Prologue: Scorched Earth.

  Heavy rain fell down from the heavens.

  Boom

  Lightning illuminated the skies, followed by earth shaking roars of a wrathful god.

  In a forest under the raging heavens, three men travel on foot.

  Holding a lantern in his hand, a man donning a set of heavy armor spoke, his voice while tired, shows a hint of relief.

  “We lost them.”

  Beside him, an elderly voice spoke, his tone grave.

  “Not for long.”

  Under the moonless night, the trio of men slowly walked, each step precise and silent. Even the man in heavy armor seems to be unbothered by its weight.

  Aside from the sound of raindrops and occasional thunder, silence reigns over the forest.

  But like the elderly man said, not for long.

  Screeeeeeeeee

  A deafening cry reverberated throughout the forest.

  The trio of men stopped dead on their tracks, the third of the men. A young man spoke, his face deathly pale even under the dim light of the lamp.

  “They found us.”

  As if on cue, billowing winds converged high in the sky. Within the whirlwind, a black silhouette slowly emerges.

  Screeeeeee

  With a cry, a gigantic raven reveals itself, its body covered in sparks.

  [ S-Rank: Black Thunderbird ]

  Seeing this, the trio readied themselves. The man in armor unsheathed his longsword while the elderly man slowly raised his bow.

  The young man took a step back, taking cover behind the two fighters, his eyes not looking at the fearsome beast but rather, towards the one riding it.

  “My, oh my. You sure gave me a hard time.”

  A woman's voice echoes from the darkness. Atop the bird, shadows began to converge and began to take a humanoid shape.

  A flash of lightning struck, revealing a beautiful woman wearing a pointed hat.

  Wooosh

  During the brief flash, an arrow soars towards the woman, its speed faster than sound.

  Smiling, the woman leisurely snaps her fingers, causing purple chains of energy to appear and catch the arrow.

  “Now, where are your manners boy? I'm still not done..”

  The woman twirls her fingers, moving the chains and redirecting the arrow towards the old man

  “...talking.”

  Boooooom

  The purple chains shattered while the arrow flew faster than before. Unable to dodge, the old man tilts his body, intending to reduce the damage by targeting it away from a vital point.

  It succeeds, the arrow only hits the old man's shoulder, however.

  Crack

  Purple lightning spreads from the arrow, and with a violent ripple, causes an explosion of purple energy.

  “Gramps!”

  The young man shouted, worry evident in his voice.

  “This is nothing boy.”

  Relief fills the young man while the woman exclaims in genuine surprise.

  “Oh, you're still standing, what a tough nut you are….. unfortunately”

  The dust settles, revealing the old man, half of his body gone.

  “Boy, run.”

  Flames cover the old man, his blaze undying despite the heavy rain. The young man, while reluctant, followed the old man's request.

  “Don't die.”

  Hearing these parting words, the woman smiles, snapping her fingers as she summons five balls of purple energy towards the young man.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Over my grave, witch.”

  The old man raised his remaining arm, crimson flames converged and took the form of an arrow that flew towards the orbs of energy.

  Raising his hand once again, the old man pointed his finger towards the woman.

  “Give me ten seconds.”

  The old man says, much to the woman's confusion.

  “Who are y-”

  A blazing sword suddenly appears behind the woman. While taken back for a moment, she nevertheless expertly gathers mana in her legs, causing her to narrowly evade the flaming blade as she leaps away from her mount.

  The Thunderbird, while fast, is not as fortunate. Due to the force of the woman's leap, the raven was unable to fly in order to avoid the sudden slash, causing its swift demise.

  The Thunderbird fell, a man in armor standing before its fallen body.

  Clad in steel armor that burned brighter than brimstone, wielding a sword that emits a molten glow. Contrary to his appearance, the knight in blazing armor moved as silent as the wind.

  The witch frowned, any playfulness she had died along with the bird. Landing gracefully, the woman tips her hat in greeting.

  “My my, where are my manners. It seems like you gentlemen are not fodder after all.”

  Closing her eyes, the witch spoke.

  “Before you is the mightiest of Her Majesty’s Kings, the one and only King of Ent-”

  Boooooooom!

  An incandescent arrow, radiating extreme heat, flew towards the witch. As it approached her, it exploded with great force, creating a miniature star on where the witch had stood.

  “We know who you are, King of Entropy.”

  The old man spoke, his hand pointing to where the witch was. The knight walked towards the miniature sun, his steps heavy as he says.

  “And we do not care.”

  A moment of silence follows, even the sound of rain becomes deafened by a mysterious force.

  “I see.” From the orb of flame, the woman's voice ringed true.

  The flames suddenly stood still as the witch's voice came from it. Slowly, the flames lost their color, revealing a pitch silhouette of a woman.

  “As expected of the Duke of Pride, he sure has decent men under him.”

  She steps out of the ball of flames, completely unharmed.

  “Then allow me, the one and only King of Entropy, to send you to him.” The witch spoke as shadows gathered and converged from her palm, creating a scythe made from pure darkness.

  The Knight dashes, his body charging towards her like a meteor. Raising his sword he spoke.

  “May his flame be eternal.”

  Booooooom!

  *****

  Explosions rippled across the forest, shaking the ground and splitting trees as the sound of clashing sorcery and steel filled the air. The Knight's blazing sword met the witch's shadowy scythe, their energies colliding in a vortex of molten light and dark, crackling with power that would rend the heavens.

  The old man, his body barely holding together, dragged himself towards a nearby tree. He rested his back there, murmuring under his breath.

  “Just a little longer, you better be far away, boy. “

  The old man raised his hand towards the witch, his eyes burning with determination.

  Answering to his resolve, flames began to envelop him, creating an image of a star.

  “May his flame be eternal.” The old man says, his arm steady as he watches the dance of blades under the falling rain.

  Lightning struck, covering the forest in blinding light for a moment.

  The old man slowly closed his eyes as an arrow of light manifested from his fingertips.

  He never misses.

  *****

  Under the lanterns' dim light, the young man traversed the forest, his eyes looking nowhere but forward.

  Boooooooooom!

  The sound of a violent explosion, greater than any thunder, rang behind the young man.

  “Run.”

  Even so, he did not look back.

  He knew hesitation would cost him this chance, therefore he must go forward.

  He knows that he will be nothing but a burden if he were to return.

  He knows.

  However, He was supposed to be powerful, a respected Count of magic ruling over the element of fire, but here he is, running for his life, leaving his men for dead.

  How pathetic this is.

  He is the Heir of Pride, an unparalleled genius, born under a star never seen before.

  Gritting his teeth in shame, he gazed forward, golden fireflies dancing in his eyes as his mind drifted back towards the image of the woman.

  King of Entropy.

  One of the four Kings under the Lady of Darkness. A direct servant under an Elemental God.

  Even with all his power and talent, he couldn't even tell the difference between him and her.

  He, Haze Worth, Heir of the Duke of Pride, saw what true power looked like, a power bourne not of great strength but rather, being beyond mere strength.

  Woosh

  Haze’s thoughts halted, he could sense something chasing him, a single presence that disturbed to Flow.

  Screeeeeeeeeeee

  A black bird, fast as lightning flew past him, missing only narrowly.

  Surprised, Haze stumbled down the wet forest floor, his garments now covered in mud.

  Not far from him, the bird smashed into a tree, shattering it to tiny bits. After a moment, the bird turned its neck towards him, its eyes glowing with dark energy.

  Haze was momentarily surprised, he senses the same dark energy to be covering the bird, strands of pitch energy weaved to the bird as if it were a puppet.

  “Necromancy.” Haze spits as he pulls himself out the ground, his eyes covered with rage.

  Crimson flames ignited, mirroring the hatred and humiliation that burns within him at this moment.

  “Running away from that unholy war, I understood.”

  Flames converge, creating a crimson cloak of fire around him.

  “Run from a hopeless battle, I understand.”

  Flames crackled and the air sizzled, the heat around them reaching extreme levels.

  “But to flee from a mere doll? You mock me no longer!”

  Crimson flame covered Haze’s hand as he aimed it at the undead bird and three rings of fire manifested into reality, the symbol of a Count.

  Mana in the surrounding began to vibrate, heating up and becoming an ingredient for a spell.

  Count-Class Magic: Incandescent Motion

  Crimson waves of flame blasted from his palm, consuming the Thunderbird in crimson blaze.

  Screeeeeeeeeeeee

  The undead bird cried, the smell of burning rot spread, the relentless rain unable to dispel its vile scent. Unfazed, Haze lowered his hand and with no time to waste, Haze began running again.

  Scrrrrrreeerrerrreeeeee

  Before he could run far though, a ring of dissonant cries echoes around him.

  Woosh Woosh

  He raised his head as lightning struck, revealing five Thunderbirds surrounding him. They flapped their wings, sparks flying with every wingbeat as they flew in a circle, ready to dive down at any moment.

  Splat splat

  Behind him, the undead Thunderbird emerged from the flames, its body now burning in crimson fire.

  The smell of ozone and rot spreads, mixing with the damp forest scent and creating a land of filth.

  Haze looks at them with contempt, defeating them is not impossible, however, with the King on his tail, they sure are a nuisance right now.

  The bird kept on circling, looking down on him from the skies, seemingly having no intention to attack. It is as if they were here to simply waste his time.

  “Is that so?” The intention of this flock did not escape Haze. “So, even you beast mock me too?”

  Rage once again began to rise within him, but this time, Haze took a breath and contained it as he closed his eyes.

  “Is this all a genius is capable of?”

  Voices began to once again emerge, memories that haunted him all his life.

  “You are strong, but not strong enough.”

  “You are a curse!”

  They who looked down on him, they who held him in contempt.

  “....Disappointment.”

  And she… who he failed.

  Yellow light began to shine from within him, a bright, lethal light.

  SILENCE!

  Light erupted, covering the forest with its glow. The birds suddenly halted, a pricking sensation assaulting their skins.

  Something is wrong, they Thought, they should flee, they thought, they should live, they thought, yet…

  The light is… calling.

  Why should they flee? They all thought as the light slowly enveloped them in its warm embrace. The birds felt no hostility, nor danger, they embraced the light, the gentle, caring light.

  While the light shone across the forest, a pop was heard.

  One pop, two pops, a dozen pops. The forest is quiet except for the constant sounds of popping bubbles.

  Before anything, not even the trees, realized.

  Everything is boiling.

  *****

  A sea of crimson flame blankets the land. Everything in the immediate vicinity has been reduced to ashes, nothing but the charred smell of oak fills the battlefield.

  Amidst this hellscape, one woman stands still, the end of her pointed hat catching fire, her purple attire is marred with char.

  Below her lies a suit of armor, its wielder long burnt, his very soul ignited to match her, even for a moment.

  She turns her gaze upon the old man, Nether’s Spear, he was called. The witch walked towards him, the flames parting, making way for the Elemental King.

  The witch gazed at the old man, whose light long left his eyes.

  The witch… gave the man a slight bow.

  At that moment

  Yellow light shone from the horizon, dispelling the cold darkness of the forest.

  The witch's eyes have widened lightly, surprise evident from it.

  Yellow light.

  A monster born under a forbidden star.

  The witch had doubts about this mission. Securing the heir of the Duke of Pride is an important task, but definitely not something you would send a King over.

  You…must be cautious.

  The voice of her Lady echoed to her mind, while she thought it was odd, she merely put it aside, taking it as a simple goodbye.

  Seeing this light however, a new meaning to it formed. She lamented inwardly, and should not have dismissed her words.

  “A…Sol-Tainted?” The witch spoke, her breath heavy, her heart beating like never before as she felt an emotion that should be foreign to her.

  Is it fear? No, that's not it, after all, she always feared the Lady of Darkness. While her Lady was kind, the fear never left her, no matter how powerful she became.

  Then what is it?

  What is it?!

  The witch bit her nail, her breath rapid, heavy and panicked.

  Impossible!

  Facing this turmoil, the witch laid her eyes upon the radiance once again.

  And the only thing she felt…

  Is reverence.

  The witch stood still, enraptured by the yellow light, unable, unwilling, to look away.

  The land burned and rain fell down from the heavens, yet she did not care. Lightning struck, however, even its flash was dwarfed, insignificant in the presence of the yellow light.

  The witch, after a long time, blinked.

  And the light was long gone.

  She stared at nowhere for a moment before it finally dawned in her.

  The storm is over.

  And the crimson moon has already risen.