The sun hung low behind the cracked horizon, casting long shadows over the wastelands. The remnants of ancient cities lay buried beneath layers of sand and rusting steel, a silent testament to a forgotten era when gods and machines once ruled in tandem.
Ren, Daiki, Haru, and Icarus trudged beside Kaelen, the last Ardent Hunter, their boots kicking up dust over shattered concrete and tangled vines of metal. Each step forward was heavy—not just from the weight of their weapons and gear, but from the burden of what awaited them.
Kaelen's cloak billowed in the dry wind, his glowing blue eyes piercing the gloom.
"The world you know is fragile," Kaelen said, voice low and gravelly. "The wars between the Vatican and the Ministry are just the beginning. Beneath their surface lies a far older war—one between the children of man and the demons that once ruled these lands."
Ren swallowed hard, gripping the hilt of his sword. "We're supposed to be the hunters... but sometimes it feels like we're the prey."
"That feeling will pass," Kaelen said with a rare, faint smile. "If you survive."
The Legacy of the Ardent Hunters
The party stopped beside a massive hollowed-out structure—a former research facility buried beneath layers of earth and metal. Inside, ancient machinery hummed quietly, lights flickering weakly.
Kaelen gestured to the sprawling control panels and holographic displays flickering with faded runes and technical schematics.
"This place once bridged the gap between old magic and ancient tech," Kaelen explained. "Our ancestors combined them to fight demons. The Ministry kept these secrets, but the Vatican's greed has buried much of it."
Daiki stepped forward, eyes wide as he scanned the holograms. "If we can understand this tech, maybe we can turn the tide."
"Exactly," Kaelen nodded. "But first, you must learn to fight not just with power, but with precision and knowledge."
Training Amidst Ruins
The next few days blurred into grueling training sessions. Ren's wind blade cut sharper, faster, the gusts slicing through metal scraps and stone. Haru's pistols glowed with an infernal light, flames dancing in his every shot. Daiki's foresight sharpened, enabling him to predict not just enemy moves but the environment's subtle shifts. Icarus's earth manipulation became more fluid, summoning spikes and shields with terrifying speed.
Kaelen watched closely, correcting stances, refining techniques, and sharing stories of battles long past—battles where hunters faced hordes of demons born from the abyss.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Ren approached Kaelen.
"Why did you stay? After everything..." Ren's voice was soft.
"Because someone had to," Kaelen said simply. "The old world's mistakes can't be forgotten, or repeated. The only hope is to learn from them."
A Shadow in the Council
Back in the Ministry stronghold, the political chessboard shifted.
Archbishop Seraphiel stood over a sprawling map etched with glowing runes. The Vatican's moves were aggressive, their assault squads breaching fortified zones and sowing dissent.
"The Vatican's influence spreads like wildfire," Seraphiel said grimly. "But the Ministry holds the seals, and the boys hold the key."
A messenger burst in, breathless.
"Cardinal Morvane has summoned the High Council," he said. "They plan to discuss a new alliance—with the Dominion."
The Dominion: an elusive faction rumored to wield forbidden tech and shadowy influence far beyond the Church's reach.
Seraphiel's eyes narrowed. "If the Vatican allies with them, the balance will shatter."
The Demon's Whisper
In the depths of a charred forest, a demon stirred.
Its form was a nightmare—a twisted fusion of molten rock, corrupted flesh, and ancient machinery. The creature's eyes, burning like embers, scanned the horizon.
"The seals weaken. The hunters grow stronger. Soon... I shall walk free."
Its voice echoed like thunder through the scorched trees.
Clash of Wills
The boys' peaceful training was shattered by an urgent call.
Kaelen's face darkened. "A breach. A demon has slipped through a weakening seal near New Avalon."
The four exchanged grim looks. Without hesitation, they mounted the battered Ark-09, roaring toward the city's outskirts.
They arrived to find streets aflame, buildings crumbling under the assault of monstrous creatures—demons twisted beyond recognition, fused with ancient war machines long buried beneath the earth.
God-Tier Battle: Siege of New Avalon
Ren charged forward, wind swirling into a hurricane around his blade. He moved like a storm incarnate, slicing through demons and debris alike.
Haru fired twin pistols in seamless rhythm, flames exploding on impact, turning metal and flesh alike into ash.
Daiki's eyes glowed, weaving foresight and arcane sigils, guiding the team's every move, predicting enemy strikes before they landed.
Icarus stomped the ground, raising jagged pillars of earth that crushed demons or shielded the team from brutal blows.
The battle was chaos incarnate—fire and wind clashed with corrupted metal and dark magic, the sky roiling with smoke and sparks.
Aftermath
As the last demon fell, silence blanketed the ruined streets.
The boys stood amidst the wreckage, breaths heavy, eyes reflecting the flickering flames.
Kaelen's voice cut through the quiet.
"This was just the beginning."
Ren clenched his sword tightly. "Then we have to be ready."