Chaos engulfs the world as it crumbles in flames; the end looms ominously. King Valerian, a mere speck in a burning landscape of once majestic buildings, desperately flees through the ruins of what was once the prosperous kingdom of Aranthia. His gaze is drawn to a pitch-black colossal figure, a hundred feet tall, indiscriminately sowing destruction and setting everything ablaze.

The King, his heart pounding, turns and attempts to flee in the opposite direction. However, his path is abruptly blocked by a man with a mane of dark black hair and eyes as gray as a stormy sea. His disheveled attire hints at a disregard for his appearance. The air around him distorts, and the ground beneath his feet crumbles. In an instant, Valerian is on the ground, a wave of overwhelming sadness crashing over him, tears welling in his eyes.

The king looks up to meet his eyes as the man standing before him gets punched at the speed of sound. The sadness immediately fades, but as our king tries to stand, a foot forcefully pushes him back into the ground.

Valerian gazes up to meet the eyes of his adversary, a man with a lean, wiry frame and a face that seems permanently twisted in a manic grin. His hair, a bright, unnatural shade of purple, is a wild, unkempt mess. He dons a mishmash of vibrant, clashing colors and patterns, exuding an eccentric and unpredictable aura. His eyes, a vivid rainbow color, constantly dart around with a frenzied energy. The man above him, with a demonic smile, lets out a maniacal laugh.

[???: I can't believe it was this easy to take down your entire royal guard! You are 60, yet you do not have a single vassal? Unbelievable! HAHAHA!!!]

Valerian immediately tries to use a blast of fire magic at the man. The man amusingly jumps back, wanting to play along for as long as possible. The fire dissipates before it reaches the man. The ground then shoots up from under the king, knocking him into a wall. Blood obscures Valerian's vision as he lies down and closes his eyes.

[???: Zane, what are you doing? My plan involved the immediate execution of everyone.]

The man states in an uptight and commanding tone.

[Zane: What~ With all this death and destruction, I can't have a little fun...]

An explosion ensues.

[???: I don't know how you hit me, Zane. You are going to regret that!]

Valerian can hear Maniacal laughter in the distance.

[Zane: Finally, a real challenge, Dolor!!!]

A loud explosion shatters the silence, and Valerian resigns himself to his fate. Five figures materialize in the darkness as his eyes snap open. It's the dead of night, and our king awakens in a cold sweat. He frantically scans his opulent chamber, its walls adorned with intricate tapestries that tell the story of the kingdom of Aranthia. But now, Valerian can't appreciate the artwork. He calls out for his trusted advisor.

[Valerian: Elysia! Get in here!]

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

A tall girl in a secretary's uniform walks into the room. She has a modest figure, short snow-white hair, and baby-blue eyes. She has square glasses on her face and a notebook in her hands. Her name is Elysia Marwood. Elysia Marwood is a highly skilled diplomat with a mysterious past. She was born to a noble family but chose to live among commoners for many years to understand their struggles and build genuine connections. Her diverse experiences make her uniquely qualified to navigate the complexities of the political world. She has a cold demeanor to her.

[Elysia: Yes, my king?]

Valerian stares at her with genuine fear in his eyes. His hand shakes as he raises it.

[Valerian: Make an appointment with the soothe sayer immediately! I need some answers!]

Elysia bows and nods her head. A few hours later, an older woman enters with a crystal ball. A small desk is placed between them. It is just about daybreak as she starts looking into the future. Her eyes begin to glow as she speaks.

[Soothe Sayer: The end is neigh! The apocalypse will consume us all!!!]

Valerian slams the desk in front of them.

[Valerian: How do we stop it!?! Who were those five people!?!]

The crystal ball starts flashing images of the five people repeatedly.

[Soothe Sayer: These five will either stop or hasten the apocalypse... So, do you still want to know who they are?]

Valerian thinks to himself.

Valerian: I didn't have them in the dream. I will need to take my chances.

[Valerian: Even if it leads to my ruin. If the world is saved, I could care less.]

The Soothe Sayer starts to speak.

[Soothe Sayer: I will give you all the information provided through this ball...

Pax, a man from the slums with a heart of gold. Pax is very passionate. Pax distrusts royals and noblemen as he has had bad experiences with them. Pax has the " Unfair " ability, allowing Pax to use six negation abilities. The only ability Pax has unlocked from the 6 is the "Unstoppable" ability, which enables Pax to negate stopping, letting him continuously build momentum for devastating attacks.

Blake is a middle-class man who is extremely intelligent. He can sometimes be somewhat cold and calculated but usually looks out for himself and his team. Inside, Blake is also highly passionate and can be a force to be reckoned with when he decides to cut back on his plans and go wild. Blake will always look for ways to improve himself and become stronger. Blake has dual abilities in shadow manipulation and cell manipulation. Shadow manipulation allows Blake to manipulate his and his enemies' shadows. Cell manipulation will enable Blake to manipulate his cells into anything he desires.

Selene is a girl who can be considered the guardian of nature. She lives in the wilderness just outside the country's borders. Selene is known for being the self-proclaimed "guardian of nature," as she will do anything to protect nature. Selene can conjure and manipulate water into anything she can imagine. Selene can also go into a "Guardian" state when angry.

Azarath is a selfish, famous nobleman known for being naive and fame-hungry. He is not a morally wrong person; he values fame and riches as his top priority. Azarath very profoundly cares for those he calls friends and family. He will not hesitate to protect the innocent and destroy anyone on the side of evil. Azarath became famous for his super speed, strength, and flight abilities. The mix of these abilities causes people to liken him to various superheroes.

Peak is a struggling comedian from the lower class. He has an innocent mind and is always looking to make others laugh. Peak can shoot webs he can swing around from, and he has a sense of danger, enhanced endurance, and super strength. People who have met Peak liken him to a charismatic spider.

That's all The information the ball has given me. My apologies.]

[Valerian: Thank you, you have done more than enough.]

With a hand motion, Valerian dismisses her. He looks back at Elysia.

[Valerian: So, who should we go for first?]

Elysia thinks for a second. She then opens her mouth.

[Elysia: The safest bet is Selene as the first pick. But, sir, you are not thinking what I think you are...]

The king smiles and stands up.

[Valerian: I'm going to make them my vassals!!!]

To be continued...