This is a world beloved by god
Here, temples hold immense power—second only to the royal family. At the heart of this world lies the city of Atlantis, crowned with high white scled by three towering temples.
The White Paladins of the Temple and the Nine Knights of Light uphold divine justice, standing as vigilant guardians of peace. Thus, Atlantis thrives in joy and light—its people smile, and young lovers gaze into each other's eyes as they stroll through the sunlit streets.
But justice cannot exist without evil. Nor can joy without suffering. In this world, everything has two sides...
To the south of the city stands a deep, dark forest where even sunlight dares not enter. People call it the "Forest of Death."
Sometimes, strange, fearsome sounds echo from within—unfathomable to human ears—and whisper toward the city like a hidden breath in the wind.
"What is that sound…?"
The heavy steps of an armored knight.
A dark aura hangs in the air, tickling the skin like a cold breeze, seeping into the bones like fear itself. At that very moment, dread spreads like frost through people's bodies. — "Oh… they're coming."
They whisper in terror.
The beings of darkness are drawing near.
The essence of darkness feeds on all living things—human, beast, even god—through pain, sorrow, and suffering. They find pleasure in agony.
People live in fear of being lost to the abyss, always chasing the light.
But now... they are coming.
The Thirteen Dark Knights — not foes one can easily face. Those who encounter them seek no salvation, for they stand against all things of light—man, god, and the world alike.
The sun sets.
The great sun that lights the world dissolves beyond the horizon, and the stars shimmer like pearls. The full moon rises, and shadows thicken behind the temples, especially over the crime-ridden alleys.
There, behind a small tavern beside a trash bin, a boy sits curled on his knees.
He weeps silently, remembering the past.
He closes his eyes and recalls that nightmare night from seven years ago...
...A calm summer evening.
Kraan sat at the dinner table with his family. His mother and sister had cooked a delicious meal, and his father laughed heartily:
— "Our ladies' cooking gets better every day!"
Suddenly... a knock.
His father walked to the door. — "Who is it?"
But the moment the door opened, a steel spear pierced his chest, and hot blood gushed down its shaft. Kraan froze in fear, but his sister quickly grabbed him, pulled him under the wooden floorboards of the dining room, gently stroked his cheek and whispered, "No matter what happens, don't make a sound, don't cry." Then she left.
Kraan peeked through the cracks.
White-armored soldiers—the Temple's merciless enforcers—
Those bastards!
They falsely accused his family of conspiring with demons and opposing the Church.
Right before Kraan's eyes… they beat, raped, mutilated, and tortured his mother and sister before finally killing them.
"Damn it! I hate this! I want to destroy everything!"
Kraan wanted to scream, but no words came from his throat. He couldn't move. Fear, grief, and hatred consumed him completely.
At that moment... from a dark corner, a voice spoke:
— "You look rather pitiful, boy…"
Kraan turned, startled.
— "If you came to mock me, go ahead and do it." he whispered.
The sound of armored footsteps approached. Kraan looked up and saw a figure under the full moonlight—two meters tall, covered in pitch-black armor, a shadowy stranger.
— "Who are you?"
The boy barely breathed the words.
The black-armored man stepped out from the shadows and replied in a calm voice:
— "You'll know my name soon enough, boy…"
Kraan narrowed his eyes and sneered:
— "Hmph, you look like some noble's lapdog. Another knight of the Church, huh?"
The man laughed heartily:
— "Hahaha! You insult me! I'd rather die than serve that filthy temple!"
Kraan, suspicious:
— "Then what are you? A damned servant of demons?"
The man stepped closer and looked straight into Kraan's eyes. A cold, mysterious fire glinted in his gaze.
— "A demon? They called meAiraa Dohen. But I have never been a slave."
Silence followed. Then the man whispered:
— "You'll understand everything tomorrow."
With that, he vanished into the shadows.
Kraan whispered to himself:
"Why does a giant like him carry a spear? Wouldn't a sword be more fitting?"
Lost in thought, dawn broke.
But the light was not as pure as usual.
The city had descended into chaos.
Town criers of the Temple ran through the streets, shouting warnings into people's ears.
— "Oh no! Disaster has struck! The Second Temple has been completely annihilated! Not a soul left alive! The words 'We have come' were written in blood on the walls!"
Citizens panicked, running and screaming in fear. The city felt... different.
Yet in a shadowed alley, one man smirked and whispered...
— "So those holy bastards are all dead? Hahaha! Brilliant! But this feeling… what is it?"
That man was... Kraan.
Nothing remained inside him.
Only one thing: Vengeance.
The Blood-Stained Message Echoes Through Atlantis
Fear looms over the skies of Atlantis, and even the chimes of the temple bells sound like sorrowful cries. Citizens lock their doors and pray desperately to their gods. Even the mighty Temple of Light—upholders of divine justice—are now shaken, trembling in fear.
In the Grand Assembly Hall of the Royal Palace,
the nobles of the realm gather for an emergency meeting. The hall is tense, filled with anxious glances.
The Second Papal Priest of the Temple, sweating, asks in alarm:
— "You mean... the Third Temple has been completely destroyed? What does that mean?!"
The Minister of Intelligence, drenched in sweat, answers:
— "We found a single surviving soldier among the corpses and obtained a report. From what we know… it seems that onlytwo individualswere responsible for last night's destruction."
— "Just two?" the Papal Priest repeats in disbelief.
— "Yes, only two. But they possessed strength far beyond human comprehension. They breached the temple grounds and slaughtered everyone they encountered instantly. One was a giant in black armor wielding a spear. The other struck with terrifying speed and icy precision."
— "Even Guardian Bell of Light was killed?"
— "Yes… destroyed in a single strike. There were no survivors. Everyone inside the walls is dead."
The hall fell silent.
— "Black armor… just two men…" the Papal Priest whispered. "Who were they…?"
The Palace's Silence and the Blood-written Warning
In the Great Hall of the palace, an uproar erupts—nobles, priests, and ministers argue, panicked and confused, hurling blame in every direction.
— "This is a declaration of war!" shouts one general.
— "No, this is treason from within!"
— "The Temple has grown weak!"
— "Or someone deliberately lowered the defenses..."
The chaos in the chamber is suddenly silenced.
Emperor Taji, the Fourth Emperor of Atlantis, speaks from his golden throne with a calm yet commanding voice:
— "Enough. Silence!"
All fell quiet, holding their breath to hear the emperor's next words.
He turned to a man in a white robe—straight-backed, contemplative.
— "First Papal Priest, what are your thoughts?"
The priest slowly stood, eyes glinting with ancient memories. He took a deep breath and spoke solemnly:
— "I have lived in this holy land for fifty-seven years. I've walked under the protection of faith, trust, and divine power… but never have I faced such terror. And yet, the most chilling part... were the words written in blood on the wall."
He bowed his head and continued in a grim voice:
— "'We have returned.'... Those words reminded me of something... an ancient prophecy. A legend of a darkness we believed would never rise again…"
The heavy silence returned. It felt as if even time stood still, listening to the priest's words.