Neona, the Goddess of Light, was once mortal—a young and beautiful woman.

As a child, she was an adventurous soul, often wandering deep into the forest alone, without telling anyone. It was there, amidst the towering trees, that she discovered a peculiar power: she could grant others unique abilities.

This realization filled her with both wonder and dread. After accidentally bestowing powers upon a few forest animals, she understood the immense responsibility that came with her gift. From that day forward, Neona swore never to grant powers to anyone again.

Years passed, and Neona blossomed into a graceful maiden. She left her forest home for the kingdom of Veledot, one of the four great realms that governed the Mainland. The continent itself had no true name, known simply as the Mainland to its inhabitants.

In Veledot, she grew close to Garland, the knight commander and the king’s son. Though they were merely friends, they shared a deep bond of trust and loyalty. One evening, while walking with Garland through the palace corridors, Neona overheard knights murmuring about ancient beasts that had resurfaced in the world.

Garland dismissed the rumors, reassuring her that it was likely nothing of concern. But days later, a survey squad sent to investigate returned—barely. Only a few survivors remained to tell the tale.

The news was far worse than anyone had expected. Not only were the beasts colossal, but they wielded powerful sorcery, manipulating the very elements of nature: earth, water, wind, fire, ice, and lightning.

As Neona listened in on a conversation between the king and the squad’s survivors, a terrible realization dawned on her. Without powers, there would be no way to stop the beasts. But did the beasts truly need to be stopped?

For the time being, she decided to wait and observe, spending her days within the palace walls alongside Garland. Yet, as the weeks passed, natural disasters began ravaging the world. The beasts’ presence was disrupting the balance of nature itself.

Knowing she might be the only one capable of stopping them, Neona made a difficult decision. She confided in Garland, her only trusted ally, and granted him a unique ability—one that could turn the tide against the beasts.

Garland, stunned by her gift, wasted no time in reporting to the king. A plan was hatched: Garland and Neona would travel the Mainland to gather others who could stand against the ancient beasts.

And so, their journey began.

After weeks of travel, Neona had gathered six more heroes—individuals from various corners of the continent, each possessing their own unique strengths. They confronted the first beast, but to their horror, even with their combined abilities, they couldn’t so much as scratch its skin.

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Neona stood before the towering creature, her heart pounding. The beast was massive—a living mountain of flesh and power.

“Neona, we can’t get through its skin! It’s impossible!” one of the heroes shouted.

“I know that!” Her mind raced. So many people, so much power—surely they should stand a chance. But the reality was worse than she’d ever imagined.

With no other options, they retreated.

Back at camp, Neona sat alone, deep in thought. There had to be another way. That’s when she discovered another aspect of her powers: she could transfer abilities from one vessel to another.

The group was divided on the idea. Some believed using Neona as a vessel for the beasts’ powers was their only solution. Garland, however, was adamant in his opposition.

“Ridiculous! We don’t know what will happen to you!” he argued, his voice tight with concern.

“But Garland, we’re running out of time! The world is falling apart, and it’s because of me!” Neona’s voice wavered, her resolve shaking.

Garland’s face darkened, but he couldn’t argue. The weight of their situation was undeniable. The other heroes exchanged uneasy glances.

“I know you’re scared for me,” Neona said softly. “But this is our only chance. We have to do this.”

After a long, tense silence, Garland relented, though his worry was etched into every line of his face. With the group’s support, Neona led them back to the beast for a final confrontation.

This time, with Neona acting as the vessel, they successfully stripped the beast of its power and sealed it within her. The creature, weakened and robbed of its elemental strength, retreated into the wilderness.

Though the act left Neona unscathed, the true weight of what she had done had yet to settle. Undeterred, she pressed the group forward to confront the remaining two beasts.

Within weeks, they had accomplished their mission. The powers of the three great beasts now resided within Neona, changing her forever. No longer just mortal, she became a beacon of hope for the Mainland, earning the title of the Goddess of Light.

For centuries, peace reigned under Neona’s watchful gaze. The world flourished, free from conflict and chaos. But one dark prophecy, foretold by a seer, haunted her still.

The ancient beasts would awaken once more. The world would teeter on the brink of destruction, and the Goddess of Light would fall into darkness.

Though the beasts now lay dormant, stripped of their powers, the prophecy loomed like a shadow over her heart. And so, to prevent it from ever coming to pass, Neona made the ultimate sacrifice. She sealed herself—and the powers of the beasts—away, retreating from the world forever.

The Mainland mourned the loss of its guardian, but for three hundred years, the world remained at peace.

In Neona’s absence, a new profession surfaced: alchemists. They studied Mana, the mystical energy that had once fueled Neona and the seven heroes. Though Mana existed everywhere, it was present in such small quantities that it would take centuries for anyone to reach the level of the legendary warriors.

Alchemists discovered ways to extract Mana from objects, creating powerful Mana-infused weapons and tools. As these items became more widespread, another profession emerged: monster hunters, tasked with keeping cities safe from monsters that accumulated Mana the longer they lived.

The world had entered a new era of Mana weapons and monster hunting.

Three hundred years after Neona sealed herself away, a young girl in a small town began her journey to see the world…