A deafening explosion erupted at the heart of the city, shaking the ground and shattering windows for miles. Smoke and debris billowed into the sky, obscuring the sun. From the epicenter of the blast, a figure burst forth, ascending with blinding speed.
This was no human. The being’s humanoid form was adorned with wings resembling those of a vulture, but they weren’t made of feathers—they were crafted from shimmering green crystals, hard and jagged. As the figure soared higher, sunlight struck the crystalline wings, refracting into a dazzling display of emerald light. The creature spread its wings wide, a radiant symbol of power, before unleashing a concentrated beam of energy toward the ground.
BOOM!
The impact rocked the city again, sending shockwaves rippling outward. From the smoldering crater, another figure emerged. This one, too, was no mere mortal. Its body was clad in what looked like a seamless black-and-purple suit, though it wasn’t clothing—it was its skin. The texture was sleek and organic, reminiscent of a fusion between the predatory grace of a panther and the alien ferocity of a venomous beast. A flowing royal cape draped over its shoulders, and in its hand was a massive hammer, regal yet deadly, pulsing with a faint energy.
This being was The Guardian.
Without hesitation, The Guardian hurled his hammer at the flying figure. The crystalline-winged being, known as Kaate, twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the weapon. The hammer soared upward, disappearing into the clouds.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Kaate retaliated, flapping his wings with immense force, sending a hail of razor-sharp green crystal shards toward The Guardian. Each shard gleamed like a deadly missile, cutting through the air with terrifying precision.
Reacting quickly, The Guardian grabbed a large chunk of concrete from the rubble and raised it as a shield. But the shards tore through it effortlessly, as if slicing through paper. Several shards embedded themselves in The Guardian’s body, drawing glowing purple blood. Yet he stood firm, his glowing eyes locked on his foe.
Suddenly, a streak of silver blurred through the air—the hammer had returned. With unrelenting speed, it struck Kaate square in the back, dragging him through the sky and slamming him into a nearby lake.
Onlookers gathered on the bridge and in their cars, staring in awe and terror as the lake erupted. Water shot upward like a massive geyser, towering into the sky, as if a mountain had been born from the depths. From within the chaos, a blinding green light pierced through the water.
Kaate rose, his wings spread wide, glowing with renewed energy. With a roar, he unleashed a powerful beam of green energy toward The Guardian. The air crackled with raw power as the beam tore through the ruins.
But The Guardian vanished just before the energy could strike.
He reappeared beside his hammer, now submerged in the lake. Gripping its leather strap, The Guardian spun the weapon in a wide arc, generating a vortex of water and purplish energy. The spinning hammer gathered momentum, radiating an intense aura, before The Guardian hurled it with devastating force.
The hammer struck Kaate again, carrying him upward at an incredible speed. The two shot into the sky, rising higher and higher, until they were nearly 9,000 meters above the ground. At this altitude, the air was thin, and the city below was but a distant memory.
Kaate managed to wrench himself free, throwing the hammer off course. The weapon continued its ascent, vanishing into the vastness of the atmosphere.
For a moment, both beings hovered at the edge of the stratosphere, their powers crackling around them like storms waiting to be unleashed. The battle had only just begun.