Above the clouds, Eldorin floats serenely, far away from the dangers of Ecrea. It thrives on Aether, creating a paradise for the fortunate few who live without a worry in the world. However, as their population grew, different factions began to form, causing a rift in their leadership. In this land, trees and plants flourish, and animals roam freely, including birds that are protected by an invisible barrier, shielding them from the sun's harsh rays.
Workers rushed in to gather raw materials to restock their supplies, as a massive ship docks at the fortress's makeshift pier. The gate hisses open, and champions step out, led by a stunning maiden with flowing hair, clad in snow-white armor that accentuates her slender figure. Her captivating eyes shine as she walks confidently, accompanied by other warriors proudly displaying the flag of their faction, the Rivalsh of White, one of the most prominent groups and leaders in expeditions. From inside the ship, a cart emerges, pulled by chains, carrying the remains of Ecrea and the cores extracted from the fierce battle that raged below.
Behind a thicket of bushes, a young man peeked out from the entrance of the boiler room, which offered a perfect view of the girl he admired. His face lit up with the excitement of a devoted fan, but the pile of crystals behind him trembled. Startled, he called out, "Who's there?" but received no answer. Suddenly, a young woman burst out from the dirt pile, sporting suspenders, goggles, and a wild mess of hair. "Sup, Soren?" she greeted. Soren, clearly unimpressed, shot her a disgusted look before turning his attention back to his crush. "Oh, Lysaria. you came back sooner than I expected," he said, gesturing for her to be quiet.
Feeling ignored, she hopped onto his back and shielded her eyes with her hand to get a better look at the materials they were working with. "Hey, get off me, Mili!" he protested, but she persisted. As she examined the dismembered parts they had captured, she accurately identified the Ecrea. Soren was a bit impressed, but his mood shifted, and he stood up to get back to work.
Back in his usual routine inside the tube-like halls, Fran, his best friend, rested his arm over Soren's shoulder, looking ecstatic as he asked where he had been. Irritated, Soren did his best to ignore him while Fran, sporting a blue shirt, a bandana, and a bone necklace, rushed in front of him. Soren simply went the other way. "Is something the matter?" he muttered, picking up his tool to get back to work.
Meanwhile, Fran settled in with three other guys. "Looking grumpier today, huh?" asked Greg, a burly man with scars on his arms and suspenders. "Yeah, forget about him. He's just drowning in his fantasies. You know he'll never reach her level," chimed in Derek, the scrawny guy in a loose shirt and headphones. The two of them shushed Greg, and Fran added, "Is she with him?" Soren paused for a moment but then went back to his task. Fran sighed deeply, resting his hand behind his neck. "You know, it's never too late. It may be over for you, but this new world might have other plans, just think about it." Greg nodded in agreement, and the mood lightened a bit.
Just then, Mili burst in, carrying another stolen item. She hid her arms behind her back, and the three looked at her as if she had just committed a crime. They were used to her antics by now.
Smiling wide she excitedly revealed what she has hidden from her back, an Ecrean core as it radiates and throbs ever lightly from its oozing power, Fran and the rest took a step back "Put that away, that thing is dangerous!" Greg begged her all looking terrified, just then a hand turn to pick it up from the opposite side of the hall, Herliza with striking looks, cascading hair looking sharp with her officer uniform and an elegant sword confiscated the core and scolded Mili who fiddles her index finger in shame, she looked at Soren who is still busy with his work not caring about the world and asked the rest if he was slacking again today, but the three without hesitation shook their heads in unison as she glanced at Soren and left, Mili fell on her knees looking gloomy as Greg turned to her comforting her, Fran then looked at Soren who seems acting strangely indifferent.
That night at their respective quarters Soren slumped in his bed looking tired as he placed his arm on his forehead looking at the empty ceiling, he looked on his left and grabbed a book which he placed over his face a fairy tale book with elegant cover, old but its pages still looks pristine, he placed the book on his chest "Mother…" he murmured before drifting to sleep.
The next morning, during their break, Mili filled the barracks with her usual energy and chatter. Soren, trying to tune her out, shoved food into his mouth while Fran looked on, a bit curious about what was going on with him. He attempted to prank Soren, but Soren quickly dismissed him by putting away his plate. Dumbfounded, Fran searched for an excuse as Soren walked away.
Derek and Fran exchanged glance, staring blankly at the sky. Soren nibbled on a piece of bread, lost in thought, while Fran leaned over the railings beside him. "Anything I should know?" Fran asked sincerely. Soren sighed and opened up about his frustrations. "I wonder how long this is going to last. I wish I had passed the trials, maybe my fate could have been different." Fran felt a pang of sadness seeing Soren's bitter expression.
He struggled to find the right words to comfort him, instead staring blankly at the sky. They shared a quiet moment, reminiscing about a not-so-distant past. A gentle breeze brushed against their skin, and suddenly, Fran burst into laughter, startling Soren. He recalled a funny moment and pulled out a toy gun from his pocket, raising it to block the sun. "See? With the light shining on it, it looks a bit real." As the shadow fell across his face, Soren didn't quite understand what he meant, but he took the toy when Fran handed it to him. "Why are you giving this to me?" Fran smiled and asked him to hold onto it until he became what he yearned to be. "Hang on to it till then." Soren smiled back, "Yeah, you think I'll succeed?" Fran playfully smacked his back and laughed again, "Sure, why not?"
As Soren looked back on their school days, he picked up the toy gun and accepted the playful gesture. Meanwhile, the three others by the entrance exchanged knowing smiles, soaking in the warmth of their friendship. Suddenly, "Ahem." Herliza appeared behind them, watching with a disapproving look for their lack of focus. She urged them to head inside, stepping aside to let them pass. As they walked by, Soren pretended not to notice her watchful gaze. Just as he was about to leave, Herliza called out to him. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately kept going, leaving her behind.
Rivalsh the Dual Luminary sat gracefully in his office, gazing out the glass window at the vast realm he ruled. Dressed in a pristine white suit, his white hair framed his face as he turned to the door. Four individuals entered, dragging along prisoners bound in dark chains. Kael, the leader of the squad, stepped forward onto the neatly embroidered carpet and knelt before Rivalsh, presenting the trembling intruders who were gagged and visibly shaken with fear. "M'lord, I've brought some intruders who threaten the peace of our domain," he reported. Rivalsh cast a fleeting glance at them, his crystal grey eyes momentarily meeting theirs before he looked away, issuing a single command, to capture the intruders and punish them. After Kael paid his respects and exited, Rivalsh snapped his fingers and instantly teleported to a vast chamber. At its center stood a massive glowing glass capsule.
As he took a step closer, the light illuminated a humanoid Ecrea, its body adorned with several tubes. The exoskeleton radiated an aura of terror, warning anyone who dared to challenge it in battle. "So, Eltries, you've finally decided to make your move, huh?" he said, his gaze fixed intently on his subject as bubbles floated upward inside the tube.
As Kael returned from his duties, he unexpectedly ran into Fran and Soren strolling through the revered halls. A playful smirk crept onto his face as he purposefully bumped into Soren, teasingly saying, "Watch where you're going." Fran rushed to help his friend, but when Soren recognized Kael, his former cadet from the trials, he quickly knelt and nudged Fran to follow suit. "What's a 99th time loser doing here?" Kael asked.
Annoyed, but now, all he could do was kneel before his superior. "We've been expected by Her Majesty Herliza to handle repairs in the command center," he explained. Kael clicked his tongue in irritation and kicked Soren in the face, showing no mercy as he continued to deliver blows.
Concerned, Fran shot a defiant glare at Kael, but one of Kael's burly subordinates stepped in, asking, "You got a problem?" Fran quickly backed down, knowing that defying them could lead to serious consequences. Satisfied, Kael stomped the ground, demanding Soren to lick his greaves.
Reluctantly, Soren reached out and began the humiliating task. Just then voice of a lady called out, Lysaria. "What's going on here?" She spotted Soren kneeling and turned her attention to Kael and his crew.
Kael clicked his tongue again, shrugged off Soren, and walked away, his subordinates trailing behind. Lysaria offered Soren a clean cloth to wipe away the blood, but he politely declined and walked off with Fran, leaving Lysaria looking after them with concern, as the commotion unfolds behind one of the hall's pillars, a robed, masked figure stands quietly, observing and waiting.
Fran and his friends were busy tending to Soren's wounds when Greg, ready for a fight, swung his fist toward his hand. Just then, Mili, not one to hold back, whacked Greg on the bald head with a pipe to stop him from retaliating. But when she saw him pouting, she softened and just focused on Soren's injury. "Hey, are you okay?" Fran asked, concern etched on his face. Soren forced a laugh and urged everyone to chill out.
Herliza walked into the barracks and immediately noticed Soren's bruises. Worry washed over her, and she rushed to his side, but Soren just stood up and said his goodbyes. Fran shot a glance at Herliza and made an excuse for Soren's abrupt departure. Derek, sensing the tension, decided to confront them about it later.
As their shifts wrapped up and everyone started to leave, Derek spotted Herliza heading out. He followed her and offered her some candies. She was a bit surprised by the gesture but took a piece, intrigued when Derek mentioned they were made by his wife. The delicate taste made her smile as she touched her cheek. "This is light and sweet! I never thought I'd get to enjoy something like this again."
Derek beamed back, "I'm glad you liked it! I'll make sure to ask my wife to whip up some extra next time." Still lost in thought, Herliza didn't notice Derek's curiosity. He leaned against the exit wall and asked, "So, what's the deal with you and Soren? Is there some tension between you two?"
Her smile faded, revealing her true feelings. After a brief pause, she finally opened up, leaning against the wall and brushing her hair behind her ear. "Soren is my childhood friend. We grew up close to each other on the surface." Derek listened intently as she recounted how the fracture had torn their lives apart. "My father held a high position in the White faction, which brought us here. When calamity struck our family, Soren's mother came back to the surface to save us. She took us to her ship, but when the Ecrea horde swarmed in, she chose to stay behind. I'll never forget the look in her eyes as their squad was wiped out."
Herliza shared that she had been aware of Soren's struggles with the trials and had tried her best to support him. For years, she worked tirelessly to secure her position within the faction, hoping to be part of their community. However, she lamented, "It seems to me he will never forgive me for what happened to his mother." There was a palpable sense of regret in her voice as she reflected on the past.
Derek stood and handed the whole box of candy to Herliza thanking her for telling him what he needs to know "thank you your majesty, I assure you Soren is not someone who hold grudges for long." He waves as he slowly disappears in the dark of the halls.
That night, Soren held tightly to the book his mother had given him before she passed away. Meanwhile, in the hidden passageways of the segment's power nodes, robed figures wearing masks moved stealthily, attaching small devices to the power tubes that snaked through the entire area. Their leader signaled, and they scattered. Soren pulled a box from his pocket, and with a hiss, a glowing syringe was revealed. Moments later, an explosion rocked the place, setting off alarms and waking the workers. Soren jolted awake, sitting up in bed as he heard the chaos outside. Smoke began to seep under his door, and he bolted out into the hallway. People were frantically rushing past him; Mili called out to him, along with Fran. As they all ran outside, they saw smoke billowing from the segment, cutting off the flow of Aether and plunging everything into darkness. "Is everyone okay?" he asked, scanning the crowd. He spotted Greg, who was holding his family close, tears streaming down their faces. Just as Soren was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he realized Derek was missing. A wave of concern washed over him, and he dashed outside, weaving through the guards toward the smoke, desperate to find his friend.
Inside, he made his way to Derek, only to find him lying on the ground, bleeding, while his wife and daughter cried at his side. Without wasting a moment, he rushed to check Derek's wound. Seeing him unconscious, he hoisted him onto his back. Thanks to his strong physique, he carried Derek with ease, asking what had happened. His daughter was inconsolable, and his wife explained that they had been attacked by a masked man, with Derek taking the blow to protect her. Once they reached safety, medical personnel hurried to tend to Derek's injuries.
As he drifted in and out of consciousness, Derek mustered the strength to tug on Soren's sleeve, urgently telling him that Herliza was still inside, battling one of the masked men. Without a second thought, Soren dashed back into the chaos. Derek managed a faint smile before slipping back into unconsciousness, covering his mouth against the smoke that filled the air. He raced through the halls until he heard the clash of steel.
There he found Herliza locked in combat with the leader of the masked attackers, while two members of her squad lay fallen. The masked man was incredibly skilled, wielding dark alloy mechanical claw, effortlessly parrying all of Herliza's strikes and countering with precision. With her breath running short, Herliza activated her Belligerent Factor a rare ability among the Crosents that significantly enhanced her physical, mental, and Aether control, pushing her abilities beyond their limits.
As her eyes glowed and energy surged into her sword, she lunged forward. The masked man, taken by surprise, couldn't react in time and was forced back, slamming into the wall and spitting blood. Soren rushed to her side, asking, "Are you okay?" Panting, Herliza glanced at him and nodded.
The masked man laughed, "He he he, you passed! You're a strong vessel," as if he wasn't hurt at all. His eyes glowed a fierce from behind the mask, and he activated his Belligerent Factor, doubling his speed.
With a swift motion, he pulled a syringe from his pocket, the needle inching closer to Herliza, its glow illuminating her. Thankfully, Soren reacted quickly, pushing her out of harm's way just as the masked man struck him in the chest. Disappointed, the masked man leaped back and made a hasty escape. "Hey, come back here?!" Herliza shouted, but instead of chasing him, she turned her attention to Soren, who was clutching his chest. "I'm… okay," he managed to rasp. Herliza smiled, grateful for his bravery, and expressed her sorrow for the fate that had befallen him and his mother.
Soren shook his head, reassuring her that he had already let go of any anger. With tears glistening in her eyes, Herliza wrapped her arms around him tightly. But then, out of nowhere, Soren was hit by a sharp, searing pain that coursed violently through his body. He started to convulse, and Herliza, panicking, asked what was going on. His eyes turned a fierce red, and his skin began to sprout scales, just like an Ecrea.
In a horrifying twist, he started to turn on her. Herliza fought to restrain him, but Soren's arm, now encased in a tough exoskeleton with razor-sharp claws, sent her sword flying. Half of his face transformed into the same hard shell as he growled like a wild animal, lunging at Herliza. She cried out to him, desperately trying to connect with the Soren she once knew, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed to regain his senses. But just as his fangs were about to sink into her neck, she managed to shove him away and dove for her sword. When she glanced back, Soren had disappeared, leaving only scratch marks in his wake. Moments later, guards rushed into the hall, hurrying toward Herliza.
Confused and desperate, Soren struggled to regain control over his body, fighting against the primal instincts threatening to take over. "What is happening?" he thought, feeling his body twitch violently as it transformed, held back only by sheer willpower. Dragging himself through the dimly lit halls, his senses were on high alert, picking up everything around him until a voice broke through the chaos. "Come, child, don't let the monster win."
His head throbbed as the telepathic voice echoed in his mind. "Who... who are you?!" Just as suddenly as it appeared, the voice vanished, but Soren's heightened senses allowed him to pinpoint its source. As the guards' footsteps drew near, he sprang into action, leaping high to evade them.
Navigating through the shadows with newfound agility and stamina, he followed the pull of a stronger presence, leading him to a sealed chamber. With a fierce determination, he pierced the thick wall with his powerful claws and dragged himself inside. His senses were screaming at him, and as he looked up, he saw a humanoid Ecrea floating in a massive glass capsule, each moment a struggle to maintain sanity.