Within a desolate plain, a rocky valley to be precise, it's formation and layout spoke of the countless battles that it had gone through.
And presently there was still a battle being fought upon it.
BOOM!
An armored figure plummeted from the heavens, striking the ground with shattering force, leaving behind a massive crater.
Dust and debris swirled around her battered frame as she struggled to rise, blood staining the edges of her lips.
She leaned heavily on her broken halberd, the blade quivering under her weight.
Her hands trembled as she gritted her teeth. "Is this it...? Have I truly been defeated?" Dione wondered in despair. She was humanity's fourth champion.
And Her loss would come with disastrous consequences for humanity.
"I'm sorry, guys," she thought, tensing her muscles and gripping her sword tighter, ready to continue the battle.
Looking to the sky, a bald, horned figure came into sight. Clearly not human, it stood eight feet tall, with silver, mercury-like skin that undulated faintly and reflected the sunlight, giving it a lustrous sheen.
Its pure white eyes, looking like energy orbs, pulsed faintly as it gazed at her, expressing disappointment. This was the Lunarian's fourth champion.
Its metallic grinding voice reverberated in the surroundings, "Is this the best of humanity?" it questioned, further expressing its disappointment.
Just then, the space not far from the two warped slightly, revealing a vague figure of a man, alerting both parties present.
Seeing the figure more clearly, Dione's eyes lit up with hope. "You there... please..... help," she spoke with a voice barely audible, courtesy of her crushed lungs.
The space warped once more, fully revealing the man. Cloaked in black with a mask covering his face with only two floating crimson eys revealed...
And he seemed to be clinging to a camera...
"Ah? Me?" the man pointed to himself, realizing they could see him. He quickly waved his hands in a hurried manner as his amused voice rang out, "No, no, no, please just ignore me. I'm just a cameraman."
Leaving that statement behind, he vanished quickly.
Dione trembled furiously as she muttered beneath her breath, "Bastard." Realizing she wasn't getting any help, she directed her gaze back to the Lunarian, her wild blonde hair whipped through the wind as she got into a stance, ready to continue her battle.
---
"Yep, that was me, Seth Bane, a low-key cameraman, and a powerful one beyond doubt! As for why I didn't help her, you'll find out as the story progresses.
But before that, I'm sure you're wondering just how I got to my present level.
Well To understand that, we have to go down memory lane.
In the past, I was once a minor side character, weak and helpless. My past was filled with pain and despair...
Well, let me not bore you with all my nonsense...
You'll understand as you read. Now let's go to the beginning, where it all began...."
---
One year ago within the twelfth federation, Elyon...
It was a very special day, dedicated to the awakening of young regulars into becoming irregulars at their various academies.
In particular, Crimson High was a prestigious school in the federation of Elyon, said to groom the best of the best irregulars. There were even rumors that they had once groomed S-class irregulars. Even if a student failed to awaken, the academy still provided them the opportunity to become a Cybernox (a genetically enhanced soldier, not really inferior to an irregular).
---
Crimson High - Class 4A
It was a futuristic setting as each students desk each had an ample amount of distance from each other. The walls were crimson red, and the board was a screen. but for today it stayed switched off.
"Gregory Van"
A name was called out.
"Here, ma'am."
A young blonde-haired boy stood up nervously as he made his way to the front of the class. The rest of the class had their gazes on him, they too were obviously nervous.
"Don't be anxious. No matter the results, nothing much will change," Miss Clarice, their homeroom teacher, consoled.
Greg smiled faintly as he nodded. He was aware of this, but he couldn't help feeling a little nervous. Who wouldn't? After all, his future path was about to be revealed.
"Now, place your hands on the origin cube," Miss Clarice directed.
Stepping in front of a huge translucent cube, he placed his hands on it as instructed. It reacted barely a second later, lighting up and radiating an intense light so bright he had to close his eyes.
When he opened them, he saw it—his very own seed; a manifestation of his ability, which took the form of a spear.
Greg felt lighter all of a sudden as he was washed by a refreshing feeling of relief. He smiled; at least, no matter what, his ability was combat-oriented. He wouldn't have to give up his dream of joining the Enforcers' combat division.
Though his precise ability was unknown, the form of his seed was obviously geared towards combat, so it would most likely be the same for his abilities.
He walked back to his seat with a grin. A visible change in his mood was obvious.
Seeing his success, Miss Clarice smiled. The first being successful would help in improving the morale of the rest of the students.
Irregulars were held in higher standards than Cybernoxes, so it was only logical that most would prefer to be irregulars instead.
Quickly, she proceeded to the next.
"Larah Snow..."
And so it went on and on.
Of the thirty-six students that had undergone the awakening, only three so far had failed to awaken. Their moods were obviously soured. They weren't the only ones with a bad mood; among those who awakened, a few had awakened what was classified as a trash seed.
Yes, there were those that awakened useless-looking seeds.
There was even one that had a seed in the form of a cracked tile.
Though there were a few cases where they eventually discovered that their abilities were very powerful, such cases were minimal. So getting a trash seed was like a death sentence to their dreams.
Then the last and final name was called out.
"Seth Bane"
"Here, ma'am."
A young lad stood up. He had black hair with faint traces of red, and a pair of gleaming crimson eyes.
As he stepped out, the rowdy class instantly became silent. This was the son of the Saintess of Elyon, Maya Bane, Elyon's third and most formidable admiral. Due to the high position of his mother, a certain amount of respect and attention were placed on Seth.
Now standing in front of the cube, he could practically feel the intense gazes of his classmates boring into his back. His arms trembled faintly. He may have looked confident, but he was sure as hell not.
"Don't worry, dear. I'm sure you'll get a marvelous seed," Miss Clarice consoled with a smile.
"As if," Seth muttered under his breath. It was a well-known and proven fact that becoming an irregular had absolutely nothing to do with genetics. Just because one had a powerful irregular as a parent didn't guarantee the chances of the child becoming one, like at all.
So all the high expectations placed on him weren't helping; they just further increased his Anxiety and nervousness.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and placed his hands on the origin cube. It quickly reacted fiercely, shining a brilliant light so bright everyone had to close their eyes.
When the light finally dimmed and they opened their eyes full of expectations, but confusion followed at what they saw.....
"A camera???" someone blurted out.