Chapter 5
The Call to Battle
As Kaito walked down the steps of the altar, a rush of emotions surged through him—excitement, pride, and an underlying unease. He had been chosen by Thoth, God of Magic, a rare honor that few in history had ever received. He felt powerful, yet anxious. What did this mean for his future?
As he approached the gathered trainees, his eyes instinctively landed on the Black Star party standing at the sidelines. The warrior grinned and raised a hand.
“Hey, Ki—”
Before he could finish, chaos erupted.
Two swordsmen burst onto the training grounds, their armor battered, one of them soaked in blood. They stumbled forward, gasping for air.
“Help! It’s an emergency!” one of them cried out.
The other fell to his knees, clutching his side. “Shirogane Village… It’s being massacred by monsters!”
Kaito felt his entire body freeze.
His home.
His village.
The place he had left behind not even two days ago.
His heart pounded in his chest, his breath shaky as he took a step forward. “What… What did you just say?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
The soldiers looked up, their faces pale. “The forces of Tau, God of Chaos—they’re attacking. The Heavenly Knight stationed there has been defeated. The entire village is—”
The soldier collapsed before he could finish.
The training grounds fell deathly silent.
Kaito’s breath hitched. Then—
“NO!”
His scream echoed through the plaza, raw with desperation and rage. His fists clenched, his entire body trembling with fury. “I won’t let them destroy my home! I have to—”
Before he could bolt forward, the elf stepped in front of him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
“You’re out of your mind,” the elf said, voice steady but sharp. “A Heavenly Knight just got taken down. What could you possibly do?”
Kaito’s eyes burned with frustration. “I don’t care! I already lost my parents. If I can’t protect the only people I have left, then what was the point of coming here?!”
The combat instructor stepped up. “You’re barely able to control your mana, Kaito. You’d be throwing your life away.”
The magic instructor crossed his arms. “Charging in recklessly isn’t bravery. It’s suicide.”
Kaito clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes were sharp—focused.
He suddenly stilled.
Then, without a word, he vanished.
A ripple of magic pulsed through the air as Kaito teleported, slipping right past the elf and the instructors.
The elf barely had time to process before his expression shifted into a mixture of frustration and excitement.
“Tch. That idiot.” A smirk tugged at the elf’s lips. “Well, I guess I’m going too.”
The instructors turned to stop him, but he simply shrugged. “I haven’t found a good sparring partner in a long time. I’ll be damned if I let him die before I can beat him properly.”
Then, a loud thud echoed across the training grounds.
The Black Star party landed on the dirt below, having jumped down from the raised platforms.
The warrior cracked his neck. “Hah! And here I thought today was going to be boring.”
The beastman grinned. “We’ve grown fond of the kid already. No way we’re missing out on this.”
The fiery-haired mage sighed, shaking her head. “And here I thought we were supposed to be professionals. Guess this is a good chance to recruit him into the party.”
Kaito chuckled nervously, still catching his breath. “I-I haven’t exactly decided if I want to join yet…”
The warrior smirked. “Save the decision for after we save your village.”
Then, Kaito’s face twisted in urgency.
“No—I can’t wait for everyone to prepare. I’ll meet you there.”
The Black Star members exchanged confused glances.
“What do you mean, ‘meet us there’?” the mage asked.
Kaito closed his eyes. His heart pounded. He had no idea what he was doing, but he focused all of his mana—every last ounce—into one spell.
Teleportation.
His vision blurred as he imagined Shirogane Village. The forests. The fields. The roads leading home.
The fiery-haired mage’s eyes widened. “Wait, don’t! You don’t have enough mana to—”
Before she could finish—
A great green light shimmered over Kaito.
Then, he was gone.
The Ruins of Shirogane
Kaito hit the ground hard, his body convulsing as pain surged through him. He spat out a gulp of blood, his limbs trembling. He could barely breathe.
I… overdid it…
His vision blurred, his head spinning. His internal wounds burned, and he could feel his mana completely drained.
Then—something shifted inside him.
A strange warmth spread through his body. His vision pulsed with color—a rainbow shimmer danced at the edges of his sight. His wounds, while still painful, began to mend.
And more importantly—his mana pool was restored.
Kaito gasped, pushing himself up onto his hands. His fingers dug into the dirt, confusion racing through him.
What just happened?
He didn’t know. And right now, he didn’t care.
Pushing aside the questions, he focused on the world around him.
Even from the outskirts of Shirogane, the sight was horrifying.
Smoke and fire filled the air. The village—his home—was burning.
The distant echoes of screams and inhuman roars sent chills down his spine. He could see shadows moving between the flames, dark figures spreading destruction.
Kaito gritted his teeth.
I won’t let them take everything from me.
He activated Dash, his body surging forward at incredible speed. He bolted toward the village, making sure to pace himself—he couldn’t afford to burn through his mana again.
The closer he got, the clearer the destruction became. Bodies—villagers and soldiers alike—littered the ground. Homes collapsed in flames. The air reeked of blood and ash.
Then, in the distance—he saw them.
The Forces of Tau.
Hulking, monstrous beings clad in chaotic, mismatched armor. Some were mutated beasts, others twisted humanoids, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy.
And at the center of it all, standing atop a ruined cart—
Was a warrior cloaked in deep crimson armor, his presence alone radiating power.
Kaito’s breath hitched.
The leader of the attack.
The figure turned slightly, as if sensing Kaito’s arrival. Even through the chaos, Kaito felt their eyes lock onto him.
A sickening, amused chuckle filled the air.
“So… the little heir arrives.”
Kaito’s heart pounded.
What… did he just call me?
The moment the armored warrior locked eyes with him, Kaito felt an unnatural weight settle over his body. A force—cold, oppressive, and suffocating—radiated from the man standing atop the burning wreckage of the village cart. Even without speaking, his presence was overwhelming.
Then came the words that sent ice through Kaito’s veins.
“So… the little heir arrives.”
Kaito’s body tensed. His mind raced. Heir? What was this man talking about? He had never seen this warrior before in his life, yet something about the way he spoke, the way he looked at him, felt as if he knew Kaito.
A slow, deliberate chuckle echoed through the ruined village. The warrior’s voice was deep, edged with amusement. “I had a feeling we’d meet sooner or later.”
Kaito gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand firm. “Who the hell are you?!”
The warrior tilted his head. “Ah… you really don’t know, do you?” He exhaled, shaking his head. “Pathetic. Does your mother’s blood run that thin in you?”
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Kaito’s breath hitched. His mother?
The man let out a low chuckle before stepping forward. The way he moved was unnervingly calm, as if Kaito wasn’t even a threat—just an inevitability.
Before Kaito could process the weight of his words, a deafening roar erupted from the village.
Kaito turned just in time to see a massive, grotesque beast claw its way through the smoke. Its body was a writhing mass of dark, pulsating flesh, its limbs elongated, as if its form couldn’t decide what shape it wanted to take. Its gaping maw dripped with blood—the blood of Kaito’s people.
Kaito’s fingers twitched. His breath quickened. This was it.
This was the moment he had dreamed about—his first real battle. But was he ready?
The warrior watched with mild amusement as Kaito tensed, preparing himself for the fight. “Let’s see what Baldr’s blood is worth these days.”
Kaito’s heart pounded in his chest. His body screamed at him to run, but he refused to give in to fear. His village was burning. His people were dying. He wouldn’t stand by and do nothing.
I can do this.
Kaito tightened his grip, focusing on the mana within him. He had trained for this. He had studied spells. This was just another test—one he couldn’t afford to fail.
The beast lunged.
Kaito reacted on instinct.
Dash.
His body surged forward, narrowly avoiding the creature’s massive claws as they tore into the ground where he had been standing moments before. He skidded to a stop, heart hammering.
Fast. But not fast enough.
He turned, summoning a Magic Bolt in his palm. He had to be smart—attacking recklessly would only burn through his mana. He needed to aim for a weakness.
The beast turned its malformed head toward him, its sunken, yellow eyes locking onto its next prey. It recognized him now.
And then it charged.
Kaito’s instincts screamed at him to move, but before he could—
FWOOOM!
A bolt of fire blazed past him, colliding with the beast’s side and sending it crashing into a burning hut.
Kaito turned sharply—the Black Star party had arrived.
The fiery-haired mage twirled her staff, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Told you he’d be in over his head.”
The warrior cracked his knuckles. “Good thing we like lost causes.”
The beastman let out a low chuckle. “Kid, you better not die before we make you an official member.”
Kaito’s breath caught in his throat. They actually came.
The elf stepped forward, drawing his blade. “Hah. You’re not dying until I get my rematch.” His fiery red aura flickered like embers, still bearing the mark of Tau’s blessing.
The warrior cracked his neck. “Alright, no time for heartwarming reunions. Let’s clean up this mess.”
The monstrous beast, now enraged, let out a guttural, inhuman shriek. The ground trembled beneath its rage.
Kaito exhaled sharply. His nerves were still on edge, but for the first time since arriving, he didn’t feel alone.
This wasn’t just his fight anymore.
This was war.
The beast lurched forward, its grotesque form shifting unnaturally as it charged again, its massive claws tearing through the dirt.
Kaito barely had time to react—but he wasn’t alone anymore.
“Shred it!” the warrior bellowed.
Black Star moved as one.
The beastman was the first to strike, his enormous frame moving with surprising speed. With a feral growl, he lunged at the creature, his clawed gauntlets ripping through its thick flesh, leaving behind deep, oozing wounds. The beast let out a piercing screech, but before it could retaliate—
“Tighten up!” the fiery-haired mage shouted. She slammed her staff into the ground, a rune-circle igniting beneath her feet. “Flamebind!”
From the rune, chains of molten fire erupted from the ground, wrapping around the beast’s legs, locking it in place.
“Kaito! Finish it!”
He didn’t hesitate.
Dash.
His body blurred as he surged forward. Mana crackled at his fingertips, the familiar sensation of a spell forming in his palm.
But this time—he focused.
He didn’t just throw a Magic Bolt wildly. He concentrated, channeling his Light affinity into the energy. Instead of a single orb, the magic coalesced into a glowing, spear-like projectile.
Kaito thrust his hand forward—
“Light Lance!”
The lance of pure radiant energy pierced through the beast’s skull, the force of the impact sending shockwaves rippling outward.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent.
Then—
The creature let out one final, distorted howl before collapsing, its grotesque body shriveling as dark energy seeped from its form.
The fire chains vanished, and the beast stopped moving.
Dead.
Kaito gasped for breath, sweat dripping from his brow. His hands trembled—his first true kill.
“Not bad, farm boy,” the warrior grinned, clapping a heavy hand on Kaito’s shoulder. “Didn’t think you had that in you.”
The elf scoffed, sheathing his blade. “That was sloppy. But effective. You’re lucky we were here to pick up the slack.”
Kaito let out a shaky chuckle. “Yeah… thanks for that.”
The Black Star party regrouped quickly.
“This isn’t over,” the mage muttered, her eyes flicking toward the armored warrior standing atop the cart—the real enemy.
He was still watching them.
Still amused.
The warrior in crimson armor gave a slow, deliberate clap. “Not bad. A little messy, but you work well together.”
Kaito steeled himself. This man—who was he? Why did he know about him?
“We’re not done until you’re out of my village,” Kaito growled, raising his fists.
The man tilted his head. “Your village?” His smirk deepened. “Interesting. You really don’t know, do you?”
“Stop playing games!” Kaito snapped.
The warrior sighed theatrically, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Very well. If you want answers…”
With one smooth motion, he drew his weapon. The blade was jagged and serrated, pulsing with chaotic energy. The very air around it distorted, as if reality itself was rejecting its presence.
“…you’ll have to survive.”
The ground cracked beneath him as he vanished.
Kaito’s heart skipped a beat.
“INCOMING!” the beastman roared.
The Black Star party reacted instantly.
The warrior dove forward, meeting the crimson-clad warrior head-on, blocking the incoming strike with his greatsword. Sparks erupted as steel met steel, the sheer force of the impact sending shockwaves outward.
The mage jumped back, her hands weaving a new spell. “Keep him occupied—I’m setting up a suppression field!”
The beastman took a wide stance, his claws extending into hooked blades. “I’ll flank him—Kaito, support!”
Kaito barely had time to think—he just moved.
Dash. He zipped around to the side, lifting his hand and firing Magic Bolts toward their enemy.
But the crimson warrior was fast.
With a single fluid motion, he twisted his body, deflecting Kaito’s bolts with his sword while still clashing blades with Black Star’s warrior.
His movement was seamless.
No wasted energy. No hesitation.
He’s on a completely different level!
The elf suddenly appeared behind the enemy, his sword engulfed in searing red energy. “Let’s see you block this—!”
He slashed with all his might.
The warrior vanished.
The elf’s blade cut through empty air.
Then—a flash of red.
Before anyone could react, the elf was hurled across the battlefield, crashing into a pile of rubble.
Kaito barely registered his body moving—his instincts screamed at him to act.
He threw everything he had into a Teleport.
A bright green shimmer engulfed him as he reappeared just in time to catch the elf before he hit the ground.
The impact still sent Kaito stumbling backward, but they avoided a fatal crash.
The elf coughed, his face twisted in pain—but his eyes widened slightly when he realized what Kaito had just done.
“You…” He gritted his teeth. “You teleported to catch me?”
Kaito huffed. “Couldn’t let you die, right?”
The elf clicked his tongue, but a small smirk played on his lips. “Tch. Don’t get cocky.”
Their attention snapped back to the battlefield.
The crimson warrior stood untouched, his blade resting lazily on his shoulder.
“Impressive teamwork,” he mused. “But you’re still far too slow.”
Kaito’s stomach twisted. How were they supposed to win this?
Then—
BOOM!
A massive pulse of mana erupted from the mage’s position. The entire battlefield shimmered as a huge blue sigil spread across the ground.
“Done!” the mage shouted. “Suppression field is up! He can’t teleport or use chaos magic while inside!”
Kaito’s eyes widened. That’s it!
“Push him in!” the warrior roared.
Black Star moved in unison.
The beastman lunged, forcing the crimson warrior backward.
Kaito focused his mana, summoning another Light Lance. He aimed not at the enemy, but at the ground near his feet—forcing him to dodge backward.
The warrior sidestepped—straight into the sigil.
BOOM. The moment his foot touched the field, chaotic energy surged around him—locking him in place.
His smirk finally faltered.
The mage’s grin was triumphant. “Got you.”
Kaito’s breath was ragged, his body aching, but his mind was clear.
We can win this.
Black Star wasn’t just strong—they were coordinated. And now, fighting as part of them, Kaito was beginning to understand what it meant to truly be an adventurer.
The battle wasn’t over.
But for the first time—they had a chance.
Chapter 6
The Chains of Light and Shadow
The crimson warrior’s smirk vanished.
For the first time since the battle began, he wasn’t in control.
The Suppression Field locked him in place, the swirling chaotic energy around his body sputtering like a flame being smothered. The Black Star party had trapped him, and now—
It was time to strike.
“Kaito! Hit him now!” the mage called, still holding the suppression sigil active beneath her feet.
Kaito didn’t hesitate. He could feel power surging within him—Thoth’s blessing, his rare Light and Dark affinity, everything was guiding him forward.
I need to use both.
I need to use them in ways no one else would.
His mind raced.
Light magic was divine, radiant, pure—it could cleanse and bind.
Dark magic was insidious, consuming, adaptive—it could seep into the cracks and take hold.
An idea flashed through his mind.
Kaito thrust out both hands, his left crackling with radiant white light, his right pulsing with dense black shadows.
The light surged forward, twisting into chains of pure energy, wrapping around the enemy’s arms and torso.
But then—the shadows followed.
The dark energy slithered into the gaps of the golden chains like inky tendrils, reinforcing the bindings with an unnatural strength.
The result was a new spell—a fusion of Light and Dark Magic, one that shouldn’t even be possible.
“Chains of Twilight!”
The chains tightened around the crimson warrior, constricting his movements even further.
The beastman’s eyes widened. “What the hell—? That’s not normal magic!”
The mage’s smirk returned. “I like this kid.”
The warrior didn’t waste time marveling. He stepped forward, raising his greatsword overhead. “Perfect. Hold him still.”
Kaito pushed everything he had into maintaining the bindings, his arms trembling from the sheer force of the spell.
The warrior swung.
His blade came down like a meteor, aimed directly at the enemy’s chest.
It should have been a finishing blow.
But then—
Something changed.
The air shifted.
A wave of red energy erupted from the warrior’s body, breaking the chains in an instant.
“Tch—!” Kaito staggered backward, his body reeling from the force.
The Suppression Field faltered, the mage letting out a pained gasp as the sigil cracked under the pressure.
And then—he moved.
The crimson warrior vanished.
Kaito barely had time to react before he felt something cold press against his throat.
He froze.
The enemy was behind him.
The Black Star party turned sharply, their faces shifting from triumph to sheer horror.
The warrior’s serrated blade rested lightly against Kaito’s neck, just enough to send a sharp pain prickling against his skin.
“Impressive,” the crimson warrior murmured. “You almost had me.”
Kaito’s breathing was shaky. His mind raced. Teleport!
But the moment he reached for his mana, the enemy’s blade pressed tighter, warning him that one wrong move would end him.
“Smart boy,” the warrior chuckled.
The Black Star party was tense, watching, waiting.
The warrior grinned, voice lowering. “You fight well… for a child of a traitor.”
Kaito’s heart stopped.
He felt his stomach drop, his mind screaming. What?
“That’s right,” the warrior said, sensing the shock in Kaito’s silence. “You have his blood, don’t you? That pathetic coward who thought he could escape the fate Tau gave him.”
Kaito’s vision blurred. What is he talking about?!
The crimson warrior tilted his head, as if enjoying his reaction. “Did they never tell you? Did your mother keep you sheltered in that quiet little village, pretending your blood wasn’t soaked in Chaos?”
Kaito’s entire body shook.
His father—a traitor? A servant of Tau?
The thoughts overwhelmed him.
And in that moment—he hesitated.
The crimson warrior took advantage of it. His blade flashed, slashing toward Kaito’s throat—
But then—
A burst of light exploded outward.
Not from Kaito.
From the elf.
“NOT YET!”
The elf’s blade ignited in a brilliant mix of red and orange energy, his attack fueled by the blessing of Tau himself.
He lunged, colliding blades with the crimson warrior just in time.
The force of the impact knocked Kaito away, sending him rolling across the dirt. He coughed, gasping for air, his mind still reeling.
The elf stood between him and the enemy, his stance firm, unyielding.
“You’re not killing him,” the elf snarled.
The crimson warrior laughed. “Oh? Is that loyalty I hear from a child of Chaos?”
The elf’s eyes burned. “Shut up and fight.”
Kaito forced himself up, pushing down the storm of emotions flooding his mind. Not now. Focus. You can figure this out later.
The battle resumed.
The warrior and elf clashed, their blades sending shockwaves through the air. The Black Star party flanked—
The beastman barreled in, slashing low at the enemy’s legs, forcing him to jump—
The mage, waiting above, unleashed “Arcane Spears”, raining glowing energy lances from the sky—
The enemy twisted midair, dodging the worst of the impact, but—
Kaito was already there.
He had teleported directly into the enemy’s trajectory.
His arms outstretched, mana surging through him, a spell forming instinctively.
He didn’t know what he was casting.
He just let the magic flow.
Dark tendrils coiled around his arms, while radiant symbols etched themselves into the air.
And then—the two magics combined.
“Twin Collapse!”
The spell exploded outward, a wave of light and darkness intertwined, forcing the enemy downward—right back into the beastman’s path.
The warrior swung upward, his greatsword slamming into their target’s midsection. The enemy was sent flying, crashing into the burning wreckage of a nearby hut.
Silence.
For a moment, no one moved.
Kaito panted, his vision flickering. Did we—?
A low chuckle rumbled through the battlefield.
From the wreckage, the crimson warrior rose, his body bloodied, his armor cracked—but he was still standing.
He touched the wound on his side, glancing at the blood on his fingers.
Then—he smiled.
“That was fun.”
The air grew heavy.
Kaito’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t over.
The crimson warrior raised his blade, its chaotic energy crackling with power.
“But let’s see how long you last…”
Then—
A thunderous boom echoed across the battlefield.
A new presence arrived.
One that froze even the crimson warrior in place.
Kaito turned sharply, his breath catching.
A lone figure stood at the edge of the battlefield, his golden armor gleaming against the backdrop of fire and destruction.
His aura was immense, radiating the unmistakable presence of divinity.
Kaito’s eyes widened.
It was a Heavenly Knight.