Far away from any civilization, there was a lonely mountain. This single, seemingly insignificant mountain laid in the heart of Iilrona Realm, a vast Realm in the southern hemisphere of the world. Two other Realms neighbored Iilrona. Xarbados to the north, and Lan Terith to the west. These neighboring realms had created an uneasy peace treaty with each other that had been in effect for centuries. More importantly, this peace treaty allowed the realms the luxury of rarely concerning each other with their politics and affairs. Thus, when Iilrona’s best Guardians turned on her, she didn’t need to call for aid. Iilrona’s conundrums always seemed to sort themselves out in due time. Today, atop the lonely mountain, one of the most era-changing fights was currently taking place. One of Iilrona’s problems sorting itself out.

 

               As the skies darkened with an approaching rainstorm, the mountain began to light up with brilliant flashes of colors in the sky. It almost looked as though a celebration were commencing. However, there was no celebration to be had for the two men creating the amazing display.

 

               “I was promised power!” The man in all black snarled as magical energy crackled all around him. “Unimaginable power! I was to be the greatest Guardian of them all!” the burly man lengthened his arm above his head, red lightning flashing all around him. He pointed his arm at the man opposite him, lightning blazing out from his gloved fingertips.

 

               His opponent was dressed in all white, an ivory hood and porcelain mask with two slits for eyes covering his face. He jumped out of the way just before the lightning struck where he had once stood. He regained his footing and took off his cloak and mask, revealing his handsome features.

 

               “You?!” the man in black gasped, recognizing him. He glared, praying the gods would curse him. “How dare you turn against me!”

 

               “I had no choice. My friend, this is your last chance to repent.” He said coolly and held out his hand, as though willing him to give up his vain path of turmoil. “Come with me and my orders to sever your life will be forfeit.”

 

               The man in black’s eyes began to glow a demonic red as his Aura Stone reached maximum caliber. “You sick bastard!” he cried as the air around him began to electrify. “I would never ever lower myself to join you!” The dark figure’s stance changed as he prepared himself for the final attack. An advanced spell that he would put all his magic and energy in to.

 

               The two had been battling for hours and they could both feel the end of their match nearing.

 

               The man in white sighed, his hand falling to his side. “Very well. You have chosen your own demise. Though I, for one, believe your fate was sealed the moment you betrayed our Realm.”

 

               “I didn’t betray anyone!” the man in black insisted, letting his hatred and rage fuel his magic.

 

               “It would seem that way to you.” The man in white sighed as he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, calmly awaiting the impending attack.

 

               The air around the man in black began to glow red with his power. His hands and whole body seemed to look as though they were made of lightning themselves as he moved in through the motions of his advanced spell that would surely obliterate his foe.

 

               Suddenly he advanced towards his opponent with a speed that could only be matched by a god. He called upon all the forces of nature to aid him in demolishing the man in white. “Blood-lightning Oblivion!” he yelled, casting his spell as his fist made contact with his foe.

 

               Upon impact, a flash of bright red exploded into the atmosphere and could be seen all throughout Iilrona Realm. Half of the mountain had been blown apart and the rest was shaking from the aftermath. A massive mushroom cloud of debris and dust enveloped the mountain and began spreading all across the countryside. The cloud could be seen for miles. A shockwave of thunder followed the blast, rattling the souls of everyone who heard it.

 

               The dark figure fell to his knees, his broad shoulders rising and falling deeply from the exhaustion of his power. He laughed hysterically through gasps of breath at his victory.

 

               As the dust settled, however, he saw the silhouette of a man standing before him. He stopped laughing, wide-eyed in fear at his mistake. In the man’s strong left arm there was a deep gash, blood spilling out, dying his white garments red.

 

               “I wanted to avoid this, but you leave me no choice.” The man in white said. He raised his right hand, thousands of glass shards appearing from thin air and floating behind him. The man in black cried out in terror as he desperately tried to crawl away like a filthy worm.

 

               “I am sorry, friend.” The man in white looked at him with pity and he made a fist. As he did so, the shards flew at the dark figure, skewering him and killing him on impact. As the blood flowed from his limp body and the life left his eyes, the man managed to mumble; “I have been redeemed.”

 

               As he drew his final breath, it began to rain all across Iilrona, as though washing away all of his mistakes and sins. An era of fear and tyranny had ended, giving birth to a new age.

 

               The man in white put his cloak and mask back on and carried his opponent’s body down the mountain. He brought it to Alteire, the grand capital of Iilrona. He paraded the body through the streets, bringing it to the castle in the center and laying it at the king’s feet.

 

               The old king rose to thank him, but the man in white vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

 

               Within the hour, the king addressed all the citizens of Iilrona. Anyone with a crystal scroll could hear and see what he was saying.

 

               “Generations shall remember this as The Day the Red Tyrant Fell,” he began, his old frail hands shaking as he held himself up at the podium. “Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Unnamed Hero, the terrorists known as the Top 10 have finally fallen. Iilrona Realm is forever safe from those Guardians who fell from the path of righteousness. The 10th and final of them has been brought to justice. So celebrate, my children, for this is a day of happiness. The dawning of a new and more peaceful age has commenced. As promised, I now relinquish my crown to my son, Prince Eita’ah. Henceforth, he shall be your king.”

 

               The Iilrona crowds all across the Realm erupted in massive applause as the dawn of a new age began. An age arguably far worse than the one that had just ended…