Hina's Perspective
I stared at the small white dragon floating in front of me.
Her tiny wings fluttered gently, leaving faint trails of light in the air. The glow coming from her body illuminated my room in a soft silver-blue color, like moonlight reflecting on water.
Meanwhile, my brain was struggling to keep up with everything that had happened today.
A monster attacked our classroom.
My classmate was kidnapped.
My best friend ran off to chase the incident with her phone.
And now…
There was a dragon in my room.
A dragon that was apparently telling me I had been chosen to save the world.
I pressed both hands against my temples.
"Wait… wait… wait."
Ryuna tilted her head slightly.
"Yes?"
"You're telling me monsters are real… guardians are real… and now I'm supposed to be one of them?"
Ryuna nodded cheerfully.
"That's correct!"
I pointed at myself.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure you didn't mean someone else?"
"No."
I groaned loudly and dropped onto the edge of my bed.
"This day officially makes no sense anymore."
Ryuna giggled softly.
"That's a very normal reaction."
Before I could respond, a loud boom echoed from the television.
I quickly turned my head toward the screen.
The news had switched to a live broadcast.
The camera shook as a reporter struggled to keep filming.
Behind him—
Razorblade stood in the middle of a destroyed highway.
Police cars surrounded the monster from every direction.
Flashing red and blue lights reflected off his metallic scales.
Helicopters circled overhead.
"Tokyo police are currently attempting to contain the unidentified creature—"
The reporter's voice cut off as Razorblade roared.
The sound shook the camera.
Police opened fire.
Gunshots echoed repeatedly.
But the bullets bounced off the monster's body like raindrops hitting steel.
My hands slowly clenched.
Then something even worse happened.
One of the officers fired a shot that struck the long spikes on Razorblade's back.
The spike snapped forward like a blade.
It struck another officer.
The man screamed.
His body suddenly twisted.
His skin hardened.
Dark scales spread across his arms.
Within seconds—
He transformed into a smaller monster.
My stomach dropped.
"No…"
Ryuna floated beside me, her expression serious now.
"The Vessel of Chaos spreads corruption through negative emotions."
"So the longer Razorblade remains active…"
She looked back at the television.
"More monsters will appear."
The highway on the screen had already turned into chaos.
Police were retreating.
Civilians were running.
Smoke filled the air.
And somewhere in the middle of that disaster…
Lilie was still trapped.
My chest tightened.
"I can't just sit here."
Ryuna smiled softly.
"I was hoping you would say that."
Hanato's Perspective
I leaned back in my chair while staring at the tiny black dragon floating in my room.
He hovered calmly with his wings folded behind him, his glowing red eyes watching me like a teacher waiting for a student to understand something obvious.
"So let me get this straight," I said slowly.
"That black stone fused with me."
"Now I'm some kind of guardian."
"And I'm supposed to fight monsters."
Ryuhou nodded.
"Correct."
I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.
"...Wow."
Then I sighed.
"My life was a lot simpler this morning."
Ryuhou chuckled.
"You were chosen because you possess the strength to oppose the Vessel of Chaos."
I glanced at the television again.
Razorblade smashed a police car aside like it was made of cardboard.
The monster roared.
But that roar didn't sound like anger.
It sounded like pain.
That thing used to be Reno.
A guy from our class.
A guy who just had his heart crushed earlier today.
And now he was destroying the city.
I clenched my fists.
"Ryuhou."
"Yes?"
"Can I stop him?"
The dragon studied me carefully.
"With the Essence of Shadow… yes."
My jaw tightened.
"Then teach me."
Ryuhou smiled slightly.
"As you wish."
He floated higher into the air.
"First… you must transform."
Hina's Perspective
Ryuna hovered in front of me again.
"If you wish to stop Razorblade, you must awaken the power within you."
My heart was beating faster now.
"How?"
She gently placed her small paw on my hand.
"Close your eyes."
I hesitated.
Then slowly closed them.
"Focus on the light you felt when you touched the Essence."
I took a deep breath.
At first…
Nothing happened.
Then I felt it.
Warmth.
A gentle warmth inside my chest.
Like sunlight spreading through my body.
The feeling grew stronger.
Brighter.
"Now speak the words," Ryuna whispered.
"Essence of Light… awaken."
My throat felt dry.
But I spoke anyway.
"Essence of Light… awaken."
Suddenly—
Light burst from my body.
My room filled with brilliant white energy.
The glow surrounded me like a swirling storm of light.
My clothes dissolved into shining particles.
They reformed into a sleek suit of white armor trimmed with glowing blue lines.
A flowing cape of pure light formed behind me, drifting gently even though there was no wind.
When the light faded, I slowly opened my eyes.
Ryuna clapped excitedly.
"You did it!"
I stared at my hands.
They were glowing faintly.
Tiny sparks of light danced around my fingers.
"This… is real…"
The television behind me showed Razorblade destroying another vehicle.
My expression slowly hardened.
"Lilie is still out there."
Ryuna nodded firmly.
"Then let's go save her."
Hanato's Perspective
Ryuhou hovered in front of me with a confident grin.
"Repeat after me."
I stretched my arms.
"Alright."
The dragon's eyes glowed.
"Essence of Shadow… awaken."
I smirked slightly.
"Essence of Shadow… awaken."
Darkness exploded around me.
Shadows filled the room like swirling smoke.
The shadows wrapped around my body.
My clothes dissolved into black mist before reforming into dark armor.
Deep red markings glowed faintly along the edges.
A long shadowy cloak flowed behind me.
When the transformation finished, the room returned to normal.
I looked down at myself.
"Huh."
I flexed my fingers.
"This actually looks pretty cool."
Ryuhou laughed proudly.
"Of course."
"You are the Guardian of Shadow."
I walked toward the window and looked out over the city.
Sirens echoed across the skyline.
Smoke rose from several blocks away.
Razorblade's roar echoed faintly through the distance.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Guess normal life is over."
Ryuhou smiled.
"Yes."
"You have entered the war between Light and Chaos."
I smirked.
"Good."
Because somewhere in that city…
A monster was waiting.
And for the first time in generations—
Two new Guardians had awakened.