Aiden Kang, the No.6 Slayer of Ordo, Firebrand, strode through Pillar Vesper. Engineers manned endless shifts maintaining its integrity, with that “it” being nothing more than a shiny gold thing-a-bob constructed from fancy technology and magic, a wonderful combination thinked up by the shining minds of tomorrow. Or however they romanticized it.

All Aiden knew how to do was swing a sword around, channel fire through it, and bam, there you go. He could cleave through anything; the scientists over at Angels kept inventing new ways to defend against his attacks but each and every time, they were no match for his hot, hot fire. Not as hot as Duskfire’s though. That man was the master of all flames; he was the guy who created the mythology. Not literally, but basically. Practically. And Aiden wanted to reach his level.

After all, he was the famous prodigy personally mentored by Kosmos and Seraph themselves.

He grinned to himself and flashed his sharp teeth to anyone and everyone he passed. Some looked at him strangely (they always do), some ignored him outright, some were startled (he was often told he was naturally off-putting). He didn’t care however; he dealt with worse. Besides, Aiden couldn’t hate these people. They were the smartasses who knew how to get shit done; it was their job to keep the house standing, but it was his job to protect the lawn. It was Seraph’s order.

Like what had happened earlier. Just a few hours ago, he annihilated (safely, not causing unnecessary property damage) a small army of orcs and other monsters-he-couldn’t-name. Once you cleaved through twenty guys with a single swing, they’d generally get the message and run off with their cocks sucked in. Except that didn’t happen. They had a good commander by the name of Comet Tewfik who urged them to fight. Or more precisely: intimidated them into performing a suicidal bum-rush.

Really, Tewfik wasn’t so much as a ‘good commander’ but a master, a slaver with its property, and like all slavers, it was abusive. It barked orders from afar, secured squarely by both distance and tusks. It had little tactical strategy, as others had said, though was that the slaver’s foolishness or the lack of intelligence of its minions? Regardless, the enemy possessed the numbers, and they had swarmed Vesper on all sides.

Thankfully, Aiden was here, slaying as he normally did, killing, butchering, burning. Oddly enough, the orcs weren’t routed, not even after a majority of their friends were killed. Aiden had commented that it went against common sense, but he was suddenly rebuked with: “What do you know about common sense?”

They weren’t incorrect but damn…

Regardless of who had common sense or not—Aiden totally had common sense contrary to what others think—Tewfik retreated. Good. Today, tomorrow, someday, Aiden will personally make fireworks with its body. Maybe he’d take its head and put it on a spike, Lord of the Flies style. That was a promise. If there was one thing Aiden was good at, it’d be that: keeping promises.

This morning was another promise: manning the north guard. All Five Pillars were placed in an large, open plaza where you’d need several big rigs to span its diameter. Normally on a sunny, peaceful day, you’d see people here, walking their dogs, holding hands, pushing their strollers, making small talk. On days like these, when shit had hit the fan, walls and barriers emerged from the ground, strategically placed to make it easy for the Army to reinforce their position. Made it easier for the Slayers too.

Every Pillar had a “Soul”, as the engineers affectionately named it. About one hundred meters deep underground was a gargantuan white mana crystal hooked up to complicated machinery, which was said to be the purest of them all. According to the engineers, they said the Soul was harvested from a world with a toxically high mana concentration; the miners had to wear elaborate, expensive suits to protect themselves. Worth it though.

The Soul powered the entirety of a Pillar. The tower itself were comprised of two parts similarly to a couplet of keys found on a piano: the long white structure, stylized in what its architects call “cloud-like” or “nebular”, then a black shell surrounding the upper half. The shell itself wasn’t actually connected to the main tower; instead, it hovered, levitating through some magic mumbo-jumbo that Aiden didn’t understand. If you looked closely, you could see geometric lines running across the Pillar, both parts; these were artificial leylines that connected to the Soul, directly powering the globe-shaped conduit at the apex. It generated an anti-magic barrier, dispelling most forms of magic, had self-restoration properties, it burned to the touch, and other neat little features.

It provided almost flawless security, but it also acted as a prison.

Aiden shrugged at the thought. Prison? So what, they weren’t trapped with them. They were trapped with him. He had mentioned the same thinking with Chie, who promptly said, “If the Comets knew how bad you really are, they’d wanna get out sooner.”

Why does she always gotta bully me like that? He sighed to himself, walking outside. There, Aiden was greeted with a beautiful dark morning and the stairs were still out, and Kosmos was still fighting the Cosmic Beast, and the sky hadn’t changed whatsoever. It was still night, but his watch said it was five-forty-seven yet the cosmic dust signaled it was midnight. Aiden groaned. “Motherfuckers stole the sun.”

But they couldn’t steal his pride as a fighter. Not his smile. Aiden had made that promise before: to never stop smiling. Not even when the world was falling down. Once, he thought about acting like Monarch, hoping to act as charismatic as her, and share the same optimism with the soldiers here. Didn’t really work out that well. They were tired, their homes were probably gone, their loved ones were hurt or dead or missing, and it hadn’t been a full twenty-four hours yet. Still, they were here, fighting. That was more than anyone could ask for.

Aiden approached the closest wall, Vesper Wall Alpha, manned with Slayers and soldiers—two wonderful words that started with ‘S’. They had manned turrets, heavy guns larger than a person, where a single bullet could tear a bastard clean in half. Aiden had never seen a more badass gun. And for the Slayers? Ranged Slayers occupied the wall. Bows, staffs, whatever they used. They, of course, were badasses too.

With a single hop, he was on top. He pranced down the perimeter, admiring some of the steel ladies as he passed. Then, he found a good friend: Sunny, an A-Rank Slayer belonging to Maritals. The Big Four all had Slayers stationed at the Five Pillars. Aiden greeted him with a slap on the back. “Good morning to ya, blondie! How’s it hanging?”

Sunny yelped at the slap, hissing, in pain and in annoyance. Maybe he slapped him a little too hard. “Surprisingly uneventful. We detected little activity since the last attack. We sent scouts and they came back empty-handed. They think something big’s going on. Figuring out what is the real question.”

“Heh. Tewfik can try pulling something big on us, that fucking bastard. Once it fails another attack, which is guaranteed by the way, I might go on a little expedition myself and kill the jackass. Give it a taste of its own medicine, and cremate it.”

Sunny frowned. “That’s easier said than—”

“And before you finish that, no, it’s not easier said than done. It’s easier said and done. It’s like, I dunno, breathing! If I say I’m gonna breathe, then I’m gonna breathe. And guess what? I’m breathing. That asshole couldn’t.”

“...Is that seriously the best example you can come up with?”

“Shut up. Talking big game is really easy you know! I am one of the few people who can turn my words into reality, just like Seraph, just like Kosmos, just like all you guys. But unlike most people: my sword is definitely bigger than my tongue, so yeah, trying not to brag or anything.”

Sunny muttered, “I feel so sorry for Sage…”

”Oi, Sage loves my company! Sure, she tells me to go away, shut up, or maybe she hits me over the head with a book or throws a controller at me, or…” Aiden paused, thought about it for a few seconds, then shrugged. “Yeah, she likes me.”

“How are you in the Top Ten?”

“You sound skeptical and I get that, but you saw me in action before, Sunny. I am a gen-u-wine prodigy. All my smarts are up here.” He tapped his forehead. “And it’s flowing down here.” Then ran his hands through is long, ignited red hair. “We’ll end this disaster once and for all. How’s the other guys doing anyway? Like Dawns. I heard they got attacked by a Comet.”

“They’re doing fine now; Archknell reassigned himself to lead the operation against Pereyra, so we’re gonna see some action later today, I think. They got Team Luster, the forces at OU, and a squad of Pseudos, I think.”

“Pseudos?” Aiden chuckled. “They must be pretty insane if they wanna fight a whole Comet.”

“Yeah, but you might actually know them. They’re associated with Seraph,” Sunny said. “Uhm, what were their names? Right, one of them is the daughter of Hwaseong Heavens. I forgot their name though.”

“Leona Ahn,” Aiden said. He’d met Leona a few times before, but to think she’d participate in the Comet-busting. Hell, to think Seraph would let her participate, especially when she made a promise to Momma and Papa Hwaseong. “What ‘bout the others? Is her boyfriend in the party?”

“Boyfriend?”

“Yeah, Alexander Shen. He’s Chinese just like me.” Whenever Leona visited Angels, sometimes she’d bring Alexander with her. When Aiden first met him, he thought Alexander was a Slayer by the way he held himself: attentive, sharp, focused; however, that wasn’t the case. He was caught up in the Hangzhou Disaster. According to him, he had no desire of doing anything Slayer-related.

Yet if he was fighting… We might actually win this thing.

Sunny continued, “I’ve heard his sister might be participating too. I forgot her name, but yeah. We also have Fusil’s brother.”

“Oh, he’s gonna be pissed.”

“Yup. Last but not least is the eldest son of Duskfire. You met him before, right?”

Aiden beamed, “Yeah, Damien’s with ‘em? Damn, the team’s sorta stacked if y’think about it.” While Damien wasn’t following in his father’s or his little brother’s footsteps, he was a smart guy. (With some wild demonic energy going on too.) Also a tough nut to crack too. He wouldn’t give Aiden any information about his dad’s tricks. Nothing about his training or the books he read, absolutely nothing. Oh well.

Suddenly, something dinged inside his head like a pitchy bell, then it buzzed. He thought it was a fly at first—for some reason—and smacked his own head to get it out. Nothing popped out of his ear, but a blue light caught his eye: the Slayer System. He got a call.

Sunny tilted his head. “Hey—”

“Shut up. Got an important call from the midget.” Aiden cleared his voice and answered, “Heya midget!”

“Oi!” cried Chie from the other end. “Sage doesn’t appreciate being insulted first thing in the morning, thank you!“

Her voice brought a surprising smile from him and he clasped his mouth to conceal it. This wasn’t a video call anyway so she wouldn’t see his goofy face. Aiden had expected a sad Chie, who’d be mopey and depressed, like whenever she finished a good RPG. No, she sounded like her usual self: annoying, annoyingly loud, annoyingly bold. How long had it been since the beginning of the disaster? Right, not even a full twenty-four hours. Aiden missed the nights when they’d huddle inside her workshop, turning hours into minutes as they played the latest releases until their eyes grew sick of electronic screens or one of them inevitably fell asleep.

Aiden heard her yell over the System: “Are you even listening to me?! Sage wants to know your status! She’s doing this for Seraph, so take this seriously, Burnt-for-Brains. So spill it!”

“Fine fine! We’re alive and breathing, gremlin!” answered Aiden with a cheerful grin, wishing he smiled in better circumstances. “We’re preparing for a war. According to Sunny, Tewfik’s planning something real bad. Doesn’t matter though, I’m gonna fuck it up good. Not the operation—God no—but I’m gonna kill Tewfik, that’s what I’m tryna say: I’m gonna kill that guy.”

Again, while it was not a video call, Aiden could feel Chie blankly staring at him. “Sage regrets calling you. Sunny, you’re more eloquently spoken, what’s your status?”

“Uh, we’re—“

Aiden howled, “Oi, Chie. I’m serious y’know! I will kill Tewfik!”

“You’ve been saying that ever since the disaster started but too bad Sera put you on guard duty, hehe.”

“Ugh, it doesn’t matter. Tewfik has its eyes on Vesper, so I’m fighting a Comet either way.” Aiden turned away. Again again, this was not a video call so Chie couldn’t see him pout and sulk. Timidly almost, he glanced at the blue screen. “How are ya holding up, shortie?”

“What’s with the sudden sentimentalism?”

“Nothin’. I—huh?” Aiden squinted. On the far parking garage to his left, a cloaked figure stood on the highest level, two feet planted on the low ledge, its tattered gown swaying in the wind. He patted Sunny’s shoulder multiple times and pointed at the thing. “Hey hey, y’see that?”

Sunny rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t—wait, you’re right. I…” He leaned closer, pressing his stomach against the railing to get a better look. Then he saw it. “Oh shit. That’s him. That’s definitely him. It’s Tewfik—”

Aiden’s hair bursted into a great, roaring fire as if he had suddenly ignited. The sudden illumination alerted the soldiers of the threat and left them yelling. Immediately, the entire force of Pillar Vesper were dashing to their stations preparing themselves for the next wave, but there was no monsters. No creatures. Not even ghosts. It was only and simply the disguised entity standing on the parking garage, overlooking Pillar Vesper.

Chie exclaimed through the System, “Sage’s detecting a powerful force in your area! It matches Tewfik’s readings—!”

“Yeah, I can literally fucking see it! Sunny, you’re gonna—!”

Before Aiden finished, Tewfik manifested a slender sword from the abyss of its cloak. Was that really a sword however? It was too long, too thin, and the blade was bent and crooked like a withering tree branch. That was no sword at all, just a pale imitation of one, something that looked more like a spear.

Slowly, Tewfik raised its odd-blade and drifted it across the air like a baton. Was that supposed to be an attack or a signal? It moved too slow to be an attack, yet purposeful enough to send a message. But Aiden had good eyes; there was not a single monster to be seen, not even now.

As he frantically racked his mind, the earth shook.

A shockwave shot throughout the plaza, heavy, rumbling, and the earth groaned. It did not originate from Tewfik, but it came from Pillar Vesper itself. The marvel of architecture and magitech, one of the prized and illustrious Five Pillars that swore to protect Ordo, was screaming. Because, through the might of the shockwave, there was a line of smoke that had cut through the Pillar’s girth.

The Pillar stood there for a few moments, then hurricane-like winds followed, and everything collapsed.