Chapter 1: A New World
On a quiet night in the Ghostbusters' laboratory, Egon Spengler, the scientific brain of the team, was surrounded by a tangle of cables, dismantled proton packs, and precision tools. The lab was an organized chaos: ectoplasmic spectrometers, open ghost traps, and an experimental version of the P.K.E. meter modified to detect interdimensional fluctuations. Egon hadn't slept for the past 48 hours, completely absorbed in a new project.
Ray Stantz entered the lab with a cup of coffee in hand, observing the intricate modifications Egon was making to a new type of ghost trap.
"Egon, have you ever considered taking a break? That looks more complicated than catching Gozer."
Egon, without taking his eyes off his work, replied in his characteristically calm tone, "This device could detect entities operating on parallel dimensional planes. It would be revolutionary."
Peter Venkman appeared behind Ray, holding a slice of pizza.
"Revolutionary? Come on, Egon. What else could surprise us at this point? We've already fought gods, demons, and that giant blob of gelatin."
A voice came from the doorway.
"Alright, but if something explodes here, can you make sure it doesn't destroy New York this time?"
It was Winston Zeddemore, leaning against the doorframe.
Egon ignored the comments, picking up an old, dusty book he had found during a recent cleanup in a building full of paranormal activity. On the cover, golden letters read: "The History of the Four Legendary Heroes."
"I found this during the last mission. It doesn't seem like an ordinary book. There are symbols and equations that don't match any known culture."
Ray, excited, immediately leaned in.
"Symbols and equations? Fascinating! Can we take a look?"
Egon nodded, opening the book to a page with illustrations of four weapons: a sword, a spear, a bow… and a shield. As he explained the possible implications of the text, the book began to glow intensely. Before they could react, an invisible force enveloped the four of them and all the equipment in the lab. As the light engulfed them, Peter's voice was heard:
"I just hope this doesn't take us to New Jersey."
When the light dissipated, the four found themselves in a room, hearing the voices of hooded figures pleading for their help to save them from calamity. The Ghostbusters were stunned to realize they were no longer at home but had been teleported. Each of them held a weapon: Peter had a spear, Ray a bow, Winston a sword, and Egon a shield. Aware of their situation, they sought answers, but the only thing they were told was that the king would provide them with what they needed. With no other choice, they followed the figures, gathering their belongings to secure them in a safe place before heading to the king.
During their journey, they saw the castle, the murals, the works of art, and through the windows, a fantasy landscape. Ray was excited about this new world, Egon was closely examining his shield, Winston had a bad feeling, and Peter casually chatted with the hooded figures, asking if they offered bulk discounts or if summers here were unbearable.
Upon arriving before the king, they found themselves surrounded by nobles who observed them with awe and reverence. The king began to speak:
"Heroes! You have been summoned to save our world from the threat of the Waves of Destruction."
Peter raised his hand with his classic sarcastic smile.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I think there's been a mistake. We didn't sign up for this trip, and we're definitely not dressed for medieval adventures."
Egon, on the other hand, was entirely focused on analyzing the shield on his arm and paid little attention to what the king said.
"This so-called magic must be some advanced technology I don't fully understand. The field seems to modulate depending on my movement."
Winston raised an eyebrow at the king.
"Alright, but we're not fantasy heroes. We're Ghostbusters."
The king raised a hand to silence them.
"There is no mistake. You have been chosen by the legendary weapons to face the Waves of Destruction threatening our world. Only you can save us."
The heroes introduced themselves. Peter was the first to speak, mentioning how he had exorcised a demon from himself. This caused murmurs among the crowd about his strong mind. He finished with a smirk, saying,
"Oh, and by the way, we took down the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Just another day on the job."
Ray followed, recounting how he saved a village single-handedly. He ended with a laugh, mentioning how he caused an entity to manifest as a fictional character from his childhood, who almost took over the world. This intrigued those present, including the king.
Winston spoke next, describing some of their adventures and revealing he was the reincarnation of a hero. Thanks to his team, they defeated an entity they couldn't have otherwise. This made the crowd view them as the greatest heroes ever summoned, ranging from reincarnated warriors to invokers.
When it was Egon's turn to speak, the king dismissed him. Peter and the others protested, prompting the king to angrily ask Egon about himself. Egon simply replied,
"I am the one who created everything we needed to face gods, demons, and contain entities capable of destroying the world."
His words filled the crowd with fear, and the king, even more so, looked at Egon with a mix of terror and anger.
The king, forcing a smile to break the tension, stated,
"You cannot stay together. Each weapon repels the others, making it difficult for you to grow stronger. You must separate and only unite during the Waves."
The Ghostbusters were then led to their quarters, their belongings stored nearby. Alone in their room, they discussed the situation, noting the king's particular animosity toward Egon. They deduced that a previous Shield Hero might have done something to provoke the king's hostility.
As they talked, Egon tinkered with his tools, activating his P.K.E. meter. The device flashed intensely.
"It seems this world operates under similar energy rules, though there's a strong presence of exotic particles, possibly corresponding to what they call magic. Fascinating. If we can understand this, we could improve our weapons and traps."
This news lifted their spirits. Even with their legendary weapons, having access to familiar technology gave them confidence in this strange new world.
End of Chapter
Author's Note: All rights to Ghostbusters belong to Columbia Pictures and Ghost Corps, and The Rising of the Shield Hero belongs to Aneko Yusagi.
Sorry, my English is not good. I used a translator; I hope you like my story.