2 days laterAt 4 am...Ken had completed his basic training with Suzan"Thanks, ma'am, I have a feeling that I'd be able to ace this exam"." It's time to head out, let's get going," Zack said."Best of luck both of you," said Sophia."Thanks, Aunt" Zack smiled."Don't the two of you let me down..." Suzan's eyes were somewhat filled with tears."Ma'am, don't worry about Zack, I'll take care of him" Ken asserted."I know kid, you always had taken care of him...and I'm not worried, It's just...I won't be able to see him for a while..." she barely spoke.Zack moved towards her and hugged her, "Mom, I'll be back in one piece...just wait for me" Zack looked unusually emotional.The tears Suzan was trying to hold inside her eyes, rolled down her cheeks."I'm counting on you," she said.Ken seeing this also shed a tear but with a calm smile on his face."My prayers are with the two of you...do your best" said Suzan.The boys headed towards the destination after saying farewell."Ken, Increa
Team 1Zack EverestSarah PalinHenry HowardTeam 2Ken DanielEmilia EdisonJoseph SmithTeam 3Norma MustangAiden WilsonIsabella SchwartzTeam 4Eliza GabrielLeo LucileThomas RedTeam 5Violet ColbertRachel FrankVicky Hansen"Ah, so we are not on the same team," Ken looked a little disappointed."Hmm...not a problem we shall do our best" Zack smiled."yep, we will pass!!" Ken bumped his fist with Zack and went to his team members, and so did Zack.Ken introduced himself"I'm Ken from the Rodriguez clan but I've never used my powers before two days that's a long story...so I'll need your help, but I'll try my best to not slow down you guys...""I'm Emilia, not from a flashy clan like you but I have skills in Lighting elements and I'm a healer too...my family has close relationships with some clan Crawford's members so they recommended me to take this examination, I'll help but don't you dare to order me around" Emilia a proud girl with long hair and fair complexion, introduced
All of the candidates went to the waiting area, they were stable enough to not be shifted to the infirmary.They were offered water and some energy-boosting drinks.After a while of rest, Sir Alex came with his subordinates."Now I'll announce the names of the candidates who have passed the entrance exam and also the team and unit they are assigned to".Some of the candidates looked pretty nervous, Ken looked at Eliza's team "I hope they will pass, they are so good and helpful and it's also nice that they know how to not leave an injured friend behind unlike this arrogant girl in my team" he thought."A total of 9 candidates have been passedTheir names areZack EverestViolet ColbertRachel FrankHenry HowardSarah PalinKen DanielJoseph SmithEliza GabrielLeo LucileWe have observed your fighting styles and abilities and judged which of you should be put on the same team and which unit you're best suited for.The first teamSarah Palin, Leo Lucile, and Joseph Smith you three are a
The next day, at 5 am.Zack's team was still asleep as they were much fatigued by yesterday's test, including Zack himself when the alarms in their rooms started to ring. All of them woke up and went to freshen up themselves and got ready. They were called outside at 5:45 and given breakfast by a bot who also conveyed the message to be in the meet-up room at 6:15."Angels of the burning Sun have some high-level technology I really didn't expect like how even in the test our opponents were robots, how are they so advanced in AI and stuff, the world outside the organization couldn't even imagine" Ken mumbled after he finished his breakfast."Stop your mumbling once in a while, have at least your breakfast with peace" Zack replied."You just can't bear my observation skills could ya haha" Ken kept quiet after that.Violet stood up exactly at 6:15, without asking the time, Ken looked at his wristwatch and said: "it's time let's go, Zack".Zack wondered how she knew the exact time was she
After a few hours.Sir Jason entered the meet-up room where Zack, Ken, and Violet were reading the thick-sized manuals which were lying on the table along with the weapons."Hey guys, how am I looking?"Upon hearing the footsteps and Sir Jason's voice Ken and Zack looked up, it was Sir Jason but with a weird get-up and artificial nose, they tried their best but could not control their laugh."Hahahaha...What is with this weird disguise Sir Jason?" Ken said while laughing uncontrollably."What am I not looking fine to you?" Sir Jason said with a worried face."No Sir you are looking like a weirdo hahaha," Zack said with a poker face and laughed afterward."Stop laughing idiots, I am not the only one who is going to travel in disguise, go to your rooms there are your getups as well, these dresses are specially designed to hide our weapons as well they are not as durable as the Angels of the burning Sun's uniform but we can not afford to show ourselves as the soldiers now plus this is a
Zack, Ken, Violet, and Sir Jason finally arrived at the woodland crossing which they will find the destination for their first mission as a team.They were able to sneak into the forest without catching any attention. They walked into the forest without using any powers like ordinary sightseers. According to their anticipated time, they'll reach the ruins in a day or so with a four hours sleep break.Next day.Everything went the way they planned, they reached the ruins. It was once a prosperous city that had mysteriously disappeared without a trace thousand of years ago.They could not find any trace of the foes after searching for hours. "Maybe they have also anticipated that they would be investigated so they are hiding their presence otherwise it would be a piece of cake to find their evil aura within a range of 75km" Sir Jason put in."A sensory range of 75 kilometers, amazing isn't it Zack" Ken was surprised."Hmm you're right that's quite a feat to have sensory detection power
Violet was about to save herself with her sword but before she could do so Zack suddenly spoke "No Violet don't" he spoke in a manner as if he sensed she intended to destroy the devils.Zack attacked the devil's arm with the weapon Sir Jason had given him and saved Violet."We have to fight them but keep them alive," said Zack.Violet accepted Zack's advice and slowly withdrew her sword from her sheath. The devil—greedy and rage-filled—was still sprawled on the ground in front of her, his black eyes boring into her with vicious intensity. Taking a deep breath, she raised her weapon, just as Zack had done moments before, and the devil's hand flew to his chest, gripping what remained of his tattered shirt. Thin rivulets of blood ran down his forearm, seeping into the dirt beneath him.Violet had just raised her sword above her head when a loud thud echoed through the night, followed by a satisfying groan. In a matter of seconds, the devil lay motionless on the ground, knocked out cold.
Violet's body shook violently as cursed energy began to overflow from her, cascading out of her like an unstoppable tide. Her eyes, usually so carefully hidden away, flew wide and wild, face twisted in agony."Cursed energy is overloaded in her," Sir Jason put in worriedly. "Maybe because the cursed stone is near and it gave rise to some curse she has.""Should we find that cursed stone and destroy it then?" Ken asked, looking around for the source of Violet's pain.Zack was also worried, and he replied, "Wouldn't it be dangerous to destroy it if it has some connection with her heart?""Or maybe it's her eyes that are cursed," Sir Jason mused, "that's why she never opens them. But it's not something we can find out as we are not curse specialists."The group fell silent, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task before them. It was clear that the only way to save Violet was to find the cursed stone, but the dangers that awaited them were still unknown."Well, there's only one way to fi
Back to Present"Thank you, Ma'am Suzan. And I'd personally like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Daniel and Miss Sophia too. Her visions—they’ve always been the stuff of legend, but today, they literally saved us," Petra said with heartfelt sincerity.Suzan smiled warmly. "You’re just like your uncle, Seth. Always strong in the face of difficulties," she remarked, her eyes twinkling with admiration.Petra returned the smile, but the atmosphere was somber. Zack, tormented by guilt over Petra’s injury, wore a look of deep sorrow. He felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility for the loss of her arm.Reading his troubled mind, Petra spoke gently, "Zack, please don’t blame yourself for this. It pains me to see you suffer because of my injury. It’s our will that matters, not the loss of a limb or two."Zack looked at her, eyes filled with regret, and nodded slowly, trying to ease the weight of guilt from his heart.Suzan sighed, her eyes reflecting the turmoil of the recent events. "Look, w
"Let's leave this lair," Suzan said with resolute determination, pulling the devil along by the chains that bound him.She then turned to Zack. "Carry the woman and her child," she instructed. "They need to be moved to safety."Zack nodded in understanding. With careful and gentle movements, he lifted the injured woman and her child, securing them in his arms. With them safely cradled, they stepped through the shimmering gateway.Petra and Zack both nodded in agreement. Suzan then pulled a compact device from her pocket and pressed a button. Instantly, a gateway materialized, leading them back to the serene and majestic Mountains of Purity."We need to report all of this to headquarters," Suzan said firmly. "This is a matter of great significance.""Mom, how were you able to use your powers inside that lair?" Zack asked as they began their journey. "And how did you manage to find it? Most importantly, how did you get inside?""Yes, ma'am, please clarify," Petra added, her voice faint
Zack's fury intensified with each passing second, his attacks becoming more relentless. Blood spewed from the devil's mouth with every devastating blow. "Magnificent," the devil wheezed, clearly impressed by Zack's extraordinary power. "At such a young age, you wield such strength. You'd make a formidable monster.""Shut up! I'm no mosnter like you," Zack retorted, his voice thick with rage, delivering a punch that sent the devil crashing into the ground."Zack, he'll die! He's human. How do we...?" Petra's voice was faint, barely audible through her pain."Yeah, she's right. You wouldn't kill a human, would you? After all, it's your job to protect humanity," the devil sneered, his condition growing increasingly dire.Zack, undeterred by Petra's plea, continued his assault. "Well, I don't CONSIDER YOU A HUMAN!" he roared, his fists smashing into the devil's face. Blood spattered onto Zack's face, mingling with his tears of rage. He pounded away, driven by a relentless fury."You are j
Despite Zack's continuous struggle, the barrier didn’t budge. Petra was in intense pain, every second feeling like an eternity. The devil leaned closer to her, his voice dripping with mockery. “Your resilience is something else. I wish you were on my side, but it isn't too late, is it? I know your true potential, and I can unleash it. There’s no one in this world who doesn’t like power and authority, and I have both. I can give them to you. What do you say?”Petra, barely holding on, gritted her teeth and replied, “All power and authority belong to God, and you belong to hell.”“Oh yeah?” the devil said loudly, his voice filled with malice. He twisted her arm with such force that the bone snapped, and the arm came off. The child's face was splattered with her blood, and Petra cried and shrieked in pain so hard that her voice echoed through the eerie landscape.The devil, unfazed by Petra’s defiance, glanced at Zack with a smirk. “You see how futile your efforts are? This is what happe
"Show yourselves! We know you are watching, and there’s not only one of you. Unfortunately, we don’t have time for your hide and seek!" Zack shouted into the eerie silence.After a moment of tension, a child came running from a distance, visibly terrified. As he got closer, Zack and Petra saw that his forehead was bleeding. The child barely managed to reach Zack before collapsing, his plea barely audible: "Save my mom, please."Petra rushed to the child, her eyes widening in fear as she tried to use her healing abilities. "I can’t use my healing power here!" she exclaimed, panic creeping into her voice. She quickly reached into the bag hanging around her neck and pulled out a potion, applying it to the child's forehead, hoping it would help.Zack, baffled by Petra’s inability to use her powers, attempted to gather energy in his palm but found himself unable to do so. Just then, a cloaked figure emerged, dragging a woman who appeared to be the child's mother. As the figure drew closer,
**Chapter 8: The Unintended Descent**Suddenly, a reddish light surrounded them, radiating from a focal point towards the mountain. It seemed to form a gateway, pulsating with an ominous energy."Petra, is that a gateway?" Zack asked, his voice tinged with apprehension."It looks like one, but what is it doing here?" Petra replied, her eyes widening in surprise."Are you feeling that gravity? It's increasing," Zack observed, his voice growing more urgent."Yes, and very soon we'll be inside that thing if we don't run away," Petra said, her tone laced with concern."Run! We can't venture in there before Mom comes back," Zack insisted.They both started to run, aiming to escape the gravitational pull that seemed to be dragging them towards the gateway. The terrain blurred past them as they sprinted, but the gravity became so strong that they began to feel themselves being pulled backward."Petra, grab my hand!" Zack shouted as he noticed her getting dangerously close to the center of th
Suzan headed out to deliver the cure to Sophia, her steps resolute and filled with urgency, knowing how critical her mission was for Daniel and Sophia's well-being.Meanwhile, Zack and Petra meticulously examined their surroundings, searching for clues to unravel their predicament. The terrain was rugged, with towering trees casting elongated shadows and the underbrush whispering secrets with every rustle of leaves."Miss Suzan must've been out of the bounds of the Mountains of Purity," Petra observed, her eyes scanning the horizon as she contemplated their next move."Yeah, I hope she comes back soon so we can proceed and discover what lies beyond those gateways," Zack replied, his voice a blend of anticipation and caution. He couldn't shake the sense of unease as he eyed the imposing peaks around them, each seemingly guarding untold secrets."Yes, but don't forget we might stumble upon something here that could unravel the mystery," Petra added thoughtfully. Her expression grew more
Emilia turned to Ken, her expression serious. "We should take her to headquarters. Petra mentioned before leaving that we should report everything to HQ. It almost slipped my mind, but now I think she foresaw something."Ken nodded, his concern evident. "Alright. We shouldn't waste any more time; she isn't looking very good. Can't you try to heal her?""I can try, but..." Emilia hesitated, a troubled look crossing her face. "There's something about her aura all of a sudden that's telling me not to do it, but I'll still try."She knelt beside Lilith and began to channel her healing energy. As she did, a strange sensation coursed through her. Emilia's hands started to bleed, the pain sharp and unexpected."Leave it, Emilia!" Ken exclaimed urgently. "We can't afford to have our only healer in bad shape. Heal your hands."Emilia reluctantly stopped, her hands trembling as she withdrew her energy. "You're right," she murmured, quickly tending to her own wounds.Ken carefully lifted Lilith,
With a sense of relief, Lilith moved to the wall and retrieved a picture, holding it out for Ken and Emilia to see. Their expressions shifted from curiosity to shock as they gazed at the image, their minds racing with unanswered questions.Lilith took a deep breath, sensing the weight of the revelation settling over them, before taking a seat nearby. "This," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, "is something you need to see."Emilia squinted at the picture, her eyes widening as she recognized a young Violet standing beside Lilith. "Is that... Violet?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.Lilith nodded weakly. "Yes, she... she's my twin sister. There's so much you need to know about her, about our past, but..." Her voice wavered, the strain of the confession evident.Ken's eyes darted between Lilith and the photograph. "What do you mean? Why haven't we heard about this before?"Lilith took another deep breath, her strength fading. "Violet... she... be careful... trust.