Rivalsh sat in a vibrant garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and the gentle buzz of insects flitting from leaf to leaf. He was perched elegantly on a chair at a center table, where a chessboard lay with its pieces untouched. Across the hedge, a man with striking crimson hair approached, his eyes partially hidden behind a golden mask. Dressed in a crimson suit adorned with gold embroidery and white gloves, he was the infamous Crimson lord Eltries.
Without exchanging a word, they began their game, Rivalsh moved a white pawn. As they played, Rivalsh turned to Eltries, curiosity piqued. "What devious scheme are you plotting this time?" Eltries remained unfazed, simply sliding a bishop across the board and letting out a small scoff, which only served to irritate Rivalsh further. Undeterred, he pressed on, "You really don't want to cross me. Withdraw your minions, or you'll face my wrath." The tension thickened as Eltries paused, raising an eyebrow. "Pawns can only move forward," he replied coolly, advancing another pawn closer to his king.
In the dimly lit chamber, Soren struggled to make sense of what was happening, his mind slipping into a fog. He dropped to his knees, drooling and fighting to hold onto his sanity as his body convulsed violently. Then, a calming voice echoed in his mind, offering a bit of relief from the pain. "Tell me, what is your name, child?" Soren forced himself to look up at the figure of the sealed Ecrea, managing to reply, "So… Soren…" As the exoskeleton continued to envelop most of his body, he struggled to catch his breath. "I am Vixra'al, a primordial vessel," she said softly, with a soothing voice.
He wanted to ask questions, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess. Thankfully, Vixra'al sensed his confusion and began to answer some of his unspoken questions about her abduction and confinement. In return, she inquired about the fierce spirit that allowed him to endure such agony and what motivated him to keep fighting for life. With a gentle smile, Soren sincerely replied, and Vixra'al was impressed by his determination to push through, even when faced with such dire circumstances. "Come closer, let me help you… Soren."
As he crawled toward the glowing capsule, he cried out for help, the only sanctuary offering solace. "I would like to forge a contract with you, Soren, but first, tell me, who do you wish to become?" Without a moment's hesitation, he extended his human hand toward her. As their contract began to form, the leader of the masked assailants burst through the hole, his eyes widened in shock at the sight of Soren and the towering humanoid Ecrea before him.
Confused, he froze as Soren's left eye emits a brilliant azure glow, his pupil taking on a cross-like shape. Soren screamed in agony, his body underwent yet another transformation., In his mind, Vixra'al voiced her plea, "Soren, become my vessel, and I will be your eyes, cutting through the lies of this world. I'll be your hammer, forging weapons that can stand even against gods, and your wisdom, unraveling the secrets of existence. Go forth and make my wishes come true, we shall become one!"
Energy crackled around him as the swelling in his body began to stabilize. What was once a prison transformed into a blessing as an exoskeleton took shape, forming a piece of armor. As half of his body settled, the masked figure snapped back to reality and brandished his claws, ready to attack.
As the tension built, the capsule suddenly burst open, unleashing a torrent of liquid that splashed everywhere. Shards of debris flew in all directions, and the lone humanoid figure inside disintegrated into nothingness, leaving no trace behind. The assailant jumped back, waiting for the chaos to settle as the ground soaked up the remnants. Confusion clouded his mind; all he could focus on was the mission at hand.
Amidst the wreckage, Soren rose eerily, his appearance oddly transformed as he borrowed the guise of an Ecrea while still being human. The assailant, curious about his identity, asked who he was. Soren replied with his name, glancing at his hands. His left eye caught a shift, and suddenly he began to see the fire like pa radiating from his body, energy signatures buzzing in his senses. A sharp sensation pricked at his left side, and as he turned his attention, he spotted the assailant standing there, also emanating an aura, though not as powerful as his own.
Without wasting a moment's breath, Soren nimbly dodged, his combat skills combined with Ecrean perception allowing him to effortlessly evade every attack. The assailant, thought this person was merely testing his strength and began to take things more seriously as he removes his cloak, revealing a body adorned with various apparatuses, his claw directly stitched to his arm. He activated his Belligerent Factor, but this time, the apparatus responded, amplifying his abilities further as his aura surged and veins bulged, hissing fumes escaping from the holes in his back as he launched his assault.
Soren met him head-on, swinging his claws to intercept the enemy, and their clash sent sparks flying in all directions. The assailant executed unconventional maneuvers that caught Soren off guard. He struggled to dodge, but then a voice echoed in his mind, "This human, despite his already exceptional skill, has an Ecrean core implanted in his body. Focus, remove it, and he'll revert to normal." Soren squinted, concentrating until he finally saw the assailant's body turn transparent, revealing the core attached to his heart.
He blocked an incoming attack with his left arm and, with his right claws, gripped the apparatus embedded in the assailant's chest, beginning to rip it away. The assailant's eyes turned white as Soren watched the core steadily dissolve in his palm, its power being absorbed. The voice in his head explained that his body had become a conduit, capable of extracting powers from the Ecrea he had just defeated.
Inside, he felt a surge of power, even if just a little, but then he fainted right there from the toll his body was taking.
As he slept, he found himself dreaming of a strange and unfamiliar world, filled with vast, serene landscapes and people going about their daily lives. Suddenly, his vision blurred, and chaos erupted as flames engulfed the surroundings. Monsters began to invade, bringing with them screams and death that shattered the once vibrant lands. Cries for help echoed far and wide as heroes fought valiantly against these creatures, pouring every ounce of their strength into the battle. But just as the monsters seemed to gain the upper hand, a fierce woman emerged, leading the charge in a fight that felt hopeless. The battle ended tragically, leaving piles of lifeless bodies strewn across the ground. Amidst the devastation stood a lone figure, a humanoid Ecrea, adorned with horns, strong bladed wings and a muscular build with strange markings etched into his skin like seared off from intense heat, wrapped around dark miasma.
His eyes burn ominously like the entrance of hell as he growled, stirring the crowd of Ecrea beneath him, darkness trailing in his wake.
Jolted awake, Soren sat up, rubbing his head and feeling a bit off. He glanced at his right hand and was taken aback, it was clear now that everything happening around him was no dream. He spotted the assailant lying on the ground, relieved to see he was still breathing. He left the chamber, the distant alarms blaring in his ears. As he walked, he heard guards rushing toward his intended path, prompting him to veer off into an unfamiliar route. He tried to avoid as many people as possible, his mind racing with thoughts of how to reach his friends and explain what had happened, hoping they would still accept him.
Then, he noticed a soft glow ahead and stumbled upon a secluded field of flowers, white blooms stretching as far as the eye could see. It was a serene oasis amidst the night's darkness, radiating a calming energy that eased his heart and let his guard down. He savored the moment until he heard footsteps approaching. As a figure emerged from the shadows, Soren turned to find Lysaria, her sword pointed at him. "Intruder, surrender now or die!" Her fierce gaze was intimidating yet strangely captivating.
As their eyes locked, Soren turned to face her fully, causing Lysaria to lower her rapier in surprise. She asked why he had defected from the faction, and he began to explain the truth of his situation. But even as he spoke, Lysaria remained cautious, her voice steady as she posed a question only Soren could answer, cutting through any potential deception. "Recite the love letter you sent me in 4th grade, sincerely."
After a brief pause, Soren processed her words, and in a moment of sheer embarrassment, he exclaimed, "Whaaaat?!" His heart raced as the voice in his head chuckled, pretending not to hear anything. He could almost picture Virxa'al giggling at the whole scene.
Soren gathered his courage, standing tall as he poured his heart out, each word dripping with sincerity, almost like an unintentional confession that captured Lysaria's heart. "I love you, Lysaria with all my heart," he declared, his final words carried on a warm breeze that brushed against her delicate skin, her hair flowing like a river. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she calmed down, a smile creeping onto her face. But just as she was about to respond, the garden trembled, and the dome above them opened up. A ship loomed overhead, and warriors from their faction swarmed the area, the ship disrupting the peaceful flora. Soren looked up to see Kael and his squad peering down, a voice slicing through the air, "So, you've finally revealed your true colors, Soren my enemy!" Kael leaped from the great height to confront Soren alone, declaring, "He's mine!" With that, Kael strode confidently toward Soren, demanding he bow down.
He tried to explain, pleading that he meant no harm, but Vixra'al's voice echoed in his mind, "His heart is full of pride and hubris, you'll never convince him." Running out of options, Soren raised his fist in defiance. "O ho!" Kael exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he charged at Soren with his claymore. Soren blocked the attack, and after a flurry of exchanges, he countered with a punch that landed squarely on Kael's face, showcasing his superior combat skills. But at the last moment, he altered his attack, only managing to scratch Kael's cheek. Kael stumbled back, blood on his fingers, his eyes filled with rage as he unleashed his true power. His claymore split into two, and his hair turned a brilliant yellow, lightning crackling around him. In that moment, Soren realized the immense power radiating from Kael, something he had always yearned for but could never attain, the might of an S-tier Crosent. Even Vixra'al sensed the danger and urged him to flee.
Soren's Ecrean instincts are on high alert as lightning crackles around Kael, illuminating the dark sky with bursts of light. The air sizzles with each strike, leaving a charred path in its wake. With an attack fueled by pure malice, Soren can only dodge, a single hit would expose him to the elements and spell instant defeat. Kael, consumed by unrelenting fury, raises his sword, and the stormy skies shimmer with yellow sparks. Hundreds of lightning bolts take shape like weapons, and Lysaria can only watch as her warriors shield her from danger. "Take this, you vermin!" Kael shouts, sending weapons hurtling toward Soren, controlling them as if they were extensions of himself.
Thanks to his keen senses, Soren manages to evade the barrage, but he finds himself trapped in a relentless assault. Desperate to escape, he closes his eyes to visualize his surroundings. Vixra'al, observing from his eye, is struck by Soren's determination and his rapid mastery of his abilities. "A prodigy, indeed. I can't let him perish here," Vixra'al thinks to himself.
As if mirroring the assailant's moves, he dodges the attacks with surprising ease. "So, this is what it feels like?" Soren wonders aloud. "You're tapping into a power from within you, a force that can reshape your destiny," Vixra'al explains. Then, Soren spots a way out the ceiling above.
He waits for the weapons to line up perfectly, then springs from one to the next, his legs reinforced by a sturdy exoskeleton that cushions the impact as he launches into the sky. "Yes, I'm free!" he shouts, but out of nowhere, a booming voice interrupts, "Not so fast, vermin!" The weapons dispersed, and a massive wave of energy starts to gather in the sky. Soren catches sight of the clouds swirling menacingly above him, and suddenly, a fierce bolt of lightning strikes, burning his skin. His screams pierce the night, grabbing the attention of his friends. "Soren..." Fran murmurs, concern etched on his face as he glances in his direction.
Burnt, he collapsed back into the flora, his body smoking and crackling. Soren gasped for breath on the ground as Kael stepped closer, a grin spreading across his face before plunging his sword into Soren's chest, pinning him down. Lysaria shouted his name, but the warriors held her back, preventing her from intervening. Kael erupted into laughter, driving the sword deeper into Soren's wound, his eyes wide with delight. Soren coughed, the searing pain from Kael's lightning sword overwhelming him. He tried to grab the weapon, but Kael unleashed a more powerful shock, intensifying the agony. "How does it feel? Tell me! Don't die on me too quickly," he taunted.
Soren was too weak to fight back, slipping into unconsciousness as Kael tightened his grip around his neck, lifting his frail body closer to the brink of death. Just then, Lysaria broke free from her captors and rushed in to push Kael away, determined to shield Soren from any further harm. Kael, irritated by her defiance, slapped her, causing her lips to bleed, but she stood her ground, resolute in her mission to protect him. As he raised his sword to strike her, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst.
Out of nowhere, another Crosent entered the chamber, dressed in heavy white armor with striking black accents. The warriors parted to let him through as he approached, casting a glance at Soren, who had already succumbed to unconsciousness. He urged the two to cease their fighting, explaining that within their faction, turning against one another was considered a serious sin. Kael clicked his tongue in annoyance but ultimately sheathed his sword.
While they were preoccupied, seizing the moment, Vixra'al took full control, enveloping Soren in a full-bodied exoskeleton-like armor and sprouting a pair of wings. He soared rapidly through the skies, sending flower petals swirling in the wake of the powerful turbulence. Kael shouted, "You can't get away!" as he raised his sword to launch another attack.
But the armored Crosent was way quicker, with just a simple gaze, he unleashed a devastating force that severed Soren's wings from his body, sending him plummeting to his doom. "Soren, no!" Lysaria cried out, collapsing to her knees as she helplessly watched him fall, tears streaming down her face amidst the drifting petals, a heartbreaking scene marking the end of a life that once held the promise of humanity, now overshadowed by the brutal actions of those meant to uphold justice.
Soren gazed at Eldorin, tears left his eyes as he slowly drifts away from the place he had hoped would give him a sense of bond, a home to live in, and a place to find love. All those dreams felt shattered as he plummets down to the surface.