Magnus led Rage to the training yard. As they walked through the arch that marked the entrance and exit from the pathways that helped navigate the northern district of Eden. "So Mason wants me to train with Credo because...?" Rage asked looking at Magnus.
"All new members of The Order train under him." He replied as they could hear a frustrating shout.
"What was that?" Rage asks
"Credo, he probably found a nick in some equipment or something." Magnus says as they reached the training yard. Not too far from them a tall, large muscular man with long white hair was standing with arms crossed. "Credo!" He shouts and the large man turns.
"Lord Paladin Magnus it's a pleasure." The large man says looking at him then to Rage "Who are you?" He asks
"This is Ragis Chaotic the Hedgehog." Magnus answers for Rage. "He is a Chaos Guardian who is aiding us in our issue with Hephrostosis."
"Chaos Guardian you say?" He asks slightly surprised. "Well it is a pleasure Rage. What brings you to the training yard specifically?"
"Elder Mason wants you to train him." Magnus says. Credo looks at him and laughs heartily.
"Me teach Rage?!" He hoots "I couldn't teach a Chaos Guardian anything! Let alone a Legendary Chaos Guardian! What I teach Paladins is based off old teaching the Chaos Guardians used. I doubt he needs a refresher."
"Excuse me Legendary Chaos Guardian?" Rage asks crossing his arms.
"Of course. We've been paying attention more than you think Guardian Rage. Your exploits fall in line with the old legends of The Final Guardian." Credo says "Once upon a time The Paladins and The Chaos Guardians were sister groups. We know more than our fair share of things."
"I would hardly call myself a legend." Rage says.
"Bah don't sell yourself short kid. You've slain Vlagh. Something your predecessors couldn't do even with hundreds of them." Credo says. "Anybody who can slay that monster is worthy of a legend."
"If you're done and sure Rage can get started we need to get going." Magnus says.
"Alright fine." Credo says "Come and see me if you get a chance Rage I'd like to take a chance to try and quantify your power."
"Why?" Rage asks.
"We assign everyone in our group a power level based on many things. It helps us determine their limit." Magnus says. "Minimum power levels are required for certain positions. Lord Paladins for example need a level of at least 500,000."
"Eh I was looking to use some battle data from a Chaos Guardian as a way to belittle and encourage the kids that we've got as Squires right now." Credo shrugs "Not so much to give him a number."
"Squires?" Rage asks "All these ranks are confusing."
"Really? How did you Chaos Guardians run things?" Credo asks.
"You had the Apprentices which were the trainees, Chaos Guardians who were fully trained, then the Chaos Council who oversaw and were in charge as well as oversaw the training. Then there was Yama he was our librarian or lorekeeper who managed everything in the Chaos Archives but he wasn't a Chaos Guardian." Rage explains. "You guys?"
"Well in our group we have Squires who are our trainees, Knights who are the ones fully trained with power levels of under 100,000. Grand Knights who have power levels from 100,000 to 250,000. Then Paladins who have power levels from 250,000 to 500,000 they act as high rank officers. Then finally the Lord Paladins who have at least a 500,000 power level. They are elected by the Elder and form our leadership. There is only 4 of us. Magnus who is the lead commander Mason's right hand mand, myself who is the training officer, Leah who is the Scout Operations Commander, and Regina who is head of the Guard Unit. We have our Librarians who operate our library and act as healers and tactical magic users. Then there is the Arch Mage who is in charge of them. Natalia is good at it too." Credo explains. "Magnus here is the Grand Paladin. The Lord Paladin that The Elder elects as his right hand man. The other Lord Paladins refer to him as Lord still though."
"I see so you divide your forces by skill and power abilities." Rage says.
"You guys didn't? I am surprised." Magnus says.
"Each Chaos Guardian knew their limits as did the Chaos Council. So they'd assign people tasks that suit them." Rage says "We also didn't have nearly as many members at any given time as you guys."
"I see." Magnus says as a green female cat with vivid purple eyes dressed in a lab coat walks up holding a handheld device.
"Ah Magnus, Credo there you two are." She says looking at the two.
"Julia were you looking for us?" Credo asks.
"Indeed I wanted to inform you that the new models of C-Links are done. You'll find them in your quarters." She says looking at Rage "Oh...who are you? One of the Squires?" She asks.
"Uh no, actually my name is Rage Chaotic...I am a Chaos Guardian here to assist your Order against Hephrostosis." He answered.
"Really?" She asks as she puts some inputs on her device and looks at him with a glare "With a weak power level of 102?"
"102?" Magnus asks "Not possible." He says crossing his arms before she shows the three the screen on her device.
"How can you be so weak?" Julia asks "You're just bullshitting us."
"Did you ever stop to consider I am hiding my power?" Rage asks looking angrily at Julia "All Chaos Guardians have the ability to alter their energy readings unless changing forms. It's how we blend in with the normal population."
"If that is the case why hide it down here? Nothing outside can track you here." Julia asks adjusting her glasses.
"Fine." Rage says crossing his arms and closing his eyes. A slight gust of air caused Rage's quills and clothing to flail a little as he opens his eyes. Julia looked in a mixture of shock and curiosity. "Now what's it say?"
"A-amazing...you're clocking 1 million easy...and you're just in your normal form?!" She exclaims "You would easily qualify as a Lord Paladin."
"That number is meaningless to me but yes." Rage says.
"I have a max power level of 3 million if that helps, Magnus can reach 5 million." Credo says.
"I would assume your form changes trump your current level though correct?" Magnus asks
"Correct." Rage says. "So moving on Magnus. Perhaps we should return to Elder Mason see what he wants us to do?"
"Agreed." Magnus says "We will see you guys later." He says to the other two who say their farewells as he and Rage returned to Mason's chambers.
"I take it Credo refused eh?" Mason asks as he turns to see the two.
"Yeah, said he couldn't teach Rage anything." Magnus says.
"Did Julia find you?" Mason asks and Magnus nods. "Good." He nods as he pulls a scroll out of a drawer and hands it to Rage. "Here you are this scroll has the spell that Magnus used to get you here. It is how we leave and return to Eden. It is the only way to penetrate the field protecting us."
"Thank you Mason." Rage says.
"If you are going to operate as one of us you must be able to travel like us." He says "I assume Julia scanned you at some point..."
"Uh yeah...how did you-?" Rage replies
"I figured she would if she saw you...she has a tendency to do that. What did you clock at?" Mason asks
"A million." Rage says
"In your normal form? My my you are exceptional." Mason says. "We have one more thing for you. All Paladins wear our uniform armor. Seeing how you are not a Paladin however you are not permitted to wear it. Regardless I have instructed Julia to create something special for you. An armor that is similar however it can withstand your abilities more."
"How do you plan to do that?" Rage asks.
"Trial and error." He answers. "Now before I send you off with Magnus and Nia on assignment any questions?"
"Yes actually." Rage says "How much have you done against Hephrostosis' Cult?"
"Unfortunately not enough." Magnus speaks up. "Our last major assault attempt ended in his resurrection. Since then they have grown we are limited ever since Hephrostosis came back since he can just turn us against each other with a snap of his fingers. Not to mention the risk of contracting vampirism or lycanthropy from the Cult's members."
"Hmmm so what have you been doing?" Rage asks.
"Espionage and sabotage mostly. Some hunting here and there." Mason says "Now that we know a Chaos Guardian is alive it changes things."
"Oh?" Rage asks.
"Having one here fighting along with us is enough to boost morale! This is a turning point in our war. Kira smiles upon us." Mason says "Anyway I am sending the three of you to the forests of Canada. Deep within the wilderness is a small cadre of devotees. We are going to send a message..."
"You want us to dispose of them?" Magnus asks.
"Yes and make sure it's clear it was done by Paladins and a Chaos Guardian." Mason says "No doubt it will shake them all up and get them uneasy."
"You can count on us." Magnus says looking at Rage.
"Let's do it." He says as Magnus leads him outside and back to the square where Nia met up with them.
"So you're with us?" She asks and Rage nods "Well this should be fun. An extermination mission with a Chaos Guardian. They won't know what hit thm."
"So how does an extermination mission go?" Rage asks as they walked down to the plaza which they had arrived at.
"Easy, we go in and kill a small group of the cultists. Pretty simple really." Magnus explains "I am sure you can handle it."
"You guys never run extermination missions?" Nia asks. "I thought you guys did a lot of them against Dark Spawns." Rage prepared to answer however Magnus had activated the transport spell and instead they found themselves in the Canadian woods.
"You guys know that Chaos Guardians in a different way than I." Rage says.
"What do you mean?" Nia asks
"Well you guys know and understand them as a group. When there were many. Remember up until me the Chaos Guardians, well TRUE Chaos Guardians, were lost to the annals of history aside from a few cases. We were effectively dead." Rage explains.
"You mean you were operating from the shadows." Magnus chimes in.
"Excuse me?" Rage ask stopping.
"What?" Magnus asks as he stops and looks at Rage. "I mean you guys just started operating from the shadows to throw Vlagh off until they were able to train someone strong enough to defeat it. You all dying off and that prophecy was just part of ploy."
"No." Rage denied shaking his head "Vlagh won that day. He actually did defeat all of the Chaos Guardians and the whole Prophecy of the Final Light was all true. There were no Chaos Guardians from after The Shadow War until I came along."
"But what about Chaos?" Nia asks "Or whatever that watery thing is called"
"Chaos? He was merely a protector the god Chaos made as a final safeguard until the prophecy could be fulfilled." Rage answers as they continue to walk. "Anyway so any idea what we're in for?"
"Well it's a small group. Ten tops. They're some devoted little bastards though. We've actually been watching this small group for a while. They're a recently started division run by a werewolf who calls himself Bloodhound." Magnus explains.
"So if you get infected?" Rage asks.
"We have ways of reversing the lycanthropy curse. Vampirism is more difficult." Nia answers. "No need to worry."
"I am not worry-" Rage was going to answer but a rush fell over him. He stopped in his tracks signaling to the other two to do the same.
"What is it?" Magnus asks looking worried at Rage who puts a hand up to silently tell him to be quiet as he was focusing.
The feeling was somewhat familiar. Cold, powerful malicious. It made Rage's skin crawl a bit "Darkness." He says aloud
"Darkness?" Magnus asks looking at Nia who shrugs indicating she was just as confused as Magnus.
"Yes..." Rage says "It feels like maybe even demonic energy...yeah...it shares that feeling from the demon back at the lake...but it's not the same."
"We should proceed with caution." Nia suggests and Magnus nods. The three got down as they approached upon an opening in the forest. There stood a group of figures in robes chanting in an ancient language.
"What are they doing?" Magnus asks silently "I have never heard nor seen anything like it."
"You got me." Nia says "Rage?" She asks and the two look at Rage who was looking dead ahead at the cultists.
"revertere ab inferis ad mortale ovili pecus, et libera gratia tua ad dominum tuum,..." Rage repeats part of what the cultists were chanting.
"Rage?!" Magnus asks slightly louder and he looks at them.
"It's what they're chanting." Rage says "It's Latin...roughly translated they're summoning something from hell back to Earth...and binding it to a master..."
"They're summoning more demons?" Magnus asks
"I would assume so." Rage answers as Magnus draws his sword.
"We attack!" He exclaims getting up and rushing into the clearing.
"Magnus no!" Nia shouts however it was too late. She sighs and rushed in with Rage not far behind before they were surrounded by a ring of purple fire. On the ground was a sigil marking an entrapment spell.
"Surprise, surprise..." Rage says silently to himself.
"It seems we have some party crashers..." a tall figure chuckles. It puts it hood down to reveal a humanoid figure with dark grey skin, red eyes and blood red markings. "Lord Paladin Magnus of the Paladins of Kira...we meet again."
"It's Grand Paladin now...Liam." He spits
"Oh moving up in the world." Liam chuckles looking at Nia "Paladin Nia always a pleasure." He nods to her. She just looks away in disgust. He then looks to Rage "My, my you are interesting." He says "Haven't seen you before...no armor you must be a new Squire for their little Order." He chuckles. "Well a pity you were caught up in this."
"Shut it you damned traitor!" Magnus shouts angrily.
"Mind your tongue father." Liam says faking a shocked gasp before chuckling as magical chains bind the three of them. Two of the robed figures, both werewolves took Magnus' and Nia's swords. "Again you find yourself trapped as a result of your poor judgement...this time a helpless Squire with you too. I am ashamed of you father."
"I said...shut up." Magnus grunts struggling to break free.
"It's no use. Those chains can't be broken by normal means." Liam says as he walks to Rage and drags a finger across his chin "You little Squire are a stand out with that outfit...tell me who are you?"
"Even if I told you...you'd never believe me." Rage says with a sly chuckle."So why should I?"
"Hmph because I have you trapped and your life depends on it. You're a squire. Leaving you alive is beneficial since you haven't been blessed by Kira." Liam chuckles.
"You know the funny thing about sigil traps?" Rage asks.
"Huh?" Liam looks back at him. "The hell are you talking about?"
"If you carve them in dirt like this..." Rage continues as he looks at Liam "It's real easy to smudge a line..." he chuckles as a swift wind blows causing the sigil to be destroyed.
"Impossible!" Liam exclaims as the chains vanish and werewolves tackle Nia and Magnus. The remaining members surround Rage seeing him as more of a threat now. "Who are you?!" Liam shouts.
"Fine. I'll tell you." Rage says as he extends his right arm. A soft glow of light with some fire intermixed began to appear before with a flash in Rage's hand was a dragon wing like blade. Dark red and black with a green eye like gem in the hilt and an emerald gemstone on the bottom of the grip. "My name is Ragis Chaotic the Hedgehog. I am not a member of their Order...rather I am the Last Chaos Guardian."
"Impossible The Chaos Guardians were lost!" One of the cult members says feeling frightened.
"Wasn't there that prophecy?" Another asks.
"Hmph cowards this is clearly some trick!" Liam shouts "Just turn him and kill the two Paladins."
"As you command." The first cultist says turning to Rage and rushing him.
"Bad move." Rage says before flashstepping behind the robed figure and driving his sword through its heart. He looks at Liam with a are silently signaling he was ready to destroy Liam and his friends.
"You're nothing!" Liam shouts thrusting his arm forward in a signal to attack.
"Hmph sending your minions to their death." Rage scoffs "Pitiful." He leaps back and avoid two of the minions before another catches him in his side pretty good. It was a deep laceration. Luckily for Rage his abilities allowed for it to quickly scab up to prevent further blood loss.
Rage retaliated by launching spears of energy at the two pinning Magnus and Nia, both of which had been trying to break free the whole time.
Now free the two leap to their feet and body checked the two that had confiscated their weapons and joined Rage in eliminating the small number of remaining cultists. Finally, with swords tainted with blood and tufts of fur it was just them and Liam.
"I-impossible!" Liam stutters as Rage walks slightly in front of the other two.
"You've lost." He says "Now you are going to join your comrades."
"Never." Liam spits in a scornful tone "Mark my words...Paladins...you are in over your heads!" He the glares to Rage "and you...the one who bears the false title of Chaos Guardian...you have chosen the wrong side!"
"Shut up!" Rage shouts rushing at Liam who vanishes into the shadows. "Coward!" Rage shouts.
"Rage...let him go." Magnus says "Mission complete..."
"But..." Rage looks at Magnus "If he informs Hephrostosis as to what happened..."
"He won't believe him." Magnus replies shaking his head. "You have to face it Rage. Most people are not going to believe your claim. The Chaos Guardians have been gone for so long that for one to still exist let alone the one from some mythical prophecy? Nobody is going to just believe that."
"But we were told to make it obvious who did it!" Rage argues.
"We did." Nia says "Once their investigation group comes and sees what happened they will conclude Paladins and a Chaos Guardian had to be involved."
"Even so we were instructed to eliminate all of them...that one called Liam got away..." Rage says looking down clenching a fist.
"We did. Liam is not a member of this little group. He is much higher on the food chain..." Nia says as Magnus remained quiet before returning to Eden suddenly without saying anything. "Magnus?!" Nia exclaims.
"What was that about?" Rage asks as they walked away from the scene "Talking about Liam seems to bug Magnus."
"Yeah that is because Liam is his son." Nia soghs
"What?!" Rage exclaims.
"Yeah. It happened about 60 years ago." Nia begins "We were prepping and engaging in a surprise attack on a main branch of the Cult's church. They were tipped off though... Liam who was on the fast track to becoming a Paladin had sold us out and decided to turncoat... they used him to resurrect Hephrostosis. Magnus hasn't been the same since then..."
"I see..." Rage says crossing his arms. "If it's not too much to ask, what drove Liam to betray you?"
"Liam was...special..." Nia sighs stopping and sitting on a rock. "Be was a rare case among people in Eden, he was born with demonic power in him. We had hoped we could train him to not use those powers and to deny them...clearly, as you can see, we failed...He was lost to them something we have never had happen..."
"Well..." Rage sighs leaning against a tree "A lot of Chaos Guardians fell to Darkness during The Shadow War as well as over the years. I don't know if you knew that. Dex, was a Council Member who did too but he played everyone for years faking him still being with us. Supposedly he was upset about me."
"Why would he be upset about the one who was destined for greatness?" Nia asks.
"He had an ego and was originally assigned to train me. After I surpassed him however Chaotix took over my training." Rage answered. "He didn't like it and turned on us. Faking it for a while before using his access to the Chaos Realm to lead Vlagh in a slaughter of the Guardians."
"Wow...That's crazy..." Nia says shocked at the revelation.
"So the fact that Liam was your only defector is an achievement given how long you have been around." Rage says.
"Enough idle chat though." Nia sighs "The inspection guys for that cult will be here soon we should return to Eden."
"Agreed." Rage nods as both he and Nia cast the spell to return to Eden.