The Ark-09 roared through the skies, its rusted metallic wings slicing the ashen clouds. Inside, tension hung thick in the recycled air, heavier than the soot that covered the world outside. The boys sat in silence, each grappling with the weight of the Warden's defeat—and the ominous warning that Pride awaited them.
Daiki held the glowing shard of the Warden's core, its eerie violet light pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. His eyes, sharp and calculating, stared into the depths of the fragment, searching for answers.
"If Pride isn't free yet," Ren broke the silence, "then what happens when it is?"
"Destruction," Daiki answered grimly. "Not just for us. For everything."
Suddenly, the communicator crackled again.
"Ark-06 is down," Theo's voice was strained but urgent. "Vatican assault squads are mobilizing—using ancient tech weaponry. They're moving toward the Third Seal beneath the ruins of New Avalon."
Ren clenched his fist. "The Third Seal? That's the last protection holding back Wrath."
Haru's pistols gleamed under the dim cabin light. "If the Vatican breaks that seal, we're not just fighting demons anymore—we're fighting the church itself."
Icarus leaned back, dark eyes burning with defiance. "Then let them come."
Politics of Blood and Fire
Meanwhile, in the Vatican's grand chamber, Cardinal Morvane paced like a caged lion. His robes were heavy with gold embroidery, but his eyes burned with jealousy and fear.
"The Ministry has kept the boys too safe," he growled. "They wield power that could tip the scales. The world must bow to the Church's will—otherwise, chaos reigns."
A figure stepped forward—Inquisitor Salazar, a cold, ruthless man who had orchestrated the assault squads.
"The boys are pawns," Salazar said. "But pawns with kings' power. If we control the seals, the demons bow. The Ministry must be crushed."
Morvane's fingers clenched the altar's edge. "Do what must be done. The world will kneel before the Vatican."
The Ministry's Dilemma
At the Ministry's hidden stronghold—a towering fortress of black steel and glowing runes—Archbishop Seraphiel convened a council. Ancient machines hummed quietly in the background, remnants of forgotten wars, blending the old world with new tech.
"We were entrusted to protect the boys, but the Vatican's greed will destroy everything," Seraphiel said. "We must prepare them for what's coming."
Ren, Daiki, Haru, and Icarus stood before the council. The weight of destiny pressed upon their young shoulders.
"We can't fight the Vatican alone," Daiki said. "We need allies."
Seraphiel nodded. "There are those who've abandoned both churches—ancient hunters who understand the true nature of the demons. They live beyond the borders, in the wastelands."
Journey to the Wastelands
Against the backdrop of a dying world, the four boys prepared for a perilous journey. Haru's pistols were loaded with incendiary rounds, Ren's blade was sharpened with a rare alloy, Daiki's eyes gleamed with arcane knowledge, and Icarus's earth powers vibrated beneath his feet.
The wastelands lay beyond the crumbling city ruins, a harsh desert of cracked earth and twisted metal—remnants of ancient technology fused with nature's reclaiming grasp.
"This world..." Ren said, voice hushed. "It's like a memory fading."
"And in those memories, the truth is buried," Daiki answered.
As they crossed the threshold, shadows flickered beneath the cracked sky. Demons—foul, grotesque, and twisted—prowled like hunters in the dark.
Suddenly, a massive creature lunged—a hulking beast with serrated claws and molten eyes. It roared, shaking the very ground.
God-Tier Fight: Trial by Fire
Haru was first to act. Pistols blazing, he danced through the air, flames trailing from his barrels. Bullets met flesh, but the beast shrugged off minor wounds.
Ren surged forward, blade slicing the air, wind whipping up in deadly gusts. The beast snarled, swiping, but Ren's speed was unmatched.
Daiki raised his hand, weaving complex sigils in the air. A surge of lightning wrapped the beast, temporarily stunning it.
Icarus slammed his fist into the earth, sending a shockwave of jagged stones upward. The ground ripped open beneath the beast, throwing it off balance.
With a unified strike—Haru's fire, Ren's wind, Daiki's lightning, and Icarus's earth—the beast was cleaved in two. It fell with a final howl that echoed across the wasteland.
The Hunters' Legacy
From the shadows stepped a figure cloaked in tattered robes, eyes glowing faintly blue.
"Well done, children of prophecy," the hunter said, voice gravelly but calm. "You've survived the Trial by Fire."
The boys tensed but lowered their weapons.
"Who are you?" Ren asked.
"I am Kaelen, last of the Ardent Hunters. Once, we served the churches. Now, we serve the balance."
Kaelen's eyes flicked to the glowing shard Daiki held.
"The seals weaken. The churches will wage war—not just for power, but for survival. You must learn our ways, or be consumed."
A Fragile Alliance
The boys exchanged glances, the weight of their mission growing heavier.
"We don't have much time," Haru said. "If the Vatican breaks the Third Seal, all hell will literally break loose."
Kaelen nodded solemnly.
"Then let us begin.