Saint of Serenity

In a small town in the countryside of a country in West Rica, stood a small bungalow. The house wasn't really big, but it wasn't small either. It could be said to be cosy.

In this cosy house, sat an old white man with sparse white hair on his head and a fluffy white beard that covered half of his face. He was reclining on a chair while sipping fragrant tea from a cup and reading a newspaper.

He was dressed in a black bathrobe and a pair of flip-flops.

The man looked at his window and sighed. "It's such a beautiful night… unfortunately, it won't be so for long anymore… the king is such a stubborn person."

He stood up and gently placed the newspaper and teacup on the table in front of him, and walked into his bedroom.

The bedroom also gave the same feeling as the bungalow; warm and cosy. There was a bed at the corner, a stool that had a lamp on it, and a window that showed the beautiful constellations in the sky.

The old man admired the view in the sky for a moment, then his eyes suddenly shone with sharpness. He pointed a finger to the bed, and an unbelievable scene appeared.

The room, which was previously quite dreamy to look at, suddenly came alive.

Transparent tentacles emerged from underneath the bed, making it stand, and a triangular head ripped the sheets into shreds. Once the sheets hit the floor, an octopus appeared in the room. At first, it was blurry and relatively small, but it rapidly turned corporeal and increased in size by many times, its head shooting through the roof.

"Nerak!" the old man shouted. "The king we knew from birth has finally lost it, and now, he has sent his army after us."

As he spoke, the old man's visage suddenly began to change. His sparse hair rapidly regenerated.

"He is willing to dabble with the evil deities!"

The wrinkles on his body receded.

"All for corrupted power!"

His beard fell off little by little until only a trimmed moustache remained.

"I shall not stand for this! And neither shall you!"

His bathrobe rippled and transformed into black robe that absorbed the surrounding light.

"This is our bottom line!"

A pointy hat appeared on his head, and a golden cane appeared in his right hand.

The old man had transformed into a middle-aged man in a matter of seconds!

ROAARR!!

The octopus roared fiercely, then it disappeared into motes of light. In its place, another middle-aged man with black hair dressed in a white, almost transparent robe stood, his hair whipping about like tentacles.

The two middle-aged men stood beside each other and wore looks of solemnity on their faces.

"I'm really disheartened by his choice… to think he would actually hunt his own friends…" the white robed man spoke.

The black robed man didn't say anything for a while, then he faced his companion.

"I'm going to the castle."

"No way!" the other shot his suggestion down without hesitation.

"I can't defeat him, but I can weaken him for decades… a century, even."

"Berak, you'll die!" The white robed man stood firmly on his decision.

"Nerak, I'm tired of watching," Berak said to his companion and continued before any retorts could happen. "It's okay, my mind is made up."

Nerak fell silent for a whole minute. Then, he raised his head and gazed at the distance.

"Take the staff with you," he said.

Berak's face changed drastically. "I can't! I may want to die, but you don't have to!"

Nerak smiled faintly. "I'm also tired… I want to be at peace."

They both fell silent.

Then, resolution appeared in Berak's eyes and he grabbed the walls of the bungalow. The bungalow rippled and distorted, and transformed into a black wooden staff!

Berak twirled the staff, and blood-red inscriptions appeared on every inch of it. He spoke.

"Enlarge!"

Suddenly, the staff's width expanded and its length elongated even farther!

Berak jumped on it and looked at his companion who was smiling faintly at him. Then, the staff levitated off the ground and took off into the atmosphere, leaving Nerak alone.

At the same time, a female voice echoed in the surroundings.

"To think you actually left your companion in order to face us… I commend your stupidity."

Nerak didn't react to the sudden voice. He stretched his hand and a wooden cane that looked like it was formed from an ancient tree's bark appeared in it. Then he spoke.

"You can come out now… your illusions are pretty much useless at this point."

The voice chuckled, and five people--three men and two women—appeared in front of Nerak.

They were dressed in tailcoat vests and had black canes that oozed reddish mist in their hands. Together, they looked like a part of some cultist group, but Nerak knew better.

These five people were the king's most trusted and most powerful subordinates, The King's Blade!

They were each formidable opponents for Nerak, but when they came together, they were like an unstoppable hurricane. One that would sweep anyone away without any resistance.

But he wasn't just anyone either.

He was Nerak, one of the beings at the pinnacle of power and just one rank below the deities! He was a demigod!

He pulled on the cane, revealing a thin, austere blade and smiled at his attackers. "Well, I'm right here. Come and get me."

***

Meanwhile, far away from Nerak's position.

A grandiose castle that spoke of unimaginable power and authority stood impregnable on the land. Its presence bore down on the surroundings, emitting a constant pressure

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the sky above the castle and a man walked out. He was dressed in a black robe and a pointy hat. He held a golden cane in one hand and a black staff with red inscriptions in the other hand.

It was Berak!

Suddenly, the sky warped and broke as another figure appeared. This figure was dressed in a magnificent golden robe and held a golden sceptre in his hands. Purple flames blazed in his eyes as he set his eyes on Berak.

"Hello, old friend."