The Zodiac Prince (Gatekeeper Saga)

Blurb: A reluctant farm boy discovers he is the vessel to an immense power capable of tipping the balance in the fight against the Dark King. ___________________________________ Synopsis: The world is in the brink of apocalypse, losing the war against the forces of evil. The last Gatekeeper died a century ago at the hands of the Dark King. What remains of the five great races of Mortals, Mages, Giants, Elves and Dwarves were hiding inside the walled city of Eldoria, the last stronghold of the living. When all hope was lost, the Gatekeeper, a Zodiac Prince vessel to the twelve primordial gods was reborn. The Zodiac Prince could tip the balance in the fight against the Dark King ONLY if he can control the power of the twelve great elemental spirits—a feat none of his previous incarnates were able to accomplish. Unbeknownst to many, the Dark King seeks the power the boy holds for his grand scheme to blanket the whole world in perpetual darkness. Even the 12 zodiac spirits have their own agenda that do not necessarily align with that of the Zodiac Prince. Will he succeed where his predecessors have failed? Will he still fight for the great city of Eldoria when he learns that a dark secret hides behind its walls? And that everything he was lead to believe is not necessarily true. ___________________________________ Excerpt: Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Uruk followed me, unaware of my plan. Reaching the statue, I impaled myself on the sword's pointy edge. The sharp pain of the blade piercing my stomach was excruciating, but I barely registered it. Blood poured from the wound, and for a moment, I wondered if the blood contract had failed. "Did the blood contract work?" I thought, feeling my life drain away. "Is this how everything ends?" My vision darkened, and I felt a strange, peaceful calm. As my consciousness began to slip away, I whispered, "Solaris… arise." A surge of immeasurable energy enveloped me like a warm blanket. A strong red flame covered my entire body, melting the sword and turning the ground beneath me to magma. I floated in the fiery red flames, feeling my wounds close. In a void space within my consciousness, I felt my soul merge with Solaris. When the transformation was complete, an enormous amount of energy coursed through my body. The zodiac symbol of the lion was etched on my right arm, signifying my newfound control over the Zodiac element of fire.