Booker sank onto his bed, emotionally exhausted after another heated argument with his parents. Ever since he'd joined up with the Spearhead Guild, they'd been relentless in voicing their disapproval.
"It's too dangerous, you're just a boy, you don't owe them anything," they'd say, as if he didn't understand the risks. As if this were about owing a debt, rather than duty.
He knew they were just afraid for him. But the guilt-tripping was getting old fast.
"I'm not a kid anymore," he'd argued back tonight. "You can't protect me from what's coming. But I can help protect others."
That only made his mom cry about "losing" him again. Booker hated causing them pain, but he refused to sit idle while supernatural threats emerged. Not when he'd been granted powers with a clear purpose - to drive back the darkness.
His research had convinced him Spearhead was the most upright guild out there. No fatalities yet, due to their tactical caution and ex-military experience. The camaraderie drew Booker in too; he was tired of feeling alone and out-of-place.
Here, his abilities made him an asset instead of a freak. The team welcomed him like a little brother. Like family.
Only one other member was awakened so far - a gruff giant of a man named Bear. But his super strength and Booker's mana blasts perfectly complemented the other fighter's seasoned combat skills. Together, they were unstoppable.
An earsplitting boom from downstairs interrupted Booker's brooding. He leapt to his feet - had a portal opened nearby?
Rushing to the landing, he saw his parents gazing up at him grimly amidst shattered glass and splintered railing. Booker followed their shocked stares to his clenched fist wreathed in fading mana.
Stolen novel; please report.
Booker cringed, mortified that he'd lost control. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened..."
His mom's face softened slightly. "We know you didn't mean it, son. But don't you see how dangerous this path is, even for you?"
Booker hung his head. He couldn't argue the volatility of his unchecked power. But leaving innocents exposed wasn't an option either.
"I'll work harder to stay in control," he promised. "But our world needs me to try. To become the brave guardian you raised me to be."
His dad looked conflicted but finally nodded. "Alright. Just...be careful out there. And call home once in awhile," he added gruffly.
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Mei braced herself as the latest wave of gnashing teeth and claws surged from the portal. Beside her, Sofia rained down blasts of golden flame, but the demonic horde kept advancing, blank eyes glowing with unearthly hunger.
Already their defending forces were dwindling, the non-awakened fighters easily overwhelmed. But Mei refused to allow the advancing darkness to pass. With a grimace, she summoned a barrier of shimmering runes, reinforced by Sofia's fiery torrents.
For agonizing moments, her shield wall held against the crashing tide. But finally the barrier cracked and dissolved, the swarming monsters breaking through. Mei fell back, gasping from exertion.
"There's too many!" shouted a nearby soldier desperately firing his machine gun at the oncoming nightmares.
Mei shared his despair. If they couldn't seal this widening breach soon, disaster loomed. Sheer numbers would inevitably overrun Sofia and her, like a black flood sweeping away all hope of resistance.
In the corner of Mei's vision, a fresh platoon raced onto the scene, rifles blazing to stem the dark surge. Their reinforcements brought a resurgence of strength. Raising her hands, Mei summoned another gleaming wall, Sofia's flames wreathing it with terrible beauty.
The beasts broke upon this bulwark like water, raging uselessly. And still the defenders poured relentless fire and steel into their flanks. Gradually, step by bloody step, the gaping portal mouth was forced shut once more.
As the last monsters dissolved into sulfurous smoke, Mei sank down in exhaustion. Sofia's hand clasped her shoulder.
"We held them back. Barely," Sofia said grimly. Her eyes stared into some bleak inner horizon only she could see.
Mei understood then what drove Sofia's relentless training and loyalty to their grim work. If not for the awakened individuals John called to his banner, disaster loomed. There was no other way.
"You were right," Mei rasped, throat raw. "We need more gifted Explorers to face what's coming, whatever the cost."
Sofia's eyes reflected mingled relief and sorrow. No moral victory lay in this grudging surrender of ideals, only weary resolve. Together they gazed silently upon the seared portal remnants, full of mourning for the innocence neither could afford any longer.
The battle might be won for now, but gazing at the soldiers' haunted faces, Mei knew the war against encroaching darkness had only just begun. And if they wished to triumph when the next surge came, more chaotic power must be sought within themselves and others.
However it scarred their souls, they would pay that terrible price again and again. For if not they, who else could stand before the abyss? When demons flooded the earth, only demons in turn might drive them back.