—and everyone you know—will die in five years unless we act now."
The weight of his words crushed the air out of the room. The boys stared at him, their disbelief palpable.
Sheldon was the first to break the silence, his voice trembling. "W-what do you mean? You just said our families are safe! How can we all die?"
Lancelot leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. His gaze swept over the group, unflinching. "Five years from now, that crack in the sky will open into a golden portal. From it, monsters of unimaginable power will pour into this world. Thousands of them. And they'll be far stronger than the hobgoblin that almost killed your friend Ace here."
The room tensed further as Lancelot's words sank in.
Kelly spoke up, his voice laced with skepticism. "So, what? You're saying six kids are supposed to stop an invasion like that? How do you expect us to fight creatures that strong?"
Lancelot's lips curled into a faint, almost amused smile. "You're not just six ordinary kids. You're more than human, and you have abilities lying dormant inside you. Abilities I'm going to help you awaken."
Troy let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. "Right. Because humans can totally go toe-to-toe with monsters that can level cities. There's a limit to what we can do."
"That's where you're wrong," Lancelot countered, his voice steady. "You're not just human anymore. You're special. And with the right training, you'll be able to fight and win."
The tension in the room eased slightly as Lancelot stepped back toward the doorway. "We'll start your training tomorrow. For now, rest. And don't worry about your families, they're safe."
Without another word, he disappeared into the next room, the door clicking shut behind him.
The boys sat in silence, the weight of Lancelot's revelations pressing down on them.
Sheldon broke the silence, his tone bitter. "Is that guy insane? How the hell does he expect us to fight those things? My house was surrounded by them. One even had wings!"
Zang, wrapped in a blanket, spoke next, his tone grim. "I saw them too. Ripping people apart like it was nothing."
Troy leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "This isn't just about fighting. Those things are faster, stronger, and some of them can do things that shouldn't even be possible. Like breathing fire."
The group turned toward Ace and Kelly.
"What about you guys?" Troy asked.
Kelly's voice was quiet but steady. "We were attacked by a smaller goblin. My mom and I managed to kill it with a kitchen knife, but it wasn't easy.
Ace shifts in the bead as he speaks, when I was fading in and out of consciousness I saw him destroy that monster in nearly one shot. He used some sort of giant red blast. I believe him to an extent, that guy, Lancelot… he saved my life. I saw what he could do. If he says we can learn to fight those things, I believe him."
The group of boys exchanged uncertain glances before collectively shrugging. One by one, they found spots to sit, the tension in the room easing slightly.
"Well," Kelly said softly, his voice measured, "as long as our families are safe, let's see just what he has in store for us."
The next morning they stood in the middle of the room, peeling off their old, battered clothes and slipping into the fresh outfits provided by Lancelot. The fabric was comfortable yet sturdy, as if designed for more than casual wear.
"All right," Lancelot announced, his tone calm but firm, "as soon as you guys finish getting dressed, we're going for a walk."
Ace wrestled with his shirt, trying to pull it over his head. "Hey, Lancelot," he said, his voice muffled for a moment, "can I ask something? What is a Magus, exactly? You mentioned it last night, and I've been wondering."
Lancelot's expression softened, a rare glint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Ah, good question. The Magus were a group of extraordinary people who lived over 2,000 years ago. They saved this planet during a catastrophic war against creatures from the multiverse. People like me," he gestured to himself, "with special abilities—abilities you'll soon discover you possess as well."
Ace straightened up, slipping on his last shoe. His curiosity deepened. "How do you plan on giving us these powers, then?"
Lancelot chuckled lightly. "Give you power? No, Ace. I'm not giving you anything. These abilities were always within you. My job is to awaken what's been dormant in your bodies."
Zang stepped forward, his face unreadable but his voice steady. "If we've had these abilities all along, how come we've never noticed them? Or heard of anyone else using them?"
"That's obvious," Lancelot replied matter-of-factly. "Humans haven't needed to fight for the last two millennia. The abilities used for survival faded into obscurity, forgotten over time. But the Magus—and those who fled this realm—never forgot."
Zang's gaze remained unwavering. "Fine," he said, his tone edged with challenge. "Show us the way, then, old man."
Lancelot smirked faintly. "All in due time." He motioned for the boys to gather closer. "Everyone, huddle up. It's time to awaken your powers."
The boys formed a loose circle around him, their curiosity mixed with trepidation. Lancelot, dressed in black shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops, still wore the enigmatic black mask that had become part of his mystique. Raising a finger, he uttered a single phrase:
"Fracture: Purple."
In an instant, a blinding flash of purple light engulfed the room. The air shimmered, and the familiar surroundings of the house vanished. When the light subsided, they found themselves standing in an open field under a vast, star-strewn night sky.
The serenity was deceptive. Shapes moved in the shadows—monstrous, alien shapes.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Troy yelled, his panic evident. "And wasn't it just noon? How is it night already? What did you do?"
Lancelot's lips curled into a sly smile. "It was morning in the United States. Now we're in South Korea, where it's 2:57 a.m. And we're here," he gestured toward the field, "so you can gain some fighting experience."
As if on cue, the monsters began to emerge. There were four goblins, their twisted forms hunched and menacing, one serpentine creature with muscular arms slithering ominously closer and a dire wolf with rotting flesh with a purple glowing core in between its ribcage.
Zang assessed the situation quickly, his voice calm and precise. "Four goblins, 1 zombie wolf and 1 snake. Let's split up and take different directions."
Before anyone could move, Lancelot interjected. "The only way to awaken your powers is to kill one of these creatures. We call them the Tarnished. Destroy them, and you'll feel the change immediately."
Sheldon looked over at Kelly. "Wait, didn't you kill one already? Shouldn't you have powers?"
Kelly hesitated, then shook his head. "My mom actually finished it off. I just roughed it up a bit. Maybe she has the powers?"
Lancelot glanced at the approaching creatures, his expression unreadable. "They're getting closer. If I were you, I wouldn't waste time talking."
The group scattered, each pairing off to face the oncoming threats. Sheldon and Troy veered right, drawing the attention of one snake creature and a goblin. Ace charged straight ahead, leaping into the air to deliver a flying kick to a goblin's snarling face. The impact sent it stumbling back into another as Ace tumbled to the ground.Kelly and Zang, working in sync, confronted the remaining goblin and wolf .
Sheldon and Troy faced their adversaries, the tension mounting with each step of the encroaching creatures.
The goblin lunged at Troy first, swiping with razor-sharp claws. Troy sidestepped the attack with practiced agility and countered with a brutal punch to the creature's head, sending it staggering sideways. Wasting no time, he delivered a second, bone-crushing blow that knocked the goblin flat onto the ground.
Before the small creature could scramble to its feet, Troy pounced, straddling it with the ferocity of a predator. His fists descended like hammers, delivering a relentless barrage of punches. The wild glint in his eyes and the sadistic grin on his face painted a chilling picture.
"Did you die, you ugly bastard?" Troy sneered, his voice low and venomous. With every word, his fists slammed down harder. "Die, die, die!"
Nearby, Sheldon found himself in a much less confident position. The snake-like creature loomed over him, its muscular arms flexing as it lashed out. Sheldon stumbled backward, zigzagging and darting around to avoid its strikes.
"This thing's almost 170 centimeters tall! How am I supposed to beat it? It has arms like a damn bodybuilder!" Sheldon cried out in exasperation.
From a safe distance, Lancelot called out, his voice calm but firm. "Come on now, these are just lesser Tarnished. You should be able to handle them easily. They're far weaker than the thing that took Ace down."
Sheldon's breathing quickened as he maneuvered around a large rock, the snake creature in relentless pursuit. As it began to slither over the obstacle, Sheldon seized the opportunity. Gripping a hefty stone in his hand, he swung with all his might, smashing it into the snake's face.
The creature tumbled down the side of the rock, writhing in pain. Sheldon scrambled after it, tears brimming in his eyes as adrenaline coursed through him. Clutching the snake where he guessed its neck might be, he raised the rock high and brought it crashing down onto the creature's head.
Across the field, Zang engaged a goblin with ruthless precision. Charging forward, he delivered a swift left hook, followed by a sharp right jab. Grabbing the creature's head, he yanked it downward to meet his rising knee, the impact snapping the goblin's head back with a sickening crunch as blood sprayed from its broken nose.
Without hesitation, Zang drove a powerful punch into the creature's side, then finished with a devastating uppercut that knocked it off balance. As the goblin staggered, Zang unleashed a final blow—a ferocious kick to its chest that sent it sprawling.
Zang stepped forward, his expression cold and emotionless, his gaze unblinking as he mounted the fallen goblin. With methodical precision, he delivered a series of devastating punches to its face, each strike more calculated and brutal than the last.
Nearby, Kelly froze in horror as he witnessed the brutal display. His moment of hesitation was costly. A massive wolf-like creature lunged at him, tackling him with a force that nearly knocked him off his feet.
Kelly's tall, broad frame was the only thing preventing him from being toppled completely. Grabbing the beast by its sides, he strained against its relentless push. The wolf snarled, its claws digging into the ground as it drove him backward, his boots carving trenches into the dirt.
With a roar of effort, Kelly summoned his strength, hoisting the creature off the ground and over his head. In one swift motion, he slammed it down in a thunderous suplex. The wolf let out a sharp yelp as it struck the ground but quickly rolled back onto its feet, snarling with renewed fury.
Before Kelly could react, the wolf lunged again, tackling him to the ground. Its jaws snapped dangerously close to his face. Acting on instinct, Kelly shoved his arm between the wolf's teeth, grunting in pain as its powerful jaws clamped down.
Kelly's face twisted in agony, but he fought through the pain, smashing his fist repeatedly into the wolf's head. The creature refused to relent, its teeth sinking deeper into his arm. Desperate, Kelly jabbed his fingers into one of its eyes. The wolf howled in agony, releasing its grip and retreating a few steps, its movements frantic and uncoordinated.
As the wolf turned to flee, Kelly's battle-hardened instincts took over. Ignoring the blood trickling down his arm, he grabbed the creature's tail, yanking it back. His eyes burned with determination, a fierce grin spreading across his face.