Kalon Bloodborn's POV

To what end is life? Every being seemed to be prey to another. We Celestials suffered the same fate. I found myself battered and broken, having lost all sense of time in my desperate flight for survival. My legs had abandoned all strength, leaving me collapsed on the ground, utterly weak. My mind fixated on the harbingers of my agony.

Demons. Savage creatures that knew nothing but to kill and lay waste to every life that breathed mana. The horror they unleashed upon invasion was unimaginable. Their strength, enhanced by the exotic energy, could topple even an average Celestial. A prolonged fight would only leave a Celestial at a disadvantage.

I had witnessed these atrocities firsthand. My clan, my parents... gone. Everything. I watched strong celestials turn deranged, their forms twisted into something I could no longer call Celestial.

I was taught the ways of the Celestial, convinced that we were the pinnacle of strength, the rulers of our world. Yet before these grotesque monsters, we were nothing more than prey, waiting to be slaughtered, our homes reduced to hunting grounds.

The snarls of the demons grew louder, and I could feel my heart pounding — each beat increasing in intensity. My mind raced, grasping at any chance of escape. I was weak, feeble, but I couldn't surrender so easily. If given the chance, I would stop at nothing to find an end to this grim predicament. I would work myself to the bone.

The Possessed came into full view. Their faces were distorted, unrecognizable, barely a trace of their former Celestial selves. The vanguard stumbled toward me, their eyes locked on mine, making the moment even more chilling. Blood drenched their bodies.

Their presence was suffocating, overwhelming. Goosebumps erupted across my skin, and my breath grew shallow.

I wanted nothing more than for it to end, knowing all too well that they would take their time, savaging my body.

In the midst of the horde, a cacophony of shrieks spread outward, bouncing off the building walls. It caught the Demons' attention, and most of them sprinted toward the source. Blood sprayed in all directions, and I watched as the Possessed fell, one by one, to crimson-red thorns. The coagulated blood formed into spikes, solidifying before they shot out with immense force, impaling the Demons.

I watched in wonder at the intricate manipulation of the battlefield. My fear had vanished, replaced by a flicker of hope as I witnessed my savior dismantle the monstrosities with ease. The shrieks died down, and soon they had all fallen. My savior took his time surveying the destruction. As he approached, his form became clearer.

His grey, ramshackle braids were adorned with beads, and he held a wooden staff in one hand, its head carved into the figure of a wyrm. In his other hand, he gripped some sort of artifact. His dim red eyes focused on me.

"Forgive me, child. I could not protect your home. You have seen the worst of Enoria, and at such a young age. Come, let us leave this place."

I honored the elderly man with a slight bow, the thought of being grabbed from behind urging me to stay close to him. My senses were still on high alert, and I scanned every corner for any sign of monsters. A crashing sound ahead startled me, and two Demons charged forward. The elder took a single step, and they were instantly impaled by blood-spikes.

I tried to make sense of the scene, but it was hard to focus, worn out by the strain I’d accumulated. My concentration wavered in the presence of my savior. Yet, something caught my attention. Perhaps it was the immense power radiating from the elder or the speed at which he manipulated mana, far greater than anything I had ever seen. I couldn’t detect his mana cycle; he simply commanded the mana from his surroundings with incredible speed.

I hadn't realized how long I had been staring at him. A monster had crept close. This time, with just a simple gesture, the elder made its head swell and then explode. The splattered blood dissipated with a wave of his hand.

"Focus ahead. This zone isn't clear of Demons," he warned. Despite this, I kept focusing on his mana manipulation. I couldn’t glean any insight just by observing, but witnessing such a high level of skill firsthand left me yearning for more. I didn’t even realize when we had exited the building. The sunlight was blinding — it had been night when I first entered.

Armored soldiers approached, riding on the backs of beasts. Their armor was scuffed and battered from battle.

A male lamian, whom I assumed was their leader, stepped forward, followed by two others. The red-haired female at his side was undoubtedly a Noden; the other, with the trademark red eyes, was clearly a Lamian.

To my surprise, the lead soldier dropped to one knee before us — specifically before the elder. The rest followed suit. “The First Battalion of the Stygian Defenders greets the Patriarch of Lamians.”

What? The Lord of Lamians. Cian Bloodborn.

Taking a moment to study him once more, I realized he fit the description I had read in books. The available images of him were from his youth.

"Rise," Lord Cian commanded. "Has Bloodville been cleared of Demons? And what of the survivors?"

"The land has been purged of monsters, my lord. The survivors have taken refuge in the south. Resources have also been distributed to them. Many buildings have fallen, and the mana temples have crumbled."

Two soldiers hurried to Cian’s side, adjusting his robe.

"Buildings can always be rebuilt," he said dismissively. "Life, however, cannot. It is irreplaceable. Take this young boy to the refuge. We must wipe out the remaining demons before they evolve into wraiths."

It was clear. I was to be taken to join the other survivors in the refuge while Bloodville was rebuilt. A painful sting struck my chest. Staying here would not help me develop the power to defeat these outbursts. I couldn’t let this chance slip away. The opportunity before me was too precious to lose.

I pushed past the soldiers and made my way toward the Patriarch.

“No! I don’t want to stay here—deprived and unable to grow. Lord, take me with you to Stygia. I can be of use. I want to help fend off the evil that plagues this land.”

Silence followed. The soldiers stared at me, bewildered by my proposal. Some even looked concerned. I had been so frustrated by the situation that I hadn’t even thought to choose my words carefully.

“You wish to live in Stygia, not merely to escape future outbursts, but to end the emergence of demons?” The voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. It was the Noden warrior who spoke.

I nodded quickly. “Yes. I want to help restore peace to Enoria.”

Her words seemed to pique the Patriarch’s interest as he turned his attention toward me.

“The ways of the Lamian are indeed different. We are not seekers of war. Rather, we pursue knowledge and insight into the mysteries of the world. We support the Oracle in the war against the Possessed. Do you understand, child? The path to enlightenment is as enduring as it is difficult.”

The Patriarch’s focus rested entirely on me, enough to make me feel the weight of his gaze.

I understood the gravity of my words. Determined to bring about the change I sought, my decision was already made. I bowed my head.

“Yes, I understand. I’m ready to face any hardship, as long as it brings us one step closer to ending this.”

My statement brought a smile to the general’s face.

Lord Cian let out a hearty laugh, lightly patting me on the back.

“You speak like a man who has already achieved much. You are welcome in Stygia.”

“I take it the Lord would bless me with his teachings, should I prove worthy?”

Lord Cian burst into another hearty laugh.

“In Stygia, all are treated equally. You would need to be a true genius to catch my eye, and only then might you earn my teachings. What is your name, child?”

“I bear the name Kalon, my Lord.”

“Kalon. From now on, you will be known as Kalon Bloodborn. Becoming my disciple is something you must earn, Kalon.”

The elder took a deep breath, his hands outstretched.

“Fang.”

The clouds above took on a reddish hue, parting to reveal a magnificent creature hovering high in the sky. A two-headed serpent with three pairs of limbs floated effortlessly. Its ebon scales, impervious to the sun's light, wrapped the creature in an eternal cloak of shadow. From its sleek, sinuous form sprouted a crown of hair, each strand intricate and flowing, like the finest craftsmanship of Enoria.

I couldn’t help but release a soft gasp at the sight. “What a majestic Blood Wyrm!”

The red-haired woman giggled at that. “I see you’ve yet to tame your own. Have you mastered flight, Kalon?”

“No,” I replied.

Black wings unfurled from the patriarch’s back, generating a gust of wind that pushed me backward. I watched as the general and four other soldiers dismounted. From their backs, wings stretched out, bat-like and imposing.

They took off into the sky, heading towards Bloodville—now a wasteland. The remaining foot soldiers departed, leaving only the red-haired woman and me. Her mount was a frost bear, towering at least eight feet, its snow-white fur stained with the black blood of fallen demons.

“Kalon, right? I’m Selene, and this here is Chilly. Don’t worry, he won’t bite. Come, I’ll take you to Stygia.”

“On this mutt?” I questioned, raising a brow, confused as to how this beast could take us to Stygia. It seemed far too large for swift travel.

The frost bear growled, baring its fangs, which Selene quickly silenced by petting him.

“He might not look it, but Chilly’s really agile. Let’s not waste any time. Hop on.”

Selene and I mounted Chilly. The beast scrutinized me with intense eyes, making me feel uneasy.

We raced through the plains at surprising speed. I had to hold onto Selene to avoid falling off. My gaze wandered to the landscape as we passed by.

Bloodville had been in a lower region, I realized as we moved further away. I lost count of the herds of beasts we passed, each one more magnificent than the illustrations in the books. Stygia, the land of life, was truly blessed with an assortment of beasts. Alongside the creatures, the plant life flourished, vibrant and resplendent, adding to the grandeur of the journey.

“You seem to know so much about these beasts. I’m surprised this is your first time seeing them. Didn’t your parents ever bring you this far?” Selene asked.

Pushing aside a surge of emotion that threatened to surface, I remained silent, unwilling to speak of it.

“We all have our stories to tell. Many have been lost to the demons, but what matters is how we move forward.”

Sensing my discomfort, Selene offered comforting words. Intrigued by her tone, I asked about her story.

She told me of her upbringing in the frigid lands of Lemuria, where Nodens had to adapt at a young age. Children there were already brutes, venturing into the wilds early on. Lemuria, she explained, oversees the Whispering Sea, a place that spawns countless demons—a role assigned to them by the Oracle herself.

There was so much more to this world than I had ever imagined. Beyond the plains of Stygia lay the vast city-states of Enoria.

From afar, I saw the celestial spires stretching towards the sky. Their beauty filled me with awe and wonder.

Before me unfolded a spectacle of architectural splendor, with dome-shaped rooftops reaching toward the heavens.

Up above, the city’s skyline stood as a testament to its rich heritage, with each dome exuding elegance and grandeur.

With a toothy grin and a wink, Selene greeted me. “Welcome to Stygia.”