A blinding light pierced through the nothingness, pulling the three strangers from the world they knew and hurling them into an existence between worlds. Weightless, they were torn apart from their sense of self, their bodies suspended in an endless abyss. The overwhelming pressure in their chests, the violent disorientation, and the dissonance of time stretched their minds beyond comprehension. Seconds felt like centuries, an eternity of nothingness as they drifted in and out of awareness.
And then, as suddenly as it had come, the light faded.
The world reassembled itself around them.
They found themselves kneeling upon a massive platform, surrounded by towering pillars of celestial gold that stretched far into the heavens, their surfaces radiant with an otherworldly gleam. The air itself seemed to vibrate with raw divine energy, the very atmosphere alive with power. Above, an endless twilight sky stretched out, untouched by the passage of time—neither day nor night, a realm beyond mortal understanding. It was as if the heavens themselves had parted to reveal the very edge of reality.
Before them stood three celestial beings, their forms radiant and ethereal. Their wings, vast and glowing, unfurled like the light of the sun itself. A heavy silence blanketed the space, the power of the moment pressing down upon the three newcomers, yet their feet remained grounded by forces unknown.
One of the celestial beings—a male angel—stepped forward. Clad in golden armor that shimmered with an unbearable intensity, his presence was overwhelming. His gaze was fixed upon them, a weight that pressed against their chests as if his very eyes could pierce their souls. When he spoke, his voice was a low rumble, like the distant thunder before a storm, carrying the gravity of the heavens themselves.
"You have been summoned," the angel intoned, his voice filled with divine authority. "The world of Elarion calls for champions. You will answer, for it is in your hands to reclaim the lands taken by the demons who ravaged this world over two centuries ago."
The three strangers blinked, struggling to comprehend. The world around them was vast and intimidating, and their surroundings were alien to anything they had ever known.
Emilia Volkova was the first to break the silence. Her green eyes, sharp as ever, scanned the celestial beings and the strange world beyond them. She was a woman accustomed to power, accustomed to taking control—nothing in this situation would be different. She clenched her fists, her face hardening with determination. "Chosen?" she echoed. "I don't recall volunteering for this. Who decided this?"
The second angel—a woman with silver hair and violet eyes, her presence calm yet commanding—answered, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade hidden beneath silk. "The decision was made for you, Emilia Volkova. Your world was chosen to be saved, and your souls were drawn here by divine will. The demons have claimed a continent, and you, along with your companions, will bear the weight of its salvation."
Ryuji Kang Min-Jae, with his sharp, calculating gaze, eyed the celestial beings with skepticism. He trusted no one, especially not these mysterious beings who claimed to act on divine orders. His eyes flickered with cold calculation as he spoke, voice steady and controlled. "What if we refuse? What happens then?"
The third angel, a woman whose wings shimmered in a deep shadowed hue, spoke now. "If you refuse, you will cease to exist—lost between realms, nameless, powerless. But why refuse when the power you are offered is far beyond what mortals could dream?" Her words were almost too sweet, a temptation veiled in darkness.
A faint smirk tugged at Ryuji's lips, though his eyes remained as calculating as ever. "And if we choose to accept? What's expected of us?"
The golden-armored angel stepped forward, the intensity of his gaze now focused entirely on the three strangers. "Your task is simple. Drive the demons from this world. They have ravaged Elarion for two hundred and fifty years. It is time for those who can make a difference to step forward and claim the power to restore balance. You will each be sent to different kingdoms, and your journey will begin where you are most needed. Rise, and shape your own destiny."
Emilia's lips curled into a smile, her ambition gleaming in her emerald eyes. "And if we decide to carve our own path instead of doing as you wish?" Her voice was calm but filled with sharp intent, a predator playing with her prey.
The silver-haired angel's lips parted, her smile widening. "Then carve wisely. But remember—every action has its price."
Before they could respond, a shimmering circle of glowing runes appeared beneath them, casting a powerful, pulsating light that made the air hum with energy. The three angels raised their hands, and beams of radiant light connected to the strangers' forms, their presence marking the moment of their transformation.
"Choose your abilities," the golden-armored angel commanded, his voice echoing in their minds. "You will be granted four active abilities and four passive ones. This will form the foundation of your power."
The three strangers stood, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of divine energy that rushed into their minds. It was as though a vast, forbidden library of untold powers opened before them. The options were overwhelming, limitless—strength beyond imagining, speed that defied the laws of nature, magic that could shatter the very fabric of reality.
Alex Hayes, always the tactician, wasted no time in making his choices. His hands gripped invisible reins, focusing on abilities that would grant him unyielding strength, battlefield control, and the ability to endure any challenge. His mind burned with a singular goal—victory.
Emilia Volkova's eyes narrowed as she sifted through the powers offered to her. Her heart, a furnace of ambition, burned brighter with every choice. She selected those that would give her the ability to manipulate, to strike fear into the hearts of those who dared oppose her. She would take control, no matter the cost.
Ryuji Kang Min-Jae, ever the shadow, moved with calculated precision, choosing powers that would allow him to strike from unseen angles, to manipulate the battlefield to his will, and to control the minds of others without them ever knowing he had done so. His trust was as fleeting as the wind—his alliances would be temporary, if he made any at all.
As their choices solidified, the divine runes beneath their feet flared, engulfing them in blinding light once again. Their forms trembled as the powers surged through them, altering them, reshaping their very beings. The sensation of falling overwhelmed them once more, the abyss pulling them into a freefall as they were sent to their destinies.
The golden-armored angel's voice echoed in their minds one last time: "Survive. Conquer. Decide your fate."
And with that, the world of Elarion awaited. They would carve their own paths, though they did not yet know that their destinies were intertwined—each would rise, each would fall. The legend of the three wanderers had begun.
Part 2 – The Paths Diverge
The sensation of falling was unlike anything they had experienced before. It wasn't a simple drop; it was as if the very fabric of space had torn open and they were being hurled into a new reality, a different world. Their vision blurred with the speed of their descent, their bodies weightless, yet heavy with the pressure of the unknown. The world was spiraling, and their thoughts became a cacophony of confusion.
Then, with a sudden, jolting impact, the freefall stopped.
The three of them found themselves standing on solid ground—though it wasn't the ground they were accustomed to. The landscape stretched out before them, an alien world unlike anything they could have imagined. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks blanketed with thick snow, while vast forests stretched across the horizon like an endless sea of green. Strange flora grew in bizarre patterns, with colors that defied earthly logic—glowing flowers that shimmered under a sun that was too distant and too cold to provide any real warmth.
The air here felt different, thicker somehow, as if infused with magic—an unspoken force that pulsed through everything. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, rocky, with patches of strange grass that swayed unnaturally in the breeze. It was a place where the boundaries of reality seemed thin, and anything could be possible.
Alex Hayes staggered forward, steadying himself as he surveyed his surroundings. His mind, sharp from years of military strategy, quickly assessed the terrain. His hands clenched into fists as he gathered his bearings. This is real. The world he had known was gone, replaced by something entirely new. A world where survival was the only guarantee, and the power of the divine would either break or make him.
"This is it," he muttered under his breath. His military instincts kicked in immediately—his first priority was to assess, then adapt. There would be no time for weakness.
Behind him, Emilia Volkova brushed herself off with a practiced grace, her eyes already scanning the new world, the gleam of ambition and hunger in her emerald gaze. The challenge before her wasn't just surviving—it was dominating. She had been underestimated her entire life, but now, here, she was given the tools to make her ambitions a reality. She had always believed that power was there for the taking, and now she was going to seize it. She would show them all. Let them think they control me, let them think they can predict me. They'll be dead wrong.
Ryuji Kang Min-Jae landed lightly on his feet, his every motion deliberate and precise. His mind was already calculating, moving ahead, mapping out potential allies and enemies, even as he stood on the unfamiliar land. He didn't need to look at his companions to know that they were just as lost as he was. But where they saw chaos, he saw opportunity. They were pawns in a game they didn't understand yet. But Ryuji? He would be the one to control the pieces. Trust no one, he thought. Use them when necessary, discard them when they're not. Survival is all that matters.
The trio was separated by a chasm of distrust, their individual paths already set in motion as the world awaited their choices. None of them were aware of the others, the divine light that had connected them now faded into oblivion. They were alone—each in a strange land, each bearing the same task, but with their own motives. They would walk different roads, but their fates, though unwritten, were already intertwined.
Ryuji squinted as he studied the unfamiliar land around him. "First, find shelter," he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper. His sharp eyes caught the faint outline of a distant settlement, a small village nestled in the valley between the mountains. He moved quickly, his movements fluid and silent, the shadows wrapping around him as he disappeared into the terrain, making himself part of the landscape. The key to survival is knowledge—and knowing who your enemies are before they know you.
Meanwhile, Alex took a deep breath, the fresh air tingling against his skin. His mind was already shifting into military mode. He would need to learn everything about this new world: its politics, its powers, its dangers. His instincts told him that this world was not as welcoming as it appeared. There were hidden forces at play, and he would need allies. He would build an army, or take one from whoever was foolish enough to oppose him. For now, though, he needed information.
Looking to the horizon, Alex made his decision. "I'll head west," he said, voice steady. "Find a town or city. Gather information. We'll need to know where we stand if we're going to survive." His hands flexed into fists as he took his first steps, already envisioning the future—one where he would command, and the world would bow.
Emilia, ever the opportunist, had no intention of following the same path as the others. She turned away from the others, a calculating gleam in her eyes as she surveyed the landscape. "The world is full of fools who can be used," she murmured, speaking more to herself than anyone else. "I'll start where I can. In the right place, with the right tools, I can make anything work." With a confident stride, she moved toward the forest, her footsteps silent on the soft earth, her mind already planning her next steps.
As each of the three walked in separate directions, they didn't realize that the threads of fate were already being woven around them. The world of Elarion was vast and full of dangers—demons, monsters, and kingdoms at war—but the greatest threat would not come from the outside. It would come from within, from their choices, from their ambitions, from their very essence.
Some would rise as heroes, some would fall as villains, and some would become legends in the making. But one thing was certain: this world would never be the same.
The three wanderers had arrived, and their paths were set. The future was theirs to shape—but it was also a future full of uncertainty, conflict, and the constant lure of power.
And somewhere in the distance, a dark shadow stirred.