The time is 1955 on a planet familiar yet different from the one you know. Known as Mobius after various beast races surfaced known as Mobians. In this world demons, dark and light magics exist. Magic and prophecies. One where communities remained small. Large bustling metropolises such as New York City are more tame. Crime is much lower and people much happier.
People live peacefully and magic and myths are thought of as mere legend now. Those who remain with magic in their blood are few. For the most part a dark magic cult has begun to take root within the small communities of the Midwestern United States. They worship the demon god known as Hephrostosis one of evil said to be the creator of demons and foul beasts. Many of the vampiric variety or of Beast Blood worship Hephrostosis. However there are others as well.
In the shadows however ironic as it may seem Paladins of Kira an order of mages and mystical warriors of the Light Magic variety have been planning an attack for years and it was tonight on the night of the Eighth of September they make their move...
Central Nebraska is where our story begins.
A large gathering of The Cult of the Beasts, those who worshipped Hephrostosis were gathered among what would soon be a large fire within a clearing in the forest. We find the leader of the Paladins Magnus the Wolf a tall muscular build pale yellow wolf. His eyes gazed into the clearing with hate. A small group of about 25 with him.
They hid amongst the trees observing the Cult. Robed figures kneeling amongst the large bonfire structure as one figure made it to the front. It removed the hood covering it's face and using fire magic lights the fire. A human male with glowing red eyes. "I am glad to see you all here tonight. We are pleased to announce we welcome a new member into our folds this day..." the shadowed figure speaks "This young blood's slave name of Lea..." at the name call a small robed figure walks forward and kneels at the feet of the taller figure. "Hephrostosis our lord and he who will return to take what is rightfully his look upon this young slave of men and mobian grant him your blessing and awaken the power that lies dormant within him!" the man preaches.
A cold silence fills the air as a blue female wolf within the trees moves up to Magnus. "Lord Paladin Magnus when to we attack?" she asks "We can't just remain back like this. Not if they're inducting more members this night."
"You're right. On my mark." He says drawing his sword. The others follow suit. Swiftly with a battle cry they charge.
"Paladins..." the man leading the Cult smirks "Right on time." the robed figures quickly vanish and surrounded the group.
"It was a trap!" Magnus yells.
"Lord Paladin Magnus the Wolf...it's good to finally meet you..." the man chuckles.
"You must be Nero..." Magnus says with a scornful growl.
"I never thought it would be so easy to trap you like ths." Nero chuckles taking "You are just in time to witness the birth of a new member..." he looks to the one known as Lea who removed their hood to reveal a white wolf.
"No..." Magnus says "Liam...why?"
"Father..." the young wolf says "I am sick of you that's why!" he shouts "Always discussing the prophecy and to reject the evil I was born with..."
"Ah yes the prophecy what was it again..." Nero chuckles "Should the Demon Lord return only the blood of the ancient Guardians will be enough to stand against him?"
"You bastard!" Magnus shouts standing. He was however hit by one of the Cult members and he fell to his knee. "Damn you!"
"Let us continue..." Nero says taking a fancy dagger used for the ceremony and cutting Liam's hand. Liam then walked to the fire pit and let his blood taint the wood. Nero lights the fire and speaks... "Lord Hephrostosis take the blood of this young blood and awaken! May you be reborn!"
Liam suddenly jolts up and collapses as a mist of Dark Magic covers the area and a pair of eyes form from the fire soon stepping out a body of fire which cooled to a gray skinned man with fiery eyes. It chuckles with a demonic echo to the voice. "Master..." Nero says kneeling.
"Nero..." The man says "I thank you and your followers for the help in my return...I see you even managed to gather those foolish Paladins of Kira as a gift...you've done well...To use one of their own for my rebirth even."
"Lord Hephrostosis...it was the least we could do..." Nero says standing.
"Now without anyone to get in my way we may take back this world from those who stole it from us...let there be blood!" Hephrostosis cheers.
"That's not true!" Magnus shouts "The Guardian will return he will destroy you!" he says
"Ah you mean a Chaos Guardian?" the gray skinned demon lord chuckles "I think not...my brother Vlagh destroyed the Chaos Realm years ago...none survived..."
"We have to go..." the blue wolf says. Magnus sighs before within a glow of light the group vanished.
Eastern Nebraska 2015...60 years later...
A crimson hedgehog walked down the street of the large city known as Omaha. His dark gray jacket blew a bit. The two red stripes like rivers of crimson as they waved. He pats some dust off of his jeans and his emerald green eyes fixed on the entrance for Standing Bear Lake. A manmade lake in the western part of town. He was on his way to run the lake a few times.
Rage is the last Chaos Guardian. He's been inactive for the last 40 years however. Local Police and a few other notable people in the United Nations are aware of his secret. They keep it quiet and he's able to help them with a few things under the table. He may be hundreds of years old but his appearance is that of a young adult. Legally listed as 24.
Only way he could keep suspicion on the down low was to work with those in the government otherwise they might start getting suspicious to have a person living so long without a documented death.
"Mornin' Rage." a man with a large hat said. He was dressed in a ranger outfit. This was Joseph a former Game and Parks Conservation Officer. Now he's head of the State Police "Here for the morning run?"
"You bet." Rage says.
"Well I am afraid lake's closed..." Joseph sighs.
"What?" Rage asks "Why?"
"Been a murder...looks like demon worshipers or somethin'." he sighs. "You wouldn't happen to know anything would you? With your you know what and all..."
"Sadly no. I haven't heard of anything lately..." Rage says crossing his arms. "Anything I can do to help?"
"Any demonic cults or worshippers in the area you're aware of?" Joseph asks.
"Last cult I was aware of was the Cult of Hephrostosis but they've been unseen and unheard for almost 60 years." Rage says "Body?"
"Incinerated in a demon summoning star." Joseph sighs "Not much left..."
"Incinerated..." Rage says thinking. "That's-" he was cut off by a large shake and explosion from the lake.
"What the hell?!" Joseph exclaims as an officer soon comes running out. "What's going on?!" he asks.
"It's...a...a...d...demon..." the officer pants catching his breath. "Some kind of...winged beast."
"A demon?" Joseph asks as Rage runs by him. "Rage! You can't just go in there! News media is there! If you use your powers..."
"I don't care!" Rage turns and looks at Joseph "there are innocent lives at stake! If you're going to stop me you'll have to shoot me." He turns and runs inside the lakes parameter.
Inside an officer looks at him as he walks up to the demon as it laughed "That's it run in fear puny mortals!" It laughs
"Hey ugly!" Rage shouts crossing his arms.
"Hmm?" The beast looks to Rage and smiles "What do we have here? A hedgehog with a mouth?" It chuckles "Well then looks like you need to be taught a lesson..."
Over in the lot a newscast zooms in on an anchor "For the first time in years a demon has surfaced here in Standing Bear Lake! All citizens are advised to-" she was cut off
"Who's that?" The man at the camera asks pointing to Rage. The news anchor turns and looks "There's a guy!"
"Are you getting this?" The anchor asks as the monster raises it's hand and swings at Rage. It raised the hand laughing.
"That all?" Rage asks looking up at it. The demon looks in shock at Rage as do the bystanders.
"Y-you're alive?!" It exclaims "Impossible!"
"My turn." Rage says as a dragon wing like sword appears in his right hand. Rage leaps up and attacks the demon making a small gash within it's upper torso.
"I see..." the demon says covering the wound and closing it. "You're no regular mortal."
"What was the first clue?" Rage asks with a cocky smirk. "The sword or the fact you didn't crush me?"
"Hmph you've got a smart mouth nonetheless." it scowls "I'll shut it for good!" it shouts launching fire at Rage. With little effort Rage leaps up to avoid the fire and lands on the top of a tree.
"Yeah being alive for a few thousand years will do that to a guy." He says before leaping off and gathering energy "This is the end of you!" he says boosting through the demon's body making a hole in it's chest.
"It can't be...I should have recognized that blade..." the demon says slowly. "You...you're that Chaos Guardian...Ragis Chaotic!"
"Bout' time you realized." Rage says as the demon shrinks. It then screams in agony as a dark mist erupts from it. "What?!" Rage exclaims as the dark mist shoot through him. It hovered above him before flying away Rage confused and agitated looks to follow but the news anchor runs up to him. "Sir!" She says he pushed her out of his way before running off at high speeds to pursue the demon.
Hidden in the trees was a blue wolf and she looks at Rage as he follows the dark mist. "Can it be...?" She asks shocked. She then follows suit.
Outside of town Rage was running trying to catch the mist. "Get back here dammit!" He curses the mist then drops into a forested area and he follows suit. He stumbles across a strange building it flowed into.
"This presence..." he says to himself. He stands to go but a blue hand grabs him and stops him. A cloth covered his face and he soon passed out.
Rage wakes up tied to a chair in a dimly lit room. He looks around slowly coming to his senses and sighs. "You know...this isn't the first time I've been tied up like this..." he sighs "So why don't you show yourself before I get mad?"
"Those are rather bold words..." a female voice says as a blue female wolf walks up to him clad in shiny armor. Rage frowns as his ear twitches.
"I recognize your energy...you were at the lake." Rage says. She looks surprised and he smirks. "Surprised?"
"I hid my energy and you still knew I was there?" she asks.
"Yeah...so why don't you untie me before I do it myself." Rage says "I don't take kindly to being kidnapped. So either you let me out and I go easy or I let myself out and I'll kill you..."
"Wait!" she exclaims "It's not what you think!"
"Really then by all means tell me your excuse and we'll see if I believe you..." Rage scoffs.
"I am not your enemy Ragis Chaotic..." she says "I did what I had to...that mist it was going into the 'church' for the Cult of Hephrostosis...they summoned that demon to try and bring us out of hiding..."
"What do you mean by 'us'?" Rage asks glaring at her. It was then Magnus walks into the light.
"Alright Nia I'll take it from here..." he sighs. "Sorry for the rough introduction. She and I are part of an organization known as..."
"Paladins of Kira..." Rage sighs rolling his eyes. "I know that symbol on your armor's left shoulder anywhere...it makes sense now...except for you capturing me like this. Last time I checked you were busy fighting demons."
"Nia thought it was the only way to keep you from going into that church...if you had gone in there...who knows what could have happened..." Magnus says untying Rage who rubs his wrists where the ropes had been.
"It's just a puny demon cult." Rage says.
"That's just it...60 years ago...they summoned Hephrostosis...we had lost hope after since...we didn't think the Chaos Guardians were still around...after Vlagh..." Magnus trails off.
"Yeah..." Rage says in a sad tone "I know what you're talking about...When Vlagh destroyed the Chaos Realm over 500 years ago...to think his brother was summoned and I didn't take notice..."
"That's why you're here Rage...help us." Magnus pleas "Please we need your help!"
"What am I to do?" Rage scoffs "You guys know a hell of a lot more about these guys than I do."
"We need an inside man..." Nia says "We don't know where their headquarters is only that they've used the building you saw for rituals...problem is..."
"You can't keep an inside man because they 'rebirth' their members with beast blood or as one of those nightstalking vampire bastards." Rage says crossing his arms. "Both things anyone from your Order would be vulnerable to...something a Chaos Guardian however is immune to...Now tell me what's to keep me from just going in there and slaying all of them? I defeated Vlagh, I've defeated Nix, Mephilis, Infernal Torment and many others. What's to keep me from beating Heprososis' butt?"
"It's not a fight any one person can win...not with their numbers now...we tried 60 years ago and were lead into a trap...my own son's life was used for the summoning..." Magnus says looking away in sorrow. "Since then they've only grown in numbers... soon they plan to attempt global conquest. Without any other heroes...nobody stands a chance. They take over and merge Mobius with the Demon Realm."
"I see what you mean..." Rage nods "With Sonic gone into the wind, Tails being useless without him...I can't sit this out and leave it to them to find something out...alright I'll do it...only because right now there isn't any other option..."
"Thank you Guardian Rage..." Magnus says kneeling respectfully.
"Yeah yeah now formalities...who are you?" Rage asks crossing his arms.
"Oh right how rude of me. I am Grand Paladin Magnus. I lead the Paladins of Kira. Guardian Rage thank you for offering your hand in this matter..."
"Not like I have any other choice now. After all that happened this morning I can't just go back home and not be bombarded by a bunch of crap." Rage sighs. "Here I thought I might finally be able to settle down in peace for a while..."
"What do you mean?" Nia asks.
"Well after I killed Vlagh I looked to settle down and live peacefully. My duties as a Chaos Guardian had ultimately been fulfilled now there will be no need for them in the future...however at the same time I am still alive. Will be until someone or something manages to off me in battle. Though after all that happened this morning with that demon...no going back to a normal life..." Rage sighs.
"You could remain with us if Elder Mason agrees." Magnus suggests.
"Elder Mason?" Rage asks.
"He is in charge if the Paladins. We all remain in an underground facility and the only way in or out is with our special transportation spell." Nia explains "I am sure teaching it to you won't be hard."
"Anyway for now we'll take you there ourselves." Magnus says. Rage nods and with that Magnus glows before a ball of light ensnares them and flies underground.
To Rage the feeling was exhilarating. He was able to see as they went into a stone tunnel and continued before arriving in a circular room forged of stone and marble. They stop and the light disperses.
"Welcome to Eden." Magnus says "Home of The Paladins of Kira. They walk into a large plaza room. A majestic fountain marked the center and large falls of roaring water marked the walls as four pathways lead outward. "Here on the South end is the Landing. Where we arrive after transport. To the North is Headquarters where The Order and the Paladins bases of operations reside. The East is the market and civil center and the West is residential. This center market and food commens is known as The Fountain Court." He explains as they walk up to the fountain. On the peak of it was a statue of an elegant woman made of pure gold. "This is Kira's Statue. A replica of her forged when she still walked with mortals."
"Strange I always thought she was a bit taller." Rage says rubbing his chin.
"It's not perfect in ALL aspects." Nia says rolling her eyes.
"Come on we should get you to Elder Mason. You are the first outsider to be allowed to enter the. City for hundreds of years." Magnus says leading Rage to the headquarters building.
"I can see why this place is amazing." Rage says as they reach the entrance.
"Halt." A tall man clad in golden armor says. "Who is this you bring with you Grand Paladin?" He asks.
"Guard this here is Guardian Rage Chaotic. I bring him to speak with Elder Mason regarding the issue with...you know who." Magnus explains
"Very well you may proceed." He says letting them through
The three of them ascend the building until they reach a room with a table and at the end was an old human male. His white hair was short and his beard about chest length. He was dressed in white and gold robes dawning the Order's symbol. "Grand Paladin Magnus who is this outsider you bring with you?" He asks as Magnus kneels.
"Elder Mason... I bring you Ragis Chaotic. He's the last surviving Chaos Guardian." Magnus announces.
"Hmm..." Mason stands up and walks over to Rage before looking at him as if he was sizing him. Rage moves a hand over one of his pouches which had the Chaos Emeralds within. Mason saw this and smiles. "It is an honor to have a Chaos Guardian grace our town. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit Master Chaotic?"
"Master?" Rage asks "I am nobody's master..." he says crossing his arms. Mason chuckles.
"Fret not young one. It is merely a title." Mason says.
"The Elder uses that title to address those above even he. So Gods and Chaos Guardians for the most part." Magnus explains standing
"Thank you Magnus. Now what brings you here?" Mason asks offering Rage a seat. He accepts and sighs.
"Where do I begin?" He asks. "Well long story short. I killed a demon that was summoned in Omaha today. When it died it became slme strange mist and must have tried corrupting me or something. Shot through me like it would do something. After it failed it ran off as that mist. I followed it to an abandoned building outside of town where Nia drugged me and I woke up as their prisoner where I was told about Hephrostosis. I decided to come work with you to resolve the matter."
"Well I appreciate you would offer." Elder Mason says "We need all the help we can get. However I cannot just send you out to fight Hephrostosis or it's horde without ensuring you're qualified."
"How do I do that?" Rage asks
"By joining the Order." Mason says "At least temporarily. Once this is done I will relieve you and you will be welcome back to Eden anytime."
"Sounds simple enough." Rage shruggs
"For someone of your stature it should be." Mason smiles "You will need to report to Grand Master Paladin Credo he will begin you on your training."
"As you wish Elder Mason." Rage says with a bow.
"Come on then." Magnus says leading Rage back down "I hope you know what you're doing..."
"Don't worry I will pass with flying colors you'll see." Rage says.
"That's not my worry. I am worried about Credo..." Magnus sighs.
"What about him?" Rage asks.
"You'll see..." Magnus smirks as they head for the training yard.