2 - Raid on The Temple .1

"We need to investigate this immediately, Commander."

Halstein, the commander of Dragon Bone, turned to one of his top-ranking guild members. His gaze was sharp, reflecting the weight of the situation. "A giant beam of light, radiating the same energy levels as a Demon Gate…"

He exhaled, rubbing his temple before reaching for a stack of papers on his desk. With swift precision, he signed off on a few documents before setting them aside.

"Gather Kiera, Stiles, and SteelArm. We move now." His tone was calm, but the urgency was unmistakable as he rose from his chair.

Minutes later, the three S-rank guild members entered the room.

SteelArm—a towering man whose sheer physical strength made him a force to be reckoned with.

Stiles—a master of barriers, known for his unbreakable defenses.

Kiera—a formidable mage, her control over the arcane unmatched.

Stiles stretched his arms, looking unimpressed. "So, what's the emergency? I thought today was our day off."

Halstein's expression remained firm. "The light from a few days ago—it's causing a storm on social media. People are speculating, panicking. But more importantly, the energy it gave off matched that of a Demon Gate." He crossed his arms. "We're going to investigate. Be ready—we leave in twenty minutes."

Without hesitation, the three S-ranks nodded and followed Halstein to the armory, preparing for what awaited them.

Meanwhile, deep within the temple's chambers, Aria stirred.

She sat in silence, thoughts swirling as the weight of what she had learned pressed down on her. Holy magic… The knowledge had been forced into her, and the more she tried to comprehend it, the more her head throbbed.

"This… hurts." She whispered.

In frustration, she activated a faint pulse of magic to soothe her headache—but the energy dissipated instantly, cut off by the intricate runes etched into the walls around her.

Her emerald eyes narrowed as she examined them. "What even are these?"

She slid out of bed, bare feet meeting the cold stone floor as she approached the inscriptions. Pressing her palm against one of the symbols, she expected something—anything—to happen. But nothing did.

Her gaze drifted across the chamber until it landed on a red gemstone. The moment her eyes met its surface, they flickered to a beautiful gray.

"Whoa… this stone, it's beautiful."

Compelled by instinct, she reached for it.

The moment her fingers brushed the gemstone, the runes along the walls glowed gold before bursting into a brilliant red light. The chamber trembled as the energy surged, culminating in a deafening explosion.

Aria barely had time to react before her magic flared to life, instinctively shielding her. With a single motion, she raised her hand toward the massive steel door that had kept her imprisoned. The metal disintegrated in an instant.

She took a cautious step forward, peering into the corridor beyond. The stone floor was ice-cold against her feet, sending a shiver up her spine. She glanced left, then right, before spotting a staircase spiraling upward.

"No idea where I am, but up is a good place to start."

Wrapping her arms around herself for warmth, she began the slow ascent.

Elsewhere in the temple, a gathering of masked figures sat in the main chamber. At their center stood a man known only as Red. His voice carried a sharp, confident edge as he addressed the group.

"We'll have her ready within the month." His gloved fingers tapped against the wooden table before him. "It's been over two thousand years… but now, we stand at the final stage. Just one more month."

Soft murmurs of amusement echoed around him, hidden smiles curling beneath their masks.

A woman in the group tilted her head. "So, what exactly is the plan for Aria Noctis? We've discussed it for centuries, but now that it's a reality… I need to hear it again."

Red exhaled, his tone unwavering.

"The plan is simple." He leaned forward slightly. "We convince her that we are doing what's best for the world—eliminating the Demon Gates before another invasion can happen. She will do the work for us. And, when she's regained enough of her magic, we'll use her to open gates of our own."

His voice darkened. "World domination, the complete reconstruction of society… it's finally within our grasp."

Laughter rippled through the room, quiet but filled with anticipation.

Far beneath them, Aria climbed the endless spiral staircase. The chill in the air seeped into her skin, her breath coming out in soft puffs.

"My feet are so cold…" she mumbled, hugging herself tighter.

With a tired sigh, she pressed on, step by step, unaware of the forces already moving against her.

Halstein and his team wasted no time. The moment their equipment was secured, they boarded a sleek private jet bound for Stern. The hum of the engines filled the cabin as the aircraft ascended into the skies, slicing through the clouds with unwavering purpose.

Kiera leaned back in her seat, arms crossed. "I still don't get why we're the only ones being sent. Shouldn't we have more backup for something of this scale?"

Halstein, seated across from her, exhaled sharply. "We don't have the luxury of waiting for reinforcements. We're the only ones who can move fast enough."

SteelArm cracked his knuckles. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Demonic energy at that level… it's either a gate or something worse."

Stiles leaned forward, rubbing his chin. "What I don't understand is why there haven't been any reports of creatures coming through. Demon Gates don't just appear without something crawling out of them."

Halstein's expression darkened. "That's what worries me."

Silence filled the jet for a few moments before the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom.

"ETA to Stern—two hours."

Aria's bare feet pressed against the cold stone steps as she ascended, each step feeling heavier than the last. She didn't know how long she had been climbing, but eventually, the narrow staircase ended at a large, ornate door. Light flickered from the other side, and as she drew closer, she could hear voices.

She hesitated for a few minutes before reluctantly deciding to listen to the conversation past the wall.

She listened to the conversation that was happening before Aria accidentally pushed opened the door after a few minutes.

A robed figure stood there, their eyes widening in shock. "She's here!"

The follower stumbled backward, nearly falling over himself. The room fell silent. All eyes locked onto Aria.

Red's face remained neutral, but a thin layer of sweat formed on his brow. He hadn't expected her to break free so quickly—let alone retain this much power.

He raised his hands slowly, a practiced, friendly smile spreading across his face. "Aria, you're awake. I—"

"Shut up." Aria's voice was cold, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Red's fingers twitched slightly. "Now, now, no need for hostility. We were just talking about you."

"I know." is all Aria said in a cold tone looking at them for a moment.

The tension in the room thickened.

One of the followers took a step forward, lifting his hand. A dense surge of dark energy coiled around his fingers. Without warning, he cast a powerful binding spell, thick chains of darkness surging toward Aria.

Aria barely had time to react—

But the spell shattered upon contact, obliterated by an unseen force. A barrier of pure magic flared to life around her, crackling with untamed energy.

The room erupted into chaos. "Subdue her!" Red barked.

Spells flew through the air—bolts of energy, waves of dark magic, and chains designed to weaken her.

Aria gritted her teeth, ducking behind the nearest column. She could barely remember any spells, so she relied on instinct, using the furniture and architecture as makeshift barriers. But each time, they shattered instantly under the relentless barrage.

She ran back into the stairwell and slammed the door shut behind her, pressing her back against it.

Minutes turned into twenty.

The attacks ceased.

"Aria," Red's voice came through the thick wood, eerily calm. "Come out… We were just testing you."

She said nothing at all, they couldn't even hear her breathing.

"You've been asleep for a long time, and we needed to see how much of your power remains. That's all."

Aria's hands trembled. She knew they were lying. But… she couldn't fight back.

An hour passed by as the stalemate continued on.

Aria, completely exhausted finally reached for the door handle. As she pulled it open, her eyes—once grey—had shifted to a deep, unnatural shade of purple.

Red's breath hitched.

"Everyone behind the barrier! Now!"

The urgency in his voice sent the followers scrambling. A large-scale holy barrier erupted around them, layers of smaller barriers stacked over it for added protection.

Red clenched his fists. "Damn it… it's just like the other day."

Everyone fell silent, Aria's lips parted slightly as she whispered a chant in an ancient language even the followers of Principles couldn't understand

A sudden pressure filled the room, it was suffocating, almost divine.

Red risked a glance through a small window installed the year prior. His eyes widened in horror.

A brilliant light had appeared in the sky, descending rapidly, it was heading right towards the temple.