1st Calamity - The Black Door Of Corruption

The principal's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "And yet today, you revealed your abilities quite dramatically. Not just your Talent, but your bond's power as well. Why?"

Khalil met the principal's gaze steadily. "Because someone's life was at stake. Both the lady and her bond would have been killed because of a misunderstanding. I couldn't let that happen."

"Even though revealing yourself might have consequences?"

"Some things are worth the risk," Khalil replied simply, breaking off a piece of bread.

The principal leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You know, there's an old saying among veteran Tamers: 'The strongest bonds are forged in moments of truth.' Your Guardian of Light... it chose you in quite a dramatic fashion. And then, mere minutes after bonding, you were able to manifest its powers in ways that should have been impossible for a novice."

He paused, his expression growing more intent. "Tell me, Kalem, what do you know about the Guardian of Light?"

Khalil hesitated, weighing his response. He had the small game knowledge from his previous life, but he wasn't sure how much of it aligned with this world's reality. Plus, he needed to be careful not to reveal his true origins. "Only what most people know from the legends," he said both carefully and honestly. "It's one of the Ancient Beasts, said to possess the power to reveal truth and banish darkness. But beyond that..." He shrugged, letting the sentence trail off.

The principal nodded slowly, as if confirming something to himself. "The Guardian of Light is indeed ancient, but what few people realize is that it's not just a beast of illumination – it's a beast of balance. Light and darkness, truth and deception, healing and harm... it understands that these forces exist in harmony, not opposition. That's why it can heal a Darkness-element beast, something that most would consider impossible."

He fixed Khalil with a penetrating stare. "Your bond chose you for a reason, Kalem. And I suspect that reason has something to do with the balance this world desperately needs right now."

Khalil felt a chill run down his spine at those words. "What do you mean by that?" Could the principal know something about this world's ending? 

The principal opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a sudden gust of wind rattled the windows. The chandelier above them swayed slightly, its light flickering, and both of them tensed at the surge of energy that pulsed through the air.

"It seems," the principal said grimly, rising from his chair, "that our conversation will have to wait. We have an unexpected guest."

Khalil glanced around the room, his instincts on high alert. Despite the sudden gust of wind that had rattled the windows and flickered the chandelier, there was no sign of anyone else in the room. He scanned the corners, his eyes narrowing, but the room remained empty—until a faint shimmer in the air caught his attention.

Out of nowhere, a creature materialized, its form seemingly woven from wind itself. It had a sleek, serpentine body that twisted gracefully in the air, its translucent wings resembling streams of flowing mist. Glowing green eyes fixed on the principal, radiating an aura of urgency.

Khalil tensed, unsure of the creature's intentions, but the principal raised a hand in a calming gesture. "Relax," he said, his tone firm yet composed. He turned to the creature with a slight frown. "Zeiro, why are you here?"

The creature nodded, and a woman's voice filled the room, clear and urgent as though carried by the wind itself. "Mr. Valorian, we have an urgent situation. Please come quickly."

The principal's frown deepened, his sharp eyes betraying his concern. He nodded curtly. "Alright. I'll be there soon."

The wind-creature dipped its head, its body beginning to dissolve into a fine mist. Within moments, it was gone, leaving the room still once more, as though it had never been there.

The principal turned to Khalil, his tone regaining its usual steadiness. "Eat and take a rest. I have something to take care of." He gestured toward the door. "If you need anything, just ask Lamus—the lightning beast. He's stationed nearby."

Before Khalil could respond, the principal moved with startling speed, his robes billowing slightly as he left the room. The door shut softly behind him, leaving Khalil alone at the table with his half-eaten meal.

For a moment, Khalil stared at the door, his mind racing. Zeiro. Mr. Valorian. Urgent situation. Balance. The pieces of their conversation—and the principal's sudden departure—whirled in his thoughts. He felt like a spectator in a play whose script he didn't fully understand.

Khalil's thoughts churned as the memory resurfaced. "Wait... I seem to know what is happening right now..." he muttered, his eyes narrowing. He tapped his fingers on the table as fragmented images from his previous life pieced themselves together.

"In the game's trailer, there was a massive black hole outside the city… not quite a portal, but it didn't seem like it could be entered either. What was it called again?" He frowned, wracking his brain. "Black Door? Yeah, I think that was it. And then…"

His voice trailed off as a vivid scene from the trailer replayed in his mind: dark, twisted creatures spilling out of the ominous black void, their bodies writhing unnaturally as they advanced toward the city. A chill ran down his spine.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden notification appeared in his vision, hovering like a translucent screen before his eyes.

___________________

[Mission Alert!]

An Event Initiated: 1st Calamity - The Black Door of Corruption

Description: A High-Ranking Dark Corrupt Beast has forced open a portal to this realm, creating the Black Door. This ominous gateway radiates pure corruption and serves as a bridge for the forces of darkness to amass an invasion.

Velstrad City and the Celestial Nexus Academy are prime targets for the ensuing chaos. Left unchecked, this portal will unleash waves of Corrupted Beasts and devastation upon the land. The survival of the city—and its people—depends on decisive intervention.

Event Objectives And Suggestions:

- Investigate the Black Door's emergence and uncover the identity of the Dark Corrupt Beast behind it.

- Prepare yourself to face powerful enemies as the portal gathers strength.

- Rally allies, fortify defenses, and develop strategies to counter the invasion.

- Stop the Dark Corrupt Beast and seal the Black Door before it's too late.

Time Limit: 4 Months

Failure Consequences:

- The invasion begins.

- The city of Velstrad and the academy will suffer catastrophic loss.

- Possible personal death or a significant decrease in the success rate.

Special Notes:

- Smaller waves of corruption may occur leading up to the event.

- Be prepared for sudden assaults.

- Strength, knowledge, and resourcefulness will determine your survival and success.

Note For The Guardian Candidate - "Heroes are not born, they rise when the world calls upon them."

_______________

The glowing text lingered in Khalil's vision, pulsing faintly as though it were alive. There was no prompt, no choice to accept or decline. The system had already marked him, binding him to the task as inexorably as if he'd signed a contract in blood.

Khalil read the description again, his pulse quickening. "A High-Ranking Corrupt Beast… opening a portal… planning to invade the city and academy?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "It sounds like the start of some apocalyptic campaign."

The ominous words in his vision refused to fade, hammering home the gravity of the situation. A shiver ran down his spine as he muttered, "Four months to stop something like this? This is insane."

He sank back into the chair, tension weighing heavily on his chest. It hadn't even been 6 hours since he woke up in this surreal, impossible world, and already the system—or whoever was behind this—had thrust him into the middle of a cataclysmic event.

"This can't be real," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Am I supposed to fight some kind of boss monster? Or an entire horde of them?"

He felt a rush of despair, but it was tempered by a faint flicker of resolve. Four months. It wasn't much, but it was something. Enough time to grow stronger, smarter, and more prepared. Enough time to turn himself into someone capable of facing this trial.

"This has to be a test," Khalil said, his voice steadier now. "If the system—or this world—wants me to stop this, then I'll have to figure out how to survive and win. I just need to make every moment count."

The words of the system replayed in his mind as he clenched his fists:

"Heroes are not born—they rise when the world calls upon them."

And the world was calling.

Even if he wouldn't become a hero, he would become a guardian as he was asked.