In the eastern part of Thallerion, the sun rose like a powerful ruler, slowly conquering the cold shadows of the night. A white, glass-like sphere shimmered in the sky—this was the "Crown-shield." From afar, it looked like a giant crown dropped by the gods. As the sun peeked over the horizon, the entire architecture of Thallerion glistened, like swords raised in the air in a tall salute. However, as the morning heat grew, people gathered in the spacious hall of Betelgeuse City—the very heart of the Thallerion kingdom.
The shouts and support of the people echoed as King Zerceux arrived, riding a flying Auriga pulled by four golden horses. Trumpets blared as he descended from the chariot, but in a flash, the Auriga vanished like stardust. He walked slowly to the center, deep in thought.
"To rise in this world, one must cling to the Celestial Gene. Without this gene, Thallerion will be nothing but a rat in the eyes of monsters. But these days, much has changed. Everyone is worried about the loss of their power. The ability that was meant to protect their families and their nation—now, they just rely on a shield."
The King saw a desperate man trying to show off; no matter how hard he squeezed his arm to draw out his power, only blue ash glimmered on his hand. The King could only sigh.
A live broadcast made of blue energy spread across every wall of Thallerion's buildings. King Zerceux took a slow step forward, stood tall, and scanned the faces of the crowd. He breathed in deeply, his weary finger pointing toward the heavens.
"Look up!" His voice was deep and slow, so much so that even the air seemed to listen. "Behold the glowing barrier they have dumped in our sky like a white shroud on a coffin. That is the National Threat Security Shield, sent by the Cepheus Sovereign under the Crown-System a hundred years ago. But until now, we continue to rely on them. Luxurious, isn't it? But I call it—the Parasitic Crown!"
The citizens shared in the King's resentment. "They are eating away at our nation! This isn't protection! It's a curse!" The King heard the clashing of weapons forged from celestial energy. The firing of low-tier guns left a tremor in the air.
"You are right! They talk only of 'peace.' They talk of 'ordinance.' But they don't realize we are being choked to death under their greedy system!" The King's fist tightened on the podium, emitting a wisp of smoke. His blue eyes blazed as he stared at the people.
"The celestial guardian of Thallerion has been lost for a long time, so they look at us as weaklings who need to depend on their protection." King Zerceux struck the podium, cracking it as he roared with passion. "Ha! We are not sheep that need a shepherd! Have they forgotten? That we know how to wield weapons?"
"They are underestimating us!" the people shouted. A mass awakening occurred in the midst of the speech, as they showed their support for the King. Their eyes shone like stars, and their energy took the form of weapons.
"The saddest part is that we feed every strand of that shield with 500 million astral-currency each year. We are forced to earn billions."
Amidst the monarch's monumental speech, an ethereal blue screen manifested, powered by celestial energy from the Crown-System. "What is this? Why now of all times?"
Streamlined System Interface
[ SYSTEM NOTICE: CEPHEUS SOVEREIGN HIGH-PRIORITY BOUNTY ]
Phenomenon: Biopunk Infestation & Feral Bio-Trafficking
Source: Unauthorized Underworld Laboratories
■ INTEL REPORT
The Crown-System has detected an exponential surge in illegal biopunk facilities along the frontier. These dark sectors are mass-producing illicit genetic catalysts.
■ MISSION PARAMETERS
Objective: Destroy all 7 illegal laboratories consecutively
Time Quota: 2 Months (60 Standard Days)
Target Species: Unknown / Rapidly Mutating Mutagens
Estimated Forces: ~1,000 Biopunk Entities per sector (Continuous release)
Lethality: UNQUANTIFIABLE (Extreme Threat)
Location: Eastern Thallerion Border (Marshy Terrain)
■ BOUNTY POOL
Reward: 25,000,000,000 Astral-Coins (AC)
Creditor: Cepheus Sovereign Ledger Account
[ SYSTEM QUEST: DO YOU ACCEPT THIS TASK, AWAKENED OF THALLERION? ]
"Illegal laboratories?" King Zerceux muttered softly.
The sharp clack-clack of high-heeled red sandals echoed across the stage as his secretary approached, her form-fitting crimson dress hugging her thighs.
"Ravenson, verify these laboratories," the King commanded.
"My King, I received reports earlier from our military units, relayed by the scout-hunters patrolling the barrier," the secretary said. Her hand glowed, projecting a holographic report. "According to them, there are twenty laboratories that have emerged along the banks of the Cirtax River, and seven more near our border."
"If that's the case, we could earn triple the reward or more if these bio-labs keep appearing." The king replied, in returned she added with a nod.
The crowd erupted into murmurs, buzzing with various opinions and debates. But for the King, listening to the cacophony, a realization dawned. "This is the chance. The chance to prove to the entire world that the blood of the Hunters has not yet gone stale." He gripped the microphone, his voice resonating across the plaza with renewed resolve.
"Look closely at your personalized screens. You all know I am not a fan of the Cepheus Sovereign system, but at this moment, I will set aside our anger and hatred for their relentless greed."
"Listen well, awakened warriors, hunters, and healers! It has been ten years since the biopunks appeared, destroying our nature and causing the deaths of countless people, animals, and the environment itself. According to the Crown-System, the emergence of these biopunk-prototypes has triggered a surge in the movement of shape-shifters. Therefore, the Cepheus Sovereign calls upon us to destroy every laboratory that appears."
"So, today, I ask for your decision. Shall we accept this mission, or will we continue to hide our celestial abilities?" The plaza erupted in noise as everyone deliberated.
"I refuse to rot away beneath this shield!" declared a valiant awakened warrior, his fist clenching as it crackled with energy. "We, the warriors, agree!" he roared.
"We will help; we will support your troops, my King," shouted the Thallerion-healers.
"Are only the warriors going to benefit from the reward?" shouted an ordinary man holding a low-tier sword. "My King, what about us non-awakened? We want to help in this mission, too! We may not have enough money to buy celestial assets, but we want to contribute." The King looked at the faces of his people with compassion.
"Go to the Rigil District. Register as auxiliary hunters," the King ordered. "Do not be reckless. Wait for the commands of the elites."
"Thank you, my King!"
The King noticed some men attempting to level up their rookie blades, only for them to flicker weakly.
"No king could ever refuse an offer of 25 billion from the Cepheus Sovereign," he whispered to himself, taking a deep breath. "But with our guardian entity long gone, the number of those capable of becoming Awakened-Hunters is dwindling. I only pray that the rookies and the non-awakened will not become a burden in this mission."
King Zerceux pressed the 'YES' button. A thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the crowd in support of the King's decision. The novices and ordinary citizens began moving toward the Rigil District to register.
The Cathedral
In Mintaka village, the great bell tolled heavily. Instead of registering as an auxiliary hunter, a young woman named Xurien Wrez headed straight for the cathedral. As she stepped inside, she noticed the yellowing walls and the lingering scent of aged incense.
"Is the entity's silence a sign of abandonment or a test of our resolve? Tsk, never mind," she whispered. Walking further, she felt the chilling aura emanating from the pillars adorned with angel statues. Ahead, a large black cross was fixed high upon the wall—a symbol of the influence of the holy nation of Cypriox.
"Sigh... I'm sure our leader is going to be furious with me again," Xurien muttered, feeling too weary to even dwell on it. She checked her watch. "Wait, it's only seven in the morning. At least the King's speech ended quickly; I still have time to review."
"I really don't understand how the minds of kings work," she scoffed softly, scanning her surroundings. "The moment money is involved, their voices change as if they've been possessed by a different spirit."
The vast chamber was hung with fluorescent lamps encased in floral relics, casting a muted glow. Xurien watched tiny specks of white dust dance in the golden light filtering through the stained-glass windows, piercing the shadows of the cold room.
"Wait? Why is the cathedral empty today? Could it be that they all went to the border for the mission? Heavens! They are so easily blinded by the lure of gold; have they truly abandoned their prayers so quickly?"
"Why do people become so blind at the mere clinking of coins? Do they not think that their lives are merely food in the eyes of monsters? Why not just leave this mission to the awakened warriors?" Her heart grew heavy with the questions weighing on her mind in the silent sanctuary.
Before the altar, she slowly knelt, her hands rising to press firmly together in prayer. She closed her eyes, and fresh tears—like dew gathered by the morning mist—crawled down her cheeks, dripping onto her chest. She felt the warmth of her own conviction.
"Hallelujah... hallelujah..." she sang. Her soft lips trembled as the melody drifted through the air.
The incense smoke swirled, smelling of fragrant wood, leaving a sense of lightness in her weary soul. The flickering light of the candles served as silent witnesses to her unwavering kneeling before the cross.
"As a member of Davina's team, I cannot help but become emotional at the pathetic state of the patients in our healing camp," she whispered, memories flooding back: warriors bathed in their own blood, wailing, screaming, begging for mercy before drawing their last breath. "Will this be the fate of these people after their mission?"
"O, merciful Crux, I beseech you, pour your glorious light upon the land of Thallerion. Guide the warriors of Thallerion; help them succeed in this mission. Give strength and fortitude to the non-awakened who are willing to sacrifice their lives just to earn $ORN. But please, cleanse the heart of the Sovereign. They are the reason Thallerion is bound in chains, affecting the citizens with their heavy taxes," she prayed. "Please, defy this sovereignty, for they are using what they call our 'salvation' as their own personal piggy bank."
With every word, her knees trembled, and her palms grew slick with tears. Her prayer seemed to become music within the silent altar. "O sacred Crux..." she pressed her hands together tighter. "Hear my plea—for my people, for my country, and for my race. Thallerion's ability to awaken its power is slowly fading, yet no one defends us. Please, we need our Guardian entity. Amen."
A deafening silence followed her prayer. However, in the midst of her devotion, the candle flames suddenly bowed. The incense smoke swirled, resembling a storm trapped within the cathedral. In an instant, a sphere of light floated forward, accompanied by lightning dancing across the walls.
The young woman felt a gentle, sacred warmth fill the room, as if the very energy was calling her name. She opened her eyes to witness a blinding, star-like object descending with a rhythmic hum akin to an angry hornet. In a flash, like a falling meteor, it struck the ground before her, and the shadow of a being emerged—a shirtless man.
"Who are you?" Xurien's eyes widened, her blood seeming to freeze. "Identify yourself, stranger." Her voice trembled, and goosebumps rose on her skin as the noise outside suddenly ceased. She glanced at her watch and gasped in horror. "What is happening? Why did my watch stop moving?" The scent of incense vanished, replaced by the man's aura—a fragrance of onyx and lotus as sweet as ancient wood. "That scent. It's like the traditional perfume of Thallerion. Is he...?"
The young woman's angelic face flushed, blooming like a rose in the sun. Beads of sweat trickled down her face. She saw the muscular man emerge from the light. He possessed the perfect physique of a warrior, his abs carved like stone. Suddenly, clothing materialized upon him, wrapping his body in armor that transformed from dust into steel. He stood like a King of Glory.
"I cannot believe it... am I truly witnessing a god?" she stammered, her voice twisting in nervousness like a frightened rabbit.
With every step the man took, the room seemed to shrink. Five crystal orbs—representing fire, water, lightning, earth, and light—hovered around him, orbiting like loyal planets.
They then merged into a belt of bolts around his waist. The stranger's aura intensified instantly, triggering a wave of pressure in the air.
"This man is truly powerful!" Xurien gasped. Her nose began to bleed from the shock of his aura, which felt like living electricity. "I cannot let my vision blur."
Xurien forced herself to look at the man's muscular form. She first noticed the silk, which seemed to be woven from the cosmos itself. At every corner of the gold armor, diamond reliefs shimmered, while a cloak—not made of fabric, but of the aquamarine energy of a galaxy—trailed behind him, adorned with gold and silver at the edges.
"Is he some kind of god of war?" Floating daggers of various blade shapes danced around him. The diadem he wore shimmered like the newborn sun.
The cathedral pillars began to crack, and even the dust in the air froze, as if time itself had solidified. Only one realization crossed the young woman's mind: "Wait, is he a Constellar-king?"
From her awe at the transformation into heavenly armor, her gaze rose to follow his movements, and there, she beheld eyes that glittered with the depth of the galaxy. Overcome by the sheer force of his spirit, she immediately bowed her head in terror. Her cold hands shook bitterly, and for the first time, she prostrated herself on the floor. Tears flowed freely before the man, like a slave begging for mercy.
"Forgive me," she sobbed, "I did not mean to look upon your face."