The Astral Dogma

Jia arrived at the stadium, her heart racing as she entered the bustling arena. It was a last-minute call from Xin that had brought her here. He had mentioned something about being a participant in the Guild Wars, and her curiosity got the best of her.

Nervous energy coursed through her as she scanned the stands, filled with unfamiliar faces. She had never been much of a social butterfly, and the prospect of attending such an event alone left her feeling like a fish out of water. She wondered if she'd made a mistake coming here.

Her anxiety was momentarily alleviated when she spotted Xin walking confidently towards the arena area. A small, genuine smile crept onto her face as she watched him go. He looked so sure of himself, and she admired his determination.

Jia began to pace around, searching for an empty seat to escape the overwhelming crowd. That's when she saw Cassidy. Memories of their last encounter flooded back, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to properly thank him for his assistance.

"Maybe I should go say hi to Cassidy," she mumbled to herself. "I never got the chance to thank him properly."

But as she took her first step toward Cassidy, self-doubt crept in. Her overactive mind began to churn with anxiety.

"What if he thinks I'm weird?" she pondered. "What if I bother him or interrupt something important?"

Years of isolation and limited social interaction had taken a toll on Jia's communication skills. She was uncertain how to navigate these unfamiliar waters, filled with people and their unpredictable reactions.

Cassidy's instincts kicked in, and he sensed someone's gaze fixed on him. He flicked his head around, his face turning upside down to focus his gaze on Jia. It was a curious feeling, but he couldn't ignore it.

As their eyes met, a flicker of recognition sparked in Cassidy's eyes, and he raised an eyebrow at her. After a moment of silent communication, he signaled for her to sit next to him.

Jia hesitated but ultimately decided to take the chance. She walked down the stadium steps, her heart pounding with each step. She sat down next to Cassidy, her nerves palpable.

"Th-thank you for saving me last month," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Cassidy, with a warm and friendly smile, replied, "It was nothing to worry about. It was a surprise to find such a fine woman like yourself in that situation.

Jia's gaze remained fixed on Xin, and she struggled to maintain eye contact with Cassidy. She was still feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the situation.

"Here for your friend?" Cassidy inquired, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Yes," Jia replied, her voice still a bit shaky. "Yeah, I am."

Cassidy leaned back in his seat and continued, "That C-rank fighter of yours... I'd say she's pretty good."

Jia blinked in confusion. The mention of a "C-rank" left her puzzled. She had no idea how the hunter ranking system worked.

"You look puzzled," Cassidy noted. "Do you know how the hunter ranking system works?"

Jia shook her head, admitting her ignorance about this aspect of the hunter world.

Jia nodded as Cassidy began to explain the hunter ranking system to her.

"How should I explain it..." Cassidy began, thinking of the best way to put it. "In the hunter world, hunters and monsters are divided by ranks, ranging from 'E' the lowest to 'S' the highest normally atleast. These ranks are determined by their power and capability to take on monsters ."

Cassidy leaned in, eager to shed light on the intricacies of the hunter ranking system. "Alright, let me break it down for you. In the guilds, hunters are assigned ranks from 'E' to 'S,' determined by their power and destruction capabilities."

He continued, "When hunters first join, they usually start at Rank 'E' or 'D,' depending on their experience and how much ether they possess. It's like a measure of their potential and proficiency in handling the supernatural."

"Now, here's the kicker," Cassidy said with a grin. "Monsters have a similar ranking scale, though not an exact match. When hunters take on missions, they're expected to face monsters of the same level. For instance, a Rank 'B' hunter should be able to tackle a Rank 'B' monster. It's all about ensuring that their skill level matches the strength of the monster."

Jia hesitated, her nerves evident as she mustered the courage to ask, "I-I'm sorry to ask, b-but what rank are you?"

Cassidy, with a sly grin, leaned in slightly, "Ah, an A rank." He seemed to revel in the revelation, perhaps hoping to impress her with his status.

However, instead of being impressed, a wave of panic washed over Jia. "An A rank? I thought he would be lower," she thought to herself, fidgeting uncomfortably with the newfound knowledge.

Attempting to ease her concerns, Jia asked tentatively, "Um... what did you mean by... normally?"

Cassidy sighed deeply, his gaze shifting towards the imposing figures of Cole and Jin. "Under normal circumstances, yes, the ranks go from 'E' to 'S,' but those monsters up there are an entirely different story."

A shiver ran down Jia's spine as Cassidy continued, "Those two up there," he nodded toward Cole and Jin, "that's what happens when you completely throw logic out of the window. They can destroy a continent on a whim. They are what we call..

"A calamity."

A radiant light descended upon the stadium, casting confusion and awe among the spectators. Belial instinctively shielded his eyes from the brilliance, the intensity of the radiance forcing him to squint. The audience murmured, unsure of what was transpiring.

Amidst the celestial glow, a figure emerged, bathed in golden light. His ethereal presence was marked by light-golden hair that seemed to gleam with divine energy. Majestic white wings extended from his back, and he donned an immaculate white outfit, a stark contrast to a solitary red armband that adorned his arm.

"Damned angels causing a scene," Cole muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing at the celestial visitor.

The angel descended gracefully to the royal box, addressing Cole and Jin with a respectful greeting. "Good afternoon, Mr. Blackburn, Mr. Lei," he said, his voice carrying a soothing melody that resonated through the stadium.

Jin nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on the candidates below.

Belial, however, felt an immediate surge of tension. His hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, drawn to the threatening aura emanating from the celestial being. The divine presence seemed to weigh heavily on the atmosphere, intensifying the stakes of the guild wars.

As Belial took a step forward, fueled by the impulse to confront this celestial intruder, Cole's voice echoed in his mind.

[CB: Wait, kid.] 

[BN: What should I wait for? He's right there!]

[CB: Even if you wanted to, this guy is an A rank.]

[BN: ...]

[CB: Besides, this isn't 'him.' It looks like he sent someone else to oversee the guild wars. Typical...]

[CB: But this Angel is part of his faction. I'll do what I can to get information out of him. You just focus on the battle.]

Belial, conflicted and tense, sheathed his sword reluctantly. His eyes remained fixated on the celestial being, a mixture of curiosity and wariness in his gaze. The heavenly visitor's arrival had added a layer of complexity to the already charged atmosphere of the guild wars.

Gael's boast echoed through the stadium. His voice, brimming with confidence, cut through the chatter of the audience. "Two crowns and an angel? This is the perfect chance to show off my power! FUHAHAHA!" he declared, reveling in the anticipation of the guild wars.

However, the boisterous energy was abruptly interrupted by the announcer, whose throaty clearing signaled the attention of everyone present. A hush fell over the crowd as the announcer stepped into the spotlight.

[For this guild wars,]he declared with fervor, [it will be held in umbrage Forest!]

The mention of the location sparked a murmur of anticipation. Umbrage Forest was known for its dense foliage and treacherous terrain, a perfect battleground for the skilled hunters.

[But wait, there's more!] The announcer's tone surged with excitement, capturing the audience's attention. [This year, we have a special system.] He paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation linger.

[Each of the chosen hunters will start with a small crystal, and each of those crystals will vary based on your rank!]

The crowd buzzed with curiosity, their eyes shifting between the contestants as they anticipated the significance of their crystals.

[To earn points,] the announcer continued, his voice rising, [you have to hunt monsters, and their points will vary based on their rank! Ten points for D and E rank, fifty for C rank, and a whopping one hundred for B rank!]

A collective gasp swept through the audience, the sheer magnitude of potential points hanging in the air like a palpable promise.

[But that's not all!]The announcer's enthusiasm seemed boundless. [Another way to earn points is to hunt each other and take each other's crystals!] His words resonated with the thrill of competition. 

[D rank is worth five hundred points, C rank is worth seven hundred fifty points, and finally, B rank is worth one thousand points!]

The audience erupted into a mix of cheers and whispers, the stakes of the guild wars escalating with each revelation. The announcer pointed dramatically to a colossal hourglass standing tall on the stage, its sand trickling away.

[The goal,] he exclaimed, [is to get as many points as possible within the three-hour time limit!]

The cheers from the crowd intensified, their excitement echoing through the stadium.

(Soft scene break)

In the quietude that followed, Lex and Luna observed the unfolding events from their vantage point.

"Things sure look like they're getting lively down there," Lex remarked, his eyes scanning the bustling stadium.

Luna nodded in agreement, her gaze focused on the ongoing activities. "Sure does."

However, a subtle undercurrent of discontent tainted Lex's tone as he continued, "But they ruined this tournament. They have those filthy 'animals' working with them in this tournament."

Luna, ever the voice of reason, spoke in a hushed tone, "Calm down, Lex. Your aura can attract the crowns' attention."

Lex took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "Right," he acknowledged, realizing the potential consequences of his emotions. "Might as well test out these animals and see how well they can do."

Lex extended his hand, a surge of black and red energy emanating from his fingertips. With purposeful intent, he faced the opposite side of the cliff, unleashing the potent force into the air. The atmosphere crackled with an otherworldly energy as a dense mist materialized, enshrouding the entire area in an eerie veil.

As the mist unfolded its spectral tendrils, Luna couldn't help but grimace at the sight. "Gross," she commented, her disdain evident in the subtle curl of her lip.

Within the swirling fog, the air grew heavy with anticipation. Slowly emerging from the mist were a multitude of disfigured beasts, each one a grotesque creation with unearthly features. Their distorted forms moved with an unsettling fluidity, a testament to the dark magic that birthed them.

What caught Luna's attention, however, were the red stones embedded somewhere on each creature's body. The stones glowed ominously against the grotesque canvas, hinting at their significance in the unfolding spectacle.

Lex observed his creations with a calculating gaze, his expression unreadable. The disfigured beasts prowled the misty terrain, their movements synchronized in an eerie dance. It was a macabre display, a testament to Lex's command over the arcane forces that shaped these abominable entities.

As the mist thickened, casting a shadowy aura over the cliffside, the beasts awaited further instruction, their eerie presence adding a layer of ominous anticipation to the already charged atmosphere.

With the announcer's declaration, "[And with all of the rules concluded, let the hunt begin!]" blue ruin circles enveloped the candidates. In a heartbeat, they vanished, leaving only a faint echo of anticipation lingering in the now vacant stadium. The guild wars had officially commenced.