Chapter Two: The Guardian's Past
Fiona's Last Stand
The moon cast a dim glow over the city, a quiet night shattered by an explosion. The once-peaceful street was in chaos. Screams of terrified citizens filled the air as a shockwave tore through a small barbershop, reducing it to rubble in an instant.
Dust and smoke rose as embers crackled in the wreckage. People ran in every direction, desperate to escape the sudden devastation.
In the center of the destruction stood Reign, a tall figure clad in dark combat gear, a silver mask covering his face. His presence alone suffocated the air, his aura oppressive and unyielding. His golden eyes, barely visible through the mask, burned with an unsettling mixture of sorrow and cold resolve.
From within the wreckage, Fiona emerged, brushing off the dust from her shoulders. Her sharp blue eyes, once filled with warmth, now glowed with fierce determination. Though she had long since abandoned the battlefield, the instincts of a warrior never truly faded.
Beside her stood Theodore, a young boy trembling in fear. His dreadlocked hair was messy, his glasses cracked, and his small hands clutched the hem of Fiona's coat.
The night was heavy, but Fiona's presence remained unwavering.
She knelt down beside Theodore and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's play a game, Theo," she whispered with a soft smile. "Hide and seek, okay?"
Theodore, barely able to contain his sobs, clenched his fists.
"You hide… and I'll come find you," she said, forcing a gentle tone.
The boy's lips quivered as he whispered, "Noona… you're terrible at lying." His voice cracked. "But what else can I do? I'm too weak…"
Tears streamed down his face as Fiona gently pushed him away. This wasn't a game. It was a farewell.
Fiona vs. Reign – Third-Person Perspective
Reign took a step forward, his voice deep and emotionless.
"You left everything behind just to become a barber? To live as a commoner? You are more useless than I thought, Fiona."
Fiona's expression darkened, but she remained silent.
Reign continued, his words sharp as blades.
"Or did you forget her that easily?" His golden eyes burned through the mask. "She died protecting you. If you weren't there, she wouldn't have had to protect you. She wouldn't have lost her life."
Fiona's fists clenched, her knuckles turning white.
"Why don't you just sacrifice yourself so she can come back to me?" Reign said coldly.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Fiona slowly exhaled, then took a step forward.
"You bastard…" she muttered, drawing her blade.
Lightning crackled around Reign's body as he unsheathed his sword.
Then—the battle began.
Fiona's movements were swift, her blade carving through the air like a phantom. Reign, despite his cold words, fought with calculated precision, blocking each strike with an eerie calmness. Blades clashed. Sparks flew. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
The shockwaves of their battle sent debris flying, shattering windows and tearing through the abandoned marketplace.
Theodore's Escape
As the battle raged, Theodore ran—his legs weak, his vision blurred by tears.
"I'm so weak… I can't do anything…" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the street behind him. He turned back for just a second—just in time to see Fiona impaled by Reign's sword.
"NOONA—!"
A portal suddenly opened before Theodore—a golden rift created by Fiona's final effort.
"LIVE, THEODORE!" she screamed.
The force of the portal sucked him in, and in an instant—everything went black.
The Orphanage & Discovery of a Genius
Theodore awoke in a cold, unfamiliar place. The orphanage was nothing more than a run-down building filled with hungry children and broken souls.
Yet, even in this bleak environment, Theodore's intellect shined.
Within months, his theories on mana and aura usage spread across the city. Scholars and researchers were baffled—how could a mere child explain Soul Core energy in ways even grandmasters struggled to comprehend?
But then—his awakening test came.
The Awakening Test & Betrayal of Society
The hall was silent. Thousands watched.
The crystal glowed—then dimmed.
No class. No magic. Nothing.
Then, the crystal flickered one last time. A word appeared.
TRAITLESS.
Gasps echoed through the room.
"Impossible."
"How can someone with such a brilliant mind… be powerless?"
In an instant, the world that had praised him—turned against him.
"A fraud."
"A disappointment."
"A genius without power is useless."
The Deal with Reign
Rain poured over the orphanage. Theodore sat on the cold steps, his heart hollow.
Then—Reign appeared.
"You understand mana and aura better than anyone. Yet you have nothing."
Theodore's eyes narrowed.
"Join me, Theodore. I will give you everything—knowledge, resources, power. In return… you will create the Limit Breaker."
A cold wind blew between them.
Theodore's voice was steady.
"And what do you gain?"
"My wife will live," Reign said simply.
A pause. Then—Theodore smirked.
"Fine. But I want one more thing."
"Name it."
Theodore's expression darkened.
"Help me avenge my aunt."
Reign extended his hand.
"Deal."
The future "Blueprint" was born.
Eight Years Later – The Birth of Lightning Core
Inside his lab, Theodore stood before a glowing sphere of crackling lightning.
"Eight years… Eight years of failures, calculations, and sleepless nights."
He reached forward—and infused the Lightning Core into his own body.
Electricity rushed through his veins, his body convulsing violently.
A scream tore from his throat.
Jason, the Main Character, burst into the lab, eyes wide.
"Theo!"
Lightning crackled around the room, shattering glass.
Jason's eyes gleamed with awe.
"You finally did it!"
Theodore smirked weakly.
"I broke the rules."
The Legend of "Blueprint"
Theodore rose from F-rank to S-rank, defeating awakeners, breaking the limits of Soul Core energy, and eventually…
He became the 43rd strongest awakener in the world.
A man who defied all logic.
A man who was feared, respected, and envied.
The man who created the Lightning Core.
The man called Blueprint.
Yet—even he couldn't predict his own downfall.
The Betrayal & The End of Theodore
"I trusted you, Reign…"
A sword pierced his back. Blood spilled.
As his vision blurred, a familiar message appeared on his screen.
"Would you like to change the ending?"
Theodore awoke, bound to an altar.
The voices chanted—
"Begin the Demon body Possession Ritual."
Panic gripped him.
"Wait—WHAT THE FU—"
A message flickered.
"Prove yourself. Sacrifice your soul to save Avilone."
His breath hitched.
"Avilone? The continent that was destroyed in the novel…?"
His body trembled.
"What the FUCK is happening?!"
TO BE CONTINUED…