The Zex Empire… For Alchio, this name was synonymous with a cold, opulent prison. The endless, gold-gilded corridors of the Imperial Palace, the glacially bright marble floors, and that heavy, oppressive atmosphere permeating every corner… His childhood had been spent within these walls. His father, Emperor Zalon Zex, was the embodiment not only of the empire but also of ruthlessness and ambition. Powerful, proud, and emotionless. His gaze always sought more: more land, more gold, more souls to control. To him, people were mere pawns, to be used and discarded in pursuit of his goals. Words like compassion, mercy, and love sounded like curses in his language.
His mother, Queen Elara, was the sole source of light in this dark and cold palace. Her gentle smile, soft voice, and unconditional love formed a stark contrast. Amidst stone walls where even sunlight struggled to penetrate, his mother's presence was Alchio's sanctuary. She secretly cared for her son, telling him stories his father and ruthless siblings wouldn't hear, trying to nurture the goodness and hope within him. "Remember, Alchio," she would often whisper, "Even in the darkest night, a star shines. You can be that star."
Alchio had exactly fourteen siblings: four older brothers and ten sisters. Feeling alone in such a crowd was impossible to avoid. With the exception of three sisters and his eldest brother – who were busy navigating their own paths through palace intrigues – the others were small replicas of their father. Ambitious, arrogant, and cruel. They constantly belittled Alchio, mocking his gentle nature inherited from his mother. Their father's voice, often echoing through the palace, was repeated in their taunts: "Scrawny!" "Useless!" "Coward clinging to his mother's skirts!" These words were like daggers of ice piercing a young child's heart. No matter how hard Alchio tried, he was nothing in the eyes of his father and siblings. His only wish was to live a peaceful life beside his mother, far away from this cold palace.
But fate had other plans for the Zex Empire. Years of accumulated anger, injustice, and oppression finally fueled the flames of rebellion. Revolution… Although the palace walls initially seemed capable of keeping the chaos out, the fire spread rapidly. Screams, the clash of swords, and explosions rising from the city streets began to echo in the palace corridors. The world they had thought secure was crumbling beneath their feet.
Alchio could never forget that day of terror. As he and his mother tried to seek refuge in the inner chambers, supposedly safer, his father appeared at the end of the corridor. His face bore the usual cold, calculating expression. His mother, perhaps with a final glimmer of hope, tried to plead with him, asking him to stop the rebellion, to speak with the people. But Emperor Zalon's eyes held only icy rage. He accused her of showing weakness before the populace, of undermining the empire's strength.
And then… his father drew his sword. Ignoring Queen Elara's pleading gaze and Alchio's horrified screams, with a single, cold-blooded strike, he plunged his sword into the Queen's heart. Right before Alchio's eyes… As his mother's lifeless body collapsed onto the marble floor, Alchio's world shattered along with her. In that instant, the last vestiges of innocence within him were extinguished.
As the fire of revolution consumed the palace, the few siblings of Alchio who had joined the rebellion to fight against their father also faced a bitter end. They were captured and, as a public example, hanged side-by-side in the city's main square. They were branded as "traitors" of the Zex lineage. The remaining siblings either fled or sided with their father. Alchio had no one left to turn to except two younger sisters hiding in fear somewhere within the chaos. He wanted desperately to find them, to be with them, but the elderly servants, fiercely loyal to his mother even in death, forbade it.
"Prince Alchio," said the old Head Servant, his eyes filled with both grief and determination. "It was Her Majesty's final command. You must live. You are the only hope that can rise from Zex's ashes."
Alchio wept, resisting. He didn't want to leave his sisters. But the servants forcibly took him, dragging him into the secret passages within the palace's now crumbling walls. It was an escape plan his mother had prepared years ago, perhaps foreseeing such a day.
Finally, deep within the palace, they reached an ancient chamber adorned with glowing runes. As the Head Servant made the final adjustments with trembling hands, he turned to Alchio. "Your mother's most trusted friends will be waiting for you. You will live in peace, in a different universe. Please, stay strong, and never forget your mother." The teary-eyed servant embraced the young prince one last time and pushed him into the shimmering portal. A dazzling light, a deafening roar… And Alchio was torn from the world he was born into, the world he loved, hated, and lost everything in, flung into an unknown universe.
When he came to, he was in a peaceful land of rolling green meadows and gentle breezes. The friends his mother had mentioned – a wise, elderly couple – found him and took him under their wing. They offered him a new home, love, and compassion. But the wound in Alchio's heart never truly closed. He woke from nightmares, haunted by the moment of his mother's death, the images of his hanged siblings flashing before his eyes. He knew nothing of the empire's ultimate collapse or the fate of those left behind. This uncertainty was a gnawing worm within him.
His new family quickly recognized his potential. They noticed that during moments of intense emotional distress, moisture around him would freeze, ice crystals forming at his fingertips. This power inherited from his mother, the ability to control Ether, was both a curse and a gift. The elderly couple taught him to control this power, to wield it for good. Years passed. Alchio grew, became stronger, his mastery over ice increasing. But no matter how strong he became, the voices of his father and siblings continued to echo in his ears: "Weak… Scrawny…"
He yearned to prove himself. Not just to his new family, but to his memories, his nightmares, and most of all, to himself… He wanted to show that he was strong, that he was worthy. Perhaps that was why, when he heard about the Multiverse Guardian exam, a spark ignited within him. It was dangerous, yes. But it was also an opportunity. An arena where he could demonstrate his strength, perhaps finally step out from the shadows of his past, even if just a little… And so, with a fragment of hope in his heart and the heavy burden of his past, he joined the Guardian exam.
Present Day…
"Huff… huff… huff…" Ragged breaths escaped Alchio's chest with difficulty. Blood flowed from a deep gash on his arm, staining the hilt of his ice-imbued crystalline sword crimson. The area around him was littered with the lifeless bodies of monsters he had slain himself – Stone Eaters, Gem Hounds. But they just kept coming. As soon as one fell, another seemed to rise from the very ground. He was utterly exhausted. His Ether flowed as weakly as a whisper in his veins. His fingers, gripping his sword, were numb, and his legs trembled, barely able to support him.
With a final, desperate effort, using the last vestiges of his Ether, he conjured a thick, rough wall of ice behind him. The wall was an opaque, dirty white – a reflection of Alchio's own exhaustion and despair. He leaned his trembling back against the cold ice and slowly slid to the ground. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the cave's dim ceiling, faintly illuminated by crystals.
The furious snarls of the monsters and the thunderous impact of their blows against the wall echoed in his ears. With each hit, the ice wall groaned, deep cracks spreading across its surface like spiderwebs. The chill in the air seeped into Alchio's bones, but the coldness he felt wasn't external; it stemmed from the hopelessness gripping his heart.
'Is this really the end?' he thought, his mind clouded. Voices from the past began to invade his thoughts again. His father's dismissive glare, his siblings' mocking laughter… 'Weak… You were always weak, Alchio… An emotional fool like your mother…' 'Are we supposed to defend the empire with this weakling? Don't make me laugh!' These memories hurt more than the monsters' attacks.
He closed his eyes. His mother's gentle face flickered in his mind for a fleeting moment. 'You can be that star, Alchio…' But the image quickly faded, replaced by the horrific scene of his father murdering her. Another wave of tremors wracked his body. He tried to tighten his grip on his sword, but his fingers wouldn't obey.
The cracks in the ice wall had now widened into gaping fissures. Through them, he could see the glowing eyes of the dark, menacing creatures outside. Their snarls were on the verge of turning into triumphant roars. Alchio took a shaky breath. Maybe his father and siblings were right. Maybe he truly was weak. Maybe his end was destined to be here, in this dark cave, torn apart by nameless monsters.
KRAAASSHHH!
With a deafening roar, the ice wall exploded inwards. Shards of ice flew everywhere as the monsters surged forward like a ravenous tide. Claws, teeth, glowing eyes… Instinctively, Alchio threw his arms up to shield his face, bracing for the final, fatal blow. His heart fluttered uselessly in his chest. 'Mom… I'm sorry…'
But instead of the anticipated agony, he heard the sudden howl of rushing wind. It was followed by the sharp whistle of an arrow slicing through the air and the distinct sounds of rock being crushed and splintered, echoing through the cavern. Astonished, he cautiously opened his eyes.
The sight before him was unbelievable.
Berwick, clad in his red-black uniform, had stormed into the midst of the monsters like a hurricane. His fists blurred, shattering the armor of Stone Eaters upon impact. His steel sword, leaving silvery trails in the dim light with each swing, carved through the Gem Hounds that dared to approach. He was like the embodiment of focused fury and power.
And Berwick wasn't alone. The pink-haired, purple-eyed girl, Akemi, was constantly moving, clearing the area around Berwick with arrows loosed from her bow. Each shot found its mark precisely, pinning monsters down or intercepting their attacks on Berwick. On the other flank, the scrawny, bespectacled boy – Hyogaki – danced with surprising agility among the remaining creatures, distracting them with flashing daggers and shouting out their weak points. It was perfect teamwork – deadly, swift, and efficient.
The horde of monsters that had surrounded Alchio moments before was thrown into disarray by this sudden, unexpected intervention. Within seconds… perhaps a minute at most… the immediate threat around Alchio was completely neutralized. Silence descended once more upon that section of the cave, broken only by the newcomers' panting breaths and the faint steam rising from the fresh monster carcasses on the ground.
Berwick cast a disdainful glance at the last fallen monster, wiped his sword clean, and slowly turned towards Alchio, who was still reeling in shock. Berwick's expression was unreadable – neither anger nor pity, just calm observation. Akemi lowered her bow, studying Alchio with curiosity. Hyogaki adjusted his glasses, seemingly analyzing the situation.
After a few moments of silence, Alchio finally gathered himself. But the primary emotion surging through him wasn't gratitude. It was a familiar, bitter feeling he had suppressed for years: humiliation and anger. He had been saved, yes. But by whom? By the very person who had rejected his offer of partnership just hours before, the one who had implied he'd be better off alone. The feeling of worthlessness, instilled by his father and brothers, now flared anew in Berwick's presence.
He scrambled to his feet, his legs still shaky. His face flushed crimson with rage. His hands clenched into involuntary fists.
"What are you doing here?!" he yelled, his voice trembling. "Get out of here! I don't need your help!" The words tumbled out uncontrollably. "I thought you could handle things alone?! What happened, did you change your mind?! Or did you just come here because you pitied a pathetic weakling like me? Tell me!"
Years of accumulated bitterness, all the humiliation, all the labels of "weak," now erupted into a torrent of anger directed solely at Berwick. His eyes burned.
Berwick remained utterly still in the face of Alchio's outburst, his composure unwavering. This very calmness infuriated Alchio even more.
"Pity?" Berwick repeated, his tone flat, but Alchio noticed a strange glint in his eyes. "Why would I pity you?"
Alchio let out a laugh, but it was hysterical, laced with pain. "Why?! Because I'm weak! My father always said so! So did my brothers! I'm scrawny! Useless! I wouldn't even be of any use to you! You thought so too, didn't you?! That's why you rejected my offer to team up! So why did you save someone like me?! Answer me!" His voice cracked towards the end, tears threatening to spill. Being this vulnerable in front of others filled him with shame, but he couldn't stop himself.
Berwick remained silent for a moment. The only sounds in the cave were the distant growls of other monsters and the dripping of water from the ceiling. Then, he spoke. His voice was still calm, but this time it held a distinct note of sincerity, perhaps even respect.
"Weak?" Berwick asked again, as if questioning the very definition of the word. He then carefully surveyed the area around Alchio – the site of his desperate battle. He noted the numerous monster corpses, the remnants of the shattered ice wall… His gaze returned to meet Alchio's. A faint smile touched Berwick's lips, almost imperceptible. It wasn't a smirk of derision; it held an expression akin to appreciation.
"Heh. Weak, huh?" he said softly. "Alchio, look around you." He gestured towards the fallen creatures. "There are over a hundred monsters here. And from what I gather, you've been alone since we arrived. You took them all down yourself."
His gaze then shifted to the remains of the ice wall. "And that wall… It was clever. It bought you time. You fought down to your very last drop of Ether. I saw from a distance how you controlled the rune in your body, how you wielded that ice sword. Despite being completely exhausted, you didn't give up."
Berwick took another step closer, standing directly in front of Alchio now. He looked straight into his eyes.
"You're not weak, Alchio," Berwick stated firmly. "You're a survivor. You're a fighter. What you did here… was incredible." He paused briefly. "You should be proud of yourself. If your family is watching us now, I'm sure they are proud of you too."
These words… they completely disarmed Alchio. To hear his struggle acknowledged, praised even, by someone like Berwick, someone from a powerful family… The wall of ice that had encased his heart for years began to crack under the warmth of Berwick's genuine words. For a moment, the cruel echoes of his father and brothers fell silent.
Berwick saw the change in Alchio, saw him waver. He slowly extended his right hand towards him, palm open, invitingly.
"Come on, get up," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I take back what I said at the counter. Maybe I prefer to work alone, but… having someone strong like you fighting alongside me… that would be an honor."
Alchio stared at the outstretched hand. At Berwick's hand… Then he looked up into Berwick's eyes. There was no pity there. No condescension. Only… respect and understanding. It was a look he had longed for for years. Without letting the tears welling up blur his vision completely, he lifted his own trembling hand and grasped Berwick's firmly. Berwick's hand felt strong and warm. This simple contact seemed to dissipate some of the bone-deep chill that had permeated Alchio's soul.
Berwick helped Alchio to his feet. Alchio was still a bit unsteady, but he stood taller now. The despair in his eyes had been replaced by a newly kindled determination.
Just then, a deep rumbling from the depths of the cave intensified. The ground began to vibrate beneath their feet. Larger chunks of rock started to fall from the ceiling. Akemi and Hyogaki instantly adopted defensive stances.
Berwick and Alchio, without releasing their grip, turned towards the source of the sound. From a wide opening further down the cavern, a colossal silhouette began to rise out of the shadows. A horse, the size of a two-story building. Its body was formed from rough, dark rock, etched with glowing, malevolent green runes. It slowly heaved itself up on massive, thick legs. Where its head should have been, there were only two eyes burning like molten lava, filled with hate. Suddenly, a figure dismounted from the colossal steed – a towering knight clad in monstrous stone armor, smoke billowing from its helm, wielding a massive spear and shield… easily exceeding 2 meters in height. The aura it radiated was cold and deadly.
Hyogaki whispered, catching his breath. "This... This must be it... The Dungeon Guardian!"
The Guardian leveled its enormous spear towards them and let loose a deafening roar that shook the cave walls and sent a palpable wave of pressure outwards.
Berwick tightened his grip on his sword. Fatigue lined his face, but a defiant fire burned in his eyes. Alchio swiftly gripped his own sword again; his earlier exhaustion seemed forgotten, his eyes gleaming with the same determination as Berwick's. Akemi had drawn her bow taut, and Hyogaki held his daggers firmly, scanning for any opening. Berwick slowly took a few steps forward, positioning himself in front of the group, his dark red trench coat billowing in the wind generated by the creature. He then turned briefly to look at his newfound teammates.
"Listen up, everyone!" Berwick called out, his voice ringing with authority. "What we're facing is an extremely deadly opponent! Its only disadvantage will be facing young fighters like us! We finish this here. Whatever happens, never give up!"
Alchio, Hyogaki, and Akemi shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the cavern, "YEAH!!!" / "RIGHT!!!"
Berwick smirked, then turned back to face the Guardian with deadly seriousness. He leveled his steel sword towards the stone knight, a faint, thin red aura of ether beginning to emanate from his body.
"Alright then… let's get serious."
The four young candidates now stood as one against the ancient and deadly power before them. The true trial of the exam was about to begin. In the depths of the cave, as the Dungeon Guardian's furious roar reverberated, a new battle was about to ignite on the thin line between hope and death.