Flashback three hundred years ago—
On the distant planet of Velorum, the battlefield erupted into chaos as royal knights clad in silver-lined crimson armor charged forward with shields raised and swords drawn, their voices merging into desperate war cries as they rushed toward an overwhelming force of wizards, swormasters, and towering monstrosities known only as Interlopers.
The faces of the wizard Interlopers were completely hidden beneath dark, flowing hoods, their features swallowed by shadow, while the sword-wielding ones moved with inhuman silence, their visors reflecting no light at all, and the massive Interlopers loomed above the battlefield as grotesque shadow-formed beast with enormous gaping mouths lined with jagged fangs and skin bristling with long, spike-like protrusions that pulsed with unstable Arcana.
Steel clashed violently against shadow as the knights collided with the Interlopers, and within moments the battlefield was drowned in blood and screams, the dusty ground layered with fallen knights whose armor was shattered and stained dark red, their lifeless bodies twisted at unnatural angles as the scent of iron and burned flesh filled the air.
From the rear of the battlefield, a woman stood firmly atop broken stone, calmly drawing her bow despite the carnage around her, her royal armor engraved with elegant silver markings that shimmered faintly with Arcana, her long gray hair flowing behind her as her sharp black eyes locked onto her targets. Her name was Widow.
She released an arrow, and the moment it struck the ground among the Interlopers, it detonated into a violent explosion of compressed Arcana that wiped out an entire cluster of shadows in a single blast.
"Hey, Henry, what are these creatures, and where did they come from?" Widow shouted with controlled urgency as she continued firing explosive arrows without a pause.
Nearby, a broad-shouldered man wielding amassive sword fought relentlessly at the front lines, his armor battered and cracked but his stance unwavering as he cleaved through Interlopers with raw force. His name was Henry.
"I don't know," Henry replied as he swung his sword in a wide arc, blowing away several Interlopers at once, "but no matter how many we cut down, more of them keep pouring out of that damned portal."
Both Widow and Henry turned their attention toward the distant horizon, where a massive swirling portal distorted the air itself as endless Interlopers continued to emerge.
Suddenly, a wizard Interloper raised its staff and launched a massive fireball directly toward Widow, the heat warping the air around it.
"You!" Henry roared as he immediately leapt forward, swinging his weapon with full force and slicing the fireball cleanly in half.
Widow jumped high into the air, twisted her body mid-motion, and released an arrow straight into the wizard Interloper, the impact triggering another devastating explosion.
"I'm running out of Arcana," Widow muttered as she landed, staring at her trembling palm before curling her fingers into a fist.
From the far right of the battlefield, a colossal Interloper suddenly charged toward them, the ground shaking violently with every step. Widow was caught off guard, and as she attempted to evade, her legs gave out from sheer exhaustion after hours of nonstop combat.
Oh crap!, she thought.
"Leave it to me!" Henry shouted as he rushed in front of her, planting his feet firmly as the monster lunged forward.
With a thunderous scream, Henry swung his weapon with everything he had, cleaving the massive Interloper cleanly in half as its body dissolved into shadow. He immediately turned back and extended his hand toward her.
"Are you okay?" Henry asked, his voice heavy but sincere. Widow took his hand and stood up slowly, breathing hard.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "You saved me."
On the left side of the battlefield, a woman stood calmly amid the chaos, holding a slender wand carved with glowing runes, her long hair flowing freely as her purple eyes radiated focus.
She wore a flowing violet robe layered with arcane symbols stitched in silver thread, the fabric fluttering unnaturally as if responding into her Arcana. Her name was Lila.
"Violet Oblivion!" Lila chanted steadily. A massive burst of glowing purple energy erupted from her wand, forming spiked spheres that pierced through the Interlopers, erasing them completely without leaving even a trace of blood.
Around her, four more figures fought relentlessly.
One was Raven, a tall man wielding twin curved daggers, his black coat reinforced with arcane plates as he moved like a shadow, chanting "Shadowstep Sever," causing his blades to tear through Interlopers.
Another was Kael, a muscular fighter clad in light armor, fighting barehanded as golden Arcana enveloped his fistsm roaring "Crimson Breaker" as each punch shattered Interlopers into nothingness.
Beside him was Seris, a calm woman wielding a spear infused with blue Arcana, whispering "Tidal Pierce" as her strikes created waves of compressed energy.
The last was Eron, a young man carrying a sniper with a long-barreled rifle resting against his shoulder. His sharp eyes never stopped moving, scanning the battlefield through a cracked scope as he calmly called out, "Deadeye Bullet." A split second later, the rifle thundered, the shot tearing through the air with lethal precision as it slammed into the monster Interloper, its spiky fangs shattering on impact.
"It seems like I am also running out of Arcana," Henry said with a deep breath. "Either way—" His words were cut off by a massive explosion that erupted from the far edge of the battlefield.
"What in the world was that?" Widow said as shock rippled through her voice.
At the center of the destruction stood a man with an overwhelming presence, his crimson royal cape torn and scorched, wielding a beautifully forged sword with a glowing red core embedded along the center of its blade like a burning vein. His red hair flowed wildly, his yellow eyes burning with authority. He was Akami, Captain of the Royal Knights.
Standing before him was another man, floating effortlessly above the ground, wearing a black coat etched with unnatural geometric patterns, silver earrings dangling from his ears as he grinned casually.
"Who are you?" Akami demanded, at the guy while the guy's eyes are shadowed.
The man laughed silently before pointing a single finger, a black laser fired at the speed of light. Akami parried it instantly, groaning as he deflected another barrage.
This guy..., Akami thought. "What are you after?!" Akami shouted angrily. Widow and Henry reached the scene.
"Captain Akami!" they called out. Widow looked up at the floating guy. "Who is that?"
Henry's breath caught as sweat dripped his face. "Is he the one behind all of this?"
"W-what kind of monster is he?" Widow whispered as she noticed how overwhelming the guy that is floating above them.
"Yeah... tremendously powerful," Hendry added.
Akami narrowed his eyes. "His Arcana is hundred of times stronger than ours... what a horrific monster, but..." Akami's sword floated.
"Captain... are you seriously going to use that?" Widow asked, panic creeping into her voice.
"Stop it, Captain Akami." Henry pleaded. "You said that technique will cost your lifespan."
Akami ignored them and began chanting. "O blades bound by sacrifice, heed my command..." his sword multiplied, forming then spinning blades. Blood dripped from his lips. "...consume my future and grant me judgement."
"If you will not speak," Akami said, "then I will take your life with mine."
"Crimson Sovereign Array!" The blades erupted upward like a beam of light—but they struck on the unbreakable barrier inches from the guy's body floating above.
"You're kidding..." Widow whispered, and after a few seconds, Akami collapsed on the ground as the man above laughed. Akami struggling to stand up.
"Weaklings." He appeared behind Akami and pierced his chest.
Henry screamed. "Bastard!! Rending Crescent!" Henry roared. The blade was caught effortlessly, chaos followed.
Widow rushed toward Akami, catching him before his legs gave out. She pulled his arm over her shoulder, his weight pressing down as blood soaked through Akami's armor. "We should retreat now, Captain," Widow said urgently, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay composed.
She turned and began moving forward, forcing herself step by step toward distant portal. But before they could get far, the air twisted violently. From the shadows ahead, several Interlopers burst forth, their malformed bodies screeching as they lunged.
"Tch—!" Widow clicked her tongue, tightening her grip on Akami. She tried to move around them, but one of the swordmaster Interlopers slashed toward her. She barely dodged, stumbling back. Suddenly, flashes of Arcana lit up the battlefield. A wave of purple light obliterated the Interlopers in an instant.
On the left side of the battlefield, a woman stood calmly amid the chaos, holding a slender wand carved with glowing runes. her long hair flowed freely, and her sharp purple eyes radiated focus. Her violet robe fluttered unnaturally, responding to the Arcana around her. "Violet Oblivion," Lila said steadily.
The remaining Interlopers were erased without a trace. Four more figures appeared beside her.
Raven emerged from the shadows, twin cruved daggers dripping with fading darkness. Kael cracked his knuckles as golden Arcana wrapped around his fists. Seris planted her spear into the ground, blue energy rippling like water. From a distance, Eron lowered his sniper rifle, smoke trailing from the barrel.
Lila turned to widow. "What's happening here?"
Widow clenched her teeth, eyes darting back toward the ruined battlefield behind them. "The one behind all of this—the one controlling these creatures—he's fighting Henry," Widow said, her voice strained. "Henry is buying time for me to escape with the Captain."
The five exchanged glances.
"So the situation," Raven muttered, spinning his daggers once.
Kael grinned fiercely. "Then let's go crack some god complex."
Seris nodded calmly. "We won't leave him behind."
Eron adjusted his scope. "Point me at the target."
Lila stepped forward. "We'll help Henry."
—
Henry staggered, wiping blood from his mouth as he faced the man floating calmly before him.
"Weak," the man said, his toned bored, deliberately provoking him.
Henry growled and drew back his sword—but before he could swing, the man vanished. A crushing blow slammed into Henry's stomach. "—Gah!"
Henry was sent flying, crashing through the ground and skidding to a halt. At the moment, five figures descended upon the battlefield.
"Violet Oblivion!"
"Shadowster Sever!"
"Crimson Breaker!"
"Tidal Pierce!"
"Deadeye Bullet!"
A translucent layer of energy shimmered around the man, absorbing everything without even a crack.
"...An Arcane Barrier," Lila muttered, narrowing her eyes. "Simple, but absolute. He's no ordinary person."
Raven clicked his tongue. "Figures. Would've been too easy."
Kael slammed his fist together. "Then we break it."
Seris raised her spear. "If we synchronize our Arcana—"
Eron interrupted calmly. "One opening is enough."
Lila nodded. "All together, we will take down this man."
They launched at him at once, the man's lips curled upward. He looked thrilled. "Heh!" his grin widened, revealing a single glowing red eye.
—
Widow continued walking, Akami's body heavy against her shoulder. She didn't look back. "A little bit more, Captain," she whispered. "I won't let you die."
Akami remained unconscious, blood dripping steadily from the hole in his chest. Widow's vision blurred as tears fell, her breathing breaking. She was alost there—the portal back to their planet was only a few steps away.
Then—
A violent wind burst from behind her, Widow froze. She slowly turned her head, her heart dropped.
Lila, Raven, Kael, Seris, and Eron lay scattered across the battlefield. Henry was motionless beside them.
The man floated above, completely unscratched.
"...No way," Widow whispered.
The man noticed her—but instead of chasing, he ascended higher into the sky. Widow looked up from the corner of her eyes, dread crawling up her spine. What is he—?, Widow thought.
The man raised his index finger and grinned, he began writings symbols into the air. A massive magic circle formed above him—vast, overwhelming.
Widow felt it, something enormous existed beyond the sky. She looked up—and terror seized her entire being.
Outside the planet's atmosphere, a colossal puple demonic hand emerge, so massive she couldn't even see its full shape. The Arcana pressure alone crushed the air.
"...Am I dreaming...? What is this absurdly powerful Arcana above?" A spell... that can destroy a planet...?"
The man disappeared, leaving the spell behind. Widow stood at the portal, inches from escape. She looked back at her fallen comrades.
I won't let them die here. She closed her eyes, Arcana surged violently around her. "—Arcana technique: Pull." the bodies of five and Henry began to float. Widow extended her hand, dragging them toward her through sheer will, pulling them into the portal one by one.
She lifted Akami back onto her shoulder and stepped through.
—
Outside the planet—
The colossal demonic hand closed, it grabbed the planet and crushed it. The world shattered, collapsing into nothingness, erased from space as if it had never existed.